Chapter 28

At Yínzi Hé City

 

-still POV Puta Kara-

With another 4 days and 3 stops, we reached Yínzi Hé City proper. There weren't any more surprises along the way. However unfortunately, no more of us rose by a Level.

When we approached the gate, we were greeted by the usual sight of dozens of slack jaws. Some drooling.

Disgusting.

Kara) "We wish to enter your city, how much tax do you require?"

Guard) (slaps himself) "No tax, no tax for fairies of your grace. But may I inquire your business."

K) "It's no secret. I and my sisters were tasked by our Master to escort his virgin slaves to a good auction house. We chose your fair city. Please send a messenger to the Lord's manor as well as the top clans' to let them know, if you have time. However we don't know the layout. So we would ask an escort to an inn for now, and from there to the auction house in the morning.."

. .

A regional city of several million people is packed a bit denser than a little town of a hundred thousand or so. Or even a large town of half a million.¹how many people do you consider the dividing line between 'town' and 'city'? the answer changed a lot when the population grew. 10,000 used to be considered a big city, but now 40,000 might still be considered a town. In a wider world, with bigger cities, their answer grew too. In this world, it's one million dollars residents. And wider too. But it doesn't take any longer to get to a good inn, as they are mostly on the outskirts, next to the gates or along the busy streets. We thank him for his efforts.

This time there is no problem finding a good restaurant, but cheap is no longer an option. So we pick something close, within bowshot from the inn. The food this time is a little better than any on the trip so far. But more expensive than all of them together.

Since I expect this to be the last time with the slaves, we spent basically the whole night in our usual activities. From last light of dusk, till first light of dawn.

. . .

After giving ourselves an hour of rest, we had the inn's breakfast.

Once that was done, the same guard from yesterday was waiting for us right outside the door. With 4 other men alongside him, each in a different formal robe.

K) "Thank you for meeting us again to show us to the auction house." I give a light bow toward him. "And I presume these gentlemen are representing the head clans?" And a medium bow toward them.

G) "Not quite, Xu Ya here is from the city lord's manor." He points at one of them. "But the others are from the 3 main sects."

K) "I thought there were 7 main sects. (I recieve a couple of scowls) But of course you mean the 3 with a local branch. That's even better!" With a big smile on my muzzle, I fully bow to each of the 3.

"Even if they are beauties what worth are they!?"

K) (quietly) "I was hoping not to mention this on the street, but. . (whispering) each one has a Pure Yin Unique Physique. And none of them are below Tier 1, Level 6. Is that worthy enough? Of course if word got out, then the thieves, assassins, and all sorts of evil practitioners will want first selection, but without paying. So, shall we go?"

. .

Our daily parade made its way through the city's main streets from near the entrance to the heart of the wealthy merchant district. Of course a city would need multiple districts. And this district was not far from the manors of the top clans. The better to keep an eye on their assets.

Once we made it to our destination we have a new problem.

There are four competing auction houses.

One for each major sect, another for the city lord.

Now we have to choose. And any option we take will anger all 3 others against me, and more importantly, Master.

After forcibly suppressing the oncoming headache, I propose to meet with a representative of each auction house in the private room of a nearby teahouse.

-POV Guard-

G) "I need to speak with master Po right away."

Clerk) "You and everyone else, you'll have to wait."

G) "If you blow this deal, Lord Yu will personally pull out your liver." While not officially a crime to call on a City Lord's name under false pretenses, it will be punished as if it was. So this convinces the front clerk to send a message right away.

. .

Messenger) "Master Po will see you now, come with me.

. .

Po) "So what's this big deal you're so concerned about."

G) "The 2-score fairies who are to be sold at auction. I have new and confidential information. And their seller wants to meet with all 4 auction houses in the nearby Crystal Flower Teahouse."

Po waves his personal guards out the door, they close it behind.

G) "Each one is at least Tier 1, Level 6."

Po) "That's not such-"

G) "AND has the Pure Yin Unique Physique."

Po stands up so quickly, his chair hits the wall behind. The noise causes the guards to burst back in.

Po) "It's alright. The news was a bit startling is all. Tell my second I'll take a meeting outside."

Similar scenes are happening in the other auction houses.

-POV back to Kara-

I lead my sisters and the other slaves to the nearby teahouse to wait for the auction houses' representatives. It has a distinctly pleasant aroma. The name above the entrance is Crystal Flower Teahouse. Its name is appropriate, as all around there are flowers carved from crystal being used as decoration.

I tell them I wish to have a meeting with some important people here, in a private room. While the rest of my entourage waits for us in the main room. Their faces brighten up as only service industry people's can when they see the size, and beauty of our group. With 45 of them, that's 5 to each of 9 tables. This means they'll sell a LOT of of their high-quality tea this morning. Not only to our group, but to all of the hangers-on who want to find any excuse to even sneak a peek.

I had settled in by myself in a fairly large room. Now that I saw we have 3 sects buying, I take a few minutes to make them copies of The Rules. And without waiting long, the first pair of them arrive. One of the sects if I can judge by the emblem on their robes. Just as they settle down, 2 other pairs arrive. Then the last on their heels.

K) "Judging by your speed, you all understand the importance of what I am offering. However, to be fair, I will not choose only one of your houses. What I did not mention before was that I did not only bring slaves to sell. Also there will be more business in the future to balance out the books between you all."

(murmer, murmer)

K) "First, a question. Some time ago a shipment was . . waylaid by some unknown group?"

Auction House #3) "Yes, we have been scouring the forests, hills and mountains near where it went missing."

K) (places a wrapped bundle on the table) "My Master happened to have a quarrel with them and obtained the 'item' some time ago."

3) "What does he want for it?"

K) "Absolutely nothing. It is not ours to keep."

4) "What of the ones who stole it?"

K) "Master used a Unique Ability to give them a fitting punishment. They were each made into totally obedient slaves and also changed from men into women. Well, only the ones who survived to be captured. This took Master about 6 weeks."

2) "Six weeks, 42 days, 42 slaves, all with the Pure Yin Unique Physique."

K) "Clever. That's right, they're all downstairs with my sisters. To continue, my proposal is to share the delivery between the four of you. First, the City Lord's auction house gets to sell all 42 slaves, and no more. They are most likely going to be purchased by the sects anyway. Second, the 'item' is returned to its rightful owner's sect, without any reward for us. As we understand, it was supposed to be auctioned anyway. For the other two, everything else is split up in two sets to choose from. There are still 24 Tier 1 weapons, 2 Tier 1 armors, those will be split in half. Then 2 Tier 2 weapons or . . a bottle of Tier 1 pills personally refined by my Master. And with my next delivery, the Lord's auction house will get the smallest share, or none at all."

1) "If your master could give even these slaves a Unique-"

K) "No. For several reasons. First it drains too much. Second it runs the risk of angering Karma or Fate. Not so much with criminals, lowlifes and evil practitioners, but the risk is still there. Third, Master prefers anonymity. Fourth . (smile) . You can't afford it! Fifth, well, if anyone satisfies the first four, this one would scare them off."

3) "And these pills, are they.."

K) "Master's first public sale. Getting back to what can be done, I have some minor requests. I'd like if your various auctions of these goods each take place on a different day. Preferrably consecutive. This will keep me from competing with myself. Also, I'd ask you send out word to the streets about what is offered, except make sure the Unique Physique part is only told to your respective Elders. And last, wait a week or two before putting these to auction. These requests will get a much better price for all of us. Now, do you all accept my proposal for distribution?"

2) "Yes."

1) "Yes."

4) ". .Yes."

3) . . "Why should we agree to this. They get everything and we get nothing."

K) "You get your 'item' returned without giving any reward, just as Master instructed. As we have no want or need for a reward. But if you don't want it for free. . "

3) "OKAY, OKAY! We also accept . . As for your other, requests, it seems they would be in our best interest as well. I'll set the auction for 2 weeks from today. That will give any interested buyers time to arrive."

The others look at him, then each other.

4) "We'll sell the Tier 1 stuff and the weapons on the day before. Of course we'll need to have them appraised first. The fee is a Grade 1 Qi Stone for the whole lot."

1) "We'll sell the Tier 1 set and pills on the day after. We'll also need them appraised."

2) "And we'll sell the slaves in . . 16 days."

K) "Just one more thing. (hands out 4 papers, one to each) These are the Rules that all the slaves are commanded to live by. You'll need this (points to 2) for your auctioneer to read out as they are sold. The rest of you need this, as the buyer.

The meeting went by quickly, as the tea arrived just as we finish the discussion. This allows them to read with few distractions.

. . Delicious! . .

2) "This is . . PERFECT!"

K) "That's because Master is clever."

Then we head downstairs.

We are greeted by an intense standoff.

Several rowdy men are trying to stare down my sisters. Some of the slaves have torn sleeves. One table is flipped over, and a few more spilled onto the ground.

K) "WHO TRIED TO DAMAGE MY MASTER'S PROPERTY!?"

Nani) "These 3, but their friends are butting in."

Dumbass) "WHO ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU GETTING IN MY WAY?"

K) "I'm their keeper. I'm the one entrusted to sell these slaves on behalf of my Master. I'm the one ordered to keep them safe and their virginity intact until then. And if you don't break your own arm to apologise, I'M THE ONE WHO'S GONNA BREAK ALL YOUR LIMBS!"

DA) "You can't talk to me like that! I'm friends with-"

K) "Even if you're the City Lord's friend, he probably wouldn't take kindly to someone damaging merchandise his auction house was entrusted to sell." I motion to indicate auction house guy #2. "Now are you lot going to break 3 arms? Or am I going to break 6, along with 9 legs?" I take a step forward. But before my paw lands, I use gale steps to rush behind him and his cronies.

3) (mutter) "Tier 3. With a decent movement technique."

DA) "DIE, YOU DAMN BITCH!" his hand started glowing with Qi to perform some unnamed martial technique as he turned to face me.

I simply grab him by the elbow, swing him back around facing away, grab the other one and. .

K) "I guess you didn't take me seriously." (KRAK! KRAK!) He suddenly gained two extra elbows. Then I kicked his legs too. (KRAK! KRAK!) And turned him as he fell. When he landed on his back, a stomp (POP!) "Two more."

DA "AAAAAAAUUAAAA!!!"

His five cronies were busy at this time facing my 3 sisters. The two sides seemed evenly matched. But then I grabbed another one who was pointed out to me by Nani. (KRAK! KRAK!) (KRAK! KRAK!) (POP!)

I would have started on the third, but he actually did break his arm like I had asked.

K) "I believe you also owe compensation to this business for damaging their shop by fighting inside. After that you lot can go."