This B Was Getting Hard to Keep Under Control

The surnames of the Elves in Blackleaf Forest all differed.

Only the Black Leaf Elven Royal Family bore the surname Black Leaf, named after the first two words of Blackleaf Forest.

And that surname had only been changed after the Black Leaf Elves settled in the forest.

Back when Gods Continent had yet to shatter, this branch of the Elven Royal Family bore the surname "Dawn," whose first two characters were the same as the Battle Aura William cultivated.

As for why the Elven King had changed the surname, there were many rumors...

Some said it was deeply connected to certain secrets within Blackleaf Forest. Others claimed that Blackleaf Forest possessed a World Tree Sapling...

However, the Black Leaf Elves themselves had spread word that the Elven King wanted his descendants to remember the humiliation of withdrawing from the continent, to remember the shame of being forced to live in the forest and unable to appear on the continent.

As for whether they harbored ambitions of ruling the continent again, that depended on who you asked.

In any case, humans still did not dare truly attack forests inhabited by Elves. Not only were the Human Countries busy fighting over territory, but the Orcs and Demons also caused them no small amount of trouble.

Under the rule of the royal family, the Black Leaf Elves had rarely appeared in human sight. Their royal surname was practically a legend to many ordinary people, with far too few records of it.

In many remote places, even Elves themselves had become legend.

Legendary Continent had three Elf Kingdoms in total.

In the south of the continent stood Blackleaf Forest, home to the Black Leaf Elves.

On Central Island lay Moon Forest, home to the Moonlight Elves.

In Icefield Forest in the north lived the Snow Elves.

Three kingdoms, three Elven Royal Families, each with more than ten million Elves.

These thirty-odd million Pure-Blood Elves were all that remained of the Elves on Legendary Continent. Compared with the billions of people across the Human Empire and Human Kingdoms, they were simply incomparable. This was one reason the Elves had hidden themselves away from the world.

The fact that Kuri knew the surname of the Black Leaf Elven Royal Family meant that he had at least encountered Elves before, perhaps even learned some secret information.

At that thought.

William smiled easily, led Kuri aside, and said bluntly, "Those things you mentioned are all trivial. I only want to know whether you have the means to purchase slaves."

"Slaves???" Kuri's eyes widened. He could not help but glance at William several more times. After all, he had never known Pure-Blood Elves to be interested in buying slaves.

The Elves were the race that valued freedom most. Elves rarely truly restricted the freedom of other races, and they had never practiced buying slaves.

William merely shrugged, a trace of sorrow in his tone. "I only want to buy slaves so they can become Commoners again. I want to develop my territory, and I will inevitably need manpower.

If you help me buy slaves, I will directly grant them the status of Commoners. I only hope they can help me build the territory. Whether they leave or stay afterward, I will no longer interfere."

Kuri suddenly understood and hurriedly nodded. "Lord, you are kind-hearted. May the Gods bless you forever."

At the same time, he said confidently, "Of course. I just wonder what type of slaves you want, my lord?"

He spoke as though he could buy William any kind of slave he wanted.

William had no choice but to believe him. The wandering merchant caravans on Legendary Continent all had some influence behind them, and someone within a caravan might well be a Noble.

After all, it was a form of training. Many Grand Nobles did not want their descendants to become Mercenaries or join Adventure parties to risk their lives, so they sent them into merchant caravans instead. If they could return alive to their families after several years, they were usually seasoned veterans...

Of course, descendants sent out for training were generally not core members of their families, unless they simply were not favored by the Grand Nobles.

And facing Kuri, who might be a Noble and might have discovered his identity, William did not mind putting on airs and frightening him a little. "Professionals!"

"..." Kuri pondered for two seconds. "Fine. How many?"

William pondered for two seconds as well. "What price?"

Clearly.

William still wanted to keep up the act.

"That depends on age, race, gender, what type of Professional they are, and their rank. But most are Professionals who have only just entered Low-Class...

Of course, there are absolutely no Elves or Half-Elves. Elegant and powerful beings like Elves absolutely cannot be treated as slaves. They ought to be born Nobles."

Kuri was very experienced in this. He had done plenty of human trafficking. As for his latter explanation, William could not be bothered to respond.

Did Kuri have Elf slaves?

He truly did not...

After all, even slave traders in a tiny Duchy would not dare brazenly capture Pure-Blood Elves. If the Elves of Blackleaf Forest found out, it would not merely mean retaliation against a few Nobles.

They would directly crush cities and destroy nations!

For a long time after the Pure-Blood Elves withdrew into the forest, humans believed the Elves' power was spent and everyone wanted to bully them.

As a result, many Pure-Blood Elves vanished without explanation, captured by human slave traders and sold to Nobles. The Elf girls among them suffered the most miserably...

It was not that the Blackleaf Forest royal family did not retaliate. Whenever they discovered such incidents, they would certainly strike back, and those Nobles often died terribly.

But such warnings meant nothing to the Nobles. There would always be Nobles who secretly ordered others to carry out that inhuman trade again.

And so.

After tens of thousands of Elves had been brutally abused.

The Elves of Blackleaf Forest truly erupted.

Thirteen Legendary Rank Elves destroyed seven Human Duchies and three Human Kingdoms within three days. A Heavy City of one Human Empire was annihilated by a Forbidden Spell...

That day, millions died.

From that day onward, few dared cause trouble in Blackleaf Forest again...

As for whether humanity sought justice?

Few knew...

Of those thirteen Legendary Elves, six died one after another in later years. They were buried beneath the Black Tree in Dark Night City. Their tombstones were covered in flowers, their heroic deeds sung by the Elves, their achievements... everlasting.

There was no justice or kindness to speak of in such matters. It was a war between races.

To the Black Leaf Elves, the actions of those thirteen Elves had made them heroes.

To the innocent humans who died, they were Demons.

William seemed to be recalling something. Kuri swallowed hard and did not dare say another word. At that moment, he only wanted to slap himself a few times, as though blaming himself for speaking carelessly.

Because he also knew of that tense and dark period of history.

As for Half-Elf slaves?

There would certainly be unlucky Half-Elves captured and turned into slaves.

William let out a deep sigh. "Warrior-type Professionals, no older than twenty-five. I want five hundred.

For manufacturing-type Professionals, I want one hundred each of Blacksmiths, tailors, jewelers, engineers, and architects.

As for non-Professionals, half men and half women, slaves between fifteen and twenty years old. I want three thousand!"

"Five hundred Warrior-type Professionals normally cost fifty Gold Coins each, but since you are so generous, my lord, thirty Gold Coins each will do.

The five hundred manufacturing Professionals originally vary in price, but twenty Gold Coins each will be enough.

As for the three thousand ordinary slaves, because they are so young, the lowest price is five Gold Coins each.

That comes to forty thousand Gold Coins in total. If you truly want them, my lord, thirty-eight thousand Gold Coins will do. That is already the lowest price I can promise!"

Kuri was extremely experienced in the slave trade. The moment William finished speaking, he had already calculated the price. His proficiency made William feel sorry for those slaves...

Lord merely raised a brow. Kuri did not explain anything. This truly was the lowest price; if he lowered it any further, he would lose money...

As for Mages?

Neither of them mentioned them. Buying Mage slaves was not buying slaves—it was buying your own father...

But William said nothing more and merely patted his shoulder. "In seven days, bring the slaves here. Then take crates of Gold Coins back with you."

Kuri had not received the deposit he wanted, but after looking into William's eyes, he bowed and said, "A pleasant partnership, Your Highness!"

William did not explain upon hearing those two words. He merely smiled faintly before turning and leaving.

When Kuri saw that.

The great weight in his heart finally dropped into his stomach, and he finally let out a breath. He had gambled right. The man before him was definitely an Elven prince!!!

Was money...

Still a problem?

"Money... is a huge problem." William clasped his hands together, his gaze gradually turning vacant.

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