[A Certain Regent of Town POV]
It’s been 4 months since the 6th Prince passed through the Orwell domain. The Marquis Romwell, a firm supporter of the third prince wanted him dead, but all attempts failed as they did not even spend a day in Romwell, they bought provisions and then left the same day.
I pitied the prince, born into a family that he didn’t choose to have. But alas, my loyalty is to the Romwells which extends to the third prince.
As a border territory, the Romwells fought not just the Empire east of us but also the Demons from the North, that child however was sent to the border of both. No one would blame him if he gave up and took refuge in nearby towns.
But for months I had never heard of the prince settling in Roella or even Romwell, I assumed he died along the way.
Thankfully, there has been no sighting of monsters from the towns.
For a week now there has been growing turbulence in the town’s economy, gemstones of absurdly great quality have begun to circulate. A buzz about some high-quality swords has also surfaced. And orc meat…
“Sir there’s been a report about a person spending an equivalent of one platinum coin to buy out all the slave houses in the city.”
“I assume it’s the same person who has been creating turbulence recently?”
“Yes sir, do you want me to summon them?”
“No, we cannot meddle with some few platinum coins.”
No, platinum coins are no joke, to maintain this city one needs 4 platinum coins but that man was able to generate 6 platinum coins in the short time he was here… Although we were able to tax him already it feels like a waste not being able to take more.
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I guess I’ll leave them be for now, A small company like Rowan Co. is not a threat to us.
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[A Perspective of a Certain Slave]
I can’t remember when it started but I have always been a slave, following the wishes of my master.
I gave up on my dream of becoming a knight long ago.
My parents sold me and my siblings to save themselves from starvation, every single day we pray that the master that will buy us will be kind. I have seen many of my fellow slaves half to death being returned to the shop. Some have had their limbs cut down.
I dread the day that that becomes me.
One day a man came to the shop. He looked ordinary, the people who usually came to this place were lined with jewellery all over their bodies. But that man was different. He was… akin to commoners.
“Stand up everyone, you have been bought from today onwards you belong to him.”
We found out he bought us all.
“Oh- uhh, I won’t be your master but someone better than me will. I’m sure you’ll be happy there.”
I felt my heart drop. I guess a noble bought us, I wonder what will be left of me after this.
The man got wagons for us and started to load us in. I saw everyone I knew in the slaver house leave, all the children and women, even the men. No one was left. I could also see that there were livestock behind us.
“Yeah, I’ll take them all.”
“Why do you need so much copper and iron?”
“Not me, but the one who is trying to buy it. I’m not sure why he needs it too.”
“There are also some metals that might be useful for him, need that too?”
“Yes, I’ll take them all. I’ll give it as a gift.”
As he finished loading everything in we departed.
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The man convinced some villages to abandon their dying ones to go with him, though with varying success, from the 800 we started, our caravan’s number swelled to 1500 people. While 100 mercenaries guarded us.
“Will there be a home for us there?”
One villager asked.
“We are going to the wasteland now…”
“Is it the right choice to join them?”
“We didn’t have any choice… if we stayed we would have starved…”
“Maybe they’ll make us work in the mines…”
Dread began to engulf the caravan. Many people have abandoned their homes believing this merchant, he seemed to have a great relationship with the villagers.
But the caravan suddenly stopped. Some conversations can be heard.
“What the… is that…”
“No… that’s impossible… we already passed the biggest town in the frontier…”
“We already passed through Roella…”
I took a peek outside of the waggon.
“I guess, he did something again… Oh, the road is well-maintained! Welcome to the village everyone!” The merchant said.
That is not a village like the merchant said… that’s a city.