Thane blinked, taken aback for a moment. "You're sure? I told you, she's—"
"I said I'll take her," Michael repeated, his tone calm but firm.
The merchant studied him for a few seconds, then chuckled softly. "Heh… very well. You've got guts." Then he added, "She used to be a noble, you know — now a mid-tier slave. Normally, someone like her would sell for thirty to forty gold coins, but I'm willing to give her to you for twenty."
[Host, it's recommended that you use your Negotiation skill. If executed properly, you can reduce the price by up to 25%, since the merchant doesn't seem aware of the subject's true potential.]
Michael glanced at his available funds.
Wealth (Eldravia): 8.192 gold coins
Earth Currency: 20,690 euros
Assets: None
D-Coins: 249
Damn… even with the gold I have, it's not enough.
[Host, I can convert some of your euros or D-Coins to cover the deficit if you wish.]
Michael stayed silent for a moment, then said casually,
"Still, twenty gold coins sounds a bit too much for her, don't you think?"
"But that's already a discount—"
Michael cut him off smoothly, his voice calm yet sharp. "True. But you said it yourself — there are plenty of rumors about her. 'The Misfortune,' wasn't it? She's more of a burden to you now than a profit. Keeping her here is only adding to your costs. So I'd say it's fair you lower the price a bit more."
Thane fell silent for a while, clearly thinking it over.
Michael hadn't said anything wrong — keeping a slave inside this depot wasn't cheap. Two months had already passed, and he still hadn't managed to sell her. If this customer walked away too, who knew when the next buyer would come?
And every passing day meant more money wasted just to keep her here.
Finally, Thane sighed. "Hmm… alright then. How much are you willing to pay for her?"
Michael pretended to think for a moment before replying, "Twelve gold coins."
Thane frowned immediately. "Now that's far too low. I've already spent quite a bit on her upkeep, not to mention the taxes, guild fees, and depot charges. I can't go lower than seventeen gold coins. You won't find a slave like her for less anywhere else."
[Negotiation effectiveness increased by +15%. Persuasion tone calibrated.]
Michael smiled faintly. "Fine. Fifteen gold coins. That's the highest I can go. Let's call it a win-win."
He said it in such a tone that made it clear — if Thane pushed any further, he'd walk away.
The merchant hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. The offer wasn't bad, and at least this way, he'd cut his losses.
"Alright," Thane said at last. "Deal."
He turned and gestured for Michael to follow. "Come with me. We'll get the paperwork done."
"Also," Michael added as he followed Thane, "I want you to have her cleaned up. She looks a bit… unkempt."
Thane, ever the opportunist, replied quickly, "Alright, but that'll cost an extra ten silver."
"Hm. Fine, that's not a problem. But I want her clean — and dressed in new clothes."
A few minutes later…
They entered a smaller, well-lit chamber behind the main hall. Unlike the prison-like corridors outside, this room was comfortably furnished — carpets underfoot, ledgers stacked neatly on the desk, the air heavy with the scent of ink and parchment.
They weren't alone. Several others were already waiting, all here for the same purpose — to buy or sell slaves. Because of that, Michael and Thane had to wait their turn. While they waited, Thane used the time to prepare the necessary documents.
After about ten minutes, their turn finally came.
They approached a counter in one corner of the room, above which a sign read Slave Seal Station.
Behind the counter sat a hooded figure — clearly a wizard.
As they approached, the man looked up and spoke in a calm, echoing voice,
"Names of the buyer and seller?"
"The buyer's name is Michael, and the seller is me, Thane," Thane answered before Michael could speak. "He's purchasing Subject No. 27 from my reserve."
He handed the hooded man a few documents. The man took them, glanced through the pages, then set them aside and placed a small obsidian slab on the counter.
At once, glowing symbols flared to life across its surface — forming a circular pattern of intricate runes that shimmered like molten silver.
Michael exhaled quietly.
So that's called… magic.
Not illusion, not trickery — real, living magic.
If he were still on Earth, he might've thought it was some kind of holographic illusion, a clever trick of technology. But here… things were different.
"Bring in the slave."
At the command, a side door creaked open, and two guards entered — escorting the girl in iron cuffs.
This time, Michael finally got a good look at the one he was about to purchase.
Just as he'd requested, she had been washed and given new clothes — nothing fancy, but far better than what she'd worn before.
Her hair was still damp. She looked young — perhaps seventeen, though Michael wasn't sure. Some girls here matured faster, some slower.
However, she was beautiful, in a quiet, haunting way. Even barefoot, she stood at around five feet eight — tall for her age. Her eyes, however, held nothing — no spark, no fear, no emotion. Just emptiness, like a candle long since burned out.
Michael could tell — she had been a slave for quite a while.
The guards led the girl forward and stopped before the hooded wizard.
"Place your hand here, buyer," the wizard instructed.
Michael pressed his palm onto the stone slab. A faint blue light ran up his arm as the man began chanting under his breath, the runic circle glowing brighter with each word. Then he pricked Michael's finger with a thin needle — just enough for a drop of blood to fall onto the circle. The lines flared red, pulsing with energy.
The guards tightened their grip on the girl.
A beam of light burst from the runes and struck her chest. She shuddered, a silent gasp escaping her lips as a glowing symbol appeared just below her collarbone.
The mark lingered for a few seconds before slowly fading into her skin.
Then the wizard said, "The contract of ownership is sealed under Pentharon's Binding Code.
The slave shall obey the registered master and be unable to harm or betray.
The master bears responsibility for sustenance, shelter, and command."
The magic receded, leaving behind only the faint shimmer of the completed seal.
The hooded man prepared a few more documents, stamping them one by one. Thane, as the seller, pressed his thumbprint on several pages in place of a signature.
Michael noticed this and quietly realized that Thane wasn't particularly educated — but then again, in this world, that wasn't unusual.
Once all the documents were complete, Michael finalized the payment — converting 4,000 euros into 8 gold coins to cover the rest, preferring not to spend any of his precious D-Coins.