Chapter 362 - Everything is for sale
According to Bob, the auction house was open daily, and visitors from all over different kingdoms would regularly bring in multiple different items. The range of items brought from these places would range from rare beast crystals to items invented new technological advancements.
"So, have you changed your mind about selling that vehicle of yours? I"m pretty sure it would fetch a pretty neat sum." Bob said as he rubbed his hands together just thinking how much money it would make.
"Unfortunately, it"s not mine to sell," Ray replied. "Besides even if I did sell it, what makes you think you would get anything for it." Ray could sense the greed just coming off Bob. He would have never even bothered visiting the two of them that night in the jail cell if he didn"t think he could make any money out of them.
That"s why Ray didn"t feel bad about dragging Bob all around town with them without rewarding him anything. Besides, it wasn"t as if Bob wasn"t already wealthy enough. He was plenty capable of paying for his own things during this trip.
"I must say, err sir Ray," Bob said now knowing to be careful around him. It seemed like Ray"s mood was quite fickle and he was afraid to make him angry at any second. Especially since he had not only witnessed his magical strength first hand but his physical strength too.
Bob was no small man, and even he knew he was large for his size. Yet, Ray was still able to run through town catching up to Jack with him held above his head.
"I wanted to ask, I"m surprised your friend back there was the son of the mayor, yet neither of you knew where this place was?" Bob asked.
"It"s normal," Ray replied. "He hadn"t been back here since he was five years old, so of course he wouldn"t know his way back.
"Well, that makes sense," Bob replied. "But his parents sure are caring ones then. I mean, did they really send no letters during the time he was away. What were they planning him to do once he left? If he wanted to go home how would he have done so if you guys hadn"t met me?"
When Ray started to think about it, he had a point. Even Ray during his time at the academy had a visit from his mother. Although the academy didn"t allow letters during training time the same wasn"t said for the holiday period. In fact, many students chose to go home.
Did he really have no way of contacting them? Was it done on purpose? Ray suddenly thought he was overthinking things. They must have just thought Jack would have remembered his way back home but failed to realize how stupid he was.
There had been so many hardsh.i.p.s in his own life and it seemed like everyone was out to get him. This didn"t mean it was the same for Jack. All Ray could hope was that Jack was having a good time with his family.
They continued to walk towards the auction and finally, the place was on sight. It was a little bit away from the main part of the city, and the auction house was just as large as the mansion they had seen earlier.
However, it was set out on its own s.p.a.ce and there seemed to be more yellow knights stationed here than anywhere else, and for the first time, Ray spotted a few mages mixed in wearing dull yellow robes too.
"Ten percent," Bob said. "Ten percent of all earnings that go through this place go straight to the Dan family. In return, they use that money to hire yellow knights and mages and then train them. If you are wondering how this city gets by with zero taxes… It"s all because of this place."
As they walked forward down the straight long path to the auction house. With Ray"s sensitive hearing and sharp senses, he could vaguely hear the sound of chains. Something he hadn"t heard in the while. The rattling against the floor would consistently hit the ground and as Ray turned around… He saw what it was that made those noises.
"I almost forgot." Said Bob. "One of the main attractions of this whole place, its completely exempt from the laws outside, and in here you are free to own whoever you want."
"Slaves," Ray said with anger in his voice.
He could see a row of about twenty humans all chained by their hands and feet, slowly walking along while being guarded by several yellow knights. Ray couldn"t believe it, not only did they try to enslave beasts and other races, but they even enslaved their own.
The slaves were dressed in minimal clothing and had been beaten and not well fed. While on a certain part of their body, either on their neck or leg was a magic circle. Ray took note of what the magic circle looked like and he would try to describe it to Bliss or Lenny later.
Behind the slaves though, was a large metallic box being carted along on the back of an open carriage. The metallic box was made of glathrium so Ray could tell it wasn"t cheap and there were only a few air holes in random places.
"What"s inside there?" Ray asked.
"I"m not sure," Bob replied. "My guess is that it is another type of slave, but they only reveal it in the VIP areas. Perhaps it"s for some sick perverts to fulfill their desires with." Bob said.
As Ray used his dragon eyes skill, he was unable to see through the glathrium, after all, it was made out of the same material as those special doors that sealed the divine being over, so it was a shame he couldn"t see what was inside.
"Everyone move!" the guard out in front said. He was most likely the captain judging by the fact that the helmet he had on looked a little different compared to the others. It was slightly pointed at the top.
The crowd moved to the side allowing the slaves to walk past but suddenly out of one of the rows of slaves, the girl at the back fell to the floor. The slaves were attached to each other by chains, so immediately the other ones who were linked at her stopped.
Ray used his dragon eyes and could tell that her life force was week.
"What are you doing." One of the guards at the side said. He then pulled out his sword and urged her to walk using the flat end of the sword on the back of her leg.
A large red mark was left as she screamed in pain, but even her screams were weak as it seemed she hardly had any energy.
"Come on, we are nearly there, if you start slacking now then there will be no food for you tonight. Or even worse, no one will want to buy you when they see how weak you are." The guard said.
The woman placed both hands on the floor and tried to push herself up, but her arms were constantly shaking, and she had no energy. Eventually, she collapsed onto the floor again.
"Did you not listen to me?!" the guard said as he lifted his sword once more.
Ready to hit her again.
"What a cruel sight she can barely stand." Bob said. "it"s a shame but if anyone gets involved then they will make an enemy of the Dan family." Suddenly, Bob realized that Ray who was standing by his side was no longer there.
When he looked in front of him, Ray was already right next to the guard with the sword held in his hand.
"You will not hit this girl in front of me again!" Ray said.