Lord blessed by the elves

Chapter 68 The Shocking Market

If Kaldor and his gang were to actually attack the convoy, whether they succeeded or not, it would inevitably trigger a huge panic and fury among all the nobles of Campino County.

At that point, there would be no need for Kruze to do anything more. The nobles, feeling deeply threatened, would naturally form a coalition to launch an unprecedented and thorough sweep of the region, eradicating all unstable factors.

It wasn't until he saw Kaldor's group with his own eyes that Kruze realized how much the surrounding refugee forces had grown, to the point that they could even support organized armed knights.

This is absolutely not a normal phenomenon. If they are effectively organized to cause trouble, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Those captured by other nobles were probably mostly just ordinary, pitiful refugees on the periphery; the real core armed forces were instead hidden even deeper during this opportunity.

【Ding! 】

[Triggering a beginner side quest: Abnormal Refugees (Combat)]

[Mission Description: The territory is about to be promoted to a baronial title, but the number, organization, and armed strength of the refugees surrounding the territory far exceed the normal range of exiles, which must be hiding a huge conspiracy. Please investigate and eliminate the source of this abnormal phenomenon.]

[Quest Reward: Energy Crystal x20]

The system notification sounded at just the right moment, confirming Kruse's unease and suspicions.

"Young Master, shall we... still go to the market?" Cooper asked cautiously, swallowing hard.

He was increasingly convinced that this young master was terrifyingly cunning—he had been able to decisively encircle and annihilate them back then, and now he could set up such a dangerous trap without batting an eye, sending a desperate man like Kaldor into the fire pit.

"Go! Of course I'll go!" Kruze still had that harmless smile on his face, and waved his hand casually. "I'll take this opportunity to see for myself what good things that so-called 'Wild Dog Market' is actually buying and selling. Maybe I'll even find some 'unexpected surprises'."

Wilstone listened from the side, and could only shrug helplessly, but his face showed an almost admiring expression.

He increasingly realized that this young master's methods and vision were far beyond those of ordinary noble children.

Under this young master's management, Lion Fang Territory's future achievements will likely far surpass those of his father, who was skilled in warfare but lacked in administration.

“Hmm.” Wilstone murmured to himself, as if he had sorted out a crucial idea. “Perhaps this is the best arrangement—from now on, the lord can only focus on conquering foreign lands, accumulating military merits, and expanding the territory. All the tedious but crucial management, planning, and development within the territory can be left to the young master.”

"A division of labor between internal and external forces—that's the perfect situation!" Once he understood this, the last bit of doubt in his heart vanished, and he followed Kruse's retreating figure with firm steps.

Led by Cooper, Kruse and his group passed through the last barrier made of natural thorns and makeshift chevaux-de-frise, and the view before them suddenly opened up.

In an instant, a tremendous sound wave mixed with various indescribable smells rushed towards them, causing Kruze and Wilstone, who were used to the tranquility of Lion Fang Territory, to instinctively hold their breath, their pupils slightly contracting in shock.

They seemed to have stepped into a completely different, savage, and vibrant world.

This place doesn't resemble a secret outpost hidden deep in the mountains at all. Its bustling atmosphere and scale far exceed any ordinary knight's market, and it's even comparable to a prosperous town in some baronies!
As far as the eye could see, there was a vast clearing in the forest that had been forcibly carved out. Densely packed shacks, makeshift tents, and caves dug into the mountainside were haphazardly crammed together, yet strangely forming several "streets" through which people could pass. Hundreds and thousands of people surged, shouted, and traded within it. Most of them were emaciated and ragged, but their eyes were unusually sharp, filled with the struggle for survival and vigilance.

The air was thick with pungent odors—the smell of sweat, the stench of livestock, the burnt smell of some cheap roasted meat, the acrid bitterness of herbs, and a faint, almost imperceptible, stench of blood. All of these mingled together to create a unique, dizzying "vitality" that belonged only to this place.

As Cooper noted, there is almost no trace of currency here.

Trading has reverted to its most primitive state, with deafening noise:
Food area: piles of shriveled tubers, suspicious dried meat in dirty sacks, and even live pheasants and rabbits with their feet bound, are being exchanged for rusty ironware and a few pieces of faded coarse cloth.

In the handicraft area: someone spread out several rough tanned animal hides on the ground and was gesturing loudly to a man holding a chipped pottery jar; not far away, an old craftsman had several newly polished stone axes and bone knives in front of him and was carefully taking a small bag of grain from a woman's hand.

Dangerous Goods Zone: Deeper inside, a group of fierce-looking men gathered, trading something distinctly different—sharpened, sharpened spears, wooden mallets bound with stones, and even several poorly maintained, rusty iron swords.

Their deal was silent and swift, negotiated in the blink of an eye.

What made Kruse feel the most uneasy was an area located at the very innermost part of the market, barely enclosed by a rough wooden fence—that was the slave market.

A group of serfs, regarded as nobles, were actually engaged in the slave trade.

Dozens of figures huddled there, including men, women, and children.

They were tied to stakes like livestock, with rough rattan rings or rusty iron chains around their necks.

Most people had blank, lifeless eyes, as if they had already accepted their fate; a few children were sobbing softly, which were quickly interrupted by the impatient shouts of the guards.

A burly man who looked like a "businessman" was enthusiastically promoting his "goods" to several potential "buyers":
"Look at this! He's a bit thin, but he's got good bones and muscles. If you feed him properly, he'll be as strong as a laborer! And he only needs fifty pounds of grain!"

He then kicked a sickly-looking man at his feet: "This one... we'll sell him cheap, twenty pounds of grain for you! If he dies, you're out of luck!"

In another corner, several buyers with gloomy faces and better-equipped than ordinary people were carefully examining the teeth and arms of several relatively strong male slaves, as if they were selecting packhorses.

These scenes, so blatant and cruel, treating people as commodities, shocked Kruse's understanding of the world.

This was far from the simple exchange point he had imagined. It was a lawless, self-contained, cold and cruel little society, whose chaos and sheer size far exceeded his expectations.

Wilstone's hand silently rested on the hilt of his sword, his face grim.

Cooper instinctively shrank back, not daring to look at Kruse's expression.

(End of this chapter)