"How many slaves do you plan on buying this time?" Ingrid asked, curious to know how many souls will be joining the afterlife that night.
"I don't quite know, a few thousand maybe."
A few thousand? It certainly exceeded whatever figure she had in mind, it was just an absurd number!
'Will they even have that number? Unless they mix in others that are not so low ranked, I don't think we'll be able to get that number...' she thought to herself.
They were already close to the slave market and in fact were approaching the entrance. As fate would have it, they ran into someone very familiar.
'After bringing in the big cow, I'll definitely be promoted soon. Let's see, the branch at Finlare doesn't have any active manager, maybe that's where I'll be put to manage, but... that place isn't good for business at all... maybe Tuluse?
Yeah, Tuluse should be good, that's not a bad choice...' While lost in his thought, Alvin had failed to notice Aldritch and Ingrid who were approaching the market's entrance.
"What has you smiling like that? Did you get a promotion or something?" Aldritch asked leisurely, immediately pulling Alvin out of his fantasies.
"mm?... mmm??? S-sir, welcome sir, once again. Please, if I may know what brings you here to us this fine evening?" Alvin asked with a wry smile.
'Fuck! I totally fumbled that one! Evening? What evening? It's already so dark...' If anything, he certainly wasn't expecting Aldritch to be back, and not so soon either.
"Why else would I be here?"
"I-I see, to buy slaves of course. Sorry for my attitude just now, you startled me." *Ahem...
"Please, follow me in so we can talk more at length." He said with a forced smile on his face.
Aldritch felt as though Alvin was being a bit cautious around him, but he couldn't figure out why that would be, as he didn't really have a reason to. I certainly am not coming off threatening, am I? Or did they send spies after me like that noble?' Aldritch thought to himself.
Even though his expressions remained as they were, his mind was going through different things, thinking of ways to resolve any conflict that may happen if these slave brokers had decided to sell him out after seeing the mass murder he committed by the river.
For now, since there was no actual proof that they saw him, and the fact that he couldn't just make Alvin give him the answer to the question, he decided to just play it out and see how it developed.
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'Just like last time, there are people watching everything around here, they'd easily listen in on any conversation I have with this guy.'
"Huh? What's 5 gold in front of 50? Tell him to be patient a bit more, I'll join him shortly, I'm currently handling a very consequential matter. You know what to do." He didn't even stop as his legs carried him elsewhere.
The one who reported to him was confused, '50 gold? Who's spending 50 gold? On what?' He truly was understood how serious the matter was, the lord from the Lionheart family just had to wait.
...
'Hmm?' Aldritch caught something in the distance, something others didn't notice, it was a signal, and from how it seemed, one meant for just him. 'Who might it be?' He was going to ignore it, but curiosity influenced his decision and he changed his mind. "Hold on for a second, I'll be right back." Aldritch said, giving Ingrid a knowing look.
"H-huh? Sir? Y-" before Alvin could say any other thing, Ingrid put her hand in front of him to block him from advancing further as his body had naturally moved to stop Aldritch. Ingrid proved to be a suitable barrier, as he couldn't even push her hand out of the way. Even though he wasn't actively trying to do so, he could tell that the result would be the same even if he were to try.
'So strong... A powerful man would normally have powerful guarding him. I better just watch and not risk my life.' He thought to himself.
Since these two could not be recognized to be part of any family of nobles or wealthy merchants, their slave market had concluded that Aldritch and Ingrid were powerful mercenaries from another kingdom or similar, since they didn't match the description of any mercenaries from their kingdom.
Of course, if they had done a thorough check, perhaps they could have found more on Ingrid, but looks could be often times deceiving.
Aldritch followed the signal until he reached a turn, away from sight, there, he was surprised to see Lyla, someone that hadn't crossed his mind over the past few days.
"I assume you Argus is here then?" He asked, going straight to the point.
"Yes, master." She answered. She was much shorter than Aldritch, so her looking at him with her head straight gave her the cold look of a killer.
"Good, you'll let me know his position, I'll be taking him with me also." Aldritch said to her as an idea quickly sparked in his head.
"Yes, master. Would you like me to handle it?"
"Are you capable?" He asked.
"Even though he is a magician, I rank higher than he does, also, I know all his moves and spells, he can never win against me. Then again master, it won't result to a fight, it will be done quietly." Her words exuded confidence, so Aldritch couldn't help but believe in her abilities.
"Very well then, I'll leave it to you. Bring him to the forest, the same place as before."
"As you command, master." After that, she left, and Aldritch returned to Alvin and Ingrid.
"Sorry, a slight delay. Let's proceed."
"No problem at all. Please, this way." Alvin gestured towards the now opened metal door that stood alone away from any other door.