Slavery, in this decadent Empire, is legal. The slave trade occupies an even larger share in the Empire's economy.
The market price for a strong male slave is 30 gold coins, the market price for a beautiful female slave is 50 gold coins. Of course, if you occasionally encounter one that is particularly excellent, they can be sold for an even higher price.
Carson, male, around thirty years old. Not the kind of powerfully built big man, but born looking thin and gaunt with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks.
As a famous slave merchant, Carson had always felt proud of his life and profession. Whenever slave after slave bound by iron chains walked past him, while he stood aside laughing wickedly and counting money, and when the mood struck him, he would whip the slaves who looked at him with hateful eyes. Listening to their wailing screams, no matter how many times, it would make him feel immense enjoyment.
But today's Carson lacked his usual demeanor; instead, he looked like he had just lost his parents, wearing a crying face.
Because, from today onwards, he could no longer pursue the profession he loved!
A few days ago, he encountered a person unlike any other on the street. Out of professional habit, Carson immediately plotted against the other party without hesitation. He originally intended to bring a group of thugs to quietly capture the other party and then sell them at a high price to those great noble lords, but he never expected that person to be a veritable ancestor!
He was severely thrashed by that ancestor. If the other party hadn't been in a relatively good mood at the time, he might have turned into a pile of rotten meat, just like those unlucky thugs.
Although surviving made Carson feel profoundly lucky, what made Carson immensely sad was that he could no longer continue in the profession of a slave merchant.
Feeling immense sorrow, he picked up his shop's sign, keeping it entirely as a memento!
"Carson!"
Just then, a voice suddenly came from behind him, scaring Carson into a shudder, and he almost dropped the sign in his hand.
"Oh my, Anc..."
Seeing Leone and another bruised and swollen young man walking towards him, Carson almost collapsed from fear. Instinctively, he wanted to call out 'Ancestor,' but seeing Leone glare fiercely at him, the quick-witted Carson immediately reacted, and holding the sign with a fawning face, ran to Leone's side and asked with a smile.
Looking at this guy with a treacherous face and a face full of fawning smiles, Leone felt a wave of disgust, but thinking that she still needed his help this time, she suppressed the urge to punch him away.
"Cough cough... Lieutenant Carson, this is my friend Tatsumi. He just came from the countryside and hopes to join the army in the Imperial Capital to make a name for himself."
"Mm, his strength is quite good. I have personally verified it. So, recommend him to your superiors, and let him be a captain!"
Hands clasped in front of her chest, Leone had a serious look.
Tatsumi, hearing Leone's voice from the side, immediately his eyes lit up. Before, this "monster older sister" said she would help him, he initially thought she was just messing with him, but now it seems she really meant it!
"Lord Carson, I'm Tatsumi, please take care of me!"
Remembering what everyone in the village taught him, that in the Capital, one must be polite to people, and hearing the "monster older sister" call him Lieutenant earlier, he seemed to be a significant official, so he must be respectful. Thinking of this, Tatsumi smartly stepped forward and greeted Carson.
However, Tatsumi still had some doubts in his heart. Didn't this "monster older sister" say her name was Sora before? Why is this Uncle Carson calling her Leone now?
Although he really wanted to ask, after looking at Leone's fists, Tatsumi suppressed the words.
"Uh..."
His face twitched, Carson was stunned, not knowing what was going on.
But it was obvious that this bruised and battered country boy in front of him didn't seem to know the true identity of his ancestor Leone, and seemed to have been tricked. He was just a recently laid-off slave merchant, and what Lieutenant? Lieutenant my foot!
He wanted to say something, but was afraid of ruining the good deeds of this little ancestor and getting beaten up by her, Carson was immediately at a loss, and could only look at Leone with a pitiful expression.
Didn't I just offend you once, old woman? I have already given up my most beloved profession as a price and also paid a large amount of compensation, why are you still not letting me go!
Looking at Leone's tall figure, Carson was incredibly resentful, but when those rat-like eyes swept over those adorable cat ears, huge breasts, and a powerful tail, he couldn't help but secretly swallow his saliva...
"Ahem... Tatsumi, wait a moment, I'll discuss something with Lieutenant Carson first. Don't worry, I said I would help you, and I will definitely help you!"
Clearing her throat twice, Leone, with a slightly reddened face, said to Tatsumi. Even doing something like this, she felt a little guilty.
Ignoring the confused Tatsumi, Leone grabbed Carson like a little chick and pulled him aside.
"Hehe... Ancestor Leone, what are you up to? If you have any instructions, please feel free to give them, I will never delay."
Seeing Leone looking at him with ill intentions, Carson shivered all over, and quickly added:
"I've already stopped being a slave merchant as you instructed, old woman, look, look, I've even taken down the sign!"
While saying this, Carson also prepared to show Leone the large wooden sign in his hand.
"Hmph, alright, alright, I'm too lazy to talk nonsense with you!"
Looking at this disgusting guy, Leone regretted why she didn't kill him too back then. Well, since she needed his help this time, she'll spare him for now. She continued:
"Now I order you to do one last job, I'll sell that kid to you! As for what you do with him after that, you figure it out, I don't care."
"Hehehe, that kid is from the countryside, and wants to be an official in the Capital and make a name for himself. Later, you can say that you are a Lieutenant and can recommend him to the army, and he will naturally follow you obediently."
With a wicked smile on her face, Leone said to Carson.
"Ancestor Leone, did that kid offend you somewhere? Hehehe, just leave it to me, I will definitely sell him as the lowest class slave to get revenge for you, old woman!"
His eyes lit up, although he was only being asked to do one last job, it still made Carson incredibly excited. No one loved his profession more than him, and others wouldn't understand these things!
"Hmph, I don't care!"
"That kid is a high-grade original product, one price, 1000 gold coins!"
Leone glanced at Carson disdainfully. How could she not know that this guy was deliberately trying to please her? She was unmoved, and with a non-negotiable tone, she held out her hand and said.
"One thousand... Okay!"
He almost didn't catch his breath. Even the most beautiful dancer from the foreign tribes wasn't worth this much! He even had the urge to kill, but Carson ultimately compromised.
Alas, there's nothing he can do, this is a real killer ancestor in front of him!
With great pain, he took out a bag of gold coins and handed it to Leone. Carson was already planning how to sell that kid Tatsumi for a high price. His blood couldn't be spilled for nothing, he had to get something back from him!
"Hmph, you're sensible, be smart later, if it gets exposed, I'll kill you!"
Another pocket money arrived. Weighing the gold coins in her hand, Leone was in a pretty good mood.
"Um, Ancestor Leone, can I ask a question? Why are you selling that kid as a slave? Didn't you used to really dislike these things?"
Carson also felt quite strange and couldn't help but ask.
"Hehehe... Why? Because he's called Tatsumi!!!"
With a cold smile, as if remembering some unpleasant past events, Leone said through gritted teeth.
Remembering how that scumbag Sora actually used this name to deceive her, and also merged [Lionel], The King Of Beasts Transformation, into her body, making her his pet and no longer able to turn back into a normal human. Thinking of these things brought tears! And hatred!!!
Moreover, it's impossible to find that pervert Sora. Leone would be thankful if he could bully her less one day. If she hadn't met him, so be it, but who made her meet him? This guy named Tatsumi!
Hmph, since I can't get revenge on that bastard Sora, it's fine to mess with you, kid, right? Who made you call yourself "Tatsumi", the most hateful name in the world!!!
Looking at Leone's ferocious smile, Carson on the side shivered all over. My grandma, how deep is this hatred!
…
"Hahaha, Tatsumi, we've already talked, don't worry, you'll be able to join the army and be given important positions soon, and it won't take long for you to make a name for yourself in the Capital!"
Having already conspired with Carson, Leone walked over and said to Tatsumi with a smiling face.
It's just that her smile looked a little unsettling...
"Yes, yes, little brother, Miss Leone has told me about your situation, very good, very good, talents like you are exactly what our Empire needs!"
"Well, originally Miss Leone only said to let you be a captain first, but how can that be? This little brother is clearly a person of great talent, making him a captain is really doing him a disservice, let him be a Second Lieutenant directly!"
Carson was also a big talker. Since bragging doesn't cost money now, he also followed along and bragged hard.
"Really?!! Thank you, thank you, I definitely won't disappoint you!"
Tatsumi was so excited in his heart. Finally, someone recognized his excellence, and he thanked the two of them with immense gratitude.
"Hmph, kid, don't think it's that easy. I'm not related to you, and I can't help you for free. Introduction fee, introduction fee, I won't do it without it!"
Leone was also a heartless person. She thought to herself, since she's already tricked this silly kid, she might as well trick him more thoroughly! So, she held out her hand and asked Tatsumi for an introduction fee.
"Uh... It should be, it should be! This is all the money I have, I'll give it all to you, thank you, kind older sister."
He was stunned at first, but remembering that people in the city seemed to talk about introduction fees and such, Tatsumi, who had reacted, quickly took out his money bag and handed it to Leone, even afraid that the other party would refuse him if they thought it was too little.
"Okay, that's it then, I'll be going."
Looking at this adorably silly kid, Leone felt a little embarrassed, but she still accepted the money bag without hesitation.
"Kid, work hard, older sister believes you will have a great future!"
With a solemn look, she patted Tatsumi's shoulder, and then Leone left without looking back.
Watching Leone, who was running incredibly fast, Tatsumi was confused. The other person's behavior just now seemed a bit strange...
"Hahaha, Lieutenant Tatsumi, don't look, don't look, come with me."
"Don't worry, I will definitely find you a good family... cough cough, a good unit!"
Carson patted Tatsumi's shoulder and smiled with a "friendly" expression.
"Ah... okay!"
He felt that something was strange, but the too naive Tatsumi couldn't figure out what was wrong, so he simply didn't bother to think about it anymore and followed Carson.
Walking along happily, humming a tune, Carson was enjoying his last professional career. He thought hard about how he could sell this foolish boy for a high price...