Chapter 660: Testing the Slave Collars
We tested the slave collar on Burnes who volunteered to be the first one to be tested. As for the master, someone else in the circus will do it.
I can’t become the master. Because as the master, I can freely gives order to the slave. There’s no point in testing if that’s the case. That’s why someone else is the master.
“Burnes. No matter what kind of order you were given, try your best to not do it. You should feel some pain. But just endure it until you can’t take it anymore,” I said to Burnes.
He replied with a nod. And then the master gave him an order to jump on the spot.
At first, Burnes didn’t do anything. Then I can see him suddenly feel pain and his hands are reaching his neck.
With my Divine Vision, I can see that there’s needles coming out of the collar and they are stabbing around his neck. It looks like Victoria’s transformation. Because when I checked the collar using Divine Vision, there were no needle at all.
Burnes endured the pain a little longer, but the longer he endure the pain, the longer the needle will be.
.....
“Burnes, that’s enough! Endure it any longer and the needles will kill you!” I warned Burnes.
Burnes then jumped on the spot as blood is flowing down from his neck. That must be painful. Let’s use painkiller gas on him. Also, it’s a good thing that there’s a healer in the circus. And he’s a male member, so he’s not leaving with the girls. Though there are some men who left with the girls as well.
There’s no need for surgery as Burnes’ wound is healed right away with healing magic. And I stopped using the painkiller gas.
“I guess if they are afraid of death, the slaves will keep obeying order. But this also means that if the master gives an order that the slaves absolutely refuse to do, the slaves can choose to die instead of doing it. Which mean the master of the slaves is smart enough to not give an order that those slaves will refuse,” I said.
Burnes then nodded. And he then grabbed the collar on her neck as he tries to rip it apart. It’s locked and I don’t have the key for it. But with Blobbies and Victoria, it’s easy to unlock the collar.
I have called Victoria here and told her about what’s going on. It’s because we need her to unlock the collars when we don’t have the key.
Though if it’s me, I think I can easily rip those collars apart with my strength.
Burnes tried as hard as possible. Even though he trained his body more than most mages, his strength is not enough to take the collar off. But I think a master level mage can do it.
“Good thing I stole a lot of those. I’ll remove that one and we’ll do another test,” I said.
I used my strength to remove the collar. Even without Aura, it’s still manageable. But using Aura is much easier.
Which mean this collars won’t work against Aura user. That’s good.
After finding out about these slave collars, I thought that the cult might have some items that can restrict the use of Aura. Some sort of Aura or magic item. But because it’s not, we’re still fine.
Still, I need to be careful in case I encounter such item. If such thing exist, that will be dangerous for me who depends so much on using Aura.
If that happens, then before my magic is sealed, I need to summon my familiars and ask for help. I also need to continue to train my body so I will be strong even without Aura. I think reaching master level mage will help. But that might take a long time to happen.
Anyway, the slave collar is easy to remove. Even after I wore it on my neck, when I disobeyed Burnes who was supposed to be the master of the collar, I can also use Aura to protect my neck from getting stabbed. No matter how long I disobeyed, I don’t need to worry about getting stabbed.
Removing it was easy as well. I can either use my strength or use Victoria and transform her into a key. Which mean I need her to be by my side the whole time. But that’s fine. It’s not like just by going around as living armor, we can gain the cult’s attention right away.
“Alright. The test is over and the result is good. I’ll go get the girls far from here. I’ll bring them to Albert and told him about what happened in this city,” I said to Burnes.
Albert had cleaned the nobles. But maybe he only remove those who are related to the cult. If the lord in this city is not related to the cult, it’s natural that Albert didn’t think that this city has a problem.
Maybe he asked the lord if he’s related to the cult. And he knows the truth that the lord really is not related at all. That’s why he left the lord alone since he’s not investigating corrupt nobles.
After meeting the girls, I brought them to Albert. They have asked Sonia to tell Albert about the city, but hearing it from the agents directly should be better for Albert.
Maybe he will ask me to bring him there with portal and surprise the lord. Or maybe just a messenger like what previously happened in Rygis where I brought Sara with my portal.
I returned to where Burnes and the others are. And we’re now preparing to raise the tent for the show when someone uninvited come in.
“Hey! I see that the girls are leaving! Why? Why can’t they stay?”
He is wearing uniform of the guard. And he asked why the girls are leaving.
“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s because lately, we haven’t gotten enough audience coming and we don’t have much income to pay for everyone. Even in the previous city, we barely had enough to buy supply to travel here,” Thomas said.
“Huh? And now that there are no more girls, there will only be fewer audience. Good luck! I bet your show is shitty anyway,” the guy then left.
Thomas is good. Is quick-witted and told a lie easily. But he’s also the weakest. We shouldn’t bring him here carelessly.
“Thomas. I’ll arrange it so Spot will be with you at all time. Spot, make sure to protect him in case of danger,” I said to Spot.
“Sure.”
He has been with me since our sneak raid into the slum to steal the collars. And he hasn’t left. So I asked him to protect Thomas.
Our plan is to get captured by the people here. Either by walking around, or through some other means.
Though the one that needs to be captured the most will be me since it will be easier for me if I enter the slum and remove the collars from other slaves. Other than me should be Burnes. The only agent from Tatrama who is still staying in the circus.
The rest of the agents, even the men, also left with the women. And Burnes said he has some kind of reputation as well, so other agents should know his appearance.
If the agents who were sent here were enslaved, they should know Burnes. That’s why Burnes needs to get captured.
As for the rest, they will improvise. Either escaping or get captured as well.
“Oh, there’s another good idea,” I suddenly realized that there’s a better idea than walking around without purpose and just wait to get captured.
“What is it?” Burnes asked.
“Thomas. I need you to sell us as slaves,” I suggested to Thomas.
“Selling you guys?” Thomas is confused hearing my suggestion.
“Exactly as I said. Let’s say that you regretted making a circus perform here and decided to get drunk in a bar. There, you will say that you wish that you can sell us for money. Maybe one of the slave merchant will hear it. And you will suggest me, Burnes, and some other members with strong body so they will make us into slaves thinking that we’re good for labor works,” I said.
“I see. Not only Thomas will be safer, he can also get money. And we can pretend that we’re sleeping when they captured us. So, who will be captured?” Burnes asked.
Whoever want to get captured, they will be free anyway. So I suggested that they keep their consciousness at all time, and use the Blobbies I gave them and transform them into something that will protect their neck. But they need to do it swiftly right before they put the collar around them.
As for me, I don’t need any. Though I already have Victoria.
“If you all agree to it, then I will do it. But I need you to perform well tonight. We have a show to do,” Thomas said.
That’s right. To make it more convincing, Thomas needs to act after at least one show. And tonight, I don’t think there will be many audience coming. So he can get drunk at the bar after the show. I don’t need to worry since Spot is with him.
Though there’s one thing I’m worried about. They said that there’s one influential expert level mage in this city, right? Is he a slave?
If he’s not a slave and he knows the slavery that happens in this city, he’s an enemy. I hope that’s not the case.