In all honesty, Bastion didn't need slaves. Elyra was more than enough for any housekeeping needed for all of them, while each girl played her part for them as a whole.
His reason for shopping for slaves, however, was to lean into a well-known trope that Seraphina had mentioned. Usually, in reincarnation or transmigration stories, many protagonists started off as slaves or eventually found themselves as one. This would build character and introduce them to their greatest enemies or allies, who would end up being their owner. As such, it stood to reason that he should check out the local slave market to better understand this world and to try to find the hero of this kingdom, even if it was a bit of a stretch.
Before that, however, he had put a proper collar on Elyra that was provided by the Merchants Guild. It was a thick, one-inch-wide black leather collar with a ring at the front.
Reading Bastion's intent, Elyra stepped forward and stuck out her neck, a visible blush on her cheeks. She looked like a maiden receiving a precious gift from her prince charming.
"We've been together for over a century now," Bastion said as he locked the collar around her neck. "Why are you still blushing like an innocent young girl?"
"You've never claimed me as your property before," Elyra said shyly, placing a hand on her cheek. "I just can't help myself. It's so romantic."
Bastion hated everything about her statement and yet couldn't deny the emotion behind it as she said it. She was madly in love with him, her mind clouded with simple, overwhelming affection. He smiled, leaned in, and pulled the ring of her collar closer with a finger before kissing her deeply, reciprocating his own love through their telepathic link.
Elyra placed her hands lightly on his chest as she rose onto her toes and kissed him, her thoughts blooming into warm, shared affection that deepened with each passing second until a cough interrupted them.
Bastion looked around and noted the staring crowd watching them, their reactions mixed. Some held disgust, likely at her species. Others showed disapproval at what they perceived as a slave being forced into affection. A few watched with curiosity at the public display of intimacy, while the men's eyes lingered on Elyra with open lust. There were also women who seemed interested in him, though it wasn't worth dwelling on.
To avoid drawing any more unnecessary attention, he made his way into the carriage. Elyra followed obediently behind him with a small, contented smile on her lips. Together, they joined the girls to discuss their objectives.
"So… shopping first, then we set up shop?" Lilia asked, already eager to make her way through the marketplace.
"How dangerous is this place, Ariel?" Bastion asked. "Are there any cultural restrictions we have to abide by? I imagine you girls will get harassed if you just go around as usual and somehow end up in jail and enslaved for one reason or another. That wouldn't have been a problem in a Rank 2 kingdom, but in a Rank 3 kingdom things might have changed."
"I don't know, to be honest. I'd have to go to the Adventurers Guild to find out. I did notice how well the slaves were treated, though. It's worth looking into what they actually think of slavery and how to act appropriately around the topic."
"Alright. You can go ahead and do that for now while we wait here. I wouldn't want us to get into trouble because of our ignorance."
"Sure," Ariel said as she left the carriage.
"How long are we planning to stay here, by the way?" Lilia asked. "I know we're here for you to find this kingdom's hero and help them to grow your Fortune stat, but what exactly is the plan? Are you just going to run around blindly, turning over every rock in the entire kingdom until you find them?"
"I can feel that they're here in this city," Bastion replied, his brows furrowing as he tried to interpret the sensation. "It's elusive and vague, but it gives me enough confidence to know I won't be wasting my time if I focus my search here."
"That's still a pretty big place. And what happens when you find them?"
"It shouldn't take me that long to look, maybe a few weeks at most. As for what happens when I find them, it depends on their situation. I won't hesitate to kill them if they pose a threat, and I won't mind helping them if they need it. It really depends on what they have going on. If necessary, I wouldn't mind spending decades helping them if that's what it takes."
"Should we buy a house then?" Seraphina asked in an excited tone. "We can stay as long as we want because we're part of the Merchants Guild, so we might as well get comfortable. I think a bigger house would be better than just our carriage."
"We could, depending on the situation," Bastion replied.
"What do you need a house for?" Lilia asked, raising a brow. "You're just going to stay in your room the whole time anyway."
"I like having the option," Seraphina replied, sticking out her tongue at Lilia.
They continued planning their options, which included checking out neighboring kingdoms, until Ariel returned with news from the Adventurers Guild on what they needed to watch out for.
Firstly, there were no traditional prisons in this kingdom, as they had been replaced with a magic contract-based slavery system. Secondly, slaves were treated with respect, more like minimum-wage employees than criminals or property. Thirdly, it wasn't only prisoners who entered slavery, but also people who voluntarily signed contracts for money and employment. They were paid a lump sum once their designated term ended, enough to help them get back on their feet.
Fourthly, anyone could purchase a slave under the understanding that they were free to leave once their contract was fulfilled. In practice, it was less slavery and more a regulated live-in employment system managed by the kingdom's government.
The reason for this system was that feline demihumans were notoriously volatile and could kill a noble over minor slights. It was considered safer, in their culture, to bind them under magical contracts than to rely on traditional imprisonment, which was seen as both ineffective and inhumane for demihumans driven by instinctual aggression. To control that, the contracts included suppression mechanisms that activated whenever they became a threat, ensuring they could no longer harm society.
In Bastion and Seraphina's opinion, it was an unusually humane alternative to pure imprisonment. It wasn't a cheap system though, as the government fully funded the expensive magic contracts. It was clear they cared deeply about their people and were willing to spend heavily for their well-being.
"What should we watch out for then?" Bastion asked. "Are we free to mind our own business?"
"Yes, but it's important that you restrain any aggressor and immediately call the guards if you're attacked for any reason. Don't inflict significant bodily harm in retaliation, and absolutely no killing. You'd be punished even for self-defense if you crossed that line."
"Because the attacker might just be acting up?"
"Exactly," Ariel said with a nod. "Apart from that, we're free to move around as we please. Apparently, they're actually quite nice here compared to the other nearby kingdoms."
With Ariel's scouting finished, Bastion and the girls scattered throughout the marketplace and began shopping on their own.
Seraphina headed for the tailors to get a better understanding of the local fashion sense. Apparently, most demihumans here had thick fur covering much of their bodies, so they barely needed clothing. Often, a skirt was considered more than enough, although dresses were viewed as more appropriate in densely populated areas like the city.
Elyra went on a food tour, sampling the many dishes being served throughout the marketplace. Predictably, meat was the staple here, with countless ways to prepare and consume it. Notably, there was a distinct lack of vegetables being sold, along with little interest in desserts since they contained no meat. In Elyra's opinion, the food culture here was severely lacking.
Lilia spent her time buying large amounts of magically infused materials. Bones, in particular, were among the most common items being sold. Apparently, the forests outside the city were heavily patrolled to prevent poaching and illegal harvesting, with most rare plants being reserved for nobles and the royal family. It heavily skewed the market toward monster parts to the point that the only place to purchase Rank 3 materials was through auctions that Lilia was already planning to somehow attend.
Ariel returned to the Adventurers Guild to continue her research. In particular, she wanted to learn how adventurers in this kingdom gained strength and what the local dungeon scene looked like.
Meanwhile, Bastion took an interest in the technology available in a Rank 3 kingdom. Specifically, he searched for firearms since the bandits they had encountered seemed fairly knowledgeable about them. Unfortunately, he discovered that bows and arrows remained the dominant long-range weapons, and he had to search extensively before finally locating an unpopular shop that sold guns as novelty items. They were essentially crude revolvers with power barely reaching the peak of Apprentice rank, making it obvious why firearms had failed to gain traction in the kingdom.
By evening, Bastion and the girls had developed a solid understanding of what to expect from the city, along with which resources they needed to buy, stockpile, and sell while staying there.
Surprisingly, however, Seraphina became interested in something else entirely.
"Bastion! We have to go to a brothel!" she demanded.
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