After he left, Tanera started to buy slaves and increased the number of offers of the items Andrew wanted her to sell.
Andrew, on the other hand, informed everyone about the new development.
The reactions were slightly different for everyone, but mostly it was anger at the treatment of their fellow beings.
It wasn't that everyone was righteous or anything, but hearing about sentient beings being sold like cattle or lab rats was enough to make everyone's blood boil.
What's more, these beings were from their species, which made the whole thing even harder to bear.
Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do about it, since the information about the sellers was confidential and strictly guarded by the guild.
Even Tanera didn't have access to them.
-So what do you plan to do about it?
Iliana asked after Andrew explained everything.
-I plan to buy as many of them as possible.
He replied.
-Can we see the list of slaves from our species?
One of the elected council members asked.
-It should be possible.
Andrew said and contacted Tanera, who sent the list as soon as he asked, and it was soon distributed throughout the empire.
Some people started looking for their friends and families among the slaves, hoping that maybe they would be able to buy them out if they were for sale.
Two people did find someone they knew, while one of the frigate captains found her sister.
These people immediately contacted Andrew and pleaded for him to save their friends and family.
Without any delay, these people were placed at the top of the list and bought immediately.
All together, Tanera bought ninety-two slaves for a bit over forty million credits.
-I'm sorry, this is as many as we can buy without raising suspicion.
She apologized, handing over the list of the slaves she bought.
Andrew studied the list and sighed.
-This is just a drop in the bucket. Is there no other way to buy more slaves?
He asked.
-Unfortunately, no, at least not if we don't want to stand out too much.
She shook her head.
-Why don't we ask for permission from the guild, using the lack of population in the empire as an excuse?
The human asked.
-We may try, but I would not get my hopes up if I were you, especially since they already made an exception in that regard.
Andrew was frustrated by hearing this.
He had the funds to buy tens of thousands of slaves, but some unofficial rules were preventing him from doing so.
What's more, he had no idea how to bypass these rules.
-I know that you want to save as many of them as possible, but you can't save them all, and if you overdo it, you won't be able to save anyone.
The elf said, but it was clear that she didn't like it any more than he did.
-Do you think that the Moon Elf Star Empire could help us in this matter?
Andrew asked.
He was grasping at straws right now, but if there was even a shadow of a chance, he wanted to try.
Unfortunately, this idea was also shot down when Tanera shook her head.
-The empire didn't buy slaves for the last ten millennia, and our territory is one of the few that abolished slavery, so if the emperor were to buy slaves, even for you, there might be a revolt, or at the minimum, the nobles would be dissatisfied.
Some might even demand the right to buy slaves for themselves.
She explained.
-I understand.
Andrew said.
It was not worth it if the elves started a civil war over it, or even worse, if they went back to having slaves.
-Anyway, the slaves we bought will be coming within the next six hours in three batches.
The first of which should arrive within two hours.
Tanera said and started leaving, but turned around after two steps.
-I'll also send an inquiry about the population to the guild, who knows, maybe they will agree.
She smiled sadly and left.
Andrew didn't waste time on regret and immediately contacted Iliana and Jalina, informing them about the slave transport, to let them prepare.
A bit more than two hours later, the first transport arrived, bringing thirty slaves, who looked like hell.
There was not one among them who didn't have scars or bruises on their bodies; some were even missing limbs, and one female had to be carried out of the ship because she was paralyzed from the waist down.
-Bring them to Iliana.
Andrew ordered, and the droids he had on standby moved to carry out the order.
While this was going on, a merchant from the ship approached him.
-Your majesty, I have been informed that you wanted to buy more slaves to increase your population to the minimum level of a star nation.
Is that correct?
The merchant, who was a good head taller than Andrew and fully hidden behind a robe, asked.
-It is.
Andrew confirmed with a nod, his voice muffled slightly by the helmet of his armor.
-The guild asked me to inquire about your reasoning for this request, as the guild already made an exception on your behalf, so this action seems unnecessary.
-I am grateful for the exception that was made for me and my Empire; however, such exceptions lead to precedents, which I am sure the guild does not wish to see being created.
To avoid that, I'm willing to buy enough slaves to fill in the gap between my empire's population and the minimum standard required to be recognized as a star nation by the guild.
Andrew explained calmly.
-If that is the case, then why didn't you send this inquiry earlier?
The merchant asked.
-The main reason was that I didn't have enough funds, and my credibility was at zero.
-That's understandable.
The cloaked merchant agreed.
-So why did you ask your resident merchant to send this inquiry now?
-Because when I asked her to buy the slaves, she explained that there were limits to the amount I could buy without destabilizing the market, and it would be better to ask the guild about it before proceeding with the purchase.
These are reasonable concerns, so I agreed with her.
The human explained.
-It's refreshing to see a young Emperor who is reasonable and doesn't throw a tantrum when he hears that there are some limitations.
The merchant chuckled.
-It is also good to know that the resident merchant doesn't only care about profits, but also stability.
The guild will be happy to hear about this.
-Thank you for the compliment, and I'm sure Tanera will also be happy to know that her efforts are appreciated.
Andrew replied.
-I'm sure she will, but can I ask where she is?
The merchant asked, like he had just noticed that the elf was not present.
-She should be in her office. Do you wish for me to call her?
-There is no need, your majesty, I do not wish to bother her while she is working.
As for the acquisition of a large number of slaves, the decision will be made within a day and sent to you through the resident merchant.
-Thank you.
Andrew said, finally having a spark of hope.
-Since my business is done, I'll take my leave.
The merchant said, bowing slightly after the formalities were finished, he boarded the ship and left.
Andrew also didn't linger around and went to the med bay to see how the slaves were doing.
The moment he entered, he saw that a few slaves were already in the regeneration tanks getting treated, and their missing limbs were being regenerated.
Iliana was currently working on the girl who was sold as the living emergency rations, and the young woman didn't make things easier by struggling with all her might, her eyes filled with fear.
-Stop struggling.
Andrew ordered after taking off his helmet.
The girl's body immediately went limp, finally allowing Ilia to scan her.
The human girl was still terrified until she saw that Andrew was a human as well.
-Help me, don't let them eat me.
She pleaded with tears streaming down her face.
-No one is going to eat you; you are safe.
Iliana here is a doctor, and she is trying to treat your injuries, so relax a bit and let her do her work.
He said, trying to make his voice sound reassuring.
-The same goes for the rest of you.
Andre turned to a few more slaves, trying to resist the examination.
They were from different species, but they were as afraid as the human girl was.
-You are now under my protection, and no one here is going to eat you or experiment on you.
So relax and let the doctors do their job.
His words sounded a bit harsher than he intended, but they worked as most of the slaves calmed down.
The only exception was the woman with paralyzed legs, who was fighting with all her might to get free of the medical droids that were trying not to hurt her while holding her down.
-Didn't you hear me? Calm down and let the doctors heal you.
He said once again.
-No doctor or whatever will ever touch me again while I'm alive.
The alien woman screamed.
-I don't care who you are or what you want from me, touch me and I'll kill you.
She screamed even louder.
However, before Andrew could even respond, another figure rushed past him and slapped the woman across the face.
-Is that how you treat the man who helped me save you?
Another woman yelled at the paralyzed one with pure anger in her voice.
Then she turned to Andrew, knelt on one knee, and bowed her head with respect.
-I'm sorry for my sister's outburst, Your Majesty, please forgive her.
Only then did Andrew recognize her as the captain of a frigate who asked him to buy her sister from slavery.
-You may rise.
There is nothing to forgive, but do convince her to calm down and let the doctors treat her legs.
Andrew instructed the captain, then left to give the sisters some time alone.
-Thank you, Your Majesty.
The captain said to his back, before turning to her sister, who was now so shocked that she didn't even struggle anymore.
It didn't take long for both sisters to burst into tears after being reunited.
Two hours later, another thirty slaves were brought by a different merchant; this time, however, there was no chit chat, just the formalities, and the merchant left.
This batch was a bit better than the first one, but there were the same problems with them, and Andrew had to intervene to calm them down, which was easier since some people from the first batch were still not placed in the regeneration tanks, and they explained the situation to the new arrivals.