episode_0123

As soon as we left the hideout building, the sunlight greeted us.

“Chris!”

“Huh?”

Midas spoke from within his arms, as if he was afraid of the stationmaster’s sheep.

“Where are we going now?”

“Um… To make money?”

“Where are you going to make money?”

“Supermarket!”

It was fortunate that the slave market on Grove Avenue was named Supermarket.

To some people, it just feels like going to a supermarket.

Meanwhile, Midas tilted his head at the thought of going to the supermarket to earn money.

“Don’t worry too much, Midas.”

“Wow!”

Seriously.

In times like this, shouldn’t you answer ‘yes’ instead of ‘woof’?

Anyway, I was able to walk to my destination with Midas.

Grove Avenue Super Market.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too far away since it was located in the same area as the hideout building.

“Okay, they’re all here already.”

“Wow!”

Midas, who reacts to even the smallest things.

It was just like a normal golden eagle, except that it glowed golden and could speak human language.

“Hmm. The appearance hasn’t changed much compared to what I thought.”

It was clear that the conditions were to improve the treatment and environment of slaves.

At first glance, it didn’t seem like there had been any major changes.

“Ah! Welcome!”

The guards at the front of the building shouted loudly when they saw me and Midas.

Midas was startled by the sound, and I was startled along with him.

“Oh, surprise!”

“Heeelp.”

“It’s okay, they’re all my fault anyway.”

The guards scratched their heads at my words.

What if I feel a little bad?

Sebastian, the manager of this slave market, is my keeper. Soon, Sebastian’s keeper will also be my keeper.

“…Really?”

“That’s right!”

Since I had made a rather noisy entrance, there was no need to call a guide.

Following the guard, a guide who recognized me approached me quickly.

“Chris, welcome.”

“Where’s Sebastian?”

As soon as I arrived at the slave market, I started looking for the person in charge. I felt like I was some kind of regular customer.

“Please wait in the underground isolation room first.”

“Isolation room?”

I didn’t really know the layout of this place.

But when I heard the words ‘basement’ and ‘isolation room’, I got a really bad feeling.

“Okay, guide me quickly.”

“Yes, Chris.”

***

Follow the guide into the building.

Then I went down the stairs to the basement.

As we entered the building, we began to notice some differences.

It seemed like they were paying more attention to cleanliness here and there, and the slaves were no longer seen striking specific poses as if they were showing off.

“Hmm….”

In addition, the atmosphere among employees has changed a lot.

The number of menacing guards has decreased, although they are still dressed in white suits.

Instead, there are more androids and guides to serve customers.

It seems that they have implemented various improvements as promised to me.

‘Well, maybe it’s just for show.’

I could have just been paying attention to the day I was visiting.

It was too early to feel at ease with just something like this.

“Chris, how far are we going?”

“Huh? Oh. Just a little further.”

Perhaps because it was his first time here, it seemed to pique Midas’ curiosity.

After caressing Midas and urging the guide a few times, we arrived at where Sebastian was.

Around the guy were a bunch of guards in white suits that I had never seen before.

Did they turn all the guys who weren’t visible inside the building into security guards?

“Chris, I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Yeah, I saw it on the way here, but it looks like you put some effort into it.”

“Yes, that was the promise.”

Sebastian was still an android with an oval face.

A blue field appeared over the metal surface of the face, taking on various facial expressions.

After welcoming me first, I felt like he was secretly expecting something from me.

‘Well, I guess you want me to show you what I promised since I kept my promise to you.’

“Don’t rush me so much. Midas, are you ready? ”

“Huh?”

It was ambiguous whether Midas answered my question or asked it back.

The innocent face, tongue sticking out and grumbling were still there.

“So, are you ready as planned?”

“Yes, I prepared it only with guys who definitely have bad crimes.”

“….”

“Cases that are unclear or ambiguous are excluded.”

Well, I thought it wasn’t too bad.

Assuming that what Sebastian said is actually true!

“But is there a need for this many guards?”

“You never know what might happen, right?”

hmm.

It’s almost as if I’m making a promise in case I don’t keep it.

“Okay, so where are those slaves?”

“It’s inside this room.”

Oh, so this is the isolation room?

First, I followed Sebastian and the guards inside.

Then there were slaves with blindfolds on their eyes, earplugs on their ears, and gags on their mouths.

Regardless of gender, I roughly estimated that there were less than 30 people.

“…There are more than I thought?”

“Yes, if it’s too much of a burden, I’ll try to reduce it further.”

“No, it would be better to do it all at once.”

That way, it won’t be too much trouble for Midas.

“Midas.”

“Yes!”

“From now on, you have to bite those people. Got it?”

“Why?”

“Those people committed a crime and are now being sold here and there by others.”

“Heeelp.”

Midas moved around in my arms, terrified at hearing the dark story.

“That, that is. You can make sure that those people don’t suffer anymore. ”

“Do I really have to do it?”

“Not necessarily. It would hurt them less if you did it. Other people don’t do it as gently as you, Midas.”

The centuries that have passed since Midas’ tail began to wag have changed.

Midas gradually became more agitated, then as if he had made a decision, he broke away from my arms and landed on the ground.

***

Slaves who don’t know what will happen to them.

They were aware that someone had entered the isolation room.

But… he probably didn’t know that something small would bite him.

First, the body of the slave that Midas bit began to glow golden.

Even though he was gagged, he seemed to be aware of the changes taking place in his body as he moved his body this way and that.

“….”

Sebastian looked at the sight with curiosity.

Midas quickly passed the first slave and bit the second and third slaves.

The skin of the first slave began to turn golden.

“Sebastian.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Look at that and take note. If you fool me and Midas, that’s what you’ll end up like next time.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

No matter how heinous the crime, this was tantamount to mass execution.

It’s a good thing that Midas’ cute movements of biting each person one by one are far from gruesome.

Meanwhile, the guards were just staring blankly, as if it was their first time seeing such a sight.

“Okay, it’s all over. Midas, come here!”

“Yes!”

Midas, who had bitten the last slave, quickly ran towards me.

Sebastian instructed the guards to move the slaves in order, starting with the first one that had turned completely gold.

“How much do you think the net profit would be?”

“I think I can tell you more after I’ve dealt with it. But… the money I spent on my promise with Chris is like a drop in the bucket.”

“Please give me my share right after you dispose of it.”

“Yes, I will forward it directly through the Blue Heart Office.”

Sebastian acted as if he had no complaints, perhaps because he got what he wanted.

You probably know that I recently became 10th in the problem solver rankings and started recruiting subordinates in earnest.

It is also clear that continuing this relationship will be of great benefit to you.

“Chris, what do we do now?”

“There’s nothing more for us to do.”

I saw Midas and the guards in white suits moving the golden statue.

To be exact, they are golden statues that were alive until just a moment ago.

Sebastian left the carrying of the golden statue to the guards and guided Midas himself.

I guess I can at least go back the way I came.

Maybe he didn’t like me looking around… or maybe he was just taking care of me in his own way.

“Chris.”

“Huh?”

“Since you’re here, aren’t you interested in the slaves we handle?”

“Uh….”

Why?

You made Midas do this, and now you want me to buy slaves with that money?

I don’t think that’s right.

Still, since Sebastian had my sincerity, I decided to just pretend to get along.

“Do you have a catalog or something?”

“Yes, of course.”

Sebastian handed me a small terminal.

“Is this a catalog?”

“This is a catalog-only terminal.”

Was there something like this?

As soon as I turned on the terminal, a blue stationmaster appeared.

The screen, which was made up of stationery, contained a list of products carried by the Grove Avenue Supermarket.

“Hey, this place doesn’t seem that big… but there were this many kinds?”

“You should be able to get most of the products.”

Seeing him talking about slaves as commodities, I realized that he was truly a slave market manager through and through.

“First, I’ll go back to the hideout and take a look around slowly.”

“Yes, do whatever you want.”

Let’s really look into it….

No, should we just take a quick look?

For now, I was able to get Midas out of the building.

“Chris, do you have any other companions?”

“Well, it’s not that far.”

Not long after, we walked away from the Grove Avenue supermarket, escorted by Sebastian.

Arrived at the hideout building.

***

Certainly, unlike the Silver Side, I was fortunate that there weren’t as many eyes watching me.

“Midas, you worked hard today. I’ll give you lots of food when you get home!”

“Really?!”

“Then it’s true. When have you ever seen me lie?”

“….”

What, why aren’t you answering?

I don’t think I ever really lied to Midas.

Well, by the way, since I made a lot of money thanks to Midas, I decided to invest a little bit in him.

“Midas, is there anything you want to eat?”

“Woof! Woof!”

Midas listened to me and his excitement did not seem to subside.

“No, you should talk instead of barking!”

The bar on the first floor wasn’t even open yet.

I just walked past the bar and got on the elevator.

“Midas, so have you decided what you want to eat?”

“Not yet!”

If it’s too late, I’m afraid Midas will completely forget.

No, Midas isn’t that stupid, so it’ll be okay.

Tiring!

The elevator doors opened left and right with an alarm sound.

I returned home with Midas, but not much had changed since I left home.

I see someone in the shower room… Is it Sylvia?

“Midas, let’s go back to the room first.”

I might be sleeping again, but I feel like resting in bed.

“….”

Still sleeping.

Sheila and Janggun were sleeping peacefully on the bed in a slightly different position than before.

“Okay, Midas, I’ll give you some food first.”

Midas didn’t even answer me.

As soon as various kinds of food fell into the bowl, he ran towards the food bowl.

After that, I climbed onto the bed and started looking through the slave market catalog that Sebastian had given me earlier.

Troll! Yong-in! Sky Whale!

These were just some of the first things that caught my eye.

Actually, I had no intention of raising any more animals.

Right now it feels like an animal farm.

But… I’m a bit attracted to Yong-in. If I suck Yong-in’s blood, will that also mean I’ve consumed dragon’s blood?

Without realizing it, I found myself wagging my thin tail.

As I was browsing through the catalog, my terminal started vibrating.

‘What, who are you?’

I checked the sender and it was Ilseong.

It wasn’t Ray, it was Ilseong who called me first?

I wondered what it was about. As long as it wasn’t something strange, that would be nice.