Forced Loyalty

Melvin couldn't understand what the noble was speaking so he called Shira and act as the translator.

Shira spoke to Duke Harges. But he yelled at her causing her move away.

Duke Harges smirked. It was only natural for nobles with high prestige to looked down on Melvin since only lower-ranking nobles would let their subordinates act in a carefree manner.

A high ranking noble would know how to discipline his slaves.

"I see, can't even the speak Silian language. You must be from the lower branch nobles who couldn't even teach his subordinates to behave."

It seems he could speak in fluent english which in this world was called Mendovian. So Shira wasn't needed after all. Thus, he tried to explain himself.

"I was just unaware of the system. And I-" Melvin was cut off.

"Silence, how audicious. Don't speak while I'm talking."

There were murmurs from the crowd.

"Huh? So this one is from the lower branch?"

"Huh? Lower branch, those leeches."

"I hope the king can just lay them off from their work. They're not worth the tax of the public."

"The rumors were right, the lower branch are just bunch of peasants."

The only reason why those nobles at the bottom remained was to balance the power on the microlevel.

Harges harrumphed. "As expected. Here, go buy yourself some slave scholars and get a proper education." He threw five gold coins on Melvin's face and then walked away.

Murmurs ensued.

"I can't believe the Duke is so generous to give away 5 gold coins just like that."

"The lower branch are a waste of resources."

Melvin sighed. He then loosened up as he took a seat. Shira just explained that it was disrespectful for someone to block the path of a high ranking noble. Thus, it was justifiable for them to break the offender's legs.

Celine was pleading profusely to Melvin. "Sir, I'm truly sorry I got you into trouble."

"Yeah, I will be deducting your salary. I can't believe I got shamed by the whole room." Melvin grunted. "Who the hell they think is uneducated?! They make me mad."

"You as well, Rederick. Why didn't you keep an eye on her?"

Rederick chuckled nervously. "I'm sorry, I was pre-occupied with those slaves."

Rederick grabbed the gold coins from before. "Anyway, Mr. President, it seems they have a different currency."

"You took it? Well let me see." It may seem shameful to take the gold coins but they needed to assess it. Though he humiliated himself further.

There were eyes from the other seats laid upon them as they shamelessly took from the floor.

As expected, there would be bronze, silver and gold as a standard currency for an isekai world. The value goes into order.

Luckily, Shira was there to give them some ideas. 1 gold coin is equal to 100 silvers. And 1 silver is equal to 100 bronze. They were the coins of Rezgareth and used universally even beyond the ring. A gold coin was enough to feed a peasan's family for a few months. Looks like the Duke had a lot of money to spare.

"You have been talking about this ring. Can you tell me what it is?" This ring term was mentioned many times but he never got a clear answer.

Shira nodded. Just when she was about to open her mouth, a man in red clothes came to her. It was an employee of the slaver company. "It's your time." She stood up and turned silent.

It bothered Melvin. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry for telling you so late but I'm a slave. A slave scholar to be exact."

It surprised the three of them. Rederick held unto her. "Shira are you telling the truth? Then why are you just roaming around?"

"My previous master died and I was heading back to the company. Since I don't have an owner, I have nowhere else to go. I would have to get resold again. We have slave seals. So escaping the company isn't possible. I was heading here regardless."

Celine stood up and faced her. "Shira, I'm sorry when I yelled at you earlier. I never understood the situation."

Shira gave a weak smile. "I understand. Just don't speak about this idea publicly since the people might think you are an anti-slavers."

Shira gave Melvin a long stare expecting her to speak but he was silent. "Shira, you're about to get sold aren't you?"

"Yes."

Melvin grinned widely. "Then, I will get you and buy you freedom."

Shira gasped. The man with red uniform grabbed her and dragged her away from their view.

It looks like the selling event was about to start. A man went into the stage and delivered the information of the slaves that were for sale.

Celine cleared her throat. "Sir, I understand your intentions but isn't buying directly from the slavers supporting slavery?"

"Well, if you can't change the rules you have to follow them."

Celine paused for a moment. "Hmm, I guess you're right."

"But, it's only temporary, once we take over err, I mean influence this country we will remove this abhorrent system. For now we should take Shira with us."

The slaves lined up on the stage. An auction was held and the men had began declaring their pledge. Each one had different armbands. One girl had a red armband, another had blue, green, yellow and violet.

Rederick noticed it as well. "The slaves have different color codes."

"They may be from different occupations." Celine said.

Melvin kept an eye on each slaves. Based on their body features and attires he could guess what each color were for. "Red or blue were for the warriors and guards, yellow for the scholars, green were the housekeepers since they wore a maid attire, while violet were probably the sex slaves, since they were wearing a skimpy and seductive clothes while some didn't have any at all."

"Hmm, I see." Celine added.

One noble men went close to Melvin and was about to grab him. But Rederick caught his arm. "What are you trying to do!" He said to scare him off.

The noble was speaking in Silian language. Too bad they couldn't understand him. He was a tall person with the least decent clothes compared to the rest. Though he wasn't a peasant and was still wearing something fancy.

The noble men called out for a translator and surprisingly, it was Shira who went to them. He then whispered on her ear and smirked.

Shira gasped. She shivered slightly. "Umm, Lord Dernis wants your apology for shaming the entire lower branch of nobles."

This one was Lord Dernis, the owner of few a few agricultural lands in this town. He was from the lower branch nobles.

"Tell him, I owe him no apology." Melvin grunted.

Shira nodded. She spoke to Dernis.

Dernis then laughed as a response. The people who heard it snickered as well. Something was off for him to take it as a joke.

Shira then translated it again. "He wants you to make this sign and he will move on peacefully." She stuck out her index and middle finger and them placed it on her chest.

Melvin had a bad feeling about it but since if that's what it would take for him to leave he might as well do it. After the execution, the noble pointed at Melvin to gather the attention of the people, they then began laughing at him.

The sign he did was probably a form of mockery to himself. Melvin got annoyed. "Shira, tell that guy I have a sign as well that means peace from my world." He stuck out his middle finger to the Dernis. He then say firmly on his seat.

The noble then left with a shrewd smile.

Rederick and Celine were upset about the noble but he let it pass for now. His main problem was to get enough cash. Seeing the other bidders they were bidding to 20 gold maximum. That was a lot.

About 30 minutes passed, Shira was finally being auctioned. The auctioneer yelled in a Silian language.

He was afraid that someone might beat him with Shira, but he didn't have much choice. He stood up and cleared his throat. "2 golds."

For his bid Shira acted as a mediator.

Then the lower ranking noble, Dernis stood up. "4 gold." He smirked.

Melvin clicked his tongue. "5 gold." That was his last gold. If the noble were to go further, it would be his doom.

"10 gold."

Melvin was hit into a stop. He got annoyed. "That guy is trying to mess with me."

"Mr. President, what's your plan?" Rederick said.

He rummaged his pocket and revealed his personal pen. "Shira, translate this. Everyone, this is a magical pen. I know that using quill and ink is tiresome but this lets you write freely as you want."

After Shira translated the whole thing everyone in the audience gazed at him with an agape mouth. They understood it but they couldn't believe it. He grabbed a paper from his diary and wrote in front of them. "Look!"

The audience was rowdy. They wanted the pen. It was expected since most of them were aristocrats who write on a daily basis. Seeing the pen made them crazy. "Hey I'll buy it from you!"

"How much!"

"Please I'll pay you how much as you want."

Quill was cumbersome in writing since they had to dip it constantly. Seeing this new writing device turned them to be like kids who were fighting for a new toy.

Melvin then smiled. "Hahaha, alright guys the minimum bid for this pen is how much that guy wants to buy Shira."

Rederick laughed. "Nice one Mr. President."

"Haha, you totally got him." Celine added.

When Shira translated what he said, Dernis jaws fell and he cussed repeatedly. "#%&@."

After the event, Melvin managed to buy her since she cost about 20 and he gained 15 gold coins in extra. Someone had the highest bid of 35 gold for just a single pen. Right now, Shira was with them.

Melvin was given a feather, infused with a small white crystal on its tip. He had no idea what's this for.

"Master thank you for your buying me." She then showed more of her cleavage.

Melvin blushed slightly.

Rederick cleared his throat. They were taken aback for a moment. "Uh Shira, what are you trying to do?"

Celine was panicking. "Shira give more value to yourself."

Melvin thought that he was about to get seduced. He wanted her to stop but it seems she was unto something else.

Shira revealed a mystic text on her chest. "The slave crest will be complete if you sign your name on it. And I will be yours forever."

They calmed down. "I see."

Shira explained everything about the slave crest. Once it's signed, Shira's freewill would be owed to Melvin. She couldn't do anything else but follow his commands. If she tried to harm him, the crest could destroy her body.

Celine cleared her throat to get his attention. "And Sir Melvin, you're not gonna do something illegal aren't you?"

"My dear secretary you underestimate me." Melvin laughed, he stared at the quill. "With this, huh?" He grinned and snapped it into half.

Shira was surprised. "Master, what are you doing?"

"You are free now. You can choose to work for me or not. If you do, I will give you a salary of about 20, 000 Vesnian dollars every month."

Shira was confused. She couldn't understand what she was hearing. "That means I can leave if I want to?"

"Yes. That's the concept of being free."

"You're joking right? You can still get a new feather."

"No need. I give you this choice."

Shira then smiled. Her eyes brightened. She felt like she found the master who she willingly wanted to serve for a long time. The masters previously she served out of obligation. "Then, I'm willing to work for you."

As someone who lived in another world. Melvin knew better. Slavery was just a forced loyalty.

Rederick tapped his shoulder. "Umm Mr. President, I think they use a different currency here."

"Oh you're right." Melvin was put into halt. Looks like he had to find a way to gain money in this world.

Celine gasped in surprise. She was looking at her phone. "Hello, is anyone there?"

"Hel--lo, Miss--- Celin---e is t--hat yo--u?" The phone replied but the voice was broken.

Melvin and Rederick jogged close to her. "Let me have it." Melvin placed it on his ear. "Hello who is this?"

"Mr. Pr--es-id--ent, I'm gla--d y--ou'--re fi---ne. We are in a d-ire s---itu--ation. O--ur co--untry was trans---ported in a di---ffer--ent loc--ation. W--e a--re looking f--or the o-thers. We'll tr-ace wh---"

The phone call was dropped. Seeing the phone, the signal was lost.

"Hello! Hello!" Melvin sighed. Since the only cell towers to ever exist in here was in their country, which meant the signal was limited. He smiled. But there was still hope. Looks like his entire country got transported with him into this world.

All he had to do was to find where it was.