Chapter 257: Vouching
Sam and his group attended the auction house and when he arrived at the place, the Marshall who he saw during the war came forward and guided him to a special guest room.
"Thank you. You don't have to trouble yourselves anymore." Sam politely thanked him and sat down. After a few seconds, an attendant arrived and said.
"Sir Sam. The head of the Auction house wants to meet you because of an urgent issue. If you don't mind, can you make a visit?"
The attendant asked cautiously. Sam frowned and looked at the attendant carefully. He didn't know anyone in this empire, except for the emperor and the two Marshalls. He didn't even interact with any other generals and commanders.
So, he was stunned when he was asked to visit the head of the auction house, but he still decided to make a visit. Because he knew that he can escape if he wants.
"My friends would be coming too. Is it alright?" Sam asked.
"It would be our honor." The attendant replied and led the way. The four of them walked out of the room and within two minutes they were led towards the back-stage, where the auction items were kept.
Most of the auction items are the weapons, weapon sets, treasure, etc they gathered in the Orion. Apart from that, there are some war-slaves.
Judging from their clothing, they are all previously nobility. Sam and his friends looked at them curiously as they made their way towards the deeper parts of the auction house.
They entered another room, which is a bit isolated, and inside there are several people sitting with their cultivations sealed. They are Nascent stage cultivators of Orion.
They are nobility and generals, who fought in the war.
They looked at Sam and shook their heads. Sam looked at them and especially for some familiar faces.
Then a woman walked towards him from outside all of a sudden.
He turned around and saw a mature woman. She is as tall as him which is around 175 centimeters. For a woman that is very tall. But Sam's growth spurt has yet to stop. But judging from his growth, he could at most grow another eight to nine centimeters.
The woman, even though tall, has a body of great proportions. She has golden proportions with the right curves. Her hair is long and thick. It was braided and even then, the braid was tall enough to reach her buttocks.
She walked towards him with a smile and extended her hand towards Sam.
"I am Nayana. I am the head of the auction house. I am the one who invited you here. Sorry, for the trouble, since I am the one who should be visiting you. But there is someone here among the war slaves who said that you can vouch for him for bail. That is why I had to ask you to come here."
Sam scanned her from head to toe. She really is a one-of-a-kind beauty. She kind of reminded him of a client he protected in his previous life.
"I don't recall having that much of a close relationship to vouch for someone. May I know, who that person is?" Sam asked.
She pointed at a corner and said with a smile.
"He is there. Please, follow me."
Sam followed and saw a really familiar face. The Duke of the southern star. Duke Carton is here.
Carton squatted down on the floor with his head down, he seemed to be so depressed that he didn't even notice that Sam has arrived.
When he noticed that he saw someone standing before him, he saw Sam and he immediately gained some vigor.
"Sam. Sam. Please save me. I don't want to be a slave. Please, save me. I didn't do anything to you, did I? I even stopped the notice of you being painted as a terrorist. Please save me, Sam. At least, on the account of your friendship with Nicholas. Please save me.
I don't want you and Nicholas to turn into enemies because of me. Just let me go. I will live a normal life. I don't need any work or welfare. Just let me be.
If I become a slave, my son will definitely come after you, then I would lose him too. Please for sake of him, leave me."
He didn't even give them a chance to speak and started urging. Sam looked at him and went into a deep thought. What Carton said is right. If he became a slave, he would definitely be a target of Nicholas' anger and then what follows would be nothing but the latter's death.
Nicholas and he have a strange friendship together. They don't have any conflict of interest in either politics or riches. Their only matter of interest is also battle nothing else. He doesn't want to ruin that relationship.
Sam looked at Nayana and she said.
"There are two ways, one is to bid for him and another one is for the emperor's direct approval for the bail." Sam has little patience to go to the emperor and he doesn't like asking favors.
As for money, he still has more than seven billion on him. So, he is confident in bidding.
"I will bid for you later and free you. You can decide what you want to do later." Carton heaved a sigh of relief and thanked him repeatedly.
Sam walked back followed by his friends as he looked at all the people.
"Where are six swords of sword Marshall?" Sam asked Nayana.
"Oh, they are bailed out by the emperor himself. Do you want me to relay the message to him?"
"No need."
Sam walked out and they started returning to their room, but while they are crossing the weaker war slaves, they heard a shout.
"Are you happy now?" It was a female voice, which is filled with grief and fury. Sam and his friends halted in their tracks and turned around.
He saw a young woman running to the front of the group of slaves and pointing at him while yelling.
"You. Because of you, we became slaves. You are the reason all this happened. Are you even a human being? Why would you let us suffer like this? Just because of you, an empire was destroyed, my father and brother are dead. My mother and I became slaves. I hope you are satisfied with this outcome."
It is none other than Princess Natalie. She was also sealed, but now that the auction is about to begin, she was allowed some mobility.
Sam looked at the former princess whose face was tear-stained, he walked towards her and said in a cold tone.
"Tell me something. What will happen, if you enter a dragon's den and pull its tail?" His voice was ice cold and threatening and she subconsciously answered as if it was a part of the natural order.
"I.. It kills the person."
"So, what happens to the people who are waiting for him at the entrance of the cave?" He continued on.
"Th… they will die too."
"Now, you know the answer. I am just like that dragon. Do you think, that I have enough time and patience to deal with small fries like your father and you? It is your father that has brought this on himself and you are suffering because you are his daughter and they are suffering because they are his subjects.
Blame the one, who pulled the tail and disturbed my slumber."
By the end of his sentence, his voice grew very cold, and killing intent oozed out of his words.
At this moment, another female voice came from behind.
"Sir, Sam. Please forgive her for her impulsiveness."
He turned around to see a blond woman looking at him. She was dressed in a red colored robe and her face looked weary.
She noticed Sam's gaze and said.
"We know, that we have no right to blame you. She just said those things out of her spite. If I were in your place and with your abilities, I would do the same. I totally understand. But please forgive her. I am pleading on her behalf." She finished her sentence and bowed to him
At this moment another young man, who looked the same as this girl with blond hair came forward and made her stand up.
"Felicia. Why are you pleading on her behalf? It is a good thing that the father and son are dead. Don't tell me you forgot how many atrocities they committed. The whole Orion imperial family is sinned by their heinous deeds which they committed in the mask of their righteousness.
It is only a matter of time, that they are going to be ended up like this. Our lives as slaves are better than the lives under them."
He then turned towards Sam and said.
"In fact, I have to thank you for your deeds." He bowed slightly and took a step back with his sister.
Sam just took another look at her and left the place with his friends. He sat back in his room and waited for the auction to begin.