"Using human magic power as the driving source of this fortress, is it…?"
Inside his assigned room, Ethan lay on the bed, eyes half-open. His sensing magic had already mapped out the entire airborne fortress. Not even the smallest corner escaped his perception.
At the very bottom level, countless people were imprisoned. Each one was radiating mana—but no, it wasn't radiating. It was being forcibly extracted. Their magic, and even their lives, were consumed to power this mobile fortress.
"War really is the cruelest thing…" Ethan withdrew his perception, his face expressionless. Whoever these captives were, they had been reduced to disposable fuel. Dying without meaning, dying without even a name.
The fortress pressed on, gliding over the skies and completely bypassing the lethal mana zones below. In just three days, it had already crossed into Spade Kingdom territory, descending near a border town.
Before disembarking, Ethan stretched his senses downward one more time—only to confirm the worst. The lower hold held no trace of life. He smirked bitterly to himself.
"All dead already? Life really is cheap here…"
"Mr. Uchiha, please wait here a moment. I must first report to the Captain."
"No problem," Ethan replied easily. "Though… may I walk around a bit? As a merchant, I might spot something of interest."
Ars hesitated, then nodded. "Very well. You two—accompany and protect Mr. Uchiha. Ensure no harm comes to him!"
Ethan chuckled inwardly. So cautious. Not only had Ars arranged spies to monitor him aboard the fortress, now he assigned escorts as well.
"Relax. I've got no intention of causing trouble right now…"
With a faint smile, he glanced at his two shadowing guards and strolled into the streets. This was foreign soil, yes, and he was playing the spy—but even spies could indulge in a taste of local scenery.
Yet as he wandered, his brows furrowed. There was no prosperity, no vibrance. The streets were nearly empty. Shops were shuttered. For a town this size, it looked half-dead, tottering on the edge of collapse.
"…Pathetic." Ethan shook his head. This wasn't worth lingering in. He turned back.
On the way, though, he saw something that froze him mid-step: a squad of Spade soldiers herding a group of civilians. Men and women, old and young alike. Each wore the same expression—despair.
"Mr. Uchiha," one of his escorts answered matter-of-factly, "these low-borns are simply fulfilling their proper purpose."
Ethan's lips tightened. He didn't need further explanation. These civilians were destined to be fuel, sacrificed to power Spade's flying fortresses.
"…Using their own citizens? This kingdom really is rotten." Disgust rose in his chest. Even beasts didn't devour their own den. Clover had Julius Novachrono, a king willing to lay down his life to protect his people. But Spade? They threw away their own like garbage.
"Please, my lord, I beg you!" A desperate voice rang out.
From among the captives, a young woman shielded a small child in her arms. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she pleaded with the soldiers. "This child is still so young, and she hardly has any mana… please, spare her…"
Even if she had to die, at least let her sister live. That was all she wished.
But the soldier sneered. Grabbing her by the jaw, he tilted her head back. "You dare speak to a soldier so casually, you filthy lower-realm trash?"
He turned to the captives, shouting mockingly. "Listen up, scum! The pathetic scraps of mana you worms have aren't good for anything but fueling our fortress. That's all you're worth. Though…" His eyes gleamed as they slid back to the young woman.
"…sometimes trash like you can be useful in other ways."
His tongue darted across his lips. The girl's terrified shiver only stoked his excitement. With a sudden rip!, her blouse tore apart, baring pale skin to the open air.
"You should feel honored. Someone as low as you getting to serve me!" His grin was twisted, lustful, shameless even in the street before onlookers.
Ethan muttered a curse under his breath. Humans were supposed to be above beasts, because humans knew honor, restraint, shame. This? This was filth. If it were a smut book, fine—he might have skimmed it out of boredom. But here, in reality? It was revolting. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novelꜰire.net
In a blur, Ethan closed the ten-meter gap. His boot smashed into the soldier's face with bone-crunching force. Cheekbones collapsed, blood sprayed, and the man flew like a broken kite before crumpling in the corner, twitching.
The other soldiers froze in shock, then quickly rallied, surrounding Ethan.
"What's going on here?!"
A commanding voice cut through the uproar. Ars strode forward, having just returned from meeting the Captain. His eyes narrowed at the sight of soldiers forming a ring around Ethan.
"Lord Ars, this man attacked us! Look at Robo!"
They gestured toward the downed soldier, unconscious, frothing at the mouth, his face hideously misshapen from the blow.
Ars's expression darkened. He turned to Ethan. "Mr. Uchiha. You are my honored guest. But you must give me an explanation."
Ethan only smiled faintly, then pointed toward the young woman—her blouse torn, her arms clutching her chest as she crouched in shame. "Ars. I think the explanation is standing right there."
Ars's eyes flicked over. He frowned. Indeed, he didn't need Ethan to spell it out. Incidents weren't new in Spade. He could already reconstruct the scene in his head.
Still, his voice stayed cold. "Even so, Mr. Uchiha, this is a matter of our kingdom. You—"
"How about this." Ethan cut him off smoothly. "We merchants believe in harmony and profit above all. I'll purchase these two—the girl and her sister. Consider this a transaction."
From his satchel, he drew out two gleaming mana crystals.
Ars hesitated only a moment before his lips curved. Of course. The man wasn't offended—he was fishing for benefit.
"Very well. Then the matter is settled. But Mr. Uchiha," Ars added with a smile, pocketing the crystals, "in the future, please refrain from… unnecessary interventions."
Mana crystals were hard currency—universally valuable. Ars certainly wasn't going to refuse.
"Oh, one more thing. The Captain wants to meet you, Mr. Uchiha. Please, follow me."
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