"Lord Soros! Outcasts may indeed be unprotected by the law in Calimport.
But if they become someone's servants, they are automatically elevated from Outcasts to their master's property.
And property and servants with an owner are protected by the law."
Seeing Raymond standing there without reacting for a long while, the inn attendant Pike hurried over and quietly explained the secret behind it.
After all, he often received generous tips from this young yet noble and generous guest.
So he was more than willing to share local customs and knowledge that Raymond might not know in exchange for additional rewards.
"You mean... for Outcasts, becoming servants is not only not a bad thing, but actually raises their social standing in another way?"
Raymond seemed to understand something, but he was still dumbfounded and found it hard to believe that such an absurd thing existed in the world.
It turned out that in Calimport, becoming a servant was not the worst fate, nor was it the lowest social status.
Below them was another class: Lycanthropes known as "Outcasts."
These people spread Lycanthropy and lost control on nights of the full moon, transforming into beasts.
They were not even qualified to become slaves.
After all, slave owners needed obedient, submissive slaves, not a pack of mad dogs that would bite their masters.
Pike answered seriously, "That's right!
As long as they bear a mark symbolizing their status as slaves, anyone who wants to drive them away or even kill them will have to carefully consider the retaliation they might face.
Especially from someone like you, a powerful spellcaster who can speak with Chief Aipuke as an equal. Ordinary people would not dare provoke you lightly."
"All right, I think I understand. Thank you for the explanation." Raymond directly took out a gold coin and tossed it to him.
Pike caught it with practiced ease, his face breaking into a wide smile as he repeatedly bowed in thanks. Words like "kind," "generous," and "noble" spilled endlessly from his mouth.
However, Raymond ignored the tiresome flattery and stared at the girl kneeling before him. "Why me?
You should know that I'm only an outsider. Before long, I'll be leaving Calimport.
If you need to find yourselves a master, wouldn't Aipuke be a better choice?
At the very least, he is the leader of the Thieves' Guild and quite powerful himself."
"Because you are the only one who has not looked at us with contempt or disgust.
You even gave us food.
Chief Aipuke may be a superior worth relying on, but he would never see us as people."
Fangus gave her answer without hesitation.
Forced to become the clan leader, she knew very well that in the condition she and these underage Wolf Pups were in, they could never survive even a month in Calimport without the protection of a sufficiently powerful and benevolent master.
In fact, if they had not been lucky enough to obtain some food today, the two youngest children would probably not have lived to see tomorrow morning's sun.
As for stealing or robbing...
Please!
This was Calimport, where Thieves' Guilds stood everywhere!
Nearly every street was managed by its own little gang.
Stealing right under their noses?
The lightest punishment was having several fingers chopped off!
A harsher punishment meant being beaten to death on the spot!
Only internal members of the Thieves' Guild were qualified to engage in robbery, theft, smuggling, and similar trades.
Moreover, Lycanthropes themselves had virtually no rights.
Their attackers would only be even more brutal than they were with ordinary petty thieves.
Seeing that this filthy Werewolf girl, who even reeked of the sewers, had set her sights on him, Raymond—who happened to want to study Lycanthropy—stopped refusing and nodded gently. "All right, then let's try getting along for a while first.
But let me make this clear in advance.
You must obey the orders I give.
Without permission, you are not allowed to hurt anyone.
And you are absolutely not allowed to spread Lycanthropy."
"No problem! You are our master, so naturally we will obey every order you give." Fangus agreed without hesitation.
"Then it's settled. Come here, I'll give you a magical mark first. That way, you won't have to worry about being driven away or killed while walking through the streets and alleys."
As he spoke, deep blue Arcane Magic radiance began to flicker around Raymond's right index and middle fingers.
Having waited for this moment for a long time, the Werewolf girl said nothing and directly tore open the collar of her ragged shirt, revealing her gaunt, rib-like chest.
The next second...
His fingers glowing with Arcane Magic lightly touched the spot between her collarbones.
Instantly!
The image of a hand holding cards appeared out of thin air.
Clearly, this was the cantrip Arcane Mark.
Just as its name implied, the spell could carve visible or invisible personal marks and patterns onto anything.
This image of a hand holding cards was Raymond's own Arcane Mark, one he had thought up on the spot.
The cards represented a Planeswalker, while the hand represented himself.
The Werewolf girl lowered her head to look at the Arcane Mark on her chest, unable to stop tears of excitement from falling.
Because she knew that with this, she could lead her clan to survive. They would no longer have to fear starving to death or being beaten to death.
As for the remaining Wolf Pups, Raymond had only prepared one Arcane Mark today, so they would have to wait until tomorrow, after he prepared again.
Once everything was done, he immediately tossed several more gold coins to Pike, the inn attendant beside him, and ordered without looking back, "Take them to bathe, brush their teeth, eat, and buy them some clean clothes, shoes, and socks to change into."
"As you wish!"
Pike eagerly accepted the gold coins and led the Wolf Pups toward the bathhouse behind the inn.
Although bathing Werewolf children who reeked of sewer stench was hardly a pleasant job.
After all, he might accidentally be scratched or bitten by the little brats and contract Lycanthropy.
But considering that there should still be quite a bit left after buying them ordinary clothes, shoes, and socks, Pike was full of motivation.
After everyone had left, the soldier finally asked in an uncertain tone, "Master, is taking in these dangerous Wolf Pups really a wise choice? Once they are ruled by their beastly nature, they will immediately turn into madmen who cannot distinguish friend from foe."
"Don't worry. I know how dangerous Werewolves are.
But don't you think solving the problem of Lycanthropy gradually turning people more and more like beasts would be a very interesting challenge?
In my view, Lycanthropes are actually research subjects with tremendous potential.
If the problem of them being easily influenced by their beastly nature can be solved, they would be perfect Fighters and hunters.
Besides, if I had ignored those Wolf Pups today, they would soon have died in some alley or sewer in Calimport.
Perhaps one could pretend nothing had happened if one never encountered something like that.
But if one still turned a blind eye after encountering it, that would mean losing the most basic humanity.
After all, even many animals help raise the orphaned young of their own kind, much less humans like us, who have built civilization, society, morality, and values.
I have once watched many innocent people die with cold eyes, and I have been forced to kill ruthlessly to survive, remaining wary and suspicious of everyone around me.
But now, I intend to give them a chance, and at the same time give myself a chance to regain trust between people.
If those Wolf Pups truly grow up to become bloodthirsty, brutal madmen like the rumors describe.
Then I will kill them myself and take responsibility for the choice I made today."
After saying that, Raymond raised his head and glanced at the dazzling starry sky overhead. A faint smile appeared on his face, and then he headed straight upstairs to his room.
It was already very late.
As a spellcaster, he had to get at least eight hours of sufficient sleep every day.
Otherwise, he would be unable to restore his energy and magic power.
Before you continue