"Show me your best items," I answered simply.
He chuckled as if I had said something funny, then invited me into the car. I obeyed, still on my guard.
"I see you're a bold young man. I suppose you didn't come just for our equipment?"
'Huh? I thought they sold weapons, stolen artifacts… do they sell something else?' I thought. But I had to act like a regular.
"Yes. I'm not only here for that."
"Good, good, dear client. Larson, take us to the sex-slave section."
"Huh? Wait-what???"
I had spoken louder than intended. My face went pale. A spike of anger rose, but I forced it down immediately. I couldn't act rashly, not now.
"Don't worry, client. They'll be our best products."
'Products.'
He had just said it as if these people were nothing more than merchandise. A vein throbbed at my temple and my teeth clenched. I had to fight the urge to grab him by the collar. I needed to stay calm. I needed to gather evidence, not start a pointless fight.
What awaited me surpassed anything I could have imagined.
We arrived at a large building with thick walls. The interior looked like a dungeon. An unpleasant smell hung in the air, a mix of sweat, metal, and dust. At the end of the corridor I heard the crack of a whip. I turned my head instantly.
A demi-beast was chained up, being whipped violently. Blood ran down her back. My anger shot up faster than I expected.
"Stop! Why are you damaging the merchandise, you idiot!" shouted the boss.
"Sorry, Boss! This Kitsune is too disobedient!"
I stared at the scene. The girl looked young. Thirteen or fourteen, maybe my age. She wore only rags. Despite the lashes tearing into her, she didn't scream, didn't beg. She just clenched her teeth. Her ears trembled slightly. My breathing grew heavier.
'I-I can't watch this anymore.'
"Uh, I… I'll buy her."
"Oh… I see, I see… You like the proud ones so you can break them later."
He chuckled again. I wanted to smash his jaw. The Kitsune looked up at me. In her eyes I saw pure hatred; she probably wanted to tear me apart right then.
'You'll thank me later,' I thought. 'If I buy you, I can take you to Father. You'll be living proof. Proof no one can ignore.'
"Stop!" I ordered.
The guard froze instantly at a nod from the boss.
"It's your lucky day. Your master won't be some perverted old noble… hm, I mean… Follow me, dear client. Let's go to my office to finalize."
I stood silent for a moment. The smell of blood, the cold stone, the chains, the dead eyes of the other slaves… Everything made me want to throw up. But I forced myself to move forward.
...
Walking into the manor, it felt like everything was weighing on my shoulders. The corridor was wide. The air was heavy. I wasn't sure if it was the atmosphere or just that I was still shaken by the dungeon scene.
'How can someone become such a monster? It doesn't get worse than this.'
I clenched my fists. The sound of my footsteps echoed slightly. I thought about the Kitsune, her gaze full of pain but also defiance. I remembered the lashes she was taking. My heart was pounding too fast.
The boss walked a little ahead of me. He seemed relaxed. He cleared his throat, trying to get my attention.
"You know, there's a funny story about that Kitsune."
I didn't answer. I had no desire to listen. But he kept talking anyway.
"She was so troublesome I considered carving her up and selling her organs. Hahaha. You must be perfect to be her master."
I heard that grotesque laugh talking about selling organs. That was too much!
A loud ringing exploded in my head. The anger I had been holding back poured out all at once, like everything was detonating at the same time.
Before he could understand what was happening, I punched him in the side. I didn't hold back. He flew into the wall like a rag doll. The wind was knocked out of him and he spat blood.
"*Cough* Wait!"
My blood was boiling. I could feel it clearly. I couldn't think straight anymore. My hair burst into flames, burning away my coat.
"Art: Blazing Lion!"
He tried to stand, staggering, but slipped on the floor. I stepped forward and smashed his face with another brutal hit. The mask shattered instantly. Pieces fell onto the carpet.
He couldn't move anymore. His arms trembled a little, but his body stayed on the ground. I couldn't stop myself. He deserved it. A filthy pig like him had to die.
I still had my fist raised to hit him again.
But then I saw his swollen, bloodied face. His blue eyes had lost their shine and were almost closed. His black hair stuck to his forehead reminded me of someone.
I frowned.
"Isn't this the son of one of my father's vassals? The son of Count Paragon!"
I stepped back, my heart skipping a beat. My thoughts collided. I had just killed someone. For real. I had never taken a human life before. And even if he was a monster, even if he sold children like objects… he was still the son of an extremely important ally of my father.
I realized everything that implied. Not just for me. For my family too.
"I… That was Isaak Paragon," I murmured, stepping back further. My voice shook slightly.
I didn't have time to pull myself together. My combat sense activated on its own. It was instinct. I looked up.
There, at the top of the grand staircase balcony, two cold eyes stared down at me. Eyes that seemed to hold no human warmth. I recognized that kind of gaze. It was the same as a predator watching prey.
"As I hoped, you really did kill my brother."
He lowered his mask slightly. I clearly saw his face.
"Kaiser!?"
I had seen him recently at the awakening ceremony. He didn't have impressive talent, just average results. But seeing him here, so calm… A shiver ran across my skin.
'He didn't even flinch at his older brother's death. These people are all the same,' I thought, grinding my teeth.
"You! Paragons! You're the scum of humanity! When your sins are exposed to the world…"
"Shut up!"
My sentence was cut short.
"No need to be surprised."
"You!"
"You should calm down… Kris Donoghan."
"What!?"
"I used you to get rid of my brother. Now, if you don't want trouble, tuck your tail between your legs and get the hell out of Neon!"
'He knew my identity. That hit me even harder, making my thoughts completely chaotic.'
I also realized he wasn't just a nobody here. He spoke like someone who had planned this whole situation.
'He knows who I am. Has he been the boss from the start? But how… killing his own brother? To take control of Neon?'
My breathing grew heavy. I looked at the body on the floor. I looked at Kaiser again.
That cold, calculating gaze.
"If he can watch his brother die so calmly, will I even be able to survive and escape?"
End of POV