Chapter 5

The crowd of onlookers dispersed under the knights' orders.

Nat Case said, "You should know that two gold coins are already the lowest price I can offer. I bought him from Gaina for fifteen gold coins."

"He used to be a valiant captain of the knights. He is definitely the most expensive slave now."

On the Western Continent, slaves were the lowliest of people. Their prices ranged from seventy copper coins to five silver coins, and sometimes slaves could even be traded for food or goods.

Choosing slaves was like choosing merchandise.

Besides checking whether a slave was healthy and had all four limbs intact, those with higher standards would also consider the slave's appearance, knowledge, skills, and so on.

Xia Zuoyi asked, "Fifteen gold coins is indeed very expensive. Why is he worth that much?"

Nat Case said, "Before killing the lord's younger brother, he had already earned enough merit and was about to become a baron."

Xia Zuoyi could not help looking at the man still kneeling on the ground.

The man's eyes were slightly lowered, his body covered in blood. He showed no reaction at all to their conversation. If his chest had not still been slowly rising and falling, he would have seemed like a silent corpse.

Why had he killed someone just before becoming a baron?

Nat Case clicked his tongue. "He is a very rare slave."

Xia Zuoyi asked, "Then why were you going to beat him to death?"

"He rudely defied me!"

Nat Case lifted his chin proudly. "A noble's dignity cannot be offended. A single strand of my hair is worth more than fifteen gold coins."

"So do you usually pay with strands of hair?"

Xia Zuoyi's little mouth fell slightly open, his face full of an expression that said, "Wow—learned something new."

He tugged at his own hair and said, "I'm an earl, so my hair must be worth even more. Here, take one. No change needed."

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"..."

Seeing that he truly meant to pull out a strand of hair,

Nat Case hurriedly said, "No... that was just an exaggerated figure of speech. You understand what a figure of speech is, right?"

Xia Zuoyi blinked innocently and nodded, indicating that he understood.

He said, "Brother, two gold coins is still a little expensive. He is injured, after all. What if he can't be treated and dies?"

"Make it cheaper."

"...One gold coin. My absolute lowest price."

"Fine."

Xia Zuoyi readily agreed.

Money and "goods" changed hands.

After Xia Zuoyi left with the "goods,"

Nat Case inexplicably let out a breath of relief. "Finally sold him... Wait, why did I have to make this deal?!"

And it was even a losing deal that had forced him to lower the price again and again?!

He clearly could have refused!

After Xia Zuoyi returned to his temporary residence, he had Judith fetch a physician.

The physician had assumed he was there to treat the earl, never expecting to be asked to treat a slave. He could not help showing disdain. "My lord, slaves' lives are cheap. Usually, you can simply let them fend for themselves. It is not worth wasting money on—"

Xia Zuoyi said, "Shut up. I'm paying you, so just do as you're told."

Where had all this nonsense come from?

The physician sullenly shut his mouth and began treating the wounds.

He took out a flat iron tool and asked to burn charcoal in a basin.

Xia Zuoyi asked, "What are you trying to do?"

The physician said, "Stop the bleeding, my lord. It can also prevent the wounds from becoming infected."

"..."

Xia Zuoyi had somewhat overestimated the level of medicine on the Western Continent.

Just like before—if he had not woken up from his high fever in time, he would definitely have been treated with bloodletting or trepanation.

He remembered a report that had once described the backward Middle Ages—medicine had regressed to primitive times, and doctors might have killed more people than viruses. They were butchers who took lives.

So the report had not exaggerated.

Xia Zuoyi had no choice but to instruct him. "First, clean his wounds with water... Do you have any herbs? Painkillers? None at all?!! Gauze... clean cloth will do..."

In the physician's case, Xia Zuoyi saw useless bottles and jars, drills, hammers, knives... strange-smelling spices, sulfur, and more.

He even saw a live leech crawling around...

Following Xia Zuoyi's instructions, the physician bandaged every wound on the man's body. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he asked, "My lord, do you need me to leave behind some medicine?"

The medicine he meant was a bottle of cloudy holy water that had been prayed over.

"...No need. You may leave."

The physician took his leave.

Xia Zuoyi looked at the man, who had remained silent ever since they met. "What is your name?"

"Ferdinand Edward."

The man's voice was low and hoarse.

He did not seem to hold much respect or reverence for nobles.

Even though Xia Zuoyi had summoned a physician to treat him, the expression on his face had never changed. There was not even the slightest hint of gratitude.

Heavy shackles still bound his hands and feet. Once the blood had been washed away, his handsome, masculine features were revealed. A scar on his right cheek ran from beside his ear to his chin, more than a finger's length long, adding a touch of fierceness to his face.

Xia Zuoyi asked, "Can you tell me why you killed the lord's younger brother?"

Ferdinand Edward said, "There is no need for you to know."

Judith frowned. "Watch your tone."

He did not know what Fernandi Edward had gone through that had made him abandon his promising position as captain of the knights, even the title of baron, to assassinate a noble.

But he could not treat the earl who had saved his life with such coldness and disrespect.

Ferdinand Edward merely continued in an even voice, "If you are angry, you can order someone to kill me."

Xia Zuoyi said, "But I bought you for one gold coin. Can you pay me back first? Or after you die, will gold coins pop out of your corpse?"

Clearly, neither was possible.

Ferdinand Edward fell silent again.

Xia Zuoyi glanced at him twice and ordered, "Judith, keep an eye on him. Don't let him die."

Judith said, "Yes, my lord."

After the attendant delivered the signed territorial transfer documents, the gray Par Mountain on the system interface instantly lit up and turned colorful. The territory range data was updated.

Xia Zuoyi did not rush to leave. He remained in the royal city for another three or four days before leisurely setting off back to Visas.

During that time, Fernandi Edward's wounds had mostly scabbed over and would no longer split open and bleed at the slightest movement.

He followed behind the craftsmen under the knights' watch. The shackles on his hands and feet had long since been removed, making it easier for him to move.

When they stopped to rest in the mountains and forest,

Xia Zuoyi curled up in the carriage for a nap after letting out a small, full burp.

The knights and craftsmen had also eaten and drunk their fill. They each found a place to rest or gathered in twos and threes to chat.

After confirming that Xia Zuoyi was asleep, Judith walked over to Fernandi Edward. "The earl originally intended to leave the royal city as soon as the documents were issued."

"The reason he stayed another four days, and why he has traveled so slowly along the road... I believe you can tell why."

Ferdinand Edward sat alone on a rock. He raised his head and silently glanced toward the carriage.

At first, he had wanted to die.

Whether he had deliberately spoken disrespectfully to offend Nat Case, or wanted to let his wounds worsen...

If suicide had not meant that the devil would take his soul, he would have abandoned his life long ago.

"What does he want from me?" Ferdinand Edward asked hoarsely.

Judith said, "You have nothing now."

Ferdinand Edward laughed at himself. "You're right, which is why I can't understand."

Judith gave him a deep look. "As for the earl, I only hope you can keep a grateful heart."

With that, he turned and left.

After a long while,

Ferdinand Edward sighed so softly it was almost inaudible. "The person I was once grateful to... has already made me betray him..."

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