Chapter 140 He Is a Slave

The representative of Xuanlv asked, "Does the Hunters Guild have any requests?"

Although the Hunters Guild had not made any requests, Xuanlv could not afford to offer none. After all, Xuanlv was counting on shearing some wool from the Hunters Guild in the future. Without offering superior conditions compared to other regions, how could they attract other hunters to the Eastern Territory?

If they didn't come to the Eastern Territory, how would Xuanlv make money from the monster hunters? How would they sell the steel swords priced at just 998 in the future, and large quantities of cheap healing potions?

"Requests?" The representative of the Hunters Guild looked slightly puzzled.

Under normal circumstances, the only request the guild made when establishing a presence in a locality was a plot of land to build the Hunters Guild Hall, post bounties, and distribute rewards. There were no other hard requirements, nor did anyone proactively offer anything extra.

Inns, blacksmiths, physicians, and others would naturally flock there driven by profit.

"No—"

"It seems the gentleman hasn't thought it through yet, but we have already prepared several proposals for you." The smile on the face of the Xuanlv representative grew even more amiable as he produced a set of pre-prepared policies.

"For the better development of the Eastern Territory, Xuanlv requires a massive number of monster hunters, so the leadership attaches great importance to the guild's establishment here."

The Hunters Guild representative politely declined, "Xuanlv allowing the guild to establish a presence is already the greatest help to us; there is no need for your esteemed side to go to such expense. More than that, I simply hope your side will show more tolerance toward the guild in the future. The Hunters Guild is a very loose organization; the only requirement for joining is not being a member of a cult."

"This inevitably leads to the guild being a mixed bag of all sorts of people, which might occasionally cause some trouble for the territory."

The greatest advantage of the Hunters Guild was its loose structure, with virtually no rigid prerequisites for members to join. Even ordinary people, as long as they possessed a specific skill, could join the guild and become monster hunters. This made the members of the Hunters Guild ubiquitous throughout the entire world, spanning every race, country, and social group.

From high-ranking princes and nobles down to common folk, members of the Hunters Guild were everywhere. Especially among the nobility, practically anyone with any achievement had spent time as a monster hunter. Back in the day, even the Emperor of Luofu had served as a monster hunter for a period.

Of course, this was also a disadvantage. Because of the excessively loose system, dangerous individuals sometimes managed to join, such as fugitives who had altered their appearances.

As long as they didn't stir up trouble, it was fine; but once trouble arose, the guild sometimes had to take the blame. Even if the guild dealt with the matter swiftly, it would still be exploited by malicious actors to damage the guild's reputation, ultimately causing the guild to lose the trust of the local populace and making it impossible to accept commissions.

In its early days, the Hunters Guild had been trapped this way by the Holy Light Church.

"That is, of course, no problem." The Xuanlv representative nodded without hesitation.

To put it bluntly, the Hunters Guild was just a super-large mercenary platform; how could it possibly be completely pristine and righteous?

He then pushed the several proposals forward toward the other party and said with an amiable expression, "These aren't mandatory; they are merely a few suggestions from us. Feel free to take a look—they're completely free, no cost at all."

It was hard to refuse such hospitality, and since the upper echelons of the guild attached great importance to the Eastern Territory, it wouldn't do to disregard the other party's face.

"Very well then."

"Good, then let me introduce the first proposal to you." The Xuanlv representative adjusted his glasses.

"[Hunters Guild Regional Planning], covering an area of two hundred thousand square meters. Not only does it feature a guild hall spanning tens of thousands of square meters, but it is also equipped with complementary facilities such as a medical clinic, a tavern, a weapon shop, an inn, and a series of other amenities. Furthermore, daily operations and maintenance will not require any effort from the guild; Xuanlv will help share the burden."

As he spoke, he unfolded a massive planning blueprint.

"A tertiary-grade general hospital, overseen by military surgeons with rich battlefield medical experience—as long as you still have a single breath left, they will bring you back from the dead. An ultra-large tavern, featuring both a lively, bustling bar counter and quiet, private booths for savoring fine wine..."

A string of terms that sounded bizarre yet exceptionally concise and clear instantly left the Hunters Guild representative dumbfounded.

"Are all of these free?" The Hunters Guild representative pointed at the engineering blueprint with a bewildered expression.

If it were actually built according to this blueprint, just how astronomical would the expense be?

"Of course they're free." The Xuanlv representative had arrived by his side at some point, intimately draping an arm over his shoulder and pointing at the table's blueprint to look toward the future.

"The location will be set in Qingyang (Lev City). It boasts a fine port and serves as the Eastern Territory's gateway to the outside world, making travel extremely convenient for hunters. Moreover, we have reached agreements with major merchant guilds throughout the kingdom, and in the future, that area will become the most prosperous region in the entire kingdom."

"This..." Looking at the magnificent blueprint before him, the Hunters Guild representative found himself somewhat tempted for a moment.

He asked with some hesitation in his tone, "Is this... wouldn't it be a bit inappropriate for the Hunters Guild to house so many entertainment venues? Besides, the prices at a tavern and inn of this scale should be quite high. Ordinary hunters probably won't be able to afford them, which would inevitably lead to waste."

"Ah! Your perspective is too narrow! Your outlook is too small!" The Xuanlv representative slapped his thigh. "For the sake of the world's stability, hunters fight countless monsters every day. How can they not have a place to rest?"

"But many hunters come from civilian backgrounds; they don't have much money, and many achieve transcendence entirely relying on the guild."

"They can create greater value! Xuanlv will provide them with numerous positions—oh, I mean commissions, such as assisting with experiments, teaching assignments, construction tasks, and a series of high-paying missions."

"Uh... our primary occupation is hunting monsters." The Hunters Guild representative felt something was slightly amiss.

Xuanlv allowing the Hunters Guild to establish a presence didn't seem to be for the sake of eliminating monsters after all.

The Xuanlv representative sighed again and said, "Your outlook is narrow once more. Tell me, what is the most fundamental purpose of the guild?"

"To hunt excess monsters and deal with certain emergencies, such as cultists, evil spirits, and heretics, maintaining the most basic order of the world," the Hunters Guild representative replied.

As expected, this Hunters Guild is, just as we anticipated, an essential part of the basic order of this world; otherwise, it would be impossible for them to have branches all over the world.

The Xuanlv representative continued nonchalantly, "That is the core tenet of the Hunters Guild, but you must consider ordinary hunters; they might simply want to make a living. Tell me honestly, do most monster hunters enter this profession for money?"

"Uh... indeed." The Hunters Guild representative nodded in acknowledgment.

"Then shouldn't the guild consider the feelings of ordinary hunters? Shouldn't it improve the welfare of the vast majority of hunters? Otherwise, every time talented hunters are lured away by nobles with petty gains, wouldn't that be a loss for the guild!" the Xuanlv representative said with heartbreaking earnestness.

"It... seems so."

"Then does the Hunters Guild have such a designated area for hunters to rest?" The Xuanlv representative pointed at the table.

"No."

"Then should this area be built?"

"Yes!"

The Hunters Guild representative was gradually led astray.

He sensed that something wasn't quite right, but after all, it was free! Since it was free anyway, the guild wouldn't suffer a loss no matter what.

Subsequently, the Hunters Guild representative in a daze signed off on a whole stack of agreements:

[Weapon Procurement Agreement], [Technical Exchange Agreement], [Medical Supplies Agreement].

Because they were all free!

...

Lev City had by now been renamed Qingyang.

One of the few non-desert regions in the Eastern Territory, the name was drawn from ancient connotations of spring, also signifying Qingyang—lush and verdant, with the sun rising in the east.

The tall city walls had been completely dismantled, and trucks laden with cargo drove in and out, resembling worker ants when viewed from afar.

Under Xuanlv's direction, hundreds of thousands of people threw themselves enthusiastically into infrastructure construction.

The Reagan Residence.

Because Reagan had become a capable lieutenant to Olina, his small western-style cottage had been preserved, and his family's standard of living had not only failed to decline but had actually risen several-fold.

His status had soared all the way up as well.

After a lapse of a month, Reagan returned to this familiar home, opened the front door, and stepped inside.

Upon entering, he saw the spacious living room, the fireplace, the long table, and his wife busy setting plates of delicious dishes onto it.

Their daughter, dressed in a white dress, sat on a chair not far away, holding little Kark and gently reading aloud from a fairy tale book.

Everything was so warm and cozy.

Thank you, great and benevolent Mother Goddess, for allowing my family to remain intact after the war.

"Reagan!" His wife noticed him and trotted over, flinging herself into his arms.

"Hahaha, you're such a big person now, why are you still like this?" Reagan gently embraced his wife.

"Dad." Leah, holding little Kark, also gathered around.

Using his only remaining right hand, Reagan scooped up little Kark with a gentle smile on his face, saying, "Let's eat first."

Surrounded by smiles, they gathered around a small table laden with steaming hot dishes, each person holding a bowl of snow-white rice.

Compared to rough bread, they preferred this food called rice. Not only did it look appetizing, but it was also soft, palatable, and remarkably sweet.

Reagan glanced at the dining table, noticing someone seemed to be missing. He asked, "Where is Harvey? Still refusing to come out of his room?"

It had been a full three months, and the boy still hadn't recovered from the blow.

"No." Leah shook her head, her gentle face filled with worry.

"However, he has improved somewhat recently. Yesterday, he even came out of his room and spent a little while with Kark."

Reagan asked, "Little Kark, did Harvey say anything to you?"

"Yes!" Little Kark raised his small hand high, a few grains of rice sticking to the corner of his mouth, and said in a childish voice, "Brother Harvey asked me if I wanted to go to a very far place."

"Sigh, take it one step at a time," Reagan sighed.

Is he thinking of leaving just because he can't get revenge?

Perhaps that couldn't be blamed on him either; after all, the boy regarded the Grand Duke of the Eastern Territory as his enemy, and now that I was working under that very person, the blow to Harvey must have been considerable.

Yet this was reality. For the sake of his family, he had no choice. His only brother was already dead; he could not afford to lose his family as well.

"Leah, that request you mentioned some time ago—I spoke to Her Highness the Princess about it, and Her Highness is willing to give you a chance. As fellow women, you should be able to help manage the Princess's personal affairs."

His daughter had previously managed the servants within the residential area and had done an exceptionally well job without resorting to violence; she should be quite suited to working under the Princess.

A clear look of joy appeared on Leah's face as she nodded and said with a firm tone, "Thank you, Dad. I will work hard."

Not "I'll give it a try," nor "I can manage," but rather "I will work hard."

Having experienced this catastrophe, she had grown up a lot, realizing she could not forever remain under the shelter of her parents' wings.

Reagan picked up his chopsticks, skillfully placing food into his bowl, and lowered his head to eat a few bites.

His wife, seeing her husband eating with one hand, felt an impulse to help, yet feared hurting his pride.

After swallowing a few more mouthfuls of rice, Reagan suddenly put down his chopsticks and stood up.

"No, I cannot let him remain despondent like this, or I would fail my brother."

He left the dining table, walked up the second-floor stairs, and went straight to Harvey's door.

Knock, knock, knock!

He reached out and rapped on the door, saying, "Harvey, I think we need to have a serious talk."

Not a sound came from inside the room.

Reagan continued, "I know you are in pain, but you must face it bravely. If you continue to stay depressed like this, how can you face your father? Your father died in war; that is a knight's final resting place, whether you accept it or not."

"The Mother Goddess taught us that every one of us living in this world is constantly depriving other lives of theirs—this is the law of nature. Your father, as a knight, also deprived lives; this time it simply happened to be his turn, and in the future, it will be my turn."

Behind the door, it remained silent, with no response whatsoever.

"Harvey, if you don't open this door right now, I'm going to break it open!" Reagan's voice grew somewhat stern.

This time, he intended to wake the boy up with a jolt; he could not let him continue to waste away like this.

Waiting three seconds and hearing no movement from within, Reagan exerted strength with his arm and pushed forward.

Crack, bang!

The wood snapped, and the door was forced open.

The room was dim with the curtains tightly drawn. Through the light spilling in from the doorway, a bed stained with blood could be vaguely made out.

It was completely empty.

...

In some distant, unknown place, a boundless sea of sand met the eye, along with flying yellow dust and a city built around an oasis.

Harvey was pinned face down on the ground by two burly men holding him down tightly, who slapped an iron collar around his neck just as if treating an animal.

"Why! Why!" With a hideous expression, Harvey struggled desperately, screaming toward the noblewoman standing ahead.

Madam Lev looked down at Harvey, who was sprawled on the ground like a dead dog, and replied calmly, "You are no longer of any use."

With that, she turned and walked away.

She had no time to play revenge games with this fool; keeping him by her side would only expose her. If that monster found out she was still alive, who knew if the creature would come after her again.

At the mere thought of Olina, the madam still trembled with lingering fear to this day; that was no ordinary Tier 4 being—that was a humanoid monster.

Ultimate strength, completely devoid of any trace of spellcraft.

"Wait! No! No!"

Harvey watched the woman gradually receding into the distance, letting out a shrill wail as mucus and tears streamed down his face.

However, the shirtless burly men paid no heed to his cries, directly smashing a fist into his face followed by a flurry of kicks and punches.

"Behave yourself!"

"Still acting stubborn with your old man here, eh!"

"Vile slave!"

In no time, bruises covered his body, and he panted like a dead dog.

Harvey's consciousness grew extremely hazy as various voices echoed in his ears.

"A probationary warrior at this age? Not bad, just right to throw into the beast pit for a few shows."

"The beast pit? Isn't that a bit too extreme right off the bat? What if he dies?"

"A mere vile slave dies if he dies. Besides, the main thing is those lords love to watch it—young gladiators fighting fierce beasts. It's a guaranteed profit for us."

"The branding iron is hot, stamp him."

A pair of large hands grabbed Harvey's hair, forcefully hoisting him up.

His hazy vision caught sight of a shirtless, bronze-skinned brute wearing a smirk on his face, holding a glowing red object in his hand.

Sizzz!

A searing pain flared across his cheek, feeling as if it were being burned by fire—which indeed it was!

The intense pain instantly shocked him back to awareness.

"Ah!!!" Harvey rasped out a hoarse scream like a wild beast.

His flesh instantly charred, the aroma of cooked meat filling the air, leaving an ugly, black mark burned onto his handsome face.

[SLAVE]

"Good, it stamped completely, no need for a second time. What kind of look is that?"

Harvey glared at him with unyielding hatred flashing in his eyes.

"Bastard... I'll kill you..."

"Oh ho, quite the spine, aren't we? I appreciate people with a backbone." The burly man, with an amused expression, picked up a heating iron again, aimed it at Harvey's mouth, and pressed down once more.

Sizzz!

"Ahhhhhhh!!"

"Hahaha! Still talking tough?"

The shrill wails echoed continuously, accompanied by increasingly frantic laughter.

After an unknown passage of time, the noise finally ceased. Harvey lay slumped on the ground, his entire face charred and mangled beyond recognition, resembling an evil spirit.

"Vile slave, ptu!" The brute spat on Harvey. "Slap some ointment on him, don't let him die."

Harvey panted, and could only pant.

Right now, only breathing belonged to him.

He was a slave...