Chapter 018: The Slave Market of the Imperial Capital (Part 2)

Old Mark’s last words clearly piqued Du Fan’s interest. At this moment, Du Fan had little interest in anything else—this opportunity to build his own loyal forces was, arguably, what concerned him the most. He sat up straight and laughed, saying, “Since Grandpa Mark says so, let’s hurry! I really want to see what this empire’s largest slave market is like.”

The slave market was located at the border between the western and southern parts of the city. On one side was the residential area for commoners, while on the other was the commercial center of the Gavin Empire—both abundant in manpower and capital. Only such a place could claim to be the empire’s largest slave market.

It is said that long ago, the slave market was confined to a small area in the southern part of the city. But after years of development, it has changed drastically. In addition to several major slave traders on the continent, large merchant guilds and even some noble families get involved in slave trading, which is why the market continues to grow.

On the side of the empire, due to financial constraints, a large amount of revenue is needed each year to fund the military. This “prosperous” market in slave trading generates substantial revenue for the empire every year. Thus, although the empire maintains a stance of neither supporting nor opposing slave trading, it’s easy to understand what this so-called neutrality really means given the growth of the slave market.

Du Fan, being inside the Holy Church, also had a vague sense that perhaps, seemingly, maybe… the Holy Church was involved in this shady slave trading as well. Many heretics and those who didn’t deserve execution were turned into slaves. After all, the Holy Church didn’t have enough money to run prisons to house them. The legendary Divine Prison wasn’t something anyone could enter.

With the support of these two major forces in the imperial capital, it seemed difficult not for this slave trading to grow even larger. Along the mile-long road at the border between the western and southern parts of the city, crowds were bustling everywhere.

Besides the slave trade, this place was also filled with all sorts of people: mercenaries looking for business, foreign merchants selling all kinds of strange goods, residents without any means of support in the capital also searching for work, and even some professionals of special trades stretching their delicate bodies on the streets. Their clothes were not even as big as a palm, yet they attracted the attention of most people. Some looked up carefully at the slaves with vacant eyes on the platforms along the streets, some crouched in front of merchants’ stalls, frantically searching, while others strode over to those professionals, handed them a few copper coins, and pulled them into the dark alleys beside the streets… The air was filled with a strange mixture of perfumes, bodily fluids, sweat, food, and other substances, making noses itch constantly. Yet despite this, the place was still very bustling… Some even said that if this place disappeared, the entire empire’s economy would take a huge step backward. It was ironic that such a place could influence the empire’s economy. Standing among the crowded crowd, Du Fan couldn’t help but frown. Looking at this place, which seemed like a microcosm of society, he felt a strange sensation in his heart. Before entering, their carriage had already been left in a designated area outside the street. Du Fan and Old Mark changed into simple clothes—after all, in this place, if you dressed too nicely, thieves, swindlers, and hooligans would come to cause trouble. Although Du Fan wasn’t afraid of such troubles, he was here to handle business, not to cause chaos. Pulling his hat down over his face to ensure no one could recognize him, he said calmly, “Grandpa Mark, let’s go in.” Old Mark smiled slightly. He seemed quite familiar with this place. After leading Du Fan around a few times, they left the crowded outer area and stepped onto the street. Then he glanced back and explained calmly, “Young master, this place is the easiest place for many merchants to make money, but it’s also the easiest place for many professionals of special trades to make a living…” Du Fan frowned and asked, “Professionals of special trades?”

“Yes, the Gold Fingers,” Old Mark nodded. “That’s what those thieves are called… They gather at the entrance of this street, targeting those who seem to have some money. If you’re here for the first time, many people get robbed multiple times before they even enter—after all, these Gold Fingers are professionals!”
Du Fan also glanced back. Unfamiliar with this kind of criminal activity, he naturally saw nothing. He shook his head slightly before asking, “Don’t the Imperial City Defense Forces care about this?”
Old Mark smiled faintly and said, “Young master, although the capital has the strictest urban management in the empire, this place is by far the most chaotic… Theft, robbery, murder… Anything can happen here, yet no one ever intervenes… After all, those with real status and influence, even if they come here, bring their own guards. Those guards have sharp eyes and certainly won’t dare target such people. But ordinary people, if they suffer losses, will never report it, because everyone knows this is the rule of this place… As the saying goes, if you pick any random person on this street, their crimes are enough to send them to the stake.”
“Is really no one in charge at all?”
“Someone once tried to take action…” Old Mark sighed. “But such people usually don’t end up well… So, young master, I want to tell you one thing: here, never show any unnecessary mercy… Because neither you nor I can imagine how huge the interest groups behind this place are.”
Du Fan frowned briefly before giving up.
It’s the same everywhere in the world—where there’s light, there’s darkness; where there’s good, there’s evil…
It’s not surprising at all that there’s such a place in the capital.
Seeing Du Fan’s expression, Old Mark smiled again. He simply made a gesture and led Du Fan deeper into the street.
The deeper they went, the more dilapidated the buildings around them became. It was hard to understand how such a place could exist in the capital.
The merchants on the street gradually disappeared, replaced by various platforms.

On these platforms, some people had their hands and feet tied with ropes, their eyes vacant as they stood there blankly, allowing others to point at them and comment. Others were locked in iron cages, constantly roaring, while some kept banging their heads against the bars. At such times, a burly man with a whip would walk over and swat them back into the center of the cage with a single strike.

Du Fan watched closely and realized that those wielding whips seemed quite skilled—just a few strokes were enough to silence the people in the cages for a while.

From time to time, those in the crowd, excited by what they saw, would climb onto the platforms and start examining the slaves as if selecting livestock. Whether beautiful or not, the female slaves were touched in a lewd manner by those who examined them. Though their eyes were filled with anger, they dared not move away and could only endure silently.

Old Mark seemed to notice Du Fan’s interest. As he walked, he slowly explained, “Young master, look… those with calm faces and vacant eyes are usually slaves from birth or long-time slaves. They have accepted their status as slaves and don’t make noise… Such slaves are convenient to use but not very useful. Apart from being used for hard labor occasionally, they have little other purpose… Here, they are generally called ‘experienced slaves.’ As for those in the cages, most are newly captured and called ‘unexperienced slaves’… Since they have never been slaves before, they refuse to accept their fate. They are often less useful than experienced slaves, but they are cheaper and stronger. Some nobles buy them, train them, and then use them as gladiators or guards… However, training unexperienced slaves is difficult, so few people are willing to buy them!”

Du Fan nodded. Although these slaves seemed pitiful, he felt he didn’t have the right to pity them. With a slight sigh, he turned away.

Old Mark continued, “Of course, these slaves are of the lowest quality and not very useful. The truly good ones are in the squares deep in the streets… That’s where the real treasures are. One slave there is worth hundreds of those outside.”