Chapter 8: The Barbarians

Karn had a serious headache lately. As a slave trader, he was stuck with a group of slaves he couldn’t sell. Last month, he had been scammed.

He was new to the business then. Another slave trader, drowned in huge debts he couldn’t pay, had sold his slaves to others. Among them were over a hundred Barbarians. These Barbarians dragged families along with them. Even though they were very strong fighters, no one wanted them. In the end, Karn got them cheap.

In Karn’s mind, bringing their families was actually good. It made them easier to control. With the elderly, weak, women, and children in his hands, these Barbarians wouldn’t betray him. Selling these powerful fighters to some noble as a private guard force seemed like the best choice.

So, he spent most of his Gold Nar to buy this group of Barbarians. After buying them, Karn started trying to sell them everywhere. But the results made him feel cold dread.

No one wanted to buy the Barbarians. Not even when he offered them for less than he paid. The hundred-plus Barbarians were incredibly big eaters. In one month, he hadn’t sold a single slave. Instead, he wasted huge amounts of food on them.

Later, he asked around and learned the truth. Because of their Berserk ability, no one would ever buy Barbarians as guards. This meant his slaves were stuck with him. To make things worse, his money was almost gone.

If he couldn’t sell these slaves, he might have to go home at the end of the month and inherit his father’s trading house. All his grand talk about starting his own great business would be pointless.

…

“Are these slaves for sale?” Su Lun asked, looking at the slave trader who seemed lost in thought.

“Sell? Of course, I sell! You want to buy slaves?” Karn’s eyes lit up as he stared at Su Lun. The look in his eyes gave Su Lun the creeps.

“Yes. How much for these slaves?” Su Lun pointed at the group of Barbarians nearby.

“Sir, you have excellent taste! My slaves are the best in the entire slave market! Look at these strong warriors! Only ten Gold Nar each! You won’t find a lower price anywhere!” Karn pulled Su Lun along enthusiastically, desperate not to let this potential buyer get away.

Su Lun looked over the Barbarians. About a quarter were male warriors. The rest were the elderly, weak, women, and children. The male warriors had many scars, clearly showing they were elite fighters. The slave trader talked big, but the fighters really were good quality.

“Ten Gold Nar? Are you still asleep?” Su Lun shot Karn a knowing look. “You’re trying to make a fool out of me?”

“These Berserkers are worthless trash nobody wants, and you dare ask for ten Gold Nar? Keep them yourself!” Su Lun turned as if to leave.

Seeing his buyer walk away, Karn panicked. He grabbed Su Lun’s arm. “Sir! Price is negotiable! Don’t rush off!”

“Why stay? To get scammed by a dishonest trader?” Su Lun tried to pull free from Karn’s grip.

“Seven! Seven Gold Nar!” Feeling the strength in Su Lun’s pull, Karn blurted out the lower price.

“Seven Gold Nar? Maybe acceptable… But I only want the adult warriors!” Su Lun stopped struggling and stated his terms.

“This…” Karn felt awkward. “Sir, those women and children are their families. Without them, the warriors might not work for you willingly.”

“What use are those elderly, weak, women, and children? Buying them means feeding them too. I don’t have enough grain to spare. If you insist on selling them together, keep them.” Su Lun again pretended he was leaving.

“Six! Six Gold Nar!” Hearing Su Lun’s words and seeing him almost leave, Karn shut his eyes in defeat, bitterness in his voice. “But you must take the elderly, weak, women, and children with the warriors!”

“Deal!” Su Lun agreed immediately.

“Uh…” The speed of Su Lun’s agreement caught Karn off guard.

“Total of one hundred twenty-six people. Six Gold Nar each makes seven hundred fifty-six Gold Nar. Here’s the payment. Count it.” Su Lun drew a money pouch, counted out some coins, then tossed the rest in the pouch to Karn, giving him no chance to back out.

The pouch felt heavy in his hands. Seeing Su Lun pay so quickly, Karn knew he sold too cheap. But he was desperate. They had him over a barrel.

He sold off the burden, but Karn felt no joy. On this deal, he lost at least seven hundred Gold Nar. He bought the slaves for ten each, then fed them, rented space… the costs nearly bankrupted him.

Even though this deal lost money, at least he had over seven hundred Gold Nar back. If he worked hard and followed his business sense, he’d make it back soon. His own Karn Trading Empire was about to set sail!

After this comforting thought, Karn quickly finished the deal with Su Lun, handing over the Barbarians’ Contract.

Su Lun put the Contract away safely and led the Barbarians out of the slave market. He needed a place to house over a hundred people, fast. Fortunately, Su Lun was a Minor Noble. He soon bought an unused Military Camp from the City Hall.

The camp was in a remote area and at least a hundred years old. Once, Karlt City was on the front lines, so it housed many standing troops. Later, as Territory expanded, it stopped being a border. Standing troops were reduced, and camps emptied. Most old camps were torn down for city development. Just because this one was so remote, it remained standing.

As Su Lun expected, the camp was falling apart. Many roofs in the camp barracks had collapsed. Luckily, it was solidly built originally, without corners cut. The main buildings were still sturdy, and the grounds were large. Fixing the roofs would make them livable.

Su Lun contacted merchants for materials and hired craftsmen to repair the buildings. Then he headed to the Training Ground in the camp, ready to talk to his newly purchased slaves.

Barbarians were called Barbarians because of their strength. Unlike people from Florentia, Barbarians averaged nearly seven feet tall. Su Lun, at over six feet and two inches, stood out among Florentia folk. Years of training made him lean and muscular. But compared to these Barbarians? He looked much smaller.

Any adult Barbarian dwarfed him in height and build. On the Training Ground, all one hundred twenty-six Barbarians stood silently. Their cold eyes fixed on Su Lun. Though slaves, they didn’t seem impressed by him.