On my second playthrough, they were full of malice towards me.

"If I'm not mistaken, the revolutionary army in this leaflet probably has official backing and is just using the revolutionary army as a front so they can act recklessly. Anyway, if something goes wrong, the revolutionary army will take the blame."

"What?! How could there be such a bastard! Wait, that's not right, then why are they hiring and putting up flyers?"

"They're just fooling idiots like you. Anyway, it won't hurt them to recruit you." Liao Ji shrugged and walked out of the slum.

Irene: "."

The girl quickly caught up with Liao Ji and asked anxiously, "What do we do now? How do we find the real Revolutionary Army? We can't just watch them take the blame for those bastards! Otherwise, the demi-human race will only become more and more hated by everyone!"

"Don't worry, I already have a rough idea of ​​where the real revolutionary army is."

After leaving the slum and reaching the main street, Liao Ji prepared to hail another carriage.

While waiting for the car, he stopped keeping Irene in suspense and explained directly:

"It's actually very simple. Just change your logic. Since the authorities are so strict in their pursuit of those fugitive demi-humans, but haven't found them yet, it means that there must be something hidden, safe, and even nominally legal within the Sealed City that makes it seem normal for a large number of demi-humans to gather there."

"Huh? There really is such a place?"

Irene expressed skepticism; she could trust the secrecy and security, but regarding that last point...

Along the way, she witnessed a great deal of wariness among the Chinese people towards demi-humans, especially after so many robbery incidents. If they saw a group of demi-humans gathered together, wouldn't they report them immediately? You still think it's normal?

"Of course."

Liao Ji tapped his noble cane, gazing at a carriage that was already approaching from a distance.

After the carriage stopped and pulled over to the side of the road, the two of them got in.

"Sir, where are you going?"

"Slave market".

Chapter 78 Ah Xue, You Must Seize the Future (Part 2)

Slave market, that's what everyone's talking about.

The place where Liao and Ji have just arrived has a more professional name: Siselagu.

This tongue-twisting name originates from the Orc language. It is said that it was created by the former demi-human races to commemorate the glorious era when, under the leadership of the Ash Emperor, a coalition of many races from all over the world, including their own demi-human races, united as one and finally defeated the Abyss of Turbidity, ending the source of the wasteland, finally ending the terrible natural disasters, and allowing this ravaged land to regain its vitality.

Unfortunately, after the revision of the canon three hundred years ago, the Orcish language was completely removed. The demi-humans were not even worthy of having their own language and had to learn Ash language from a young age. Over time, the true meaning of the name "Scerago" was forgotten and it simply became a name left over from history.

Only a small number of people who have survived from five hundred years ago can perhaps understand the meaning of this orc language.

It probably refers to

When the stars are shining brightly, shall we?

Liao Ji, stepping down from the carriage, looked at the grand archway of "Scerragú," beneath which lay a massive underground flea market. However, unlike typical flea markets that sell secondhand goods, this one...

They were selling slaves.

"Sir! Would you like to take a look at this batch of newly arrived werewolves? These mercenaries were specially captured from a newly formed tribe. They are definitely fresh and of excellent quality, and they are top-notch at guarding the house!"

"A rare deer-human species! And it's a juvenile, captured before it's even three years old! This is an excellent investment opportunity, gentlemen, don't miss it! Only three left! Just buy one, feed it a little, and in two or three years you can harvest a pair of finished antlers worth a fortune. It's definitely the best choice for your investment!"

"Special offer! Gentlemen, we have a lactating goat-like demi-human that has just given birth. We've used medication to keep her in heat. Buy one and we guarantee you gentlemen will be in a whirlwind of pleasure every night! The flavor is absolutely irresistible!"

Just like in a secondhand market, one stall after another is crammed together, and each shop owner is shouting and trying to attract passersby to patronize their stalls.

The only difference was that the goods on their stalls were one after another, dark and cold iron cages, inside which were all kinds of different species of demi-humans, wearing collars and shackles, huddled in a corner of the cage.

With Irene by his side, Liao Ji didn't waste time at other stalls and went straight to the internal slave trader that Abu had circled on his "recommended list".

As soon as Liao Ji entered the other party's stall, the slave trader, who seemed to have been eagerly waiting, immediately lit up when he saw Liao Ji and Irene following behind. He recognized them and quickly stepped forward.

"You must be Mr. Liao Ji that Abu mentioned! Oh my! I've been waiting for you! Hello, hello, I'm Hogoff. If you want to buy slaves, you can't go wrong with our family!"

"Hogoff, judging from your name, you don't sound like a local."

"Yes, yes, I'm a businessman from abroad, so rest assured, I'm not like those unscrupulous locals. I'm very sincere and would never cheat you out of a single penny!"

"I trust you, so let's go check out the goods."

"Mr. Liao Ji is just as straightforward as Abu said. Please come in. I've already had my staff pick out the best goods for you!"

Ordinary slave traders had stalls, but large ones like Hogoff had their own store tents. After lifting the curtain, Liao Ji looked inside and saw a bunch of eyes looking at him.

Some were timid, some were fearful, some were nervous, some were expectant, and some... were hateful.

These all come from the subhuman race trapped in the cage.

"Mr. Liao Ji, I've heard about your situation from Abu. Based on everything, I recommend this tiger-man to you!"

At Hogoff's command, the waiter slowly pushed over a cage that was slightly larger than the others. After lifting the curtain, inside was a male demi-human with bulging muscles, thick hair, and gray and white stripes.

"The tiger-men have always been among the strongest in combat among the subhuman races, and they are also very good-looking, making them the best candidates to be guards. This one is of excellent breed and has a very pure bloodline. I have always regarded it as the treasure of my shop. Today, I will grit my teeth and sell it to you for 150,000. No, for 130,000. How about it!"

Liao Ji did not respond immediately, but moved closer to observe more closely. However, as if sensing an outsider, the tiger-man in the cage suddenly opened its eyes and roared at Liao Ji. The chains around it trembled slightly as the tiger-man struggled violently.

Hogoff was a little angry at this scene. He apologized to Liao Ji while turning around and cursing.

"You damned bastard!"

He kicked the cage hard, and at the same time, a badge in his hand began to glow. Then he saw the tiger-man in the cage begin to look pained, his face twitching, and a blinding red light emanated from the back of his neck. Finally, he humbly crawled down and dared not move again.

"You see, Mr. Liao Ji? It looks intimidating, but we have a 'contract,' so there's no need to worry about its loyalty, much less fear its danger."

"A contract?"

This was the first time Liao Ji had observed up close how the "slave system" actually worked. He muttered to himself, then felt the gaze of a young girl coming from behind him.

Yes.

Irene also noticed this; the similar sense of familiarity was striking, even down to the location of the crest on the back of her neck.

Although there are absolutely fundamental differences between the two.

But without a doubt

homology.

Liao Ji was very certain of this.

The creator of the contracts on these orc slaves in the Dragon Kingdom was definitely referencing, or even directly and forcibly imitating, swallowing whole and modifying a simplified version, successfully realizing one of the basic abilities of his "Emperor's Contract"—absolute control.

Afterwards, Liao Ji had Hogoff take him around a few more times, and this time, when he specifically tried to sense the backs of the orcs' necks, the sense of familiarity was even stronger.

"Alright, thank you, Mr. Hogoff, but... there's really nothing I like. I'll go check out the others."

"No, no! Just tell me what you want. If others can get it, I, Hogoff, can definitely get it for you, and at a discounted price!"

"Wait! Wait a minute, Mr. Liao Ji!"

Ignoring the slave traders who were trying to persuade him to stay, Liao Ji and Yilin quickly disappeared into the crowd in the market.

Irene clearly wanted to say something about the "contract" they had just discussed, but Liao Ji raised his hand, signaling the girl not to speak yet. He walked thoughtfully through the crowd.

First of all, even a poor imitation is still an imitation, which means that the creator must have had a template, that is, their own contract.

So, could it be Jiu You?

Without slave contracts, even if the demi-humans were unable to use the relics and no "relic user" emerged, they would never have become the large-scale slaves they are today. After all, the combat power of the demi-humans is definitely superior to that of ordinary humans.

But Liao Ji quickly shook his head, denying this guess.

The strongest evidence is that Jiu You is a guard, and you can tell from Yi Lin's personality and appearance that guards are all carefree and straightforward, and they have very low talent for the Zhuo E ability.

To accomplish this task—to copy one's own contract and then modify it—is extremely difficult. Among the five professions, only one can truly achieve it.

A supernatural being proficient in magic.

So

Could it be that "she" is behind the current situation in China?

to be frank.

Realizing this, Liao Ji felt a little angry.

But how should I put it?

These are all just his guesses.

There is no conclusive evidence yet.

He needs to continue his investigation.

However, Liao Ji sincerely hoped that he had guessed wrong this time.

"Liao, Liao Ji, are you alright?" Yilin rarely called Liao Ji by his real name, but whenever she did, it meant that he was not doing well.

The young man shook his head, his gloomy expression vanishing. After letting out a long breath, Liao Ji took out Aibu's "recommendation list" again.

He then took Irene and pretended to visit several slave traders' shops. After he had pretty much created the image of a "picky rich young master," Liao Ji walked toward a slave shop located in an inconspicuous corner.

As mentioned earlier, a safe, secluded, and seemingly reasonable place to hide subhumans is the slave market.

But this can't be done by relying on the demi-humans alone; they also need a slave trader who is willing to cooperate with them.

Finding the "insider" of this subhuman race is actually quite simple.

Liao Ji had previously thought that the other party would try to keep a low profile, so he could use Aibu's recommended list to eliminate all the slave traders on it and then find those who only bought goods and did not sell them.

However, now that the secret of the slave "contract" has been discovered, Liao Ji has an even simpler method.

"Sir, please stop here. We do not sell slaves; we only buy them!"

Upon seeing Liao Ji and his companion enter, the shop owner, who was personally guarding the door, immediately stepped forward and apologized with a forced smile.

however.

Liao Ji, a spoiled brat, shouted that there must be some good slaves hidden inside, so he bypassed the shopkeeper and quickly walked into the back warehouse.

Lifting the curtain, the imagined scene of a group of demi-humans staring at each other did not materialize; it seems their disguise was quite elaborate.

But well

The simple solution that Liao Ji mentioned earlier has arrived.

Looking around the warehouse, it was much the same as many other slave trading houses before: cages, shackles, and demi-humans imprisoned inside.

only