Around five in the afternoon.
Amid the reluctant gazes of Lusana and the other maids, Sang left the 【Heavenly Key】 with Aisha Hodhua and the Little Chicken in tow. They had barely stepped out of the 【Heavenly Key】 and walked a short distance when the young man glanced back, gazing up at the sky. At nearly a thousand meters high, it was still too far to make out any figures.
Even so.
He knew—that person was still up there, always and forever watching.
There had been more than one moment when a strange thought flickered through the young man’s mind: he wanted to change that person, to turn her into a kind and benevolent ruler, and thereby change the world.
Yes.
Just like the protagonists in countless isekai stories, transported to a world dominated by a powerful heroine, becoming her favored companion and using love to redeem her.
Maybe… he really could pull it off?
As Sang mulled this over, the Pink-Haired Little Lolita at his side suddenly spoke up. “Watermelon, it’s still early, and there’s no curfew in the Central District. Why don’t we check out the slave market?”
When Sang and Aisha Hodhua were alone together, she couldn’t break the habit of calling him Watermelon.
Sang didn’t mind the nickname at all. Hearing this reminded him—oh, right, the mansion still had no servants.
Though Sang figured they could manage without hiring help, Aisha would no doubt shoulder all the household chores herself.
So… they probably did need to hire some.
Before Sang could respond, Aisha added, “I know you’d prefer to hire commoners from the territory, but slaves are far more cost-effective… I really do recommend buying some…”
Hiring a registered commoner meant paying monthly wages and risking them quitting anytime; buying an unregistered slave gave you free labor for life—just feed them, give them a place to sleep, and keep them alive. The cost-benefit was obvious.
Sang thought it over and agreed.
At least these slaves would have food and shelter following him, a cozy home without oppression. It was better than serving some perverted noble.
Of course, these thoughts were just him rationalizing his own complicity.
Soon after.
Led by Aisha Hodhua, Sang arrived at the slave trading market in the Peripheral Third District, also known colloquially as Slave Street.
In truth, it was much like the bustling produce markets back in his original world.
A dilapidated old street reeking of decay, lined on both sides with shops specializing in the sale of slaves. Inside the shops stood numerous cages crammed with humans—men, women, elderly, and children, all gaunt and hollow-eyed like lifeless dolls. They wore rags that barely covered their bodies. Many male slaves were completely naked, and the females weren’t much better off, at best draped in tattered cloth that hid only their most vital parts… devoid of any dignity, treated no better than livestock.
Some traders were even more straightforward, chaining several people by the neck like leashed dogs and parading them through the street, hawking their wares just like any street vendor.
Of course.
Rarer breeds—like werewolves—or exceptionally beautiful human women, or robust human men—had to be purchased at the auction house deeper inside. You might even stumble upon a rare Titan there.
It sounded a bit odd to say it, but the customers at Slave Street were mostly humans… though that could simply be due to their sheer numbers…
It wasn’t just nobles who could buy slaves; commoners qualified too—as long as they had the money!
Ever since regaining his freedom, Sang dyed his hair deep blue before heading out. The Central District wasn’t some backwater like Kaen Town; it teemed with countless Blood Race families. To them, someone like Sang—a 【Abandoned Child】—wasn’t just a rare delicacy but also a power booster.
And the most telltale sign of a 【Abandoned Child】 was black hair.
To stay safe, Sang needed some basic disguise. He had no desire to get kidnapped again… Beyond that, he had to avoid injuries on the street. If he bled, the Blood Race might catch the “scent of dinner”… though it probably wasn’t that dramatic; ten meters away, and they’d likely miss it.
The moment they entered Slave Street, Aisha Hodhua activated her Blood Eyes… a clear signal to everyone else that she was one of the Blood Race.
Don’t mess with us!
Well… Aisha Hodhua was just a petite little lolita barely scraping one-forty centimeters, and Sang was a one-meter-something teenager. The two of them looked far too vulnerable to be strolling through Slave Street. They needed that deterrent.
Along the way.
Aisha Hodhua explained, “Sang, there are some unwritten rules of the noble world that I think you need to hear… Charging in so recklessly is a sure way to get into trouble.”
“Mm, go ahead.” Sang showed a hint of humility.
This time, he was genuinely paying attention.
The rotten atmosphere here made it impossible for him to slack off.
“First, in the noble world, even maintaining a posture of balanced neutrality means every family is constantly maneuvering in the shadows. The stronger the family, the vaster their network of influence. Beyond the Hill Family, the Three Great Families represent the biggest powers—especially the Cape Family, veritable overlords who pull all the strings. You’ve been turning down invitations from other nobles, which isn’t wise. At minimum, you should cultivate alliances with some families… in case trouble arises, they could lend a hand.”
“Second, wealth is a key measure of a noble’s prowess… This is a world where strength rules, but money matters a great deal too. You have to uphold a lifestyle of refined elegance…”
But then.
As Aisha Hodhua reached this point, Sang couldn’t resist chiming in with a tease. “Ah… don’t Blood Race folk just drink blood? Do you really need that much money?”
Aisha sighed lightly, a touch of exasperation in her voice, before continuing. “Dumb Watermelon… Blood Race have plenty of expenses beyond feeding. Anyway, back on track—regarding a noble lord’s finances, beyond territory taxes, nobles always have their own ventures. This very Slave Street is the property of some noble… You need to figure out ways to make money too. Stop slacking off all the time.”
“Alright, alright… And then? Is there a third point?”
“Third… well, yes, there is. But mostly, I just want you to pick up some noble etiquette. Being too crude will get you shunned by the others, turned into a laughingstock among high society.”
“Fourth…”
Sang finally tired of Aisha’s lecture and quickened his pace ahead, saying only, “Come on, let’s hurry up and buy some slaves…”
“Ah, what am I going to do with you!”
Further in.
The street scenes had already unsettled Sang, but the deeper they went, the more nauseating it became… This was a world without human rights, and Slave Street laid it bare in all its horror…
Human corpses littered the ground everywhere—starved to death or beaten to death—left to rot untouched, stinking to high heaven, swarmed by flies and writhing with maggots.
Some male slaves were forced to act as dogs, letting their owners ride them…
Just then, a frenzied werewolf slave burst from a rusted iron cage. Stark naked, it charged straight toward Sang…
