It's So Hard to Think of a Title

Nuoqi Village.

A noble carriage stopped at the village entrance. Two servants were attentively caring for the tall, dark red horses, while several silver-armored guards stood around the magnificent carriage.

Behind the noble carriage, there was another carriage.

However, this carriage appeared much more rudimentary. It was pulled by common village horses, and the carriage itself was very simple, lacking even a roof, covered only by a large, tattered cloth.

If one were to describe it, it was more like a cargo transport.

And indeed, that was the case.

Peeking into the carriage at the back, one could see several village girls curled up inside, hugging their knees.

They shared some commonalities. For instance, while their appearances carried the rustic charm of villagers, they were quite good-looking. Their figures were gaunt from prolonged periods of hunger, but their underlying frames and contours were good – all potential future beauties.

Of course, there were also differences. Some of the young girls had looks of fear on their faces, others confusion, and yet others a sense of longing.

"Master Robert, you've finally arrived!"

At the doorstep of the Nuoqi Village chief's house, the elderly village chief, upon seeing a middle-aged man in butler's attire disembark from the noble carriage, immediately rushed forward with a fawning expression.

The village chief naturally noticed the single transport carriage following the noble carriage. The shrewd village chief even subtly glanced into the carriage, discovering it was not even full, with more than half of it empty.

Thus, "Master Robert, why did you only buy so few people this year? Why don't you pick a few more?"

"I'm not exaggerating, but the girls from our Nuoqi Village are much better than those from other villages! They are all skillful and diligent, and they will definitely be able to serve the noble masters well once they enter the city."

The village chief patted his chest, earnestly assuring the butler opposite him.

However, the butler shook his head.

"Old Henry, it's not that I don't want to buy more people, but recently Huodian City... sigh, you wouldn't understand even if I told you. Anyway, people not from the city are no longer allowed in or out."

"If it weren't for my young lady reaching school age and urgently needing a group of maids to accompany her to the academy, I probably wouldn't have come this year."

"Alright... alright then."

The village chief's mood became somewhat dejected. It wasn't that he cared about what was happening in Huodian City, he just wanted to send a few more village girls to the city.

Don't misunderstand.

At least in these poor and humble country villages, being able to sell one's daughter to the city was definitely something worth celebrating.

As for whether the girls themselves felt the same way about being sold, that was unknown.

"Alright, Old Henry, quickly bring that girl from before. I remember her name was Vivian, right? Lead her over, I'm in a hurry to get to the next village."

There were few village girls whose names Robert remembered.

Vivian was one of them.

This butler from a prominent family in Huodian City had a very good impression of the young girl. After all, the fact that she could support her younger brother and her gambling, alcoholic father all by herself demonstrated her strong capabilities and undoubtedly good character.

For the other village girls selected and bought, guards were usually sent to fetch them. Only for Vivian from Nuoqi Village did Robert personally come out for the transaction.

However...

The process did not seem to go smoothly.

"This..." The old village chief's face showed a look of difficulty, and he spoke hesitantly.

"What is it?"

Butler Robert frowned upon seeing this. He valued Vivian highly and intended to train this young girl as his young lady's personal maid.

"Alas, Master, you should go and ask Vivian's family yourself." The village chief shook his head, sighing with some regret.

When Robert, full of confusion, arrived at Vivian's home, the moment he saw the flustered and anxious look in Vivian's father, Anlu's eyes, he immediately knew that something had likely happened to the young girl.

"Anlu! Where is your daughter?"

"M-Master, Vivian, she, she..."

Seeing Anlu stammering, Robert slammed the table in anger.

"Speak!"

"Vivian... went to Claw Forest to gather herbs for her brother, and she hasn't returned yet..." Anlu was startled and his voice trembled as he spoke.

"She went alone? To Claw Forest? Do you know that's a suicide mission!"

Robert shot up from his chair, angrily pointing his finger at Anlu's nose. Anlu had already shrunk to his knees in fear.

This showed how important Vivian was to the butler.

Taking a deep breath, Robert asked with a sliver of hope:

"When did she go?"

"The day before yesterday..."

"You!" Robert now wanted to draw his sword and cut down this scoundrel of a father.

"You willingly agreed to let your daughter venture alone into a forest full of monsters for your son, who is already beyond saving and about to breathe his last!?"

"No, no, no, An... Andy can't die, he can't die... He... he is my only son, my son!" Anlu shook his head frantically.

"Andy is your son, but isn't Vivian also your daughter!"

"It's different. Sob. Sob sob, it's different, sob sob sob." Perhaps his sore spot had been hit, Anlu hugged his youngest son, who was still gravely ill and unconscious, and cried loudly.

It was clear that in Anlu's heart, ten Vivians probably couldn't compare to one Andy, or rather, ten daughters couldn't compare to one son.

She no longer paid attention to this scumbag father. After all, one couldn't expect much knowledge or culture from a remote and backward village.

In these rural villages, girls were naturally undervalued.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have it so easy every year, with families practically begging them to buy their daughters to serve as maids in the city.

No longer minding the wailing Anlu, Robert turned towards a silent man who had been following him all along, dressed in what looked like a mage's robe.

"Mr. Lake, what do you think... if we send people to search the Claw Forest..."

Before Butler Robert could finish speaking, the mage shook his head.

"My subordinates just inquired. This morning, two outsiders accepted Anlu's commission to search for his daughter in the Claw Forest, but they haven't returned yet."

"Outsiders? Just them..." The butler seemed to have a rather poor attitude towards the "outsiders" Lake mentioned.

"No, Lord Robert, the point I want to make is that the Claw Forest is likely much more dangerous than we imagine."

The mage, named Lake, spoke with exceptional gravity.

"What do you mean?"

"A little while ago, I don't know if it was my imagination, but I seemed to sense an extremely evil aura erupting from the direction of the Claw Forest."

"If possible, I suggest Lord Robert depart immediately and return to Huodian City."

"This..."

Just as Butler Robert was about to ask if the situation was really that serious...

Suddenly!

Piercing, tragic screams came from outside the village entrance.

"Ah!!!"

"They're eating people!"