"Heh heh, heh heh..." Having received a lesson in love, the mild-mannered middle-aged man ingratiatingly presented the list. "My lord, all the old slaves in the auction house are listed here."
"I even specially ranked them for you. There are quite a few charming older men among them!"
"If you have any other special requirements, I..."
Seeing Apophis's icy gaze turn toward him, the mild-mannered middle-aged man swiftly shut his mouth.
As the list was flipped through rapidly, Apophis soon found someone on its final page.
"Tell me about him."
"Rayleigh?" The mild-mannered middle-aged man froze. That scruffy old man?
He hadn't expected this lord to be into that sort of thing!
"Actually, we hadn't wanted to take in Rayleigh, but that bastard owed money and had nothing to pay with, so in the end, he sold himself to settle the debt." The mild-mannered middle-aged man's mouth twitched. Clearly, even he had been shaken by such an outrageous move.
"Heh! An old freeloader?" Apophis took one look, then turned and left.
"Eh? Eh?" the mild-mannered middle-aged man asked in surprise. "My lord, aren't you taking him with you?"
"I have something to do now. I'll come collect him in a few days."
Naturally, Apophis was not naïve enough to think that Rayleigh, who had no connection to him whatsoever, would help him when he was in danger.
His purpose in coming today had merely been to confirm Rayleigh's location. Then, if matters spiraled beyond his control, he would drag him into it.
"Although I still don't know how Marine Headquarters and the Government will treat me, it never hurts to be prepared. As for Rayleigh..." A scarlet glint flashed through Apophis's eyes. "If he truly has no desire to fight, then don't blame me for bringing the flames of war