Deal

"-Also! They can bear the children of other species without any problem, or you could order her to not get pregnant at all and instead use your… Huh, gracious offerings, as nourishment only! I can assure you that once you get her used to how you taste, she will naturally become very eager!"

"And although I wouldn't recommend it as it could run the risk of the slave collar breaking- You could let her cultivate or something… Her kind is more-so geared toward becoming mages, but anything can work! Demons are not like us humans, she could also make for an excellent bodyguard, don't be fooled by her frail disposition!"

The barman seemed to take Edrick's silence as a sign that the business might turn sour, and truly, the moustached man did not wish to have someone that knew of this slave out in nature, that wasn't its owner.

'Come on! Buy her, she's gorgeous, every man would want her!' the barman himself was very much attracted to that demon girl, but the contract he had signed was strict, and moreover, the slave collar wasn't his, there were some orders that could not be given or retracted unless it was done by the one who bought her or by the current owner, which was the barman's boss.

Anoteros and Luxuli were just staring at one another like two dead fishes.

And surprisingly, the one whose poker was beginning to crack was that of the Docilis Succubus, who eventually looked away, seemingly finding Edrick too unnerving, or perhaps so good at her own game that she would rather throw in the towel right now.

'First time I actually saw a reaction from her…' thought the barman, being that he had very little authority over her since his boss did not trust him not to damage the product, he couldn't even force her to respond to him or say anything, despite the fact that she was the only slave around, he had basically been serving as her caretaker the whole time.

"Well, it's all very interesting, what you are telling me, Mister Barman… But I am not a dual cultivator" casually announced Anoteros as he rose back to his full height, a most satisfied smile on his face as he walked back to the moustached man.

"You- You aren't?"

"As I just stated, I am not, unless you have a dual cultivation technique to sell to me, I do not have access to any… Don't you know that I am a special disciple of the Myriad-Arm Sect? I doubt they find dual cultivation a very savoury prospect, mmh?"

"W-Well… I suppose that they don't…"

"Now, why all that stutter? I'll be buying her"

"For real?"

"But not quite"

"Heh?"

Even Luxuli couldn't help but look over, everyone feeling like Edrick had to be joking in some manner, or that he was insane.

"What do you mean by that?" the barman wiped his forehead.

"How much is she?" he asked at last, Anoteros had been guessed the entire time, he knew already that slavery was an incredibly risky gig in Leynlornd, no one would be doing it for some pocket change, moreover, although they had only dared to do it here was because a Docilis Succubus could form a bond that would allow the master to hide their slave completely, and thus render the risks of being found out to zero as long as they weren't an idiot- Although that aspect was the very reason this deal could take place, the seller would surely want to be paid more for the extra security anyways.

Not to mention that a Docilis Succubus had many other advantages as the barman had explained, and lastly…

'She's a nice strip of meat'

…Or in other words, she was simply gorgeous, and despite her very fair features, she was one meter and seventy centimeters tall, which was pretty tall for a woman, well, a local woman, that is, the average was probably different for demons.

As such, Edrick had assumed that the price would be exorbitant.

"Fifty silver Leyens" announced the barman.

"..."

'I forgot that I was dealing with plebeians'

Indeed, the barman's boss, who was the one selling the slave, was probably Golden Teeth, who was most certainly a bourgeois at best, a man not of true nobility and who thus, did not actually understand the fine difference between copper and silver Leyens, the likes that thought that the silver variety was just worth a whole bunch of the copper kind.

But ignorance could be forgiven, they just didn't know any better.

"Fifty?"

"Yes, fifty"

"Alright then… Let me explain to you what I want to do" Edrick grabbed the barman's shoulder, which instantly made the man pale as even though he was technically a tall fellow himself, the sheer size of Anoteros's hand was worrying, and its sheer weight, even when he didn't put up any pressure was also concerning.

"I pay you, but you keep taking care of her for a while, alright?"

"Hum… I don't think my boss will agree to such an offer-"

"Oh, this offer isn't for your boss, but to you"

"I don't think I am following…"

"Your boss is Golden Teeth, right?"

"P-Perhaps…"

"Alright, so he is… You see, Mister Barman" Edrick grabbed his other shoulder and began slightly shaking him.

"I am a very, very good husband- When I own something, I own everything about it, alright?"

"Yes?" the barman felt his feet leaving the comforting support of the ground.

"My latest wife actually owes a debt to Golden Teeth- I could pay it, very easily… Or don't, not like he would do anything about it… But you see, this debt once caused some stress for her, and I am mad about it"

'Mad?! You look freaking happy!' the barman felt like his soul was trying to leave his body.

"Since I find your homebrew very nice-"

"Thank you Sir…"

"-You're welcome, since I find it very good, I am willing to not break your bones, skin you or use you as a live target for practice, amongst the nicer fates I can think of… So, tell Golden Teeth that you haven't sold her yet, but that you have someone lined-up, alright?"

He weakly nodded.

"Good, you can pocket that money for yourself and spend it on that bar, and on taking good care of Luxuli over there, I'll be your boss from now on, and you shall be a servant to Edrick Lucien Anoteros, or Zixuan Elt, if you prefer, understood?"

"Crystal clear…"

"Well, who's a good boy, heh?" finally putting the man down, Edrick gave him a light tap on the top of his head.

"B-But Sir!" watching Edrick turn to leave, the barman felt compelled to call out to him.

"What?"

"Are you planning on killing him?"

"After I pull out his gold teeth, sure"

"But that will render the slave collar's power null and-"

"And? I don't want to buy a slave, who do you take me for? Way too easy, I'll fetch her as a free woman" laughing to himself, Anoteros went away without a care.

The barman swallowed hard, his face having become a field of sweat.

"W-Well" he looked into the pouch Edrick had given him, it wasn't fifty silver Leyens, but a whole bunch of copper Leyens, which was still a whole lot of money to receive in bulk for the barman "Your living conditions will increase again, I guess…"