[After 4.5 years]
~ Reiner Baronate, Shane Kingdom ~
The Reiner Barony was ruled by the Reiner family with the current ruler being George Reiner, the son of previous Baron.
Baron George Reiner was was a greedy person, He was given the title of a Baron simply because he was the only child of his father. The title of Baron was passed down in the Reiner family generations after generations.
The first Baron Reiner got his title due to the ongoing war between Shane Kingdom and its neighbour Volhard Kingdom on the matter of resources. The meritious deeds he had done for the Shane Kingdom didn't go unnoticed as the king of Shane Kingdom at that time got impressed by service and loyalty and declared to award him the title of Baron along with some lands to rule. Ever since then his family rules the Reiner Barony.
Coming back to George Reiner, It was currently nighttime and he was sitting with a stern experession on his face in a room illuminated with mana powered lanterns.
Opposite to him were two people, Their height more or less shorter than him by a few inches and their faces were covered by a black hood as if demanding secrecy. It made their facial expression very hard to discern but those two pointy ears from their side gave away their identity to George.
'Goblins..' He thought.
After some time, one of the goblins decided to break the silence.
"Your highness, this is the list of goods that arrived in this batch. If anything catches your fancy, do let us know." He said as he handed over a folded parchment to the Baron.
" Hoh!" The Baron scoffed at his words. He knew that the goblin was just bullshitting with honorable words like 'goods' which in reality, were nothing but slaves .
But he still took the parchment from his hand and scanned its contents, mostly filled with the details about race, name, age, description of their bodies and most importantly their abilities.
The Baron was not a saint since whatever 'goods' the merchants came with to his baronet to sell, they first have to show their 'goods' to George and if he finds anything to his liking, he would take them for free.
Slaves were a hot commodity for a reason. They cannot disobey their masters even in in their dreams and are loyal to their masters only unless they want to die, the seal placed on their chests will siphon all the mana present in their bodies leading to their deaths.
In other words, they are disposable.
It was also the reason people having a good head above their shoulders let them do all their dirty works which they didn't want to dirty their hands on.
For George, slave were a means to vent his frustration. Be it mental, physical or sexual.
When George finished reading the contents written in the parchment, he pointed his hand on a number written on it.
" This! Number 42! I'll take this."
Number 42 was was boy bearing a handsome oval face with blue eyes and white hair, His age around fourteen years.
[Nameless]
[Gender: Male]
[Race: Human]
[Ability 1: Stealth]
[Ability 2: None]
When the slave trader looked at the number George was pointing on the parchment, he looked at George and suddenly said
" I'm sorry your highness, But I cannot give you this slave for free otherwise I will incur tremendous losses." he politely turned George's request down.
George frowned upon his request being rejected. But he insisted again
" I'll pay hundred Small Golds for this slave."
" My deepest apologies,your highness. But the sum you are presenting is too low that what what others are offering. It's face will be quite popular among the noble ladies and just it's first ability will be enough for large nobles to bid tens of Large Golds." The goblin said.
George frowned but nodded in understanding, he knew this kind of ability would be very useful among the higher nobles as with increase in ranks the eyes on them also increase. Therefore having someone who is loyal to you with a Stealth ability was a good assurance to have, be it for protection or information gathering.
The goblins took a sigh of relief after seeing a understanding look on George face. His biggest concern was George Reiner's greedy nature and had come prepared that if George was still adamant on taking the slave them he would take a different route to reach his destination, but luckily things didn't accelerate at that point.
Unfortunately, the goblin had underestimated the Baron's greed. If only he knew that George had already planned to raid his caravan and take the slave for himself, he wouldn't be feeling this comfortable around him.
"Where is the slave? I would have a look at it even if it's not meant to be mine" George asked.
" Of course your highness, but please accept our apologies because the slave isn't here right now." The goblin said with a hint of apology on his face.
" What do you mean it isn't here?" The Baron frowned.
"You hear correct, your highness. The slave is currently being transported to the Reiner Baronate and if my estimations are correct, then it will take around half a year to reach the Barony." The goblin replied after some thinking.
"Where will it be going from here?" George inquired as if everything is going according to his plan.
"Lionheart Duchy" The other merchant replied with just two words. But those two words sounded like thunder in the Baron's ears.
'Lionheart? This will be troublesome. If they get even a wind about my plan to steal their possession...' George gulped his own saliva and started sweating in his mind.
' No..No.. they won't find out. If even if they do, I can just blame these slave traders for their lack of security.' The baron collected his thought quickly and started thinking of possible loopholes that he can exploit.
" Why don't you find any other from the list that is to your liking, your highness?. We even have women from the wolf tribes this time." The goblin asked trying his best to change the topic.
George nodded and looked at the list again and pointed his fingers at a number while voicing
" Number 17"
The merchant looked at the the details about the number the Baron chose and nodded
[Nameless]
[Gender: Female]
[Race: Demihuman- Cat]
[Ability 1: fire blast]
[Ability 2: None]
The reason George choose this particular Demihuman wasn't because it is to his liking, but rather because of it's ability. He went further imagining the look on these merchants when they realise that their most priced possession was stolen because of the same slave they themselves sold.
George found this situation very amusing and was looking forward to the day the slave arrived in his Barony.
With the purpose of this meeting succesfull, the Baron walked out of the room and went to his castle via his carriage all while plastering a smile on his face.
___________
~ the next day, somewhere far away~
The sight of carriages walking in a que on a dusty road adjacent to a mountain in a very orderly manner can be seen.
The carriages were being driven by tamed mana beasts having four muscular legs and a swirling tail. The beasts were adorned with two long pointy horns on their heads and dagger like teeth, reminding -whoever laid his eyes on this beast- of a particular dinosaur.
On closer look one can see that the carriages were carring large steel bars covered with big cloths on them. In one of these bars, a young man with blue eyes, around the age of fourteen can be seen. His body looking like a skeleton undead due to lack of fat and muscles.
His attitude was devoid of life, as if he had already accepted his fate. His name was Eren before he was branded with the seal of slavery. Now he's nameless, waiting for his master to give him one.
But still, a burning fire can be seen in his eyes. Enough to turn his enemies into ashes. Bidding his time he kept waiting. For when he shall be free, he will become their worst nightmare.
____________
AN:- The objectification of slaves is not a mistake. I repeat it's not a mistake.
It's to show their place in the hierarchy of the world.