As they stepped into the temple, the radiant stained glass windows cast a dazzling glow. The air in the Temple of Death and Vengeance was both divine and solemn. Dominic was awestruck by the sacred atmosphere, while Alfred , seemingly unfazed, kept his gaze elsewhere.
Contrary to his stern first impression, the priest conducted the registration process with surprising efficiency. Within ten minutes, everything was complete, with no trials involving the demonic beasts required—just a few basic questions for the records. Leonardo and Ispher received their transformation prohibitions and stepped out shortly after. Leonardo flexed his arm, inspecting the new restriction, while Ispher remained silent.
Curious about the situation back at the inn, Dominic hurried back. Alfred claimed to have other business and disappeared elsewhere, leaving the demonic beasts to follow Dominic.
The inn was still bustling with activity. Dominic threw himself into assisting his son, deftly handling knights and nobles. In the midst of this chaos, Treasurer Lawrence approached Dominic with a discreet report.
"My lord, there are 15 individuals waiting for private discussions with you," Lawrence murmured.
Dominic frowned briefly before nodding. He made his way to a reserved guest room, where the first merchant soon entered. The man, with his plump figure and jiggling cheeks, approached with an exuberant smile. Rings encrusted with gemstones glimmered brightly as he clasped his hands together.
"My lord! To meet you in person is truly an honor. I've heard so much about you. You embody the qualities of a hero!" the merchant began in a syrupy voice, bowing deeply.
Dominic coughed lightly and fixed the merchant with a steady gaze, determined not to be deceived by his seemingly foolish demeanor and flattering words.
"Enough with the pleasantries. Let's get straight to the point. Why did you request to see me?" Dominic asked.
Momentarily flustered, the merchant quickly regained his composure, offering an awkward smile before explaining his business.
"Ah... Would you be in need of serfs, by any chance? The more serfs a new territory has, the better, wouldn't you agree?"
Dominic's interest was piqued. Could this man be one of the rumored serf traders? Narrowing his eyes, he tried to gauge the merchant's intentions.
"Explain in detail," Dominic commanded.
Seeing Dominic's growing interest, the merchant's cheeks quivered with excitement.
"Indeed, my lord. I have 500 slaves of impeccable status awaiting a new master. What do you think?"
Dominic remained silent for a moment, his thoughts swirling.
"That would depend on where these serfs come from," he finally said.
The merchant leaned forward, his excitement mounting.
"There are no issues whatsoever! It's a common matter. While people may be scarce in the northern regions, the south has the opposite problem. There, the land is limited, but the serfs keep multiplying. Their lords even prohibit them from marrying to curb the numbers!"
Dominic frowned at the explanation. It sounded plausible, but...
"Isn't buying and selling people against the law? How do you plan to handle the paperwork?" Dominic inquired, his skepticism evident.
The merchant, unfazed by Dominic's suspicious gaze, offered a sly grin.
"It's quite simple. You'll purchase 10 pyeong of land in the southern territories. The paperwork already states that the serfs are attached to that land. They'll legally become your property. Since it's unlikely a northern lord would manage land in the south, you can quickly resell the land and solve the issue."
Dominic pondered the proposal. It was undeniably tempting. If the merchant's words were true, it would be an efficient way to increase the population and develop new farmland.
Sensing Dominic's hesitation, the merchant eagerly added more incentives.
"Let's sweeten the deal! To celebrate forming ties with a distinguished figure like you, I'm willing to take a slight loss. How about this? I'll throw in an additional 50 serfs—550 in total—for the price of 500."
Dominic made up his mind. Passing up such an opportunity would be foolish.
"Very well, but there's a condition. The serfs must be sold as family units. I won't allow families to be separated, as it would cause unrest or attempts to escape."
The merchant hesitated, annoyed at the stipulation. Originally, he had planned to separate the attractive ones for individual sale. Still, adhering to Dominic's terms would allow him to offload the elderly and children as well. His hesitation was brief.
"Agreed. However, the robust men and women are already accounted for, so bringing their families will increase the overall numbers. Here's the breakdown: 100 gold per able-bodied man (180 in total), 70 gold per able-bodied woman (160 in total), and 45 gold per elderly or child regardless of gender. Would it be acceptable to include the extra 50 serfs from the elderly and children category?"
Dominic nodded. The price seemed reasonable.
"I'll pay a deposit of 1,000 gold for now. Who is vouching for your credibility?" Dominic asked, wanting to avoid being swindled.
"The guarantee for my identity comes from Lord Balkan, a southern baron who manages serf trading. Here is his certification," the merchant replied, producing a document.
Dominic examined the document, which bore Baron Balkan's seal, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Where will the exchange and final payment take place?" the merchant inquired.
After some thought, Dominic gave his instructions. Transporting such a large group of serfs directly from the current location was unnecessary.
"The serfs should be delivered to the new territory. Set up a flag and station soldiers in the gorge near Iron Valley. Once we leave the capital, bring them there. Ensure there are no losses during transit—they're already sold."
The merchant grinned broadly as he replied, "Thank you for such a generous deal, my lord. I will ensure the serfs are well-fed and in perfect condition before they are sent to you."
This transaction, precariously straddling the line between legality and expedience, was just one of 14 similar deals that followed. By evening, Dominic had secured 3,987 serfs, three Grade-9 magical beasts, and five passes to the black market. The serfs were necessary to populate the newly acquired lands, while the beasts were essential for the pioneering efforts.