░21░ The Vile Market

"Holand's Fuel, hmmm," Wilhelm whispers through the busy streets of the black market where they were currently.

He is observing the surrounding secretly while taking a sip on his hot coffee. He’s sitting across Nigel, his attendant which is also his shadow knight. The whispers and the footsteps on the streets seemed to be heard everywhere. Seeing the people walking, he knew that they have their dress code like there's always black clothes attached

Wilhelm sees the sign across the café where they were in as he took another sip of his hot coffee that Nigel ordered earlier. While his attendant was alert at observing things, pretending to also take a sip of his hot coffee. Upon seeing the sign, he was curious about how many people entered the place – showing a token to identify such people

It's lucky for them about entering the said market because of Nigel had stolen a token from someone he attacked earlier to enter the market with Wilhelm – his master – the crown prince. Wilhelm, on the other hand, observed the people around until he heard something unusual

Good thing - that Nigel took the clothes of the nobles he had taken the token from and wore them together with Wilhelm. They wore them in the middle of the forest with many trees earlier

"It's about the servants buying, we should 'fuel the fire' inside the Holand and there's only small amount of slaves to be bought later this night,"

"But the bid was too high enough and only for known nobles, we as the secondary faction will only step aside after they have already bought some,"

"In short we got the residual ones after the preferred nobles had done their bidding,"

Those were what Wilhelm as well as Nigel heard pretending to take a sip at their hot coffee. Avoiding to be suspicious enough for hearing the people around talking. Upon knowing such things, Wilhelm inwardly smirked as he looked Nigel in the eyes and signaled him towards the Holand's fuel sign making him nod in respect

After that, Wilhelm stood up as he put the empty cup of coffee in the table. Then walked ahead of the said place followed by Nigel heading towards it. They lined up in front of the large door where people around are seen forming a line

After a few seconds, they were the ones to be inspected making Wilhelm the first one to show the token. Then, upon entering the market as they were finished being inspected they were led to a room - a dark room where red curtain was present to be entered upon

People around were murmuring about the topic of buying slaves. All of them were seated according to the rank of their token, Nigel on the other hand signaled Wilhelm, his master, to check the ranking of their token only to find a phoenix symbol with number 'VII' on it. After seeing the token he immediately looked for a symbol having phoenix signs inside the dark room

Nigel, on the other hand, finds his with the same symbol as Wilhelm, phoenix symbol having the number 'VIII' seat and Wilhelm followed afterward. Seconds later the dark room had lightened upon but only with a dim light on the sides of the wall illuminating a warm golden light. Wilhelm looked around and stopped his sight from the red curtained in front of them

He can't help but hear the murmurs of the people around them. But because he can gain many information, he looked unbothered on the outside expression of his. However, he is very curious about the scenario that will be unfolded in front of them as he already had a small knowledge that the event consisted of buying slaves

'Where did they get the slaves to be bought here?'

He was curious upon the murmurs of the people around them. He’s curious about the people that will be bought behind the curtains that were being seen in front of them. He knew that the room itself implies a dark vibe even the whole market underground just by the name 'The Vile Market', which explains that it was a black market yet unknown to normal commoners beneath it

About looking in front of them he saw how the red long curtain moves like it was being swayed by a cool breeze inside the dark dimmed warm-lightened room they were in. He knew very well that the red curtain was just a thin cloth that will later on unfold the theme of the place. While thinking of such, he immediately averted his gaze from the curtain to look around naturally. He was avoiding to be suspicious enough as he signaled Nigel to do the same for further gathering of information.

Nigel in response nodded with respect as he did the same thing Wilhelm was doing currently. That was observing the surrounding they were in. Later on, someone caught Wilhelm's attention, a guy who had a beard that looked very familiar to him like he knew the figure very well

He couldn't pinpoint, as of the moment, where he had seen the guy but he knew that everyone in the room was noble. No commoners can enter such place because the token requires lot of money to claim for entering the said market

Going back to his senses, he focused his sight to the man that was familiar to him. He saw a man who wore a black hat, having beard and smoking expensive cigarette inside the room. Though, with his sharp senses, he saw the ocean blue eyes of the familiar man and that was the only time he had known who he was

'Derius Maxwell'

He thought as he was inwardly confuse and curious why he was in the said place. He was confused why, when all he portrays in the public was morality and gratefulness. Yet, he never expected such man to enter such place

'So, all in all, my doubt for him had been confirmed. He's a great pretender, he pretends to be nice in front of everyone in the empire when he's out here making a deal or even buying slaves in this very dark room – I felt pity for his family especially for Damon and his illegitimate son'

He inwardly smirked, knowing how great of a pretender the man was. How the man was different from the way he usually portrayed himself in the public

'I'll never be surprised if the illegitimate child always sneaked out of his house like that or there's something more than meets the eyes that I had never known of? Anyways, whatever the matter for that I'll have to find out'

"Greetings ladies and gentlemen of the empire, we all know that you're here for only one reason and that is to buy the slaves from the Dentia empire. They were captured after the secret infiltration and we would have to thank Mr. Derry from such a plan. Everyone please do give a round of applause to him," the host of the event inside the room – who was wearing a mask that was covering his whole face - said with pair up formal tuxedo

As he began introducing the event, Wilhelm gained another information about the slaves and where they came from. But, he immediately does what everyone in the room was doing and that was giving a round of applause to the man whom he thought was 'Derius Maxwell' being called Mr. Derry by the host

'It's natural to hide one's identity here or else they might be exposed for committing such crime in the empire'

He thought looking seriously at the man - who was all smiles while standing up from the sudden recognition. Afterward, the host resumed on talking and everyone resumed from being quiet as the host stopped speaking, when the curtain immediately opened and exposed what it was hiding from behind

Everyone in the room was amazed by how the slaves there were groomed neatly as if they were ready to be adopted - from such high-ranking nobles in society. However, their faces depict the same irony when they were neatly dressed to be bought

The slaves know that there's some ulterior motives behind them being bought - and those emotions was not ordinary at all. They knew that they were falsely captured and that was injustice to them but they can't do anything because they were already in the place of no return. They were chained from their feet as all where caged in a large wooden cage. Upon seeing such scenario, Wilhelm was thrilled for the first time because it's the first time he sneaked out of the imperial palace and the first time he had witnessed such happenings in his very own eyes

Shivers run down his spine as he unconsciously crumpled his clothes from gripping too tightly as the same unawareness strikes his whole being. There, he smirked in front of the people being held by.

'This is an exciting event. Let's see what they'll have to offer'

He thought fixing himself from his seat to see everyone started bidding, after the host started introducing one by one – the slaves. Wilhelm saw how all were good-looking ones either women or men but he didn't dared to buy someone from the said event because he knew that he can't buy with an identity of another noble

'Once I buy, it had to be a fake identity I created'

With that he just sit back and relax while seeing everyone scream and shout to buy the caged slaves. But upon looking at the people that were being bought he can't help but to remember the young woman that he had seen earlier. That he had saved and that he had almost had his first time because of the aphrodisiac that the lady in take

'When will I ever meet her again? The name Iris sounds like a goddess’ name'

He thought to himself because first time in his life he was surprised by the beauty that the young woman had making him want to see her more

‘When she grows up I'm sure she'll be one of the gorgeous women the empire ever had and with that I need to find her no matter what but now, I'll still have to do my plans first'

Nigel on the other hand was completely observing everyone in the room and he knew well that inside the room were all well-known nobles of the empire that were being called by different names after they bid. All that he knew about everyone inside except for his master that he respected so much was a great pretender

The two remained silent the entire time but they didn't make anyone be obvious by their actions because they do act like a bored noble that wanted to go out – they wanted to portray that they hadn't yet seen the one they wanted to buy - so no one would become suspicious of the two

After the slaves were bought they confirmed the address where they'll be sending them in and with that all were busy getting out of the room full of laughter and smiles that can depict such disgusting tone and appearance on Wilhelm

'Very well if they live in that kind, then it's not a problem being a tyrant after all'

He smirked with such thought as two of them head out sighing Nigel to head them back to the palace