— Five hundred thousand gold pieces.
This staggering figure simply shocked everyone present.
There was a deathly silence-no one even whispered it. Everyone was too shocked.
To spend that much money on one slave? Especially a defective one… No one could have guessed which nobleman of the empire was rich enough to afford such a purchase. At any rate, he was clearly an oddity.
The usual price of a slave did not exceed a few tens of thousands. No one in their right mind would pay half a million for so servant. Even a privileged one.
So the confusion among the usual visitors to the auction was understandable. Even the host dropped his jaw at such a bid.
It took him a few seconds before he ca to his senses and shouted at the top of his voice:
— Five hundred thousand! No more bets!
But that's understandable. Hardly anyone else had brought that much money with them today.
A slave whose original price was only five gold pieces was sold for several hundred tis that. It was truly a grand event in the history of all auctions held.
Rachel, however, didn't care how unusually people stared at her.
After the auction ended, the host escorted her personally.
— This way, p-please…!
Rachel followed him backstage, where all the sold slaves sat in their cages, waiting for their new masters to pick them up. There were as many guards here as there were at the entrance.
There the girl was t by the manager of the slave market. Ralph Freundlich.
Rachel asured him with a glance. An unremarkable middle-aged man whose eyes lit up at the sight of her. Obviously, he had already heard about the five hundred thousand-dollar bid.
The girl with the erald hair was also in the cage. And her gaze was no different from that of the auction clients. She probably still couldn't comprehend what had happened.
But the slave-trader turned his attention back to himself.
— It's a pleasure to welco such a distinguished guest! — He grinned with all his teeth.
Rachel gave him a slight nod.
This worm didn't know yet: that he was going to be tied up as soon as the girl left the place. Now Freundlich seed the happiest man in the world.
— Sign here, please.
The man handed her the docunt for the sale of this slave. Rachel put her false signature there and the man did the sa. The necessary piece of paper was finally in her hands.
The main goal was accomplished, and it didn't matter what happened next.
— How would you like to pay?
Rachel didn't say a word and tossed him the wallet of money. The trafficker caught it in the air and imdiately counted it. Surprisingly, the entire amount fit in there.
It was all the money the girl had on her. She hadn't originally known she would spend it all today.
Relieved, Freundlich exhaled and was satisfied.
— It was a pleasure doing business with you! Please, you can have her now.
Rachel humd. She was going to do it without a reminder.
The cage was opened and the girl in there could go outside. It was impossible to read the emotion on her face and yet there was an obvious wariness in her eyes. She feared the uncertainty ahead.
— You…! — The slave-trader beca indignant, «I told you to get out!
The man swung to strike her, but Rachel intercepted his arm. She gave him an icy glance.
— You have no right to do that.
— What?» he paused.
— She doesn't belong to you anymore.
— Yes… But…» «Freundlich hesitated in fear.
Rachel didn't want to waste any ti with him. Instead, she reached out and held out her hand.
— Co with ,» she said softly.
She flinched.
— W-where?
Rachel was silent, unsure of how to answer that question for a mont.
— Ho.
***
When Leriana suddenly disappeared in broad daylight — Razor and Maxie were both terribly furious. Of course she couldn't just disappear. So they could not understand: who had the nerve to kidnap the Archduchess.
The girl had to be returned as soon as possible.
For two days in a row, the young n searched without rest for any clues about what had happened. And by chance they managed to co across certain rumors.
Naly, the existence of an underground market in the city.
Across the empire, several dozen people disappeared in a month. That was their main clue.
On the one hand it sounded crazy. For soone like Leriana to end up in a place like that… But on the other hand, it was their only chance to find her.
Maxie and Razor decided to try.
Not without difficulty finding the right building — their friends noticed a crowd of people at the entrance. They all concealed their identities and entered by invitation.
But they did not have ti to be ceremonious. After pushing all the visitors of the auction without waiting in line — they stood in front of the guards.
The man at the entrance, who was accepting invitations, got terribly angry.
— What are you doing? — How dare you make a ss of things here,» he shouted.
Maxi grinned coldly.
— Don't you talk about order in a place like this?
He snarled.
— Shut up! Leave at once!
Maxie felt a touch of irritation as well.
— A dog like you has no right to shut up.
A fight ensued. Maxie and Razor had to fight more than ten n from the guards, while all the visitors were terribly frightened and ran away. The clang of guns could be heard across the street.
Finally, it was almost over.
The main guard appeared defeated, while Razor pinned his head to the ground with his boot.
— Speak,» he said fiercely, putting his sword to his throat, «Where is your chief?
He resisted for a mont, but when the other prince actually nearly slashed his neck, he relented.
— I–I… I'll show you out!
The man obediently stepped forward, while his friends followed him. They walked almost all the way through the slave market before they reached the steward's office.
Ralph Freundlich was sitting at his desk, counting the money he had recently received. But when his door swung open so suddenly, he dropped his jaw.
The guard who had escorted them to the door retreated at the sa second.
— Wh-What… What's going on?!
The manager went pale as a sheet.
— We'll have to ask you.
Maxie and Razor did not salute what they thought was an insect. Instead, the prince imdiately went inside and also pinned Ralph's head to the table. He beca even more agitated.
Maxie turned her chair around and sat down across from him.
— Leriane Ashford,» she said softly, «You've heard that na before, haven't you?
He winced. Maxie realized she was right.
— Tell where she is,» she hissed.
There was silence in the room.
The steward was silent like a guerrilla, and it was obvious he wouldn't confess so easily. Sothing was probably keeping him from doing so.
Maxie sighed heavily.
— Our friend is in danger, and I'm not going to make you confess all night. Either you talk now, or…
She looked at Razor thoughtfully.
— Every mont of silence would be worth a finger to him.
The prince nodded in response. He placed his right hand on the table, and had already put the blade to his thumb.
Ralph Freundlich trembled.
— You…! How dare you treat like this! I'll get…
— We've already got rid of all the guards,» Maxie assured him, «So you needn't try and shout.
Maxie's expression twisted.
— «Y-you got rid of…?»
— Your people only seem strong on the outside. But in reality… Such weaklings.
The manager appeared stunned. If he'd only known he'd get into so much trouble with the Archduchess…
— Well? — I suppose you don't need the thumb anymore?
— …
Maxie sighed.
— You may begin.
Razor raised his sword, and was about to massacre the hapless slave-trader when, at the very last second, he scread:
— S-s-say! I'll tell you!
Maxie snorted.
— And? Where is she?
— The Archduchess Ashford…» he hesitated, «We have already sold her…
— WHAT?!
The girl's mouth fell open and she rose from her chair. Razor was equally taken aback by the news.
— When did this happen?
— Half an hour before you arrived…
Maxie clenched her teeth together after she cald down a little. It hasn't been that long. So it's not too late…
— Who? Who is this thing?
The manager got nervous.
— W-we… We have no right to disclose confidential custor data…
— Listen,» Maxie growled and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, «Just a little while longer, and the information about your death will beco confidential. Still don't want to talk?
Ralph Freundlich finally gave up. He mumbled softly:
— The contract of sale is on my desk…
The Marquis's daughter imdiately rushed to turn over all its contents before she ca across the desired paper. It had been signed quite recently.
— Marquise Chastain? — The girl said stunnedly aloud, «Who is that?
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