I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 54 Slave Market
A week later.

At noon, in front of the mottled city gate of the border town, on the wide drawbridge.

The tax official bowed respectfully to Rhodes before him.
"Good day, esteemed sir. Your entourage needs to pay a tax of one silver coin to enter the city."

It's really dark.

Rod couldn't help but think.

Even though I brought some animal hides, I still had to pay taxes.

Having gotten used to paying taxes, Rod has begun to feel annoyed by the experience.

But Rhodes couldn't lose his aristocratic demeanor in the city, so he waved his hand and had Lawrence give the tax collector a silver coin.

The main problem is that Marquis Hanren is someone we can't afford to offend.

"Welcome to the city."

After collecting the taxes, the tax official smiled and waved to signal the guards to let him through.

After respectfully bowing to see Rhodes's party off, the tax collector began to sternly reprimand the group entering the city behind him.

"What a snob!"

Lawrence couldn't help but curse.

Previously, when he led caravans into the city, the tax officials always treated him with disdain.

Rod smiled and offered no comment. Judging by this guy's greedy nature, he wouldn't be much better than this tax official in the future.

"Alright, let's get to work."

Rhodes instructed Lawrence, "Go find your old friends and buy up a lot of rags as soon as possible, the more the better."

Then you can go to the slave market to find us, or to the pigeon breeder.

"Yes, my lord."

Lawrence nodded slightly, then left with two guards.

After a week of trekking through the wasteland, Rhodes didn't rush to rest. Instead, he led Gunle and the others straight to the slave market.

It's called a market, but it's actually a large courtyard surrounded by a three-meter-high wall, with rows of cages inside.

However, the slaves inside were clean in appearance and clothing, and far more energetic than the slaves that Manshu and Simon brought to Frostleaf Town.

It is obvious that the slaves in this slave market were packaged.

Rhodes's guards waited outside the door, but only Gunther followed him through the gates of the slave market.

As he was observing the environment in the courtyard, a graceful middle-aged woman came up to him.

"Welcome to Rose Manor, young and handsome sir."

The beautiful woman bowed slightly, a charming smile on her face. "I am Ruth Rose, the mistress of this place. You may call me Ruth, or Lady Rose."

Rhodes was not surprised to see that he was greeted by a charming woman.

Before coming, Lawrence had introduced Rhodes to the Rose Estate and Lady Rose.

This woman appears charming and alluring, but in reality, she is ruthless and vicious, and wields considerable power in the border town.

Because she was the first mistress of Marquis Hanren.

The Shattered Rock Empire practices monogamy, but can have countless mistresses.

Besides mistresses, there are also personal maids and female slaves; as long as you have gold coins and power, you can have as many as you want.

This is also the main source of illegitimate children.

“I am Lord Rod Tulip, Baron of Blackpine Ridge.”

Rod simply replied, "I need a carpenter and a pigeon maker. Do you have any here?"

"We don't have pigeon makers, but we do have carpenters."

Lady Rose stepped aside to lead the way, saying, "If you're interested, please follow me."

She led Rod across the yard and straight into the wooden house on the south side.

The wooden huts contained individual cells, much larger than the prison cells outside, roughly fifteen square meters in size.

These cages looked similar to Rhodes's dormitory in his previous life, with simple tables and beds.

The difference is that these cages are all single cells.

"This carpenter from the small Western Union country is only twenty-nine years old."

Lady Rose smiled and said, "The price is eight gold coins."

"Eight gold coins?"

Rod couldn't help but laugh. "You're not thinking I'll just quote you a random price, are you?"

The entry barrier for carpenters is not high, and the value of slaves is generally between 250 and 400 silver coins.

Eight gold coins is truly extravagant.

"Please don't misunderstand, dear Lord Rhodes, he can build ships!"

"What's the use of knowing how to build ships? Where in the Northern Wasteland are there docks where ships can sail?"

There is a sea to the northeast, but it is behind the boundless Blade's Edge Mountains.

I can build ships and recite ancient poems. Are I useful in this world?

Rhodes couldn't help but sneer. Did this Lady Rose think of herself as a rich and foolish nobleman?

"Anything else? Next one!"

Lady Rose was slightly embarrassed because she hadn't expected Rhodes to be so direct and hadn't even mentioned the price.

However, she was experienced and adjusted in a short time.

"If you'd like, I can offer you a discount."

“Let’s look at the next one,” Rod urged. “Aren’t there any more carpenters?”

"Of course."

Lady Rose quickly led Rod through the corridor to the front of the fourth cell.

"This man comes from a small village in the south. He has a lot of experience in making things, and his prices are cheap, only four gold coins."

Rod ignored Lady Rose and carefully examined the man inside the room.

The carpenter was very clean and presentable, but Rod noticed many wrinkles on his face and asked, "How old is he?"

"You are very perceptive,"

Mrs. Rose was somewhat surprised, but her smile remained. "He's a little older, forty-one years old."

"Isn't that a bit too old? If he's not in good health, he'll be dying soon, and you're offering four gold coins?"

Rhodes frowned, not giving Lady Rose a chance to speak, and said directly, "Two gold coins."

"You're really exaggerating. How could such an experienced carpenter have two gold coins?"

Lady Rose's smile remained unchanged. "Three gold coins and fifty silver coins."

"I don't want to waste time. Here's the best I can offer: two gold coins and ten silver coins."

Rod added irritably, "I need to build new cabins and fences; I don't necessarily need such an experienced carpenter."

If the price is too high, I'd rather have my carpenters train more apprentices.

Lady Rose hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "Alright, two gold coins and eighty silver coins."

"The price just now is no more than one copper coin."

Rhodes said, "If this doesn't work, let's look at the next one."

There are no other options.

"Then I'll wait a bit longer, or maybe I'll go check out other towns."

Rhodes left no room for Lady Rose or himself, and prepared to leave after speaking.

"Alright, alright, Lord Rhodes, you're really stubborn."

Lady Rose said helplessly, "We'll go with the price you said, but you'll need to buy some other slaves, otherwise I'll lose money."

The phrase that all businessmen love to say most is that they are going to lose money.

Rod didn't believe it.

"I don't need any other slaves."

"blacksmith?"

Lady Rose suggested that no one dislikes a blacksmith.

But Rhodes shook his head, saying that once the water-powered forging hammer was available, the threshold for blacksmithing in Frostleaf Town would be greatly lowered.

The main problem is that blacksmiths charge too high prices.

"The stonemason? The winemaker?"

Lady Rose advised, "Let me show you around here a little longer; perhaps you'll find something you need."

"OK then."

Rhodes nodded slightly in agreement.

Lawrence wasn't quick to act, so Rhodes just happened to be strolling around while waiting for him.

Anyway, he's just looking; Rod isn't buying anything.

"I'll take you to the artisan area first, and then we'll go to the female slave area. This way, please."

Lady Rose swayed her voluptuous figure as she walked ahead, introducing each slave in the prison to Rhodes as if they were her most treasured possessions.

Rose Estate is even larger than Winterfell Estate in Rhodes; we walked past four longhouses and still hadn't finished exploring it.

There were many guards; Rhodes counted twenty-four of them along the way.

The slaves at Rose Manor were all of good quality, and Rhodes wanted them all, but his lack of funds prevented him from paying them.

"The slave quarters are just ahead. Let me know if you're interested," Lady Rose suggested.

"Let's not go there, it's unnecessary..."

As soon as Rod finished speaking, he suddenly felt a faint thumping in his chest.

Ok?
Rod casually placed his hand on his chest and carefully felt it.

It wasn't my own heart, but an extraordinary gemstone inside the lining of my clothes.

— Detecting gems.

Could it be a witch?

Linda used it to find Avril.

But Linda was able to detect Avril in the manor back in town. If she's a witch, why didn't the gem detect anything when she entered?

Filled with doubt, Rhodes stepped into the cabin.

Lady Rose couldn't help but chuckle and followed.

"If anyone is interested, I can introduce you to some information."

"Ah."

Rod remained silent, slowing his pace to carefully observe every figure in the cell, and feigning interest.

But in reality, he was carefully sensing the vibrations of the probing gem.

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(End of this chapter)