‘Jonathan couldn't believe what he was seeing’

[Guard Captain Luigo

Tier-3 Apprentice knight

Tier-3 Oficial Knight

Tier-4 High Knight

]

… High knight. And Tier-4 to boot.

That means he is one step away from getting into the next Job. This is one hell of a powerhouse!

For my current self at least. I can't say for the outside... Perhaps he is just a weak mob, but I refuse to believe that.

How about the others?

‘Jonathan went through the other Guards, but most of them were only Low-Tier Oficial knights, some were even apprentices.’

(From now on, Tier-1, 2 ,and 3 will be also called Low, Mid, and High Tier.)

The merchants are much closer to my current situation at least. The highest is…

[Caravan leader

Tier-3 Trader

Tier-3 Traveling Merchant

]

He is at the peak of his second Job. But I wonder what is beyond Traveling Merchant… High traveling merchant?

No matter.

‘Jonathan approached the last mechant with an arrow on top of his head. It was the slave trader.’

“...”

“...”

‘But he didn't say anything, making the situation quite awkward. So Jonathan just ignored him and opened the store Tab’

[Elrica Megua>Tier-2 Prostitute

Luihj Jajijides>Tier-1 Painter

Kopsfy Twiteis>Tier-3 Bard

...

]

‘There was a very long list with at least two dozen names’

Now that I think about it, where are the slaves?

‘He looked around until he finally saw a wagon with a large cage, there were several people inside. Their clothes were tidy and they were now eating.’

I… Sigh. This world grows more dangerous the more I live in it, if I mess up I could be one of these guys… Or worse, I could actually die.

‘Shaking his head, Jonathan did a quick read in the list and selected a few people he thought were useful.’

[Quing Mesh/32

Tier-3 Apprentice Swordsman

Tier-1 Swordsman

Tier-2 Smith

Guilda Milfa/21

Tier-3 Innkeeper

Tier-1 Winemaker

Avius Magnus/70(32)

Tier-1 Gardner

Tier-2 Herbalist

Tier-3 Apprentice Alchemist

Tier-4 Alchemist

Liuz First/18

Tier-2 Stonemason

Tier-1 Woodmason

Tier-1 Builder

Zuil Second/18

Tier-1 Stonemason

Tier-2 Woodmason

Tier-1 Builder

Uilz Third/18

Tier-1 Stonemason

Tier-1 Woodmason

Tier-2 Builder

]

‘Finally, he set his sight in a group of 6 people. Three people with an interesting set of abilities, and three brothers with similar skills.’

“The first three I can do are 1 Gold and 3 Silver, 1 Gold and 3 Gold and 8 Silver. As for the twins… They are a single package, they won't accept being sold alone and it's in their slave contract, their price is 2 Gold and 10 Silver”

Damn… That's a little over my budget… 7 Gold and 21 Silveris a bit much…

Not like I can say much when this money came from thin air.

“Why is it so much?”

“... Are you new to this kid? Are you sure you shouldn't call your parents?”

“If I could call them up from heaven I would be in a Church”

“Hehehe… Sorry kid. I was a little too rude. Let me tell you why they are like this.”

“First one on the list, a failed blacksmith. Entered into a huge debt after failing to forge a high-quality blade to a Noble… The rest we can easily interpret.”

“He became a slave to save himself from the consequences”

“Second on the list, a sorry girl. After their house was burned down in an unfortunate event, she decided to sell herself to make enough money to help her parents restart”

“Third on the list, another unfortunate soul who just so happened to offend a Noble. He somehow prescribed the wrong medication and that led to the death of a minor Noble.”

“So he became a slave in order to save himself from the trouble.”

“Finally, the triplets. Their case is much simpler, they pride themselves as talented builders and in order to better themselves, they became slaves in order to raise funds for their eventual exploration of the world.”

“I say they are young, although some may say they are dumb. For me the two are the same Hehe.”

“So, enough talking. Have you decided?”

“Can I take a look at their contract before anything?”

‘The man didn't say anything and just picked a pile of papers from a chest on his side, skimming through them all before picking 4 sheets.’

‘The first paper was about the blacksmith, he is fine with anything as long as he can work in the forge. But he needs at least 8 hours of sleep and 2 hours of free time.’

“... I never asked, but what happens when the conditions of the contract are not fulfilled?”

“It depends on the method used to brand these slaves, in their case, if your break the contract, their Slave Brand is going to depear while you are going to be marked with a seal. anything more than this is confidential.”

That is… Rather omnius.

Focus on the contracts!

‘The second, the girl. She would do most household chores but she isn't a prostitute, the contract is going to be broken as soon as I place my hand on her without her consent.’

Never planned to anyway.

‘The alchemist was the simpler one yet the most complex. He only asked for protection, and he promised that he would repay his buyer with an Elixir.’

“Looking to buy the alchemist? I will give you a piece of advice. Dont bother. He might look like an enticing buy, since you are gaining an experienced alchemist for a few Gold, but you will gain the wrath of a Noble.”

“Why would I? Won't the slave contract end in a year?”

“If no one buys him in the next 3 months, his slave mark will disappear and he will be set free. Nobles aren't patient for the most part, so it's better no butter in this. I don't even know why the boss bought this one, normally he stays away from trouble. Much less Nobles...”

‘The triplets just required food and water and a nice home and they would work on pretty much anything, although they said they could do much more as builders. I can see why though’

“Those three are stubborn, they refused several buyers during our travels. They insist on working as Builders… I don't know why though, such heavy work. Who would want to do it?”

… If I buy these people…

Two of these people are connected to Nobles and the others aren't really that useful.

An Innkeeper is indeed good but only when we have guests, while a group of three builders are useful, but that is under the premise we actually have materials to use…

7 Gold for all three… Is it worth it?

More merchants are going to come and they will have their own supplies. The amount of Gold I can gain is limited and it will take several months to recover all of it.

“I have made my decision, Mister.”

“Hehe, here, just sign here and here and we are done.”

‘Jonathan was about to sign his name when he stopped’

“What is it kid? Are you finally afraid and decided to have second thoughts? Don't even think about lying about your name, that's a major crime and you will be sentenced to death. Not even becoming a slave can save you from that.”

“Do I truly have to sign my name?”

According to the paper, any official Title works as long as it lasts more than the Slave servitude time.

“... Are you thinking of… Hehehe! You are one funny kid, I will tell you that! Yes you can! But be certain that this isn't going to stop those Nobles for long.”

I know that, but in any case. They can't do anything to me for one year right? As long as the alchemist is a Slave, me and the others are safe from interference.

‘Jonathan never forgot his main Goal in this world… Survive.

If he was told to Survive, it means problems are going to follow him sooner or later. So he has to get stronger, a minor Noble is nothing!’

“I can see the determination in your eyes… But I can't give credit nor a discount... However, I will do those 6 for 7 Gold total.”

He is giving me 1 Full Gold discount!

“I appreciate it”

‘He signed the contract by using his “Title”, Guepas Village Elder’

“You can go talk to them whenever you see fit, I will go now free them and give them their money.”

‘The man left just like that’

I dont know what to think of slavery. Much less one as bizarre as this one.

“I still have a lot of money, might as well buy some extra materials for the future.”

After all, the next time a merchant stops to visit might be in one full month.

...