Aiden was inspecting each cage, searching for someone who caught his eye.

He prided himself on his ability to recognize talent at a glance.

Roy carried a magic book that functioned as a database of sorts.

If Aiden showed interest in someone, Roy would provide him with details about their skills and background.

Most of the slaves were war captives from the most recent conflict. The Empire had expansionist policies, and five years ago, the Artesia Empire had been wiped off the map.

Despite the circumstances, many of these slaves had valuable skills. Some were teachers, priests, or former officers serving noble houses.

Aiden was surprised by their general knowledge of accounting and territory management. They were in relatively good condition, with rosy cheeks and sharp gazes, indicating they held some value to Roy.

Just as Aiden was deciding who to buy, a commotion broke his focus. Some guards delivering food to the slaves were tapping lightly on a specific cage in the corner with a baton.

One guard raised his voice. "Hey… Wake up. Your food’s here," he repeated several times, but the slave inside didn’t stir.

Seeing no response, the guard turned to his companion, who was holding the food plate, clearly asking if this was normal.

The other guard, clearly used to this, replied, "Don’t worry, this one’s peculiar. He sleeps all day like a log. He can go days without eating. Even if you yell right in his ear, he won’t wake up."

The guard with the baton scowled. "Then why the hell is he even here? This area’s for the most valuable slaves."

"Beats me," the other guard said with a shrug. "But if he’s here, there must be a reason. Let’s just leave the food and finish up."

Listening to their conversation piqued Aiden’s curiosity. There was something about this particular slave that drew his attention, so he decided to ask Roy, who had been listening as well.

Roy, noticing Aiden’s interest, made a face that mixed embarrassment with reluctance. "Well, as you heard, this one doesn't do much except sleep. He’s only here because he doesn’t eat much, otherwise we’d have sent him to the mines."

Aiden’s curiosity only deepened, so he asked Roy to show him the slave and explain his background.

Roy opened his magic book and scanned the entry. "This one never gave us his name. We found him sleeping in the southern forest. After two days, when he finally woke up, we asked if he wanted to become a slave. When he heard he’d get to sleep as much as he wanted and have free food, he agreed without hesitation."

Roy scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed as he finished.

Hearing the story, Aiden couldn’t help but laugh. His interest in the strange slave only grew.

Roy, seeing Aiden’s amusement, quickly called for a bucket of cold water to wake the slave.

As the guards approached with the freezing water, Aiden moved closer to the cage to examine its occupant. Inside was a boy curled up on the floor.

His pale complexion and the neglect of his appearance were evident. His white hair had turned gray with filth, and his body looked fragile, as if his health had long been neglected.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

The guards threw the water over the boy without mercy, jolting him awake. Groggily, the boy opened his eyes and, in a sleepy, irritated tone, asked, “Why... what now?”

His voice carried the lazy drawl of someone who seemed annoyed even by the act of speaking.

But when the boy’s eyes opened fully, Aiden felt his heart skip a beat. His gray eyes locked onto Aiden’s, and for a moment, an overwhelming sense of excitement surged through him.

His eyes, glowing red as they often did in moments of intensity, reflected a strange connection with the boy’s dull gray gaze.

Aiden was puzzled. The boy, for his part, froze, his pupils dilating as he stared back at Aiden.

Sensing the odd atmosphere, Roy cleared his throat and asked Aiden how he was finding things.

Snapping out of his stupor, Aiden forced himself to calm down, though his heart was still racing. With a collected expression, he asked Roy for the price of the slave.

Roy, surprised by his interest, made a quick decision. "The market’s been wanting to get rid of him for a while. He’s useless, really. But as a gesture of goodwill, you can have him for free. Consider it a gift, a way to show our appreciation and to build future business."

Aiden smirked, accepting the offer.

Roy then invited him to a special auction being held that night—an exclusive mid-year event.

Aiden, intrigued, agreed to attend. He also mentioned he had jewels and artwork he might sell, either directly to Roy or through the auction. Roy, delighted, assured Aiden he’d send someone to collect the valuables and appraise them.

Afterward, Aiden purchased 15 more slaves, ones he planned to use for various tasks in his territory.

Each slave cost around 250 gold coins, but Roy gave him a discount, reducing the total to 3,500 gold.

A single gold coin could sustain an average family for a month. Aiden calculated that the 20,000 coins he had would help support his territory for three to four months.

He reminded himself that the expense was necessary—money existed to be spent, after all.

With the purchase completed, Aiden was led to a room where some refreshments were offered.

After a short while, Roy returned with the slaves, including the boy. They were all shackled, with chains around their necks and feet. There were seven women and eight men, most of them looking terrified or unwilling to be sold.

Aiden’s eyes drifted to the boy, whose face remained half-asleep, clearly uninterested in his situation. Aiden could tell the boy had no desire even to stand.

Roy then brought out a special brush and magical ink. He carefully drew a contract, transferring control of the slaves to Aiden.

A magical seal was placed on Aiden’s forearm, indicating his power over them. With just a thought, Aiden could punish or even kill any of the slaves, and if they disobeyed him, an excruciating headache would overwhelm them, ensuring they couldn’t resist.

The guards provided a transport cage for the slaves, loading them inside.

Roy thanked Aiden for his purchases and assured him that he didn’t need to visit in person to sell his jewels—Roy would send someone to handle the sale.

With everything arranged, Aiden climbed into his carriage, and Roy, bowing deeply, bid him farewell with a satisfied smile.

Inside the carriage, as the rhythmic sound of horse hooves echoed along the road, Aiden leaned back in his seat, though his mind was far from at ease.

The sensation he'd experienced upon seeing the gray-haired boy still lingered in his body, like an echo that refused to fade.

It wasn’t just curiosity—it was something much deeper. A flash of joy that had spread through his veins, something he couldn’t recall ever feeling before.

"What was that?" he thought, staring blankly out of the window. His calculating mind struggled to process the emotions flooding him.

His heart had raced uncontrollably, his body reacting in a way that made no sense to him.

He prided himself on always being composed, rational, yet at that moment, he had felt... excitement? Happiness? The sensation of connection had hit him hard and fast, completely out of his control.

He clenched his fists, his brow furrowing as his mind fought to understand. It didn’t make sense. None of it did.

Then, for the first time, a question formed in his mind, a question he had never dared to ask before.

"Why did I transmigrate?"

The thought gnawed at him. Everything up until now had been about control, seizing opportunities, and pushing forward.

But this—his body reacting against his will, this unfamiliar connection with the slave—was different. It felt like something outside his calculations, something beyond his reach. And it unnerved him deeply.

"Why am I feeling this way now? And why with him?"

Aiden’s eyes narrowed, the familiar cool logic in his mind at war with these new, unpredictable emotions.

Could it be related to his transmigration? Could this strange, uninvited joy be part of the same mysterious force that had dragged him into this world in the first place?

He wasn’t sure. But he was determined to find out.