Chapter 36 The Truth About the Escort

"You... you damned liar!!"

At this moment, the powerless Renée was being carried on the shoulder of a female wolf-eared demi-human.

Aside from barely having the strength to speak, she couldn't even move a finger, let alone use any magic.

Raoul, however, didn't mind at all, his face still wearing a gentlemanly, gentle smile.

"I didn't lie to you; I truly am a teammate of Lord Hero."

"It's just that we are currently on break, and everyone is busy preparing for the next major battle."

"My main task is to ensure the logistics for everyone, and that requires a lot, lot of money."

"As luck would have it, among the many races, beautiful and young Elves are undoubtedly the most sought-after commodities in the human Empire."

"Afterwards, you will be sent to an auction through the hands of a slave trader, and finally, you will be bought at a high price by some noble lord and taken home."

"Aside from sacrificing your body a little, you can live a life of luxury."

"Isn't that more comfortable than adventuring in this dangerous labyrinth where you don't know when you might lose your life?"

With that said.

Raoul stopped talking and kept his head down, walking silently.

But Renée was furious, her mouth constantly spewing what she considered the most vicious curses.

At the same time, she deeply regretted drinking that glass of beer which had been out of her sight for a moment.

Although she had considered that her tolerance was low and had only taken a cautious sip, she had unfortunately fallen for it.

Facing this scene, the people in the tavern seemed long accustomed to it and didn't offer any help at all.

Someone even whistled exaggeratedly, bluntly expressing their envy.

The three of them left the tavern and walked into a dark, sunless alley.

After wandering around, Raoul skillfully arrived at a black market where a slave trader was located.

*Thud—*

Renée was casually tossed onto a haystack nearby like a piece of cargo.

Under the dim, confined light.

A nauseating stench and the smell of blood permeated the air.

The young girl tried hard to widen her eyes, attempting to gather as much information about her surroundings as possible.

But what she saw was...

The surroundings were filled with cages made of metal, each holding, to varying degrees, creatures of different races.

Some were numb, others were roaring.

Their bodies were covered in scars, evidently having suffered varying degrees of torture.

Most shockingly, Renée even discovered members of her own Elven Race among them!

"Yo, let me see who has come? It turns out to be my old friend, Lord Raoul the Silver-Armored Knight!"

"What good stuff have you 'escorted' here this time?"

The slave trader was a fat, short man with a handlebar mustache.

Seeing Raoul's arrival, he immediately greeted him with a smile.

Raoul, however, got straight to the point.

"This time, it's Advanced goods."

"If there are no surprises, she is still a virgin, and her Bloodline as an Elf is very rich; it is highly likely she is of the Elven royal family."

"The special pattern that lights up on her forehead when she activates magic is the best proof."

"It took a lot of effort for me to catch her, so... one price, five thousand gold coins!"

Hearing the conversation between the two, Renée instantly realized what the 'escort mission' the other party had mentioned when they first met meant.

It was likely just like her current situation; those being 'escorted' were also just some unlucky slaves!

"Tsk, this price is a bit high!"

Slave Trader Deere stroked his mustache, his small eyes flashing with shrewd light as he tried to bargain.

At the same time.

That disgusting gaze kept scanning Renée's body.

This made the young girl get goosebumps all over her body instantly.

And Raoul, who had dealt with him countless times, had long since seen through the other party's boring little tricks.

"Don't play dumb with me; an Elf of this quality sent to an auction would start at a price of at least ten thousand gold coins."

"I'm only asking for five thousand gold coins now, which is not much at all."

"If that doesn't work, I'll personally take the teleportation array for a trip; there are probably quite a few slave traders on the surface who would also be interested in her."

This statement was a killing blow.

Slave Trader Deere was also a bit helpless.

In his heart, he couldn't help but curse that damned teleportation magic array set up in the town, which caused him to lose out on so much profit in the middle.

Of course, there were pros and cons to this.

It was precisely because of this teleportation magic array that it was so convenient for him to transport 'cargo'.

Soon.

The two of them quickly completed the transaction.

"It seems you are quite used to using that wolf-eared demi-human; do you need to pick a few more beautiful slaves from me?"

"A few Elves were sent over a while ago; their quality might not be as good as the one you brought, but they are still fine to buy for your own pleasure..."

Glancing at the female slave still following by Raoul's side, Slave Trader Deere tried as hard as ever to sell his goods.

His fat hand reached through the cage, grabbing the hair of a female Elf who was starved to the point of being on the verge of death, forcing her to look up.

Although the latter was beaten and covered in scars, her face had not suffered much damage.

Except for being a bit haggard, her looks were still far higher than most slaves.

Renée, seeing this scene, couldn't help but widen her eyes; anger instantly filled her heart, turning into a raging fire that burned continuously.

Because she happened to know this female Elf!

The other party was one of the guards of their Forest of Elves; she never expected her to fall into such a miserable state.

"No need."

Raoul refused directly.

"That's really a pity then!"

Even if a deal can't be made, the friendship remains.

Deere looked regretful, but didn't pay much attention to it.

After all, there would be plenty of opportunities for cooperation in the future.

"You damned scum!!!"

Renée decided not to endure it anymore.

She forcibly used a secret technique that an Elven royal could only use once in their lifetime.

Even if the price was that she would bleed from her seven orifices afterward, her magic circuits would be completely severed, and she would wish she were dead!

That terrifying power sweeping through her whole body instantly allowed Renée to regain control of her body.

Her Rank also temporarily skyrocketed by nearly 20 Ranks!

She kicked away the female wolf-eared demi-human who tried to step forward to stop her, and successfully reclaimed the fairy bow that had fallen not far away.

Raoul was still shrewd; he saw at a glance that this weapon was extraordinary and didn't intend to sell it to the slave trader.

And this just happened to give Renée the opportunity to take it back.

With this weapon, her confidence and certainty increased a lot.

"If you don't want to die, release all the slaves here!"

Renée drew the bow and threatened.

A terrifying light gathered on the fairy bow in her hand, forming an arrow from the massive amount of magic.

If this strike were fired, even a Rank 70 monster would die on the spot!

"Raoul, look at the goods you brought! Hurry up and deal with her!!"

The slave trader hid in terror behind a pile of wooden crates.

In fact, Raoul's reaction speed was also extremely fast.

At the moment Renée acted and reclaimed the fairy bow.

He had simultaneously swung his longsword to break open the nearby cage.

And roughly grabbed the female Elf imprisoned inside to use as a hostage.

Feeling the terrifying magic aura on the fairy bow, Raoul's pupils constricted; he realized that he had still underestimated this Elf.

"I still misjudged; even the Elven royal family couldn't possibly possess such a weapon."

"So, if I'm not mistaken, you... should be the legendary Elven Princess, right?"

He smiled and held his sharp longsword horizontally against the hostage's neck.

With just a slight application of force, glaring blood already spilled out.

"But unfortunately, the one who should drop their weapon now is you!"

"Otherwise... I will kill her immediately!"

"Your Highness, Princess of the Elven Race, you wouldn't want to see your own kin die in front of you, would you?"