Three days later, at dusk, Matthews and the others sat around a campfire. The mercenaries were in high spirits, too. Their adventure in the Magic Beast Mountain Range had earned them a Level Seven Magic Beast Core, and with Matthews, a walking sack of noble's gold, along for the ride, they were sure to make a tidy profit.
At the captain's signal, one of his men brought out a set of gorgeous clothes that clearly didn't suit the mercenary group's style. He handed them to Matthews while the female mage watched reluctantly. Matthews accepted the clothes, surprised.
He pointed at the clothes, then at himself. "For... me?"
The captain nodded. "That's right!"
The thin, sharp-featured warrior who had gone hunting with Matthews earlier smiled and gestured. "Our... captain... says... it's a... parting... gift... for you."
Matthews was touched. He could tell at a glance that clothes this fine must have cost a pretty penny. He vowed to himself that once he made something of himself, he'd repay the mercenary group properly.
At their enthusiastic urging, he put on the gorgeous clothes. They didn't quite fit, but he still made a point of twirling around to show the kind souls and gave them a thumbs-up in thanks.
Matthews was so happy that he had a few extra drinks and turned in early.
"Captain, do we really have to give him such nice clothes?"
Raymond, captain of the Mad Python Mercenary Group, glanced at the strongest female mage in his team. "Yes. We'll deduct the cost of the clothes from your share of this job."
"But I bought them for my father when we passed through that city last time. They were supposed to be a gift."
Seeing this, the sharp-featured warrior stepped forward to explain. "Don't be stingy. If he isn't dressed like a noble, how are we supposed to pass him off as one who's fallen on hard times? We won't get a good price for him otherwise."
"Hmph! It's not your belongings you're giving up!"
Captain Raymond showed his authority and said flatly, "All right. You can have ten extra gold coins from his share."
"Captain, what about me? I was the one who came up with the idea!"
"You'll get your share."
"Thanks, Captain. You're the best, boss!"
Captain Raymond waved a hand. "Enough. Keep an eye on him. We drugged him, but the Archer reported last time that he's definitely in great shape. Don't let anything go wrong."
"Hee-hee, don't worry, boss. I know what I'm doing. Even if he's a Level Six Warrior, I can guarantee he won't wake up before tomorrow evening!"
Seeing his subordinate thump his chest in assurance, Captain Raymond nodded. Then he reminded everyone to stay alert. Although they were close to the city, so many mercenary groups had gathered nearby that cutthroat dealings were all too common.
Matthews slept peacefully, completely unaware that the kind souls he trusted had taken him to a gathering place for slave traders.
"Fei Angsa, I've got a buyer for you!"
At the sharp-featured warrior's practiced shout, the gate to a courtyard opened. A shrewd-looking warrior came out and looked them over. "Oh, it's you. I thought you'd gone off to work as a mercenary. What have you got?"
"Heh-heh-heh, we're old acquaintances. When have I ever lied to you?"
Seeing that the warrior named Fei Angsa was someone he knew, the sharp-featured warrior opened the gate and ushered the members of the Mad Python Mercenary Group inside.
At the sharp-featured warrior's signal, a few men carried out the sleeping Matthews. Fei Angsa saw at a glance that the clothes didn't fit and said bluntly, "Come on, that's no good. I thought you had something worthwhile."
The sharp-featured warrior pointed at Matthews. "Would I lie to you? We're old acquaintances. This fellow's definitely a noble who's fallen on hard times. I just happened to come across him."
Fei Angsa walked over and examined Matthews's hands. His skin was smooth, with none of the calluses left by hard labor, handling weapons, or fighting. His teeth were perfect, and the skin on his face was delicate. An air of nobility seemed to radiate from him.
After all, Matthews had been a university student, and the Sovereign's Might had newly created his body. Naturally, the slave trader took him for a noble.
"How much do you want?"
"We're old acquaintances. Eight thousand."
"Too much. Take him away."
"Come on, don't be like that. How much can you offer?"
"Four thousand."
The sharp-featured warrior refused at once. "I'm no rookie. Give me a fair price."
"All right. Since we're old acquaintances, I'll add five hundred."
"Seriously? Are you trying to make things difficult for me?"
Fei Angsa glanced at the strong warrior standing silently nearby. In his estimation, that man had to be at least Level Seven. The Level Seven Mage who led the group had gone out to enjoy himself; otherwise, Fei Angsa could have robbed them.
"The most I can offer is five thousand."
The sharp-featured warrior read Fei Angsa's expression and figured that was close to his limit. He looked to his captain, who spoke up. "Five thousand five hundred, and he's yours."
"Fine. Deal!"
Just like that, Matthews was sold to a slave trader for five thousand five hundred gold coins by the very people he had thought were kind.
"Put him in a cell by himself. Check whether he has any magic power or Battle Qi."
After Fei Angsa gave the order, Matthews was carried down to the dungeon. The examination showed that he had neither Battle Qi nor magic, so they didn't equip him with anything to suppress magic or Battle Qi.
Meanwhile, the sharp-featured warrior turned to the captain of their mercenary group. "Boss, what should we do with his weapon?"
Only gods could unleash a Sovereign Artifact's full power, and the captain was merely a Level Seven Warrior. Naturally, he didn't recognize that the weapon in his hands was something many powerful beings in the Divine Plane would go mad for. He tested it and found it fairly sharp, that was all.
The captain hefted the weapon in his hand. He used a heavy hammer, and the Death Scythe didn't suit him, so he said, "Let's auction it off in the next city."
Matthews woke up hungry at dusk. The night before, he'd been excited about visiting the first city in another world. Then those people had enthusiastically plied him with drinks, and he'd overdone it.
Matthews rubbed his still-foggy head and opened his eyes.
"Clink, clank—"
As he raised a hand to rub his head, the movement tugged at the iron chain locked around his wrist. That was when he realized something was wrong!
"Ah!"
"What the hell—"
Matthews sat up and saw that both his hands and feet were shackled. Looking around, he found himself in a dim basement, with several other people nearby who were shackled as well.
"Someone! Help!"
In his panic, Matthews shouted for help in Chinese. Someone beside him shook their head as they watched him.
Sure enough, someone came in before long, shouting at all the imprisoned slaves, "What are you making all that noise for? Keep it up and I'll kill you!"
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