The Pet and Collar Section
The Little Robbers were taken to the Pet and Collar section of the Assassin Club.
Despite their terrible circumstances, the boys felt a small sense of relief.
At least they had all arrived at the same place.
They hadn't been separated yet.
However, their relief couldn't erase the reality of their situation.
They were slaves now.
The shop owner ordered the workers to place temporary steel collars around their necks.
Nikolai Volkov looked down at himself.
He was wearing only a pair of short pants, with no shirt or other clothing.
His friends were dressed similarly.
Nikolai felt deeply ashamed.
I don't even feel like a human being anymore.
He lowered his head.
This is terrible.
The treatment of slaves hadn't always been governed by even minimal protections.
In the past, many slaves had been denied permission to wear clothes. However, after a major protest by slaves and support from a Higher of the Nightglass Covenant, a rule had been introduced one year earlier.
Under the rule, a master had to provide a male slave with at least a pair of short pants. Female slaves had to receive both appropriate upper clothing and pants.
Masters who violated the rule could be punished by the Nightglass Covenant.
However, not everyone followed it.
Some high-ranking assassins and Adventurers continued to ignore the regulations.
And the children standing inside the shop had little power to protect themselves.
While Nikolai remained lost in his thoughts, a woman noticed him.
Her name was Layla Naringail.
Layla was a Dark Shade Rank assassin.
Unlike many people in the Assassin Club, she was known for her kindness. She was also intelligent and skilled at developing effective strategies.
Most importantly, she treated slaves humanely.
She didn't consider them inferior simply because they lacked freedom.
Her reputation had spread throughout the Pet and Collar section. Many slaves liked her, and some even hoped that she would become their master because of the way she treated them.
Layla approached Nikolai.
"Oh, what a cute boy!"
She smiled and moved closer.
"Hey, what's your name?"
Nikolai immediately became nervous.
"Huh? M-My name?"
He struggled to answer.
"I... I..."
Before he could finish, the shop owner struck him with a steel chain.
"Ahhh!"
Nikolai cried out in pain.
Layla's expression immediately changed.
"Why did you hit him?!"
The shop owner, Wilber Maxcen, looked at her.
"Because he didn't answer your question, Miss Layla."
Layla stared at him.
"Did I tell you to strike him?"
Wilber's expression stiffened.
He knew that a Dark Shade Rank assassin possessed enough authority and strength to make his life extremely difficult.
"I'm sorry, Miss. I understand."
Layla's eyes narrowed.
"Apologize to him."
Wilber stared at her.
"What? I'm supposed to apologize to a slave?"
Layla's expression became cold.
"Yes."
Wilber immediately understood that she wasn't joking.
"Alright, alright."
He turned toward Nikolai.
"Sorry, little slave."
Nikolai looked at him nervously.
"It's okay. No problem."
He accepted the apology because he didn't want to cause any further trouble.
Layla then turned back toward him.
"Alright, little boy. Tell me your name."
Nikolai took a breath.
"My name is Nikolai."
Layla smiled.
"That's a good name."
She paused before asking another question.
"Tell me, Nikolai. Would you like to become my slave?"
Nikolai stared at her.
Layla continued.
"I want to purchase you because you seem different from the other children here."
Nikolai looked at her carefully.
She's kind.
The shop owner is cruel, but this woman treated me differently.
However, another thought immediately came to his mind.
I don't want to leave my friends.
He turned toward the other Little Robbers.
"Please give me two minutes to discuss something with my friends."
Wilber looked surprised.
"What?!"
But Layla calmly nodded.
"Alright. I don't mind."
Wilber didn't dare object.
Nikolai approached his friends.
"Hey, guys..."
He looked at them with a troubled expression.
"I don't want to leave you."
His friends understood what he meant.
They had all noticed Layla's behavior. She had protected Nikolai from Wilber and demanded that the shop owner apologize.
She seemed like someone who would treat him well.
Lucien de Montclair spoke first.
"You should go, Nikolai."
Nikolai looked at him.
Lucien continued.
"This could be a good opportunity for you."
Leander von Falkenrath nodded.
"Yeah. I think Nikolai should accept her offer."
Aurelius Laurisber looked at their friend.
"Nikolai, different masters will purchase us. It's impossible for us to stay together forever."
He paused.
"So you should go with her."
Nikolai lowered his head.
"But..."
Before he could continue, all his friends spoke together.
"Don't worry, Nikolai!"
They looked at him with reassuring expressions.
"We'll be happy if you get to live a happy life. So please go!"
Nikolai stared at them.
Tears began to fill his eyes.
"Alright, guys..."
He took a deep breath.
"If you all agree, then I'll accept her offer."
He returned to Layla.
"I want to become your slave."
Layla smiled brightly.
"Good boy!"
She immediately paid Wilber for Nikolai.
Wilber accepted the money.
"Thank you for purchasing that slave, Madam."
Layla didn't bother answering him.
Instead, she looked at Nikolai.
"Hmm... You look dirty, and you've suffered quite a few injuries."
Her expression softened.
"But don't worry. I'll take care of you."
She gestured toward the exit.
"Come with me. I need to purchase a collar for you."
Nikolai looked at her gratefully.
"Thank you so much, Miss."
Layla shook her head.
"Come on. Don't be sad."
She understood why he was struggling to smile.
"I know you miss your friends."
Then she offered him something unexpected.
"I'll give you opportunities to meet them from time to time."
Nikolai's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Layla nodded.
"Of course."
Nikolai immediately smiled.
"Thank you so much!"
Layla raised her hand and used healing magic on him.
A gentle magical glow surrounded Nikolai.
Within moments, his injuries healed.
Nikolai stared at his body in disbelief.
She knows magic, too?!
He looked at Layla.
"Thank you, Miss!"
Layla sighed.
"Huh... Please stop thanking me every few seconds."
Nikolai lowered his head.
"Sorry, Miss."
Layla shook her head again.
"I didn't tell you to apologize, either."
She smiled.
"Alright. Let's go."
The Pink Collar
Layla took Nikolai to a nearby collar shop.
Inside, she examined the different collars displayed for sale.
After a while, she noticed a pink collar.
"Hey, Nikolai!"
She pointed toward it.
"Look at that pink collar. I want to buy it for you."
She tilted her head.
"Would you like it?"
Nikolai looked at the collar.
"If you want to give it to me, I'll happily accept it."
Layla smiled.
"Good! Let's go."
She purchased the collar and turned toward Nikolai.
"Now, let me put it around your neck."
Nikolai nodded.
"Alright, Miss."
Layla carefully placed the collar around his neck.
Then she stepped back to examine it.
"Oh, it looks cute on you!"
Nikolai immediately became embarrassed.
He was still wearing only his short pants, and the situation made him feel uncomfortable.
Layla noticed his reaction.
"I know you're feeling embarrassed."
She spoke gently.
"Don't worry. When we get home, I'll give you proper clothes."
Nikolai nodded.
"Alright, Miss."
Layla gently patted his head.
"Good boy."
Although Nikolai was still a slave, for the first time since arriving at the Assassin Club, he felt that someone might genuinely care about him.
He didn't know what his future would bring.
But at least for now, he wasn't alone.
---
The Other Little Robbers
Meanwhile, the remaining Little Robbers were still inside the Pet and Collar section.
They watched Nikolai leave with Layla.
Leander sighed.
"Huh... Nikolai is lucky to have such a kind master."
Aurelius nodded.
"Yeah. You're right."
He looked around the shop.
"If someone purchases me, I hope my master will be kind, too."
Alaric von Eberhardt agreed.
"I feel the same way."
The boys continued talking quietly about Nikolai's new situation.
Although they were happy that their friend had found someone who appeared to care about him, they couldn't help wondering what kind of masters they would receive.
Would they be fortunate like Nikolai?
Or would their lives become even more difficult?
They had no answers.
Then, suddenly, they heard a familiar voice.
A man was speaking with the shop owners about the newly arrived slaves.
The voice belonged to Julian Arkwright.
He had come to the Pet and Collar section with his girlfriend, Celixsa Thornhart, to look at the newly arrived children.
The moment the Little Robbers recognized him, their eyes widened.
"Sir Julian!"
Their expressions changed immediately.
Only a short time earlier, they had been frightened about their future and worried that they might never see their friends again.
Now, seeing someone they knew filled them with hope.
They remembered Julian as someone who had protected them before.
Someone who had given them a chance when they had nowhere else to go.
For the first time since their capture, the Little Robbers felt that their situation might still change.
Their hopes, which had nearly disappeared, began to return.
Perhaps they could still find a way to live a better life.
Perhaps they weren't completely alone after all.