Chapter 124: Latnos Part 2: Let's Buy A Bouncer!

The city of Latnos is a territory independent from any individual nation. Being situated on the border of three powerhouses, it acts as a central trading hub between the Hi empire to the south, the Lin empire to the east and the kingdom of Kai in the north.

That said it is currently run by 5 people from 4 different nations, 2 of which are backed by the Dark empire. One of these people is Chen Jing who runs any shops under the name of the yellow palace, most of which are accessory shops, at least within the city of Latnose. The Yellow palace is in charge of the Dark Empire's general commerce, both export and import. Everything from the sales of accessories and weapons to drugs and alcohol. They even have some shares within the tailoring business owned by Mr. Wong.

The second is the owner of the purple palace, Mr. Fuji, who runs the most successful brothels within the red-light districts across the continent. He is rarely present within the city as he often travels from place to place, leaving most of the paperwork to his subordinates. However, should anything happen while he is away the command falls to the branch manager mistress Fu. Together with the yellow palace, the dark palace faction's territory is the largest within the city, covering most of the business districts in the east and southeast.

The third person would be Mr. Jin backed by the Lin empire. His faction is the main supplier for clothes and fabric to the other two nations. He also runs a competitive business to the Dark palace's tailor Mr. Wong, which is why he is on rather bad terms with the Dark empire factions within the city. His territory covers the districts in the northeast.

To the southwest, we have the territory of the Hi empire faction, led by Mr. He. The Hi empire's main export is food. Having large fertile fields and having direct access to the nearby ocean, they are the city's main suppliers of plant produce and fish.

And finally, to the northwest we have the territory backed by the kingdom of Kai, led by Mr. Lang. Their main export would be manpower, or in other words, human trafficking. The Kingdome of Kai has a number of hostile indigenous tribes, bandits and small nations scattered around it. Their weather is too harsh for them to grow their own food on a large scale, the ocean waters are too dangerous compared to the area bordering the Hi empire, and they lack the high-quality fabric and know how to compete with the clothing lines of Mr. Jin and Mr. Wong. Hence, why in order not to fall behind their neighbors financially they kidnap their enemy's people and sell them as slaves. Depending on the region and country, slavery is considered illegal, but fortunately for the kingdom neither of its neighbors has established such laws. This is why vendors can be seen advertising various different races of humans and demi-humans in chains and collars out in the open streets.

"Hey kid! Did you get separated from your mommy?" A blond short haired thug with a blemish on his forehead said.

"Nope!" The black-haired kid in a fish mask replied.

"Come, on kid! Let's go! Your dad is lookin for you!" A bald thug said as he walked out of the alleyway behind the blond guy.

"I think you got the wrong guy, dude!" Yang said as he tried to leave, but then suddenly the bald guy lifted him over his shoulder and walked into the alleyway.

This wasn't an uncommon sight in this part of town. The people here not bound by chains are often shady people with poor morals or desperate backgrounds. So, when some small kid or fragile lady walks unaccompanied through the streets, they are often kidnapped and sold off illegally. The reason why such activities are not punished by the local law enforcement is because the people who control the slave districts don't care as long as they get their monthly bribes thinly vailed as a tax.

The whole 'taking you to your parents' bit was just a pretense because they were on the far end of the slave district. If this was at the center of the Kai territory then nobody would bat an eye even if Yang started kicking and screaming, but the further out you go the more likely you are to run into some new guy who doesn't know about the unspoken rules. It would be troublesome if they lost their prey, just because some stranger wanted to play hero and rescue the boy.

…

Yang's POV:

*Bang*

"Okay, kid! This'll be your new home until we find you a buyer! So, keep your mouth shut while I go get you your new clothes!" the bald thug said as he threw me into an old jailcell.

After carrying me off, the thugs dropped the act before entering the back of a run-down slave shop. The first room we saw after entering was a storage room filled with wooden crates. In the center of the room were a small group of thugs playing poker using one of the crates as a table. The blond guy had gone to join them. Meanwhile, the bald guy had entered the door to the basement dungeon where they keep all their freshly nabbed victims.

In the cell next to me were a skinny, one-armed man with a dirty and scruffy beard. While on my right was the dead corpse of a naked woman covered in fluids.

"*Sigh* Every time with this!"

The reason I had entered such a dangerous place was because I was tired of having to fend off kidnappers and thugs who wanted to enslave or extort us just because we seemed like an easy target. Seeing as we had gotten some extra pocket money, after establishing a connection to one of the city's powerhouses, I decided it was time to hire some help. So, I went alone to the slave district, while leaving Yin to run the shop.

My plan was simple: Buy some tuff looking dude from the slave market. Then, have him run our errands outside the shop and work as a thug repellent by hanging around the store with a scary look in his eyes.

And I couldn't send my sister here, because she would likely cause a scene and get arrested… Again.

She is strong enough to handle herself, but her excess energy makes her stand out too much, which makes her a target. Even though her monstrous strength lets her handle the run of the mill thugs with ease, she tends to get carried away a bit, which is why I'm here instead.

"I am sorry, child! No boy your age should have to witness such a scene!" The one-armed man spoke in a foreign language.

"Although I doubt you can understand my words, I hope whoever buy's you are kinder than these savages!"

"No, I can understand you!" I replied in the same language

The man seemed surprised as he turned to look at me.

"You speak 'Quaqien'?"

"Yeah! So, do you!"

"You don't look like a child from my tribe! Are you perhaps from one of our neighbors?"

"Nah, man! I just picked it up in case I needed it!"

The majority of the continent is unified under the same language with some differences in dialects here and there, but as I was going to set up a shop in the middle of an international trading center, I thought it best to pick up whatever languages I might happen to come across when I left home.

"I see! You must be a clever child! To speak a second language so fluently at your age, your parents must be proud!"

"Not really! Hey, old dude? Do you know how many thugs work here?"

"Thugs? Oh, you mean those savages above! I can't say for sure, but I've never seen more than six of them down here!"

"That means there is at least one more of them up there somewhere! *Sigh* I just want to go home already!" I complained.

"I am sorry child! If I still had my strength, then I could have saved us both!" The old dude said as he clutched at the torn sleeve of his missing arm.

"Don't sweat it! Say old man, are you strong?"

"Not anymore!" He said dejected.

"Well, since we have some time to kill! Mind telling me your story?"

"*giggle**cough* Okay then!" He chuckled.

"Once upon a time, I lived on an isolated island far to the north of here! We were a peaceful tribe of warriors living in seclusion! That was until we were attacked by the mainlanders! They came to the island under the cover of night by boat and burned our villages to the ground while they kidnapped our women and children! One day, we had enough and sought the aid of our neighboring tribes! As it turned out, we were not the only victims of these savages, as they had done the same to them! Soon enough all the different island tribes came together to strike back at these brutes, but our alliance needed a leader! So, we decided to hold a competition! We had the strongest warriors from all the tribes compete over who would lead us into battle! And I was the winner!"

"So, you lost the war and got enslaved?"

"No! We didn't lose! The day before we were to set out to sea, my tribe held a feast in my honor as the leader of the alliance! However, there were traitors in our midst! My younger brother had poisoned our drinks and led a group of mainlanders to our banquet hall! With most of my men too ill to resist, and my focus waning I couldn't stop them! In my final struggle before losing consciousness my brother had cleaved off my right arm! The last thing I saw was that of my wife and daughter struggling to resist those savages!" The old man said as silent tears started running down his eyes.

"Hey old dude! Want a job?" I said as I got an idea.

"…" He didn't reply as he seemed too caught up in his own misery to hear me.

"Hello? You still with me?" I said as I stuck my hand through the barres of our cage to wave at him.

"Huh? Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean to tell you about that last part! A bit too depressing for a bedtime story, right!"

"Sure, whatever! But back on topic! What's your name old dude?"

"Hehe! You may just call me old Hu!"

"Well then Mr. Hu, want to make a deal?" I said as I reached out my hand for a shake, as I could feel my eyes heat up.

"What do you mean child?"

"I'll get you out of here and help you find out what happened to your wife and child, but in exchange, I'll own you and everything you have, forever! You in?"

"Hahaha! Child! Don't do anything reckless! There is no way out of here, and those savages upstairs won't show any mercy just because you are a child! If you try anything then you'll end up like that woman next to you!" He said as he pointed at the naked corpse in my cell.

"Gross! They are pedophiles too! As if necrophilia wasn't enough!"

"No! I meant they will kill you! So, just keep quiet! I don't want to witness another tragedy today, please!"

"I'll get out of here with or without you! So, what have you got to lose!"

"Fine, then!" He said as he reached out his hand, but instead of taking my hand he reached past it.

*Bang*

"Trust me! It's better this way! When you wake up, you'll hopefully be on your way to serve your new master!"

Those were the last words I heard before losing consciousness. I was kicked awake shortly after by the bald thug who had entered my cell.

"Hey, brat! Take of those robes and hand me your mask, that's an order!"

"What? Ugh!" Suddenly I could feel a jolt of pain running through my spine.

"Hehe! If you want the pain to stop then do as you're told!" The smirking bald dude said while looking down at me.

The pain was coming from the magic item around my neck. It was an enchanted slave collar. It is primarily used to keep disobedient slaves in line, by releasing an electrical discharge from the collar and into the wearers neck at the command of whoever owns it. It isn't cheap, so most slaves don't come equipped with one. Merchants usually just use them to keep their product from rebelling before removing the collar upon delivering the slave to the buyers, although there are some who sell the collars too.

"Hey kid! I'm not messing a-!"

*Gargle*

Just as he was about to grab my mask and remove it by force, I pulled out the small blade I had hidden in my sleeve and thrust it into his throat. I could feel the pain subside as blood came running down my arm.

*Thud*

I watched the man struggle on the floor. Wheezing and gasping for air as he rolled around in his own blood while clutching his throat, until he eventually died. With his death the collar became ownerless and stopped sending jolts of electricity into my body.

"What have you done child! You should have just done as he asked!"

"I killed an enemy! So, old douchebag! Can I take it you don't want to leave this dump?"

"What?"

"My offer still stands you know! Your life and soul, for a chance to change your fate! Deal?" I said as I walked up to the barres, making sure not to get close enough for another forehead flick.

"Who are you?" He asked as I could feel my eyes burning up.

"I'm the devil! Now do we have a deal or not?" I said as I could see a twinge of fear and bewilderment in his eyes.

"HAHA! Fine then! Since, they are going to kill you either way now! If it really means that much to you then I promise, if we meet in our next life, I'll follow you wherever you want!" He said as he shook my hand, sealing our pact as glowing blue chains manifested around our hands. Binding us at the soul, before fading away.

"Finally! I can go back now!" I said as I moved towards the locked cage door.

"What did you do to me? Who was that person? And what were those chains?"

While old douche Hu was ranting, I took the key from the bald dude's corpse and used it to open my cell door. I hoped it would also fit the douchebags cell, but no dice. I pulled out the two pins I had tucked away in my hanfu and started picking the rusty lock.

"Child! Answer me!"

"Quiet!" And with those words the old man suddenly became mute.

He kept flapping his gums as if he was speaking, but no matter how hard he tried, the only sound that left his mouth was the sound of his own breathing.

*Click*

And I finally got the rusty lock to open. It took some time because of how old and worn the thing was, but I got it open. Just as the cell door opened the old douche Hu grabbed me by the shoulders and pointed at his mouth.

"Fine you can talk but keep it down! I don't want to attract the attention of the other guys! God damn it!"

*Creak*

Just as I jinxed it, the basement door creaked open, and I could see the blond guy standing in the doorway.

"Hey! How long are you…?" His train of thought lost as he saw me and old man Hu looking up at him from the bottom of the stairs.

"HE-!"

*Swoosh**Squelch*

I quickly threw my dagger at him, piercing his throat before he had time to alert the others.

"Let's go!" I said as I sprinted up the stairs to grab my dagger out of the blond guy's throat before running past his kneeling figure. I quickly kneed the other thug behind him who had gone to check on him while the other two were still sitting at the poker table. As he kneeled down to grab his crotch, I slit his throat.

"WHAT THE!"

*Swoosh*

I threw the dagger at one of the remaining thugs, but he managed to dodge it last second as he stood up from his chair.

"YOU FUCKING-!"

*Swoosh**Squelch*

Fortunately, his companion didn't see my emergency dagger coming, as I threw it out of my sleeve hitting him in the throat. He fell to the ground clutching his bleeding throat just as old man Hu came up the stairs.

"Pull!" I ordered old man Hu as I handed him the string I had attached to my first dagger.

"YOUR DEAD!"

*Creak*

*Smash*

The first dagger I threw had lodged themselves into one of the crates behind the last thug in the room. So, when old man pulled on the string he ended up dragging the entire stack down right onto the thug, pinning him in place at my feet.

"You won't get away with this! *Cough* Our boss will be back any minute now! And when he!"

*Squelch*

"Yeah, yeah! I've heard it all before!" I said as I squatted down to stab his throat.

"Okay! Let's get the hell out of dodge before their boss gets back! Kay old man Hu?" I said as I dragged him by the arm towards the exit.

It was nighttime, so the streets were dark and empty, with the exception of the few lanterns lit by the town guards patrolling the streets. If someone is spotted at night with a collar around their neck, they will usually be detained by the town guards, thinking they found a runaway slave. If they can't find the slaves owner within a certain time, they usually just send them to a slave shop to be sold again. That's why I was taking a ton of round trips to avoid being spotted, before sneaking in through the back of my shop in the red-light district.

The red-light district is one of the few places in town that is well lit during nighttime as it's when the place becomes the most active. Hence, why we couldn't walk in through the front wearing these collars. If we weren't arrested, then we might be mistaken for sex slaves, and I would rather not gamble my chastity on not running into a pedophile on the streets. I know the chances of running into one that would openly harass me are low, but knowing my luck it's a lot more likely than you'd think.

After pulling out the key to the backroom storage, we entered the shop.

"So, why are we hiding in here?"

"We aren't hiding! Now where did I put it! Aha! Found it!" I said as I searched through one of the storage crates.

"What are you? Drop that thing! That is no toy for children to play with!" Old man Hu said as he rushed to grab the anal beads and dildo out of my hands.

"Stop! Give it back!" I said as I watched the old man's body freeze in place before handing me back the sex toy's while struggling to regain control of his body.

"What is this?! Why can you control my body like this?"

"It's called a soul contract! When you agreed to my deal, I gained ownership of your soul! Which means, no matter what I ask you to do, you'll do it even if you don't want to. Now I just need to wrap it around like this! One more loop! and done!" I said as I wrapped the magically enchanted anal beads around my collar.

*Rumble**Crack**Rumble**Smash*

The anal beads I had just wrapped around my collar were an experimental new product I have been working on. I had made a vibration function using some basic magic enchantments, but I hadn't worked out the kinks just yet. As such, the power was way too high for it to be used by humans. Hence, why I had wrapped my prototype around my collar. The slave collars are magically sealed shut, so there is no lock for me to pick. So, the only way I could think of to get out of these things is to tightly wrap the steel anal beads around the collars and use the jacked-up vibration to smash them open.

*Rumble**Crack**Rumble**Smash*

And it seemed to work, as the collars were destroyed.

"Okay, then Mr. One-Armed Willy. It is time for you to get to work. Now put on your uniform!" I said as I pulled out a latex suit and mask, along with a horse whip.

"What?!"

"Hey sis! I'm back! And I got us a bouncer!" I said as I left the old man to put on his uniform.

"REALLY! WHERE IS HE! I WANT TO SEE! I WANT TO SEE! I WANT TO SEE!"

"He is changing in the back, so just wait!"

"OKEY DOKEY!"

"I'm beat!" I said as I slumped over my desk and started dozing off.

Soon after falling asleep, I was shaken awake because the old guy had run away. Fortunately, there isn't much of a range limit on a soul contract, so all I had to do was say the words 'come back' into the empty air and he soon came sprinting back to the shop against his will.