When we arrived at the City Guard building, the structure looked as imposing as I had expected—a fortress of gray stone that stood as the central pillar of order in Targashar. One of our guards approached the soldier stationed at the heavy iron-bound doors to inform him of our business. After a short wait, the soldier went inside and returned with a man who possessed the unmistakable air of a superior officer.

  The man moved with a heavy, purposeful clanking of high-quality armor. As he drew near, I focused my mind to see what the system could tell me about him.

  ***

  Sarqis

  Race: Human

  Sex: Male

  Status: Normal

  Equipment:

  One-handed Steel Sword?

  Steel Breastplate?○

  Steel Gloves?

  Steel Footwear?

  Golden Earrings?

  Silver Amulet?

  Job: Knight Lvl 45

  ***

  “Are you the ones who brought in the bandits and their intelligence cards?” Sarqis asked.

  He addressed the merchants directly, ignoring the guard who had initially spoken. It was clear he was accustomed to dealing with trade caravans and the inevitable trouble they encountered on the frontier. Malikstein stepped forward, smoothed his flashy jacket, and began to explain the situation with his usual flair for narrative.

  “Good day, sir. I am Malikstein, a jewelry merchant who has been trading in this city for many years,” he began, bowing slightly. “While we were on our way toward the city, we were ambushed by eleven bandits. We struggled for a time, but thanks to the caravan of my colleague, Mr. Copez, we managed to deal with the threat without losing a single life. Three of the bandits managed to escape into the woods, but we captured three alive. We wish to check if there are any bounties on their heads.”

  Malikstein recounted the details of the skirmish on the road, emphasizing the coordination of the attack and the threat the bandits had posed.

  “Hmm. I understand,” the knight said, nodding with a grim satisfaction. “I am glad we didn’t lose a merchant of the city today. These damn bandits are a pain in the ass as always. Let’s check their identities first.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you,” Malikstein replied.

  We handed over the five intelligence cards we had scavenged from the dead and the three bound captives. Sarqis signaled for his men to take them inside. A few minutes of tense silence passed before the knight returned with a parchment in hand.

  “You have done a good job,” Sarqis announced. “One of the owners of these intelligence cards has an active bounty on him, and one of the three living captives has one as well.”

  I felt a slight twinge of disappointment. I had expected the bandit leader, Selbert, to have a massive price on his head, but apparently, he hadn't been officially wanted in this region. Still, two bounties were better than none.

  “However,” Sarqis continued, looking at the bruised face of the bandit leader, “this guy here is a well-known nuisance. Contrary to other bandits who merely extort money from travelers, this one has a nasty hobby of assaulting people without any provocation. Because of his notoriety, the city will offer a special reward. You will receive ten Targonia gold coins in total.”

  The news brightened my mood instantly. Ten gold coins was a significant sum—far more than I had expected to earn before even entering the dungeon.

  “Oh! We are grateful for your generosity, sir,” Malikstein said, though he quickly added, “But may you separate the leader’s share from the rest of the reward?”

  Sarqis arched an eyebrow. “Sure, but why?”

  “You see, sir, this man beside me was the one who captured the leader in a one-on-one duel,” Malikstein explained, gesturing toward me. “He was traveling with the other caravan, and he was the one who fought most fiercely against these bandits alongside my men. We agreed to give the specific bounty for the bandit leader to him and share the remainder among ourselves.”

  Malikstein was a true professional when it came to negotiation; he made the reasoning so clear and logical that it was impossible to argue with.

  “Hmm? Did he now?” Sarqis’s attention shifted away from the merchants and settled on me. His gaze was sharp, evaluating my build and my gear. “You must be quite good at combat to take down a man like that alone. What is your name?”

  I felt a flicker of annoyance. I had wanted to stay low-key and avoid attracting the attention of high-level officials, but Malikstein had effectively dragged me into the spotlight.

  “My name is Han, sir,” I said, trying to sound as unremarkable as possible. “The leader had already fought others and been encircled by the time I stepped in. What I did wasn't actually that impressive.”

  “Huh! How modest,” Sarqis laughed, the sound deep and husky. He seemed genuinely satisfied with my response. “I like you, kid. If you ever want a stable career, I can be a reference for you to join the city guards as a soldier. We could use someone with your head on their shoulders.”

  “Thank you for the offer, sir,” I replied, bowing my head politely. “But I came to Targashar specifically to enter the dungeon. I must regrettably refuse your proposal.”

  “It’s fine,” the knight said with a shrug. “Who would want to deal with this shitty job if they had any other alternative? I’m fine because I’m at least a knight and a commander, but I pity these poor shits I lead sometimes. Hahaha!”

  He laughed openly at his own men, who were standing right there. I couldn't tell if he was a genuine piece of shit or just brutally frank, but I knew it was best not to have any issues with the man in charge of the city’s security.

  “Thanks for your understanding,” I said.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “Okay. It’s two coins for each of the two bounties and six gold coins for their leader. That makes a total of ten Targonia gold coins. Take the money and leave; I have work to do.”

  We took the payout and the three bandits, who were now officially processed, and headed toward the slave district. As we walked along the cobblestone streets, Malikstein handed me eight gold coins.

  “Here is your cut, Han,” he said. “It was clear that the leader would be worth much more than the other bandits. I should probably have forced my own men to deal with him, but it can't be helped now. Hahaha!”

  “I can’t deny that I’m taking the lion’s share,” I said, slipping the heavy coins into my pouch, “but we are all benefiting from this more or less. You should be happy that no one died today.”

  It was true. Even though he received much less than I did, he had earned a profit while losing nothing in return. Still, I could see that as a merchant, it pained him to hand over so much gold to someone else.

  After parrying the merchant’s subtle complaints, we arrived at the establishment of the slave merchant. It was a well-maintained, large building. We knocked on the heavy wooden door, and it was opened by a beastman who greeted us with a graceful, educated bow. He looked like a servant, but he possessed a level of refinement that seemed unusual for someone in his position.

  We informed him of our business, and he invited us inside. Malikstein ordered his guards to wait at the door, and the three of us entered with the three bandits in tow. The building had at least two floors, but the servant led us through the ground floor until we stopped in front of a pair of ornate doors. He directed us into a luxurious room that felt more like a noble’s study than a place of business.

  “Please wait here while I call for my master,” the servant said politely.

  The room was opulent, clearly designed to impress wealthy merchant colleagues. There were vibrant paintings on the walls, a classy fireplace made of polished stone, and a thick, hand-woven carpet on the floor. Two plush couches faced each other with a sturdy wooden trestle between them. Malikstein and Copez sat down, while I remained standing, keeping a watchful eye on our three captives to ensure they didn't try anything desperate in their final moments of freedom.

  After a short wait, we heard footsteps and the muffled sound of voices. Someone knocked, and a middle-aged man entered the room.

  “Welcome to my humble establishment, friends,” the man said, smiling warmly. “I heard some dear merchant colleagues of mine had come to visit. Please, tell me if you need anything.”

  He signaled to a servant behind him before sitting opposite Malikstein and Copez. The servant immediately entered with a tray and served tea to the three merchants. I didn't get any, of course, as I was still standing with the "merchandise."

  ***

  Zaydanov

  Race: Human

  Sex: Male

  Status: Normal

  Equipment:

  Leather Gloves

  Leather Footwear

  Golden Ring?

  Golden Amulet?

  Job: Slave Merchant Lvl 20

  ***

  Zaydanov was dressed in dashing, expensive clothes. He wasn't just a standard merchant; his job title was specialized. He and the others immediately immersed themselves in small talk, discussing market trends and city gossip. After a few minutes of mundane topics, Zaydanov finally cut to the heart of the visit.

  “Can I assume that you came to sell these people?” he asked, glancing at the three bandits out of the corner of his eye.

  “Yes, they are captives we managed to defeat on the road,” Malikstein said. He proceeded to recount the story of the attack once more. After the explanation, Zaydanov looked at me with a smile, as if he were finally acknowledging my presence.

  “Ah, forgive my rude behavior, Sir Han,” Zaydanov said smoothly. “I assumed you were merely an employee of one of these fine merchants. Please, have a seat and allow me to offer you some tea as well.”

  He gestured to the empty space on the couch beside him.

  “It is okay,” I replied. “I would have thought the same if I were in your shoes. I just wanted to leave the business talk to the experts. Besides, we’ve come this far, and it would be bad if they tried to do something stupid.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that here,” Zaydanov said, waving a hand dismissively. “We have many slaves in this building, and not one has ever managed to escape. It is our profession to keep them under control, after all. So, please, come and sit beside me, Sir Han.”

  The tea smelled incredibly good—a herbal, rich aroma that made me realize how thirsty I actually was. I decided there was no harm in accepting.

  “Sure. If you insist.”

  I sat beside him, and he ordered his man to bring another cup. He asked me a few questions about the fight, and I tried to play it off as luck, but he dismissed my modesty with a knowing grin. When the tea arrived, it was refreshing and far better than anything I’d tasted in the village. The drink seemed to be a signal that the real business was beginning.

  “So, to return to the matter at hand,” Zaydanov said, his voice becoming more clinical. “These two slaves look just average—physically healthy but unremarkable. However, your bandit leader looks extremely sharp. He would make an excellent combat slave. The other two could be expandable or used as laborers if they respond well to our training. So, how about ten gold coins for the two regular bandits and ten gold coins for the leader?”

  He turned toward me specifically when he mentioned the leader. I looked at Copez and Malikstein, and they both gave me a subtle nod. I nodded back.

  “It seems you are okay with this amount,” Zaydanov said with satisfaction. “It was a good business. Thank you.”

  “We are the ones who should thank you,” Malikstein said, standing up. “You gave a very fair amount. Please, visit my shop when you need any accessories. I will give you a significant discount.”

  “I will keep that in mind,” I added mildly.

  The servant brought the money as we were speaking, placing the heavy gold coins on the trestle.

  “As we agreed, Sir Han,” Malikstein said, dividing the pile. “I will take five gold coins, and the rest is yours.”

  “Of course.”

  Malikstein took his five, and I took the remaining fifteen gold coins. Combined with the bounty from Sarqis, I now had exactly twenty-three gold coins in my pouch.

  “We have a good deal, Zaydanov. We should be getting on our way now,” Malikstein said, signaling for us to depart.

  “Sure, let me walk you to the door,” Zaydanov replied. As we moved toward the exit, he slowed his pace to walk beside me. “Sir Han, if I may ask... do you currently possess any slaves?”

  “Hmm? No, I don’t have any,” I responded truthfully.

  “Then, would you be interested in acquiring any?”

  I hadn't really thought about buying a slave, even though I had just finished selling three of them. But his question made me pause. I began to consider the practical benefits of having a subordinate who was legally bound to me.

  “Actually, I hadn't thought about it until now,” I admitted. “What are the real benefits of owning a slave in this city?”

  I thought of the "sex slaves" that appeared so often in the stories I vaguely remembered. While the idea was enticing in a base sort of way, I doubted I could afford a high-end luxury slave with my current finances. There were also "combat slaves," but since I needed to fight myself to gain experience and levels, I wondered if a bodyguard would just slow my growth.

  “There are many benefits depending on your needs,” Zaydanov explained. “Many people in the city use male slaves as combat slaves. They are very useful in the dungeons because you can’t find trustworthy party members easily. They can also handle the labor-intensive chores you don't want to do.”

  He looked at me with a calculating glint in his eye.

  “People sometimes buy cheap slaves for labor, but lately, the market for beautiful female slaves has been very active. Some of them are quite proficient in combat as well. Such slaves are often bought by high-ranking adventurers to be useful both in the heat of a dungeon crawl and in the bed at the end of the day. Of course, their price is much higher due to their dual utility.”

  He had clearly intended to mention the luxury "combat/sex" hybrids from the start. I was planning to test my strength in the dungeon first to see what I truly needed, but it wouldn't hurt to look.

  “Okay, it wouldn't hurt to take a look,” I said. “I still have a little business with Copez to settle, but once I’m finished with my preparations, I’d like to see what you have in stock.”

  “Of course,” Zaydanov said, bowing as we reached the street. “I will be waiting for your return.”

  [Edited]