Lein walked past the rows of iron cages, his gaze sweeping over the slaves trapped inside. Their conditions varied—some looked well-kept, while others appeared to have been left in a miserable state for far too long. Their ages ranged from children to the elderly.
"A cruel world," he muttered in his heart.
Yet, he did not curse or blame anyone. It was simply the way of this cosmic world—where the strong reigned as they pleased, while the weak could only resign themselves to fate.
As he walked, Lein began marking the slaves he intended to take. Each time he tapped on a cage's lock, the female receptionist accompanying him immediately opened the iron door, allowing the slave inside to step out.
The sharp clang of an unlocking padlock echoed loudly, like a bolt of thunder in the silence. The slaves tensed. Some of them looked at Lein with sharp gazes—wary, filled with hatred, or despair. But there were also those who remained still, too broken to care anymore. They knew that whenever someone was chosen, only two fates awaited them: life… or death.
Lein continued walking, his eyes scanning one cage after another. But suddenly, a shadow darted from behind the bars.
A thin hand reached out toward him, filthy fingers nearly brushing against his sleeve before he instinctively stepped back.
Lein shifted his gaze to the owner of the hand.
A woman stood behind the bars, her body wrapped in a tattered cloak that had long lost its original color. Her silver hair was unkempt, strands falling over her dirt-streaked face marked with scratches. Yet, despite her pitiful state, her beauty still shone through—elegant, even compared to noble princesses.
Lein narrowed his eyes.
For some reason, there was something about this woman that felt… different. She did not carry the same aura of despair as the other slaves.
Lein's gaze shifted to the holographic display beside her cage.
Name: Lyra Vaelion - 67 years old
Background: A low-ranking elf born into poverty and abandoned in the forest. She survived by hunting and using weak nature magic. Due to her low social status, she was never recognized by the other elf nobles.
Lein nodded slightly. "No wonder… a noble elf."
However, when he read her age, his eyes widened.
"Sixty-seven years old?" he repeated in his mind, slightly incredulous. "Isn't that still incredibly young for an elf?"
The woman was still staring at him—her gaze filled with hope as if she wanted to say something. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
Lein stepped closer, lowering his voice. "What is it?" he asked, giving her a chance to speak.
The woman raised her hands, making a faint gesture. It took Lein a few seconds to realize—she was trying to indicate that she could not speak.
Lein glanced at the receptionist beside him. "Can you make her talk?"
The woman thought for a moment, pursing her lips slightly before giving a small nod. "Technically, no, sir. But since you are one of our esteemed customers, I'll grant her the ability to speak."
Without waiting for further approval, the receptionist tapped on the iron bars. A soft chime rang out, followed by the clinking of chains unlocking. Silence filled the air for a brief moment.
"Master… please help me! Please help me!"
The voice rang out in a desperate plea, loud enough to echo through the corridors of the slave market. Tears streamed down the girl's face. Her frail fingers gripped the bars tightly, her body trembling as she continued to cry out.
Lein watched her with an unreadable expression. He did not react immediately, merely standing there and observing. Confusion crept into his mind, followed by a slight sense of irritation. Yet, for some reason, something inside him stirred—something that made him want to hear more from the young elf before him.
"Master, I'm thirsty…"
Her voice weakened, like a candle flickering in the wind. Her frail body swayed, her legs losing strength.
The girl collapsed, sprawled on the floor, utterly drained. Her breathing was ragged, her eyes still gazing at Lein with a hazy look, as if struggling to stay conscious. But in the end, her eyelids slowly shut.
Lein let out a long sigh. "This girl…"
A realization dawned on him. No wonder she was only sixty-seven years old. From the way she acted, she was more like a child who had lost her mother, desperately crying out for protection. She had even used up the last of her strength just to call for him. A foolish act, yet at the same time… innocent.
"Release her," Lein finally said. His tone remained flat, but there was a hint of softness in it. After that, he returned his focus to selecting more slaves.
Half an hour passed. Lein now stood before a large group of slaves he had chosen. They stood in an unorganized line, some still bowing their heads with empty expressions, while others stole cautious glances at him. Beside him, the receptionist was meticulously calculating the total purchase.
"5 Master-rank slaves…"
The rest had no cultivation.
After completing the calculations, the woman gave a small nod and displayed the final total on her tablet. She turned the screen toward Lein, revealing the number.
"Sir, the total payment is 73,500 Cosmos gold coins."
Lein did not react. Without asking or protesting, he raised his wrist. The receptionist swiftly tapped a few options on her screen.
A notification popped up on Lein's device, indicating that the transaction was ready for confirmation. Without hesitation, he approved it.
"Thank you, sir. The transaction is complete. All of these slaves are now yours," the receptionist said, handing him a scroll. The scroll contained the names of all the slaves, and by letting his blood touch it, Lein would gain full control over them.
Lein took the scroll without a word. Casually, he bit the tip of his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the parchment.