Su Rui

The guide was a tactful beastman. Seeing that Cheng Shuili had no intention of answering, he took the initiative to move on from the topic.

“There are forty minutes left until the two-hour mark. Where would you like to go next?”

Cheng Shuili’s gaze swept over the stalls on both sides, suddenly coming to a halt at an inconspicuous corner.

There, five or six ragged humans were huddled together, metal collars locked around their necks and chained to one another.

The back of one slim, tall female figure made her feel inexplicably familiar.

“Are those slaves too?” Cheng Shuili pointed in that direction.

The guide followed her gaze, shook his head, and said, “Yes and no. What they are selling over there are servants, and the prices are a bit cheaper.”

“It is strange, actually. Servants had never appeared in the black market before, but they suddenly showed up yesterday. It is the same with the slave market; before, you humans seemed unable to see those slaves, passing by as if they didn't exist. It was only yesterday that a human asked me what they were.”

Yesterday?

If one were to pinpoint what happened yesterday, it would likely be when Cheng Shuili activated the “Territory” system.

So... were the slaves and servants both serving the Territory?

Cheng Shuili felt a wave of nausea in her stomach.

She forced herself to walk toward that stall. Seeming to hear footsteps, the slave who had been facing away slowly turned her head.

A familiar face appeared before Cheng Shuili. It was the person who had given her the tactical belt. What was her name again?

Su Rui?

That should be the name.

The other party clearly remembered her, and a natural look of surprise flashed across her face. But the surprise lasted only a brief moment before she quickly regained her composure.

When she gave the gift to Cheng Shuili back then, she had only hoped that the other party might do her a small favor in the future. In her current predicament, any help would be a very big favor indeed.

The value was completely unequal.

Judging by Cheng Shuili’s appearance, she did not look like someone who would make a losing deal, so the probability of her being bought was very slim.

Cheng Shuili did not go over directly. Instead, she asked the guide, “You explained the source of the slaves to me, but what about the servants?”

The guide shook his head. “Servants have only appeared for a day. Aside from the stall owner, no one knows the specific source.”

Cheng Shuili nodded. After thinking it over, she went up to ask about Su Rui’s price.

She had helped her before, after all. Now that the other party was in trouble, it would be best to help if she could.

At the very least, her conscience would be clear.

Besides, it only required paying a few game coins, and for Cheng Shuili, those were the easiest things to earn.

Cheng Shuili raised a hand and asked, “Her, how many game coins?”

Su Rui did not expect this person to walk over. Wouldn't forgetting her have been the better choice?

Her lips trembled, but not a sound came out.

A stranger she barely knew was willing to spend game coins to buy her, yet her teammates, whom she had regarded as friends and family, could sell her off as a servant!

How ironic.

The servant stall owner was twice the size of the owners at other stalls. He was also draped in a black cloak, revealing only his eyes.

He sat motionless in front of the stall, looking like a dark, oppressive cloud.

But Cheng Shuili also possessed a sense of pressure; the human and the beastman were evenly matched.

The servant stall owner seemed not to have expected such a human either, a flicker of obvious interest crossing his eyes: “If you want her, I can give you a cheaper price.”

Cheng Shuili was blunt: “Then how about half off?”

What kind of discount is it if it isn't fifty percent off?

The stall owner did not expect Cheng Shuili to be so direct. The eyes beneath his cloak narrowed slightly, and he let out a low, muffled laugh.

“Human, you certainly know how to haggle.” He tapped his thick fingers against the ground, appearing to ponder. “However... she is not ordinary.”

Cheng Shuili raised an eyebrow: “Oh? In what way is she not ordinary?”

The stall owner said slowly: “She is the best product I have here. The best—you understand what those three words mean, right? Whether you buy her to act as a bodyguard or to take care of your daily life, she can do it all. Therefore, her price was already double that of the other servants.”

Su Rui’s face turned instantly pale. She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning blue.

If she had still held a glimmer of hope before, the moment she heard those words, that last bit of hope was completely shattered.

Cheng Shuili glanced at her, her tone remaining indifferent: “So? Half off—are you selling or not?”

Cheng Shuili was indeed very calm.

After buying the European bread in the beastman town, she had only 1,293 game coins left. But the Chief’s verdict immediately took effect, forcing Tiger Brother to compensate her with three thousand game coins. Added to the 10 game coins gifted for completing the mileage today, she had a total of 4,303 game coins on hand.

She had paid 10 game coins for the entry fee, spent another 10 to hire a guide, and another 30 to purchase the medal.

Cheng Shuili now had 4,253 game coins left.

If Su Rui were truly too expensive...

She was indeed good at earning game coins, but her game coins didn't just fall from the sky, did they? If the stall owner wanted five thousand or ten thousand game coins, she could only ask Su Rui to forgive her for being powerless to help.

The stall owner stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly burst into laughter: “Interesting! Fine, as you say. 800 game coins, take her away.”

800?

Cheng Shuili: “......”

She was a bit rusty at buying servants for the first time.

So it only cost 800? Cheng Shuili had been prepared to pull out two thousand or even three thousand game coins.

Cheng Shuili didn't waste any time and transferred the funds directly.

Her game coin balance was now: 3,453!

With a “click,” the iron chain was unlocked. Su Rui stumbled, nearly losing her balance.

Cheng Shuili reached out to steady her and said faintly: “Can you walk?”

Su Rui’s throat tightened, her voice raspy: “...Yes.”

The guide stood to the side, wanting to say something but stopping himself. In the end, he said nothing.

This human employer was different from any he had seen before—decisive and opinionated; there was no need for him to interfere at all.

After leaving the stall, Cheng Shuili finally spoke: “How did you become a servant?”

Su Rui was silent for a moment before whispering: “I was sold by the captain. He had a servant contract card; once both sides confirm, a servant relationship can be established.”

“I was tricked.”

“After the contract took effect, a monster merchant came along and asked if he wanted to sell me, his servant. The monster merchant offered two hundred game coins, and he agreed.”

“I see.”

Cheng Shuili nodded, keeping the servant contract card she mentioned in mind.

This thing was quite dangerous.

If one signed it without knowing, they would become someone else’s servant.

It could even be bought and sold. Too dangerous.

“How many people are in your squad?”

Cheng Shuili asked this out of pure curiosity.

Su Rui was clearly still quite upset. Perhaps because she hadn't had water in a long time, her voice carried a rasp.

“There were five of us in total.”

“Aside from me, no one was the captain’s match.”

“The youngest in the squad found a special item, and we had agreed to use it together. The captain didn't want to; he wanted to monopolize it. Clearly, I was the biggest obstacle.”