Chapter 500: Slavery Situation (2/2)
Duke Connie didn't take offence. Instead, he laughed heartily and openly. ”Please sit down,” he grinned. ”I might only be a duke but you don't have to worry. My word is as good as law. All I need to do is to convince my half brother who sits on the throne and everything can be possible. You might not know it because you don't stay in Smargdas very very long but I'm the King's proxy and hold the royal stamp for internal matters. It's a pity I don't have the royal seal for military matters because that is in the hands of Duke Zurich who is the King's right-hand man and advisor but it will not concern the passing of the new slave laws.”
Truen walked back and gestured for Zero to sit again. Zero gave the duke a side glance before sitting back down with Truen following after him. This time, the doctor crossed his legs in an imposing manner and slouched to one side, resting his head on a hand looking very bored unlike earlier. Truen praised Zero for the good acting and observed how Duke Connie was tenser than before.
”I see. If that's the case then perhaps we can discuss this again. I'll be straightforward. Change the laws. Those unregistered slaves will have a second buyer. All the guild has to do is take the deed back and process them like any other slaves and put them in a new category of unskilled if they don't fit any of the existing criteria. By the end of three months if nobody buys them, sell them to my contact. We will take them all in.”
Duke Connie raised his brow. ”All? Including the disabled and sickly?”
Truen smirked. ”What we want aren't skills. We just want the numbers, hence the unskilled category if you get my drift. Who do you think we are? It's expensive to feed monsters. Of course, I want to fix the price for the unwanted slaves because we're not fools here to be paying for overpriced used goods. At best, we will pay the same amount you invested in them so that you can break even plus ten percent for administration. Make no mistake, this is not a request nor a negotiation.”
Duke Connie couldn't reply and Truen downed his tea in one go before he stood up. ”My contact will find you for your response with a copy of the terms. Don't worry, you will benefit from it handsomely if you cooperate with us without making things difficult. Half Moon Trading is looking for a distributor for some of their goods.”
After dropping that alarming announcement, Truen and Zero left. Duke Connie remained frozen on his chair for a few minutes to understand what Truen was hinting at. A distributorship agreement in return for slave management? Who would reject such a brilliant opportunity?!
”Jackpot! We caught the big fish! HAHAHA I'm RICH!”
Truen and Zero quickly made their way downstairs, led by a senior staff while Duke Connie continued to laugh upstairs.
”May I know where the reception is? I have a search request for a slave.” Zero asked and the guild staff guided them to a special room where they waited to be served for official business now that the meeting was over.
Zero quickly put up a soundproof barrier when the door closed and turned to Truen. ”You have no idea how much I wanted to rip his face off to feed Kerberos. Also, why did you tell him to sell the slaves to us? We could have simply demanded that they changed the law to set unregistered slaves free or something...”
Truen shook his head. Zero was still too inexperienced and naive. ”If I did that, they would have suffered more and end up like the beggars on the streets. At least in our care after the transfer of the deed, we can offer them treatment, education, jobs, food and lodging at the Humanitarian Guild to slowly earn their freedom and slave deed back. I asked for a fixed price and low cost for that very reason so that these slaves can choose to stay with us or leave when they are in better condition. If they do not wish to live in Smargdas, we could offer them refuge in New Moon Village or something. Of course, Duke Connie doesn't have to know this. It's better to let them think that the slaves were eaten by the monsters at Endow Hill to also deter others from trying to invade our territory.”
Now that Truen mentioned it, things made more sense. ”Understood. You did very well!” he said and patted Truen on the head with a bright smile.
Truen wanted to retort but there was a knock on the door so they quickly composed themselves and cancelled the spell. There was still some unfinished business and Zero did his best to stop the corners of his lips from turning upwards.