The Mad Dog of the Dukes House - Chapter 71



Only Krnovel

Episode 71 21. Auction House (2)

3.

Here’s a quick summary of the information I heard about Levin from the cobbler:

secret?

Cobbler didn’t have that kind of thing.

“Of course, there is no evidence that the Count was involved, but the circumstantial evidence is sufficient.”

“What is your suspicion that Count Leandro is behind this?”

“If I give you a bribe, won’t you accept it? It’s because you have a dirty mind that you take bribes. It’s the one who gives the bribe who knows best.”

“… … That sounds plausible.”

In the end, it was said that in order to rescue the elf slaves, he had to fight against Count Leandro.

Cobbler continued his story, keeping an eye on Caron.

“As you can see when you come here, the entire city of Leven is like a fortress. It’s the perfect location to run a slave market.”

Due to the nature of being a border city, it is relatively free from the center.

Moreover, the number of private soldiers that the position of Count could maintain was enormous.

Because it was a position that was granted considerably extra-legal authority to protect the border.

‘You use that power to trade in slaves?’

There is clearly an ulterior motive.

The slave market is run by people who have no backing to begin with.

This means that it is not an attractive means for a change Count to take risks and operate.

Count Leandro has a very close relationship with the Salmon Dukes, one of the most powerful men in the Empire.

I’ll have to check the details myself, but I don’t think they’re doing it just for the money.

As Caron was walking down the alley, lost in thought, Cobbler stopped in his tracks.

“We have arrived, my lord! This is where the auction of the finest goods takes place.”

After hearing Cobbler’s words, Caron slowly raised his head and looked at the building in front of him.

A building built so neatly that it cannot be compared to other outdated buildings.

It was a building that was excessively decorated to be considered a slave auction house, and the entrance to the building was guarded by men with swords attached to their belts.

They were all wearing plain clothes, even white masks, but Caron could tell that they were no ordinary security guards.

‘article.’

Starting from 4 stars to 5 stars.

The number is eight in total.

It was an excessive force to guard a mere slave auction house.

“On days when there is an auction for valuable items like elves, the security force is strengthened like this. Your Majesty. I’m telling you this just in case, but please refrain from causing any unpleasantness as much as possible… … .”

Cobbler spoke cautiously to Caron. Caron waved his hand lightly.

“Your face is the most unpleasant.”

“… … I’m sorry. Please go in.”

Cobbler scratched his head awkwardly and skillfully approached the guards at the entrance.

“Everyone is working hard.”

Then a man who appeared to be the leader stepped forward.

“No one can enter today. Please present an invitation.”

“I have brought a distinguished guest. He said he would like to purchase a valuable item… … .”

At those words, the captain looked up and down at Charon, who was standing behind Cobbler.

“Distinguished guest? Are you the one who received the invitation?”

“You just got here today… … How could it not work out? He has a black card. You know that, right? Imperial Bank of Korea settlement agency certificate!”

“… … Have you verified the authenticity of that card, Cobbler?”

“Yes. I checked with the guy working at the Imperial Bank branch. You know how to handle my business! I wouldn’t have brought you here if you weren’t a reliable person.”

Then the captain’s gaze turned to Caron again.

After observing Caron silently for a while, he slowly approached her.

Then he immediately bowed and said.

“Excuse me. Can we check the card ourselves?”

Caron frowned as he looked down at the captain’s head. Then he spoke in a tone that sounded annoyed.

“This is already the second time today. Do you guys doubt me?”

“I apologize. Normally, we only accept guests who have been thoroughly verified. According to the rules, you cannot enter, but we will try to accommodate you as much as possible, so we ask for your understanding.”

“If what I want isn’t in here, you’ll be responsible.”

Caron took out a black card from his bosom, showing great displeasure.

The captain, who received the card from Caron, bowed again and said.

“Please wait here for a moment. It won’t take long.”

He hurried and ran inside.

How much time has passed like that?

The leader reappeared with a man.

A man who appears to be around 170 cm tall, wearing a fancy suit and a golden mask.

The man bowed politely to Charon and said:

“It is an honor to serve you, your Majesty. I am the general manager of this auction house, Nura.”

He nodded slightly as he looked at the leader, who then handed the card back to Caron.

“Please forgive the rudeness of my subordinates. It is a basic principle of our auction house not to accept uninvited guests, so there was nothing we could do.”

“Do those bastards who sell slaves even keep their principles?”

Caron laughed heartily and insulted his opponent. However, he bowed again, gently raising the corners of his lips revealed under his mask.

“Please, put aside your anger. I will make sure to serve you well today. Since we have a lot of valuable items coming in today, I am sure you will have a satisfying day.”

Caron nodded and put the card back in his pocket.

Even places that operate strictly on a membership basis can be entered with a free pass.

Once again, I felt the great power of this black card.

It wasn’t originally issued for this purpose, but isn’t a good thing a good thing?

I thought it would be quite useful in the future.

After completing such a simple verification procedure, Caron entered the auction house.

4.

The interior of the auction house was much more splendid than it appeared from the outside.

Gorgeous chandeliers and lighting.

And luxurious seats spaced well apart.

A considerable number of VIPs had arrived early and were seated in this place that seemed more suited to a high-class restaurant than an auction house.

“This is it.”

The seat assigned to Caron was the best seat in the place.

A place with a panoramic view of the stage where the auction will take place.

In fact, it was structured more like a room than a seat.

In front of the gold-adorned seats, sumptuous food and drinks were prepared in advance.

“Ring the bell on the table and the staff will come. If there is any food or drink you would like, please let me know. And if there is an item you would like during the auction, just write down the price on the magic board in front of the bell. Then, I hope you have a good time.”

Creak.

Nur, who had guided Caron and Cobbler to this point, carefully closed the door and disappeared.

Caron looked around while taking a bite of the apple on the table.

-There is no special device, sir.

‘okay.’

After confirming that there was no eavesdropping magic through the guillotine, Charon looked at the cobbler standing next to him and said.

“If you’re hungry, pick up anything here and eat it.”

Then the cobbler said to Charon with a moved expression on his face.

“Is that okay?”

“How much does that cost?”

“thank you!”

Cobbler takes a bite of food without hesitation after being given permission by Caron.

The cobbler spread the foie gras pâté on the bread and put it in his mouth without a second thought.

Caron, who had been watching the scene, spoke in a calm voice.

“You say you’re a slave, but you eat fancy food?”

Then the cobbler chewed his food thoroughly, swallowed it, and answered with a smile.

“When else would a guy like me get to eat food like this? I’m the kind of guy who earns money to eat fancy food like this.”

“I heard you make a lot of money?”

“Kuuuuu. What would you do with a lot of money, Master? After paying tribute to your superiors, giving allowances to your subordinates, and feeding the guys in the concentration camp, there wouldn’t be much left.”

The guy said that and took a bite of the roast duck.

“When I was young, I picked up and ate the foie gras that my master had thrown away… … .”

“Stop selling your emotions. Why would you sell your emotions to an evil slave trader?”

“… … Anyway, that’s how you make money.”

“You don’t make much money, but you have a lot of expensive alcohol in your office?”

“It is a gift from our customers who now use our office… … .”

“If you want to make more money, just stop investing in slaves, you idiot.”

That’s normal, actually.

Slaves just need to keep breathing. They are worse than animals.

But the cobbler shook his head firmly.

“I’ve said this many times, but our management policy at Cobbler Human Resources is to feed and raise our products well. If possible, we want to find good owners for them.”

“… … You have no intention of freeing the slaves?”

“Then how do I make money, my lord? This is all I have learned… … .”

Paaaaah.

“Cough.”

Even though he was a cobbler who had been hit in the back of the head, the guy ate his food regardless.

“Just eat some food.”

Every time I try to think positively about this guy, he takes it upon himself to take a score down.

No matter how kind this guy is to his slaves, he is still a slave in essence.

In a word, it means bad kid.

Just because there is less poop on it doesn’t mean there is no poop at all.

So, you can use it appropriately and then throw it away.

Why? Because he’s a bad guy anyway.

‘by the way.’

As I came in here, I roughly checked the number of troops here.

There were clearly trained soldiers, including at least 20 knights, deployed in plain clothes.

In short, it means that it is difficult to break through easily.

Even if you were lucky enough to escape the auction house with the elf, it would be nearly impossible to quietly leave this prison-like city.

‘The most obvious choice is for me to buy the elf.’

Even if you take the elf away like that, Poina won’t have any complaints.

After all, what she had asked in the first place was to rescue the elf.

If you take the elves out for a reasonable price, no one will complain.

“Thank you for waiting so long.”

As Caron was slowly organizing his plans, the man named Nur, who had been seen earlier, slowly came up onto the stage.

His voice was amplified and carried throughout the auction house, and at the same time, all the lights except those on the stage dimmed.

“We will now begin today’s auction.”

Clap clap clap.

After a brief applause, a boy wearing a tuxedo and handcuffs appeared on stage.

A boy deprived of all freedom, even wearing a blindfold and earplugs.

The boy’s body was shaking incessantly.

“The first item is a fourteen-year-old noble boy from the Southern Entroy Kingdom. His family fell into ruin due to a long war, but he has been faithfully educated in the manners of a nobleman. As you can see, his appearance is also outstanding. The starting price is 10,000 gold. The auction unit will be 5,000 gold.”

A full-scale slave auction has begun.

Caron watched quietly, trying hard to suppress his displeasure, and soon reactions began to come from all over the auction house.

“Number 22. 15 thousand gold.”

“Number 12. 20,000 gold.”

The race begins.

The series of processes by which people purchase people as objects are clearly revealed.

“Customer number 12, 20,000 gold. Auction won.”

The first item, a noble boy, was sold for 20,000 gold.

The cobbler, who had been watching the scene, put down his fork and said.

“Customer number 12, she’s quite famous in this area. She’s a middle-aged noblewoman… … . She’ll pay money for any young boy from a fallen noble family. Rumor has it that boys sold to her are found dead on the streets two days later.”

There would be no normal person among those who buy slaves in a place like this.

That’s what a slave market is like in the first place.

A place where you can freely express the desires you cannot reveal to others.

So this is natural.

In order to complete the mission easily, it is better to just pretend not to see it.

But memories from long ago keep coming back to me.

Memories of the days when I lived as a boy slave gladiator, charging at my opponents without even having a proper meal.

The tears of other slaves in the same situation, begging for their lives, kept appearing before my eyes.

The memories of that time, already deeply embedded in his mind, began to intersect with the sight of this auction house.

“The second item is… … .”

The auction continues.

Women from fallen noble families, the Suin tribe, etc.

The people gathered here bought slaves as if it were a given, and those who succeeded in bidding cheered with joy.

Caron had the whole scene engraved in his head.

If I just rescue the elves and leave, is that really okay?

-Be honest, sir.

It seems that he unconsciously exerted strength in his hand and pulled the guillotine halfway out.

Guillotine’s soft voice echoed in my head.

-Those guys can freely express their desires, so why can’t we? Doesn’t the owner just want to kill them all?

Hearing that, Caron snickered and muttered.

“… … I told you, you’re a demon sword.”

Guillotine’s words were not wrong.

I feel like I want to erase this place right now.

So, Caron.

“I have to change my plans.”

I decided to have bad intentions.

There’s a mad dog living in the duke’s house