One week has passed since they established the deal with the Pseudo Trading Guild.

While waiting on the designated day, Ryu committed to expanding the underground base to accommodate the slaves they planned to buy.

Meanwhile, Sara continued hunting monsters.

They sold the remaining loot in their stash, earning hundreds of gold coins. Then used the money to purchase lodging, furniture, and training equipment.

The underground base was renovated to include a large dormitory. This would be the headquarters of operation for the Shadow Intelligence Group. Their training in different professions would also start there.

Ryu casually entered the main room and saw Sara resting on a couch.

"Auntie, are you coming?"

Sara stretched her arms and yawned.

"Where?"

"To the slave trader."

"Oh... Is that today?"

"Yes, we can buy slaves since the renovation is completed."

She looked at him without saying anything. Deep within her eyes, he saw hesitation.

"Ryu... Do we really need to buy slaves? Why not just hire people?"

"We need loyal people who wouldn't stab us in crucial moments."

"..."

Her tender heart unexpectedly gave him comfort, so he assured her.

"Don't worry, auntie, we will treat them well."

"Really?"

"Am I someone who goes back on his words?"

"Hehe."

"...Nevermind."

***

Clink.

In a dark corner alley, a house where a prison-like underground existed. Various slaves were sold in this place, from children to adults.

"Oh my goodness!"

Sara blurted, seeing how many enslaved people were chained in a dirty and disgusting place. Most of them were so skinny that people would mistake them for a corpse.

Tatsuo and Ryu observed quietly as they walked and examined the depths of this place.

"How are my goods? Did any of these things interest you? Tell me, and I'll let you have a closer look."

The slave trader viciously laughed. Not to entertain his humor, Ryu asked.

"How many people do you have here?"

"Oh... Um... I've more or less 300 slaves and mostly teenagers... Fresh and young."

Sara clicked her tongue in malice when she heard him treat people as objects.

"You—!"

But before she could take action and engage in trouble, Ryu glanced at her before continuing.

"How much does one slave cost?"

Fortunately, Ryu successfully stopped Sara in time.

Meanwhile, the slave trader's eyes sparkled.

"One gold coin for females, and three for males."

He explained that most of his slaves were good products and scrutinized them before selling them.

Males were more pricey because their owners could use them in arduous labors.

"I promise you will not regret it."

They continued to walk until the last cell. There, Ryu and others saw someone chained heavily against the wall.

The slave trader looked at them with a big grin and laughed. He had this proud demeanor that showed pride.

"How about this girl? I'll sell her for 100 gold coins."

Ischyros, a human female-only tribe that was like the Amazonians on earth. Located in the south, isolated, and lived with the monsters for centuries. They boasted tremendous strength equivalent to 30 times that of an average human male.

This female, shackled with solid and complex magic seals, was said to be one of the Ischyros. She has long crimson red hair and eyes that glimmer like a ruby. Though she was covered in dirt, one could see that an extraordinary and beautiful lady existed beneath the guise.

"Grrrr!"

She looked at Ryu with extreme hostility, grinding her teeth, ready to bite someone who dared to approach.

The people around Ryu got startled, retreating a few steps behind. Though she might look older than him by a few years, seeing her with a single fang in her mouth made him chuckle.

"How cute."

With two words, everyone got dumbfounded. Ryu straightly looked into the female Ischyros's eyes while slowly walking towards her.

In defense, she interrupted in defiant.

"Don't come near me—! Rawr! I'll eat you alive!"

"Ryu!"

Sara and Tatsuo exclaimed and prevented Ryu from walking further.

The slave trader explained while sweating.

"She, she is a bit dangerous. We haven't tamed her yet. But we already tested her strength, and it's the real deal. If you can give us more time—"

"It's alright."

Ryu shifted his sling bag and took an item, something wrapped with a large leaf.

A lump of cooked chicken meat. It was specifically prepared for this scenario, knowing that the weakness of a hungry person was food. Being deprived of good food since enslaved would be essential in peace negotiations.

Sniff...

The female Ischyros, who favorably have an enhanced sense of smell, wouldn't be able to resist this. But to his surprise, she acted differently.

"Do you think I will be tortured by such mea—mmm!!!"

Ryu quickly shoved a mouthful of chicken meat into her mouth. Seeing her flabbergasted expression made him laugh again.

"Mm? Did you say anything?"

"Mmmph! Mmph!"

"Oh, it's delicious? Then eat more."

"Mmph!"

"What? Another one? Here you go."

"..."

"You don't want anymore?"

"..."

Finally, when she learned that talking back to Ryu would only result in being fed more, she stopped bickering and started to eat the meat comfortably. Then one moment, she cried.

"Is the food good?"

Instead of a reply, she only looked at him.

"Don't worry. I won't hurt you. What is your name?"

"...Kaori."

She finished eating and calmed down. Ryu leaned toward her and whispered, not wasting time.

"Kaori, just come with us. We will not maltreat you. Do you see the lady behind me? Her name is Sara, my auntie, and she will be your master. Don't worry. She will treat you kind enough like a real sister."

Kaori glanced at his side as he spoke and observed the person. Her eyes calmed down when she felt no aura of bitterness and hatred from Sara.

Ryu swallowed a sigh of relief and turned around.

"I'll buy her and all the slaves you have."

"What, what?!"

The slave trader exclaimed and looked at Tatsuo.

Tatsuo, who understood, nodded.

"Please wrap everything and proceed with the papers."

"A... Alright... R-Right away!"

The slave trader excitedly rushed upstairs and prepared the paperwork.

The magic seal on all slaves was transferred to Ryu's authority when they completed the purchase. Which would prevent them from going against their master.

They asked to send everyone by batch since they wouldn't want to catch the public's attention.

***

Three days passed as the slave market finally transferred everyone discreetly.

They ensured that no one in public would discern by covering them with cloaks during the process.

Initiating the plan, Ryu and Sara divided them between the female and male groups. Each group would be temporarily supervised by someone who has knowledge of literacy.

Everyone would be tasked with learning to read and write.

They prepared a stage where they would memorize the basics. Then after a year, they would be assigned to the field they excel.

Medicine, Trading, Alchemy, Smithing, Farming, Spying, Scouting, Hunting, Fighting, Engineering, and other skills would be taught.

Kaori of the Ischyros was assigned to teach about Fighting, Scouting, and Hunting.

After some time, when an individual became skilled enough to pass a test, that person would be assigned to a workplace as a pioneer of that particular branch.

Buy slaves, train them, and send them to the field.

The cycle would wind and continue unendingly, accumulating trained personnel for the making of a kingdom.

The kingdom should have enough strength and ability in a decade or two. Enough to protect Yume and my family.

'Is this obsession?

Maybe.

Is this love?

I don't know. I've never experienced romance.

Everything would be answered when I met Yume in person.

For now, I'll focus on improving my strengths to increase the odds of meeting her.

Now that I accomplished preparing the sturdy wall for my plans, I will give myself time to improve.

A wall can't maintain itself without support. So I needed to get stronger.'

***

Currently, Ryu sat on a couch and pondered.

Now that he had become a 2-Star Sword Apprentice and 2-Star Mage. His advancement stopped.

Ryu started to look for a sword and magic master, allowing him to advance his skills further.

Finding one with his current resources was small to impossible, so he used his knowledge of the novel.

One place came into Ryu's mind.

The Royal Academy. A place where people, commoners or nobles, with talents were accepted. Proper connections would lead to the right people.

'There should be at least a master in combat there.'

Despite not wanting to study there for a reason, someone who graduated from Royal Academy would be forced to work within the kingdom. Which Ryu knowingly wished to avoid.

'I'm against being bound to the kingdom that would condemn Yume.'

Meanwhile, Ryu was losing options one by one when he heard an older man's voice mumbling.

"Mhm... Such a nice underground hideout."

The sudden voice made Ryu startled. It felt like deja vu. The same when he talked with the author for the first time, but his voice differed.

Ryu looked around to find the origin. He even chanted to produce fireballs and prepared for combat.

"Who are you?!"

"Shush, little one."

"Show yourself!"

"Are you ungrateful for someone who lent you a magic book?"

The voice mentioning the magic book made Ryu calm down.

"Are you... Are you the one who gave that intermediate magic book?"

"Lent, not give."

"Then why are you here? Do you need it back?"

"To give you a test."

"Test? What test?"

"Test to become my magic disciple."

Silence filled the room. Ryu deactivated his fireballs.

Fortunately, like a cliche in most novels, Ryu was looking for a teacher, and someone unexpectedly showed themselves before him.

'Wasn't I too lucky?'

"Is it... free?"

"Still young, and you're already that stingy?! But of course, I'm already rich and powerful. What would I need from a cheap brat like you?"

He loathed.

"So, do you want to learn or not?"

"I, Ryu Xanastre, give my respect to my master."