Chapter 458 – It’s Never Easy.

“Master Alphonse, would you like to have some more of the vine, your glass seems to be empty.”

“If thou art compelled, it would indeed be a squander to decline…”

“Quite!’

Aubert Abramz’s smile brightened as he snapped his fingers. From the side, a stunning woman with an elven-like appearance moved gracefully to carry out his order. She poured the red wine into the seemingly nobleman’s glass, her movements fluid and elegant. Her long red hair shimmered under the candlelight, and her partially elongated ears hinted at a mixed heritage.

The man sat in an expensive-looking chair, his attire more militaristic than regal, yet he exuded authority and confidence in his posture and demeanor. As he took a sip from the large wine glass, those around him dared not speak. Besides the beautiful woman and Aubert, various other lovely ladies waited nearby, all with lowered heads, seemingly fearful of catching Alphonse’s gaze.

“Pray, where hath we left off? Ah, yea, we were conversing upon the recent advancements in our modest enterprise. I trust thou hast successfully procured the cargo?”

“Of course, Master Alphonse everything is proceeding according to plan. The sla… I mean the shipment is ready for shipping and we have prepared everything just as before.”

“Most splendid! I shall entrust my men with its safeguarding, as is customary. However, there is a matter, I yearn to ascertain.”

“Ah, what is Master Alphonse?”

“Pray, do allow me to address the recent commotion concerning the young lady hailing from the Albimond merchant family. I’ve been privy to some disquieting tidings. Might this pose an inconvenience?”

“An inconvenience? No, everything will be fine… she won’t be a problem. She may have chosen my fool of a brother, but if she is not there to be wed, then my position as the heir will not be impeded.”

Aubert replied in a confident tone before this important guest. The man was part of the Valerian house, directly under Theodore Valerian, the individual who could alter Aubert’s destiny. Everyone knew he was one of the main candidates for the Duke position. Despite the forbidden nature of their endeavors, so long as their illegal slave trade remained undetected, the profits gained would enrich the coffers of this noble figure. It was an investment in the future; if the man ascended to the position of Duke, their merchant family would attain unprecedented heights.

“Splendid.”

The Knight Commander nodded, and everything seemed fine. Aubert could already envision himself atop the world, with riches rivaling royalty. However, his excitement didn’t last long, as a knock echoed against the door to the private chamber. Instantly, he sensed that something had gone wrong as his people would not have disturbed this important meeting otherwise.

“What is it? How dare you interrupt us?”

He responded to the knock with a commanding tone. The door creaked open, revealing a panicked subordinate who swiftly entered the room. It was a lone man who resembled a butler, and he promptly reacted to Aubert’s nod. He knew speaking out in front of the guest wouldn’t be wise. Instead, he approached his master and whispered into Aubert’s ear, his expression tense with urgency.

“M-master Aubert, there has been an intrusion at one of the locations.”

Aubert’s heart sank at the news. Intrusion meant trouble, and trouble was the last thing he needed, especially during such a crucial meeting. To his surprise, before the man could continue with the report, the man Alphonse spoke out instead.

“Pray tell, what manner of incursion do you speak of?”

Alphonse was a tier 3 class holder and a superhuman compared to the people gathered here. It wasn’t surprising that he was able to hear the news and it seemed that he wasn’t too pleased about this revelation.

“It’s nothing that you should worry about, Master Alphonse. My people will take care of you.”

“Indeed? Nonetheless, I am inclined to request enlightenment on this matter, as it pertains to our collaborative endeavor, for which I bear accountability…”

The Knight Commander put the large wine glass away and his demeanor changed. The atmosphere in the room shifted as Alphonse’s gaze bore into Aubert with an intensity that made him shudder. Aubert knew he couldn’t brush off the intrusion lightly, especially not in front of someone as influential and powerful as Knight Alphonse.

“Master Alphonse, I assure you, it’s just a minor hiccup. A few meddling fools trying to disrupt our operations. Rest assured, my men are dealing with it as we speak.”

Aubert attempted to downplay the situation, hoping to alleviate Alphonse’s concerns. However, the Knight Commander didn’t seem convinced, and his piercing gaze remained fixed on Aubert.

“Be that as it may, kindly instruct your attendant to recount the events that partook.”

The subordinate hesitated for a moment, glancing nervously between Aubert and the imposing figure of Knight Alphonse. Only after the man that paid his wages gave him another nod, did he begin recounting the events that transpired a few moments ago…
******

Roland tried not to sigh as he watched more than half of the prisoners escape the moment they made their way out of the underground prison. They scattered in all directions, clearly lacking trust in their savior clad in darkened armor.

With a shake of his head, Roland quickly shifted his focus back to the group that remained with him. It consisted of the four children that he had promised to save, the pink-haired woman, and a few other random people who seemed confused. Roland knew he had to act quickly to get them to safety before the guards realized what had happened below.

‘It’s just a matter of time before someone gets seen or caught. Then this whole place will be crawling with thugs or even worse, city guards…’

There was a big possibility that someone influential in this city was pulling the strings from the shadows. While the merchant family was involved, they could potentially be merely scapegoats, with the true mastermind hiding elsewhere. Roland speculated that it was possible this operation was backed by the thieves’ guild or, even worse, by the nobles residing in the city. Although this type of slavery was forbidden, many individuals in power were willing to turn a blind eye as long as significant profits were at stake.

‘The one that owns this land is that guy… I need to get out of here now but… what should I do with her and the others?’

The people present were clearly non-combatants. Most of those who had been in the underground dungeon were half-elves. Sun Elves and Moon Elves were renowned for their beauty, but they were unsuitable as slaves. Even when convicted of crimes, the kingdom had agreements with other nations. They sent them back to the lands of their origins instead, where they would be punished. However, half-breeds were often scorned. The Elves appeared indifferent to their fate. Despite being only half-elves, they still retained much of their allure, making them a sought-after commodity in the slave markets.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“I… I need to go too, Sir Mage, you have my gratitude but.”

“Wait!”

The woman that he had rescued wanted to leave as well, she saw the others running and wished to follow.

“I understand your desire to leave and I won’t stop you but there are a few things you should know, that brother-in-law of yours is probably responsible for all of this.”

“Aubert… I should have known that it was him…”

“I bet you didn’t but his men are spread out through the city, if you run into any of them, then you’ll end up in another jail cell.”

“But… what should I do…”

The young woman looked up to him with pleading eyes. Roland hesitated as he didn’t want to involve himself in this any more than necessary. However, he recognized that the girl would likely be safe if she managed to return to her fiancé or one of the loyal guards. With so many people now loose, it was a prime opportunity for her to make her escape, and with his assistance, it would be possible.

“Here, take this, this is a concealment scroll, once activated, no one will be able to see you.”