The Return of the Limited-Time Sword Master

Chapter 66: The City of Desire and Despair (5)

The first place Martin and Sien entered was District 2.

The entire layout of the streets was organized in a rigid grid pattern, with neatly lined wooden buildings standing in an orderly fashion.

In front of them, merchants were selling all kinds of combat equipment, including weapons and armor, while customers wearing masks inspected them carefully.

It was a scene commonly seen in large cities with developed industries.

However, the items being sold were far from ordinary.

They were all artifacts, powered by magic stones and crafted using magic engineering.

“They’re decent, but there’s better stuff in Varehein City or other dungeon cities, isn’t there? Besides, if something goes wrong, it’s hard to repair them, and their performance can’t always be trusted. I don’t get why anyone would buy them here.”

“Because of the money, of course. Artifacts in dungeon cities are all ridiculously expensive. On the other hand, there are no fees added here, so the prices are much cheaper.”

“Even so, what about the performance?”

“Just because it’s the black market doesn’t mean the performance is that bad. Actually, because it’s the black market, they have to be even more thorough with their products. If they don’t have the skills, they wouldn’t survive here in the first place. Though, I won’t say there aren’t any scams.”

Martin replied as he strolled down the street.

A few merchants tried to force their goods on him, but they were all subdued by Sien’s sharp glare or a swift flick to their heads.

After walking for about 30 minutes, the two arrived at a crossroads.

The left path led to District 3, and the right path led to District 4.

“Where’s the slave market?”

“It’s in District 4… Hmm. If you’re uncomfortable, we don’t have to go in, Sien.”

“Why?”

“Well, I’ve only read about it in reports, but… it was really horrific.”

Though what he said about it being horrific was true, the part about only reading reports was a lie.

He had actually been there before.

He had seen firsthand what happens when human desire and madness push the boundaries of extremity.

“If you say it’s that bad, then it must be serious, Martin. But I’ll go and see it for myself.”

“You’ll be shocked.”

“Even so, I need to see it with my own eyes. Only then can I correct all the wrongs later, right?”

“You’re really something, you know that?”

Sien calmly expressed her conviction.

Hearing her words, Martin let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.

She was the kind of person he couldn’t help but trust.

“Well, that’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“Haha, yeah, you’re right. Let’s go, then.”

“Mm.”

Martin and Sien walked side by side toward District 4, the slave market.

Before long, they could see an iron fence in the distance.

It completely surrounded District 4 and was covered with thick fabric, hiding the inside.

The only visible part was the entrance.

The two cautiously entered, and soon, the view of the street unfolded before them.

“Ah…”

Sien unconsciously grabbed Martin’s hand, despite steeling herself beforehand.

As if expecting it, Martin held her hand in return.

The scene in front of them was shocking.

“Come here to spend time with our beautiful friends! No matter what your tastes are, don’t hesitate to indulge!”

“Handsome and sturdy friends are waiting for lovely ladies! Come quickly and form a close bond with them!”

Men and women, young and old, were being sold like goods.

In front of them, merchants raised their voices, trying desperately to sell their “merchandise,” while masked customers attentively listened.

“It’s been 300 years since slavery was officially banned…”

“The law means nothing in the face of human desire.”

Sien muttered in a cold voice.

As she said, about 300 years ago, the Altaria Empire and five other nations on the Cracian Continent had officially declared the abolition of slavery.

The first reason was to secure more citizens.

The most coveted profession on the continent, regardless of gender or age, was that of an adventurer, leading many to challenge dungeons.

The problem was that the mortality rate was extremely high, which naturally reduced the number of citizens.

As the number of people who could pay taxes dwindled, the state budgets continuously decreased.

The six nations were desperate to find a way to improve this situation, and the result was the abolition of slavery.

The second reason was to improve relations with the elves and dwarves.

Both races were frequently targeted as slaves due to their unique traits, and as a result, the six nations had to engage in constant conflicts with them.

With the nations already busy trying to keep each other in check, they couldn’t afford to deal with interspecies tensions as well. This became another reason for the abolition of slavery.

However, they still didn’t allow the two races access to the dungeons, which was what they truly desired.

‘Human greed hasn’t changed, whether in the past or now.’

Martin gazed at the scene with a grim expression.

At that moment—

Grit.

Sien clenched her teeth beside him.

The veins in her tightly balled fists bulged.

Seeing this, Martin grasped her hand more firmly.

“I understand how you feel, Sien. I want to break every neck of those bastards too. But please hold back a little longer. Now isn’t the time to confront them.”

“Whoever crosses me will pay with their life.”

“Of course they will. But for now, hold on just a bit more.”

Instead of replying, Sien nodded.

Relieved by her response, Martin turned his attention forward again.

They soon arrived at a large building.

Up until now, all the buildings they had passed were ordinary ones that could be found anywhere.

But this one was different, an elegant mansion that anyone would have to admit was beautiful.

“This is the auction house. It’s where they sell special slaves, including those of other races. Only here can you purchase elves and dwarves.”

“Do we have enough money?”

“We have more than enough. Though, I’ll be reclaiming it later anyway.”

Martin had confiscated the assets of nobles and those who had committed illegal acts.

Most of the money had been sent to the coffers of cities and towns, but he had kept some for himself.

It was to buy elves and dwarves.

Afterwards, his plan was to completely destroy the slave market and recover the money he had spent.

The rest would be used to help the victims.

With this in mind, Martin approached the mansion’s main gate and asked the guard a question.

“When does the auction start?”

“It will begin shortly. However, as it’s a special auction, only guests with tickets numbered within the top 200 may enter.”

“Then I suppose we can enter.”

Martin pulled out his gold coins.

The guards’ eyes widened upon seeing the amount, and they quickly stepped aside to make way.

“Y-yes, please enter!”

“For guests with ticket numbers up to 20, there are VIP seats prepared! Please proceed to room 12 on the second floor!”

“Thanks for the information.”

Martin and Sien entered the mansion.

They went straight to room 12 on the second floor, which was filled with luxurious furniture.

However, what caught their attention was something else entirely.

Where there should have been a wall, a large hole was cut out, providing a clear view of the massive underground stage below.

Those who couldn’t secure a VIP seat were crammed into the chairs laid out in front of the stage.

Martin and Sien sat down, but they didn’t engage in conversation.

The shock from everything they had witnessed so far was overwhelming enough to keep them silent.

Finally, the special auction began.

* * *

A man in his early thirties, the auctioneer, stepped onto the stage.

After some preliminary shouting, he quickly got to the main point.

“I’m sure you’re all aware of the territorial war that recently broke out in the western part of the Empire! The House of Viscount Reuter was defeated, and because of that, many people are now seeking ’employment!’ This is a great opportunity to get some job applicants at a bargain price! You won’t get another chance like this, so make sure to purchase quickly!”

Below the auctioneer stood about ten people sitting on the ground.

They were shackled at both their wrists and ankles.

Each of them was a well-built adult, both men and women, all boasting exceptional looks.

But that wasn’t all.

Each of them had either learned magic or martial arts, and there were even some whom Martin found worthy of notice.

Of course, none of them had manifested a noble’s unique ability.

“For those worried about resistance, let me assure you, that’s not an issue! Every job applicant has a magic circle engraved on their bodies. The moment you channel mana into the artifact you’ll receive upon purchase, a powerful explosion will occur. And since the magic circle was engraved by a highly skilled mage, there’s no chance of it breaking!”

Instead of using the word “slave” outright, the auctioneer favored the term “job applicant.”

But even so, it was clear that they were treating people as mere commodities.

Yet no one expressed any discomfort with this.

Even though their faces were hidden behind masks, Martin could clearly sense their feelings.

Curiosity, interest, or outright greed.

“Now, let me introduce our first job applicant for today! His name is Luciano Rahman! A knight skilled in third-circle swordsmanship, with a handsome appearance! He’s 27 years old and still has room for growth. We highly recommend him to those who want a striking knight as their escort! The starting bid is 10 high-grade magic stones!”

“20!”

“It’s heating up right from the start! Guest number 114 has bid 20! Oh, guest number 26 has raised it to 30! I can feel the passion of the gentlemen who wish to accompany this dashing knight! Though, of course, I can’t tell if they’re true gentlemen with those masks on!”

Starting with the knight, the other individuals were sold off one by one.

All of them fetched high prices, proving their worth as skilled individuals.

Though none of them seemed to welcome their circumstances.

“As expected from a special auction, the atmosphere was intense from the beginning. But I guarantee, things will only get more exciting from here. The most special job applicant is about to join us! So, come on out!”

At the auctioneer’s signal, the curtains behind the stage rustled.

A man clad in armor appeared, dragging someone bound in chains.

He was an old man, standing barely over 1 meter tall, with a muscular frame and a thick beard that stretched below his nose.

“A dwarf!”

“Those are rare! How did they even manage to get one?”

A dwarf.

A race known as the spirits of the earth, dwarves excel in mining and artifact creation.

Even young dwarves boast the skills of top-tier craftsmen.

And as for this elderly dwarf before them, there was no doubt his skills surpassed even that.

In short, it was clear he would fetch a high price.

“Our staff worked hard to convince him to join us! His name is Andrea! He’s a third-circle martial artist, though that’s not the important part. What matters is that he’s lived for over 80 years and possesses artifact crafting skills superior to any master! The starting bid is 50 high-grade magic stones!”

“100!”

“130!”

“170!”

Everyone shouted at once, their desires for the dwarf laid bare.

Martin watched them with a bitter smile.

‘I suppose I’m not much different.’

Of course, he had no intention of using the dwarf as a slave like the others.

But the fact that he sought to win their favor for his own benefit wasn’t much different.

‘In any case, it’s not a bad deal for them either.’

Comforting himself with that thought, Martin decided to join the auction for the first time.

“300.”

He declared as he poured 300 high-grade magic stones into the opening before him.

“Guest number 12 has bid 300! Does anyone want to bid higher?”

“310!”

“Guest number 7 has bid 310!”

“400.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Martin raised the price.

He added more magic stones into the slot.

“Guest number 12 has bid 400! Anyone else? I’ll ask again, does anyone else want to bid higher? No one? Then it’s sold for 400!”

Finally, Martin succeeded in acquiring the dwarf, one of his objectives.

Now, if he could secure the elf, he would be ready to proceed with his plan.

“Before we introduce our last friend, we will take a short break!” the auctioneer announced.

Moments later—

Bang, bang!

The door to the booth where Martin and Sien were sitting shook violently.

With a loud bang, the door swung open, and a man wearing a lion mask stormed in.

Judging from the situation, it was likely guest number 7.

“Was it you?! You’re the one who took my dwarf!”

The man yelled without hesitation.

At this, Sien spoke up.

“Is there no rule against guests fighting?”

“Nope.”

That one word was enough.

Martin silently wished the man good luck.

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