The guard in charge of the slaves struck the cage with a metal rod, waking the silver hair little slave who was clutching his knees in the corner, and tossed two white steamed buns into the cage.
In fact, ordinary slaves were not qualified to eat steamed buns at all. Slave traders would only give them coarse bran and wild vegetables. After all, they were just the lowest-class laborers; as long as they didn't starve to death, it was enough. Why feed them so well?
However, this silver hair little slave was different. He was originally from a noble background and looked to be only eight or nine years old. His features were quite delicate, and his silver hair was bright and lustrous, making it somewhat difficult to tell if he was a boy or a girl.
Such a little slave was, of course, not meant for manual labor, but to be sold to high-ranking officials and nobles with special tastes. He was a "high-end product" among slaves.
As such, it was impossible to let him eat poorly. If the little slave became haggard due to a bad diet, it would be more trouble than it was worth.
After all, he was a "merchandise" that sold based on his face, so his appearance was naturally the most important thing.
There were only about twenty "high-end product" slaves like Slave No. 103 in this slave camp. Ordinarily, these slaves would not be sold out at all; only nobles who had made an appointment in advance could come to the camp to select the slave they desired.
To put it bluntly, these were high-priced slaves, mostly bought to be used as plush balls. Ordinary people truly couldn't afford them; only nobles or wealthy merchants had the financial power to buy them.
Although most of the time these high-priced slaves had no customers, today was an exception.
"I say, Mr. Dru, you confidently claimed that you possessed the most Advanced slaves in Liue Territory, but looking around, my Angelie hasn't taken a liking to a single one."
The speaker was a noblewoman who looked very glamorous. She questioned the owner of the slave camp condescendingly, appearing somewhat dissatisfied.
"I am terribly sorry, Lady Anglia!"
Dru hurried to bow and apologize. He did not dare to offend the woman before him, and in the face of her dissatisfaction, he could only choose to apologize.
"Sigh... forget it. How many slaves are left that my Angelie hasn't seen?"
"About ten people."
"Ten people, huh..."
Anglia thought for a moment and then bent down next to a little blonde girl beside her.
"Angelie, do you want to continue looking?"
"Let's continue, Aunt Anglia. I still have some patience left."
Although the little girl named Angelie was young, her expression was serious and cold, as if she were the leader here.
"Alright, we'll do as Angelie says."
Anglia stood up and spoke to Dru.
"Continue then. I hope you can find a slave that satisfies her before Angelie's patience is exhausted."
Hearing this, Dru wiped away his sweat. He didn't dare to imagine what the consequences would be if he failed to satisfy them.
"Um, Lady Anglia, I wonder what kind of slave Lady Angelie wants? If you tell me the specific requirements, I might be able to save some time for both of you."
"Requirements? I haven't really thought about it."
Angelie twirled the ends of her hair with her finger.
Coming to choose a slave today was originally just a whim; she really hadn't thought about what kind of slave she wanted to buy.
Angelie thought for a while and finally stated her requirement.
"A slave who can manipulate magic power—do you have one?"
A slave who can manipulate magic power... this was truly an excessive request.
Talents who can manipulate magic power are sought after by many; how could they be sold as slaves?
Fortunately, Dru actually had a slave under him who could meet Angelie's requirement.
"A slave who can manipulate magic power—I actually do have one, but..."
"But what?"
"What he manipulates is black magic power."
"...Take me to see him!"
Angelie was very surprised. she had only made a random request, partially intending to toy with Dru, yet the man was actually able to find a slave who could manipulate magic power!
What surprised her even more was that the magic power manipulated was actually black!
"Slave No. 103!"
Dru struck the cage forcefully.
"Lift your head and let the two ladies see your face!"
As the silver hair slave in the cage slowly lifted his head, Angelie finally saw his appearance clearly.
What kind of face was this? It was so delicate that even Angelie felt a bit ashamed of her own appearance!
His clear eyes were as transparent as gems and without any Impurities. Although his smooth face was stained with dust, it was still so fair and tender. His loose silver hair didn't make him look haggard, but instead added a sense of melancholy and sadness.
He was like a startled kitten, obediently curled up in a corner of the cage, making one unable to resist wanting to approach and pet him.
When she saw this silver hair slave, Angelie even felt her heart tighten, and an inexplicable urge to pull him into her arms welled up within her.
This slave was simply too wonderful!
"Open it..."
"Eh?"
"I said, open the cage!"
Angelie shouted sharply; she could no longer suppress her desire to get close to this silver hair slave.
"Yes!"
Hearing Angelie's command, Dru did not dare to delay. He fumbled to take out the key and opened the cage door.
Angelie lightened her steps, walked up to the silver hair slave, and reached out to cup his face.
The slave did not resist. Though his eyes were clear, his gaze was somewhat dull, as if he didn't care at all how he would be treated.
"What is your name?"
The slave did not answer, his eyes only dimming once more, but it was Dru who told Angelie the answer.
"Lady Angelie, this fellow has no name. After his family sold him, they didn't allow him to use his original name anymore."
"Sold... why would his family sell him?"
Such a cute child—what kind of fool would sell him?
"I told you just now, his magic power is black."
"Just for that reason? Hmph, how stupid!"
Angelie took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the dust from the silver hair slave's face.
So cute.
Why are you so cute?
I really want to take you home.
Angelie suppressed the urge to pull him into her arms. With outsiders present, she had to do her best to maintain her composure and elegance.
"I heard you can use black magic power. Can you show me?"
The silver hair slave did not move or speak, just sat there in silence.
"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you." Angelie gently stroked his hair. "Come, let me see your magic power, okay?"
The slave still did not answer, and his gaze remained dull, but he silently reached out and opened his palm before Angelie.
Immediately after, a tiny bit of black magic power, like black mist, appeared on his palm.
This black magic power was very weak, like a flickering flame in a gale that could go out at any moment.
However, even just this was enough to make Angelie very satisfied.
"It really is black magic power. Wonderful."
Angelie reached out to tidy the hair of the slave in front of her, revealing his clear eyes that had been blocked by his bangs.
"I want you. Are you willing to come with me?"
In truth, when buying a slave, the slave's own consent was never needed.
It was just that at this moment, Angelie seemed to have invested a different kind of emotion in this silver hair slave, even being willing to seek his consent.
Hearing her words, the silver hair slave, who had been silent all this time, finally asked a few questions in a very soft voice.
"Will you hit me with a cane?"
Hearing this question, Angelie frowned. She suddenly noticed a shallow bloodstain on his neck.
She pulled open the silver hair slave's collar and found several such marks on his body; it looked as if he had been whipped with a lash or a cane.
"...No."
"Will you lock me in a cage?"
"No."
"Can I eat my fill?"
"Yes."
After saying this, the silver hair slave was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"I am willing to go with you."
"That's great."
Ignoring the grime on the silver hair slave's body, Angelie pulled him into her arms.
"Let me give you a name. From today on, you will be called White Night, okay?"
"Okay."
Angelie took White Night's hand and led him out of the filth-ridden cage.
"Aunt Anglia, I've decided to choose him."
"Alright, we'll do as Angelie says."
Neither of them seemed to be affected by the ancient legends of black magic power; even after knowing White Night could manipulate black magic power, they still chose to take him away.
"By the way, White Night, how about I give you a gift?"
White Night did not respond, but there was a hint of confusion in his eyes. He couldn't understand why Angelie would give a gift to a slave like him.
"The gift I'm giving you is... letting all those who bullied you die, how about that?"
"..."
Angelie was smiling, and her smile was very beautiful, yet the words she spoke were so terrifying!
"Eh! Lady Angelie?"
Dru hadn't yet reacted to what those words meant, but Angelie was already no longer interested in paying him any attention.
"Anglia..."
"Yes, Your Highness Angelie."
Accompanying Angelie's cold words, Anglia channeled her magic power and then unleashed a wave of frost, actually freezing Dru into an ice sculpture.
"Your Highness, what should be done with this slave camp?"
Now that there were finally no outsiders around, Anglia no longer needed to hide Angelie's identity.
"As you wish, I'll leave it all to you to handle. I am taking White Night back with me now, so don't come to disturb me if there's nothing important."
"Yes."
Having received Angelie's command, Anglia slowly backed away, leaving only White Night and Angelie.
"White Night, come with me. Don't worry, I will always be good to you."
...In the early morning, White Night slowly woke up. The sun had just risen from below the horizon, but she couldn't fall back asleep no matter what.
"To think I could still dream of what happened back then..."
White Night rarely dreamed, yet she didn't know if it was because she had met Iris or for some other reason, but she had actually dreamed of the scene when she first met Angelie.
The White Night of that time and the Iris of now were truly so similar; they were both so helpless and timid.