Chapter 47: Chapter 43: Artisan Slaves
"We shouldn’t have stopped in the Border City, we should have left when we couldn’t find the target!"
In the moving caravan, Lusen complained quietly to the woman beside him, "It’s all your fault, Linda, insisting on strolling in the Border City!"
Recalling the events of the past two weeks, Lusen was full of grievances.
Having not found any trace of the Witch or any potential children in the Border City, Lusen wanted to leave.
However, Linda wanted to relax and enjoy the exotic atmosphere of the north, so they stayed for two more days.
As a result, they saw a team of Church Knights on the street.
The two had to leave the drama troupe and flee the Border City overnight, heading for the nearby Eagle Ridge.
It turned out Eagle Ridge and the neighboring Bailu Clan were fighting over a copper mine at the border. The Church Knights were involved, and the two had to flee again.
If it weren’t for knowing the caravan’s manager, we’d be homeless, surviving in the wilderness by now.
"How could I know those Church dogs would show up in the Border City? How would I know the Hawk Clan would be connected with that Dawn Church?"
The woman beside him, Linda, rolled her eyes and retorted impatiently, "My ability is not foresight!"
"This has nothing to do with foresight; we should be more careful no matter where we are.
Lusen said in frustrated disappointment, "The destruction of the legendary ones was because of you witches’ carelessness!"
"Shut up, it was because of you wizards’ arrogance and pride that you touched taboo, angered those gods, causing the war!"
Linda tried to keep her voice down, but it was filled with anger, "Otherwise, the heritage and knowledge of all spellcasters wouldn’t have been destroyed, most of the energy wouldn’t have been sealed, causing everyone to remain at the apprentice level!"
"Bullshit!"
Lusen’s face turned red as he retorted, momentarily failing to control his volume, attracting the eyes of those around them.
Noticing the attention from others, the two looked around, and simultaneously shut their mouths.
After a while, their emotions calmed.
"Alright, I’ll be more careful in the future," Linda spoke first.
"Travel with the caravan around the Northern Territory, and we’ll be safe once those Church dogs leave."
As soon as they finished speaking, the caravan suddenly stopped, and the guards immediately drew their bows and arrows with vigilance.
Lusen looked up in the direction the caravan guards were staring, and saw seven or eight figures holding bows blocking the caravan’s path ahead.
Robbers?
Lusen frowned, puzzled, as he watched ahead.
There shouldn’t be only a few people if they were robbers, right?
Judging by their outfit, they looked more like hunters dwelling deep in the mountains.
A handsome young man wearing Dragon Scale Armor, with sharp eyes, stepped forward to the front of the team.
...
...
"I am Luo De Tulip, Baron Lord of Black Pine Ridge."
Luo De briefly surveyed the caravan.
No flags flying, indicating they belonged to no lord.
Nobles often wouldn’t personally organize caravans, considering the pursuit of wealth a lowly act.
Yet nobles do not wish to forgo the profits brought by merchants, thus they would accept some merchants as dependents.
These merchants, on one hand, can trade freely within the territory of their patron noble.
On the other hand, while trading in other territories, they can use the noble’s title to protect their caravan, ensuring no harm comes to them, thereby gaining the qualification for normal trade.
In return, merchants would give a portion of their profits to the nobles as gratitude.
Basically, it’s paying for protection.
Of course, there are many merchants unwilling to spend such money, like Lawrence’s Golden Sand Trading Team.
Apparently, the caravan before us is the same.
Luo De, with an indifferent gaze, asked, "Which caravan are you, and who is the manager?"
Luo De’s words allowed everyone to breathe a sigh of relief, the shields held by the caravan guards were lowered.
A tall middle-aged man stepped forward from the back and bowed respectfully to Luo De.
"Good day, esteemed Lord of Black Pine Ridge, I am Simon Cuiye."
Simon wore a flattering smile, but upon meeting Luo De’s gaze, he seemed a bit intimidated, lowering his head as he spoke,
"My caravan carries goods needed for living in the Northern Territory and slaves, hoping to obtain trading privileges from you there."
"Of course, I will pay taxes according to your regulations."
Simon took out a bag of Silver Coins, appearing to have owned two to three hundred.
Yet Luo De did not accept it, instead, he moved to the rear to examine all the slaves.
Luo De wasn’t interested in daily goods, but he wanted all the slaves.
Simon’s caravan only had thirty or forty slaves, but there were all sorts of people among them.
Some were as young as thirteen or fourteen, and some as old as sixty.
However, they all looked healthy, unlike those brought back from the depths of the Northern Territory by Silver Dove.
Noticing Luo De’s interest, Simon proactively introduced, "These slaves are of particularly good quality; we have a blacksmith and a brewer, and thirteen strong miners."
"A blacksmith and a brewer?" Luo De turned to Simon.
Seeing he successfully attracted Luo De’s attention, Simon quickly brought the two out.
The blacksmith named Bard was a burly middle-aged man with a scruffy face, strong as a bull.
The brewer was a young girl named Katie, who also appeared very strong, lacking any delicate girlish demeanor.
Luo De asked each of them a few questions about blacksmithing and brewing; they answered successfully, proving Simon wasn’t lying.
"Sir, are you satisfied?"
Simon spoke with confidence in his smile.
The price difference between craftsmen and ordinary slaves is vast, by tenfold at least.
If he can sell them, he will make a hefty profit just from these two slaves.
Indeed, Luo De really wanted these two slaves.
However, Luo De showed no reaction, maintaining a poker face.
Luo De casually waved his hand,
"It’s getting dark, first bring your caravan to Frost Leaf Town and rest, then we’ll talk."
"Thank you for your invitation."
Simon bowed in gratitude and signaled the coachmen to continue their journey.
The caravan then resumed its travel.
Luo De and Rein, along with the Hunting Team, walked at the front, deep in thought.
...
...
Meanwhile, in the northeastern mountain ravine.
Gang Le, leaning against the salt cart, with a blade of grass in his mouth, asked Doron beside him,
"How far are we from the town?"
"At least thirty miles."
Doron checked the map again and looked up at the dim sky, sighing, "We probably won’t make it."
"Then we won’t move, let’s camp right here."
Upon hearing that, Gang Le spat in annoyance, and slammed a fist on the wild boar corpse,
"Blame this damned wild boar; we’ll have to sleep outdoors again tonight!"
Doron stowed the map properly and teased, "Boss, you have no one to miss in town, the weather is so good now, sleeping outside feels great!"
Gang Le leaned against a rock, pouting,
"You have someone to miss, but they’re not here."
"Hahaha..."
Everyone jeered, but Doron didn’t mind.
Once this busy period ends, when the new recruits finish their training and can rotate duties, he’ll go back and bring Katie over.