Descendant of Sloth
Chapter 79: The Underground Slave Market ll

Chapter 79: The Underground Slave Market ll

The announcer’s smile widened as he adjusted his tie, letting the anticipation in the room build for a moment. With a smooth motion, he raised his hand, signaling toward the massive screen behind him.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, his voice brimming with confidence. "Before we begin our bids, allow me to present tonight’s fine selection."

A murmur of excitement spread through the audience. Some guests leaned forward, their eyes gleaming with expectation. Others took slow sips from their glasses, as if savoring the moment.

The announcer chuckled. "I know, I know. You’re all eager to get started, but patience, my dear friends! First, let me show you what’s on the menu tonight." He tapped a button on the remote in his hand, and the massive screen flickered to life.

The first image appeared.

A woman stood in the center of a dimly lit room, her body draped in a seductive, barely-there gown that did more to highlight her curves than cover them. Her long, auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her deep blue eyes held a empty expression.

The announcer grinned. "Our first trade of the night—Sara. A true treat for men." He let out a booming laugh, and the audience followed suit, their laughter rippling through the hall. "Obedient, elegant, and very eager to serve. A little shy, but that only adds to her charm, don’t you think?"

The crowd murmured in agreement, some already discussing potential bids.

Hina clenched her fists. "This is sick..." she muttered under her breath, but I placed a subtle hand on her shoulder, a silent reminder to stay composed.

The announcer moved on. "And for those of you who prefer something with muscle..." He pressed another button, and the image changed.

A towering demi-human with gray skin and thick, bulging muscles filled the screen. His chains barely looked strong enough to contain him, and yet he stood still, his golden eyes hollow.

The announcer let out a dramatic whistle. "Now this is a powerhouse! Strong as an ox, yet as obedient as a trained hound. Imagine the possibilities!" He shot a playful wink at a group of men in military-style uniforms, who smirked knowingly.

The presentation continued in the same fashion.

Slave after slave appeared on the screen—each one introduced with a twisted kind of enthusiasm, their qualities flaunted like luxury items at an auction. A slender elf girl praised for her "graceful beauty and delicate nature," a young human boy noted for his "quick reflexes and potential for combat training," even a feline demi-human with spotted fur, whom the announcer introduced with an exaggerated purr, earning another round of chuckles from the audience.

Serina’s jaw was set, her gaze locked onto the screen with barely concealed disgust. Hina looked like she wanted to throw something at the stage.

Then, the final image appeared.

The screen went dark for a moment before flickering back to life. A small, green-colored demi-human filled the display. His body was covered in a smooth, slightly shimmering skin, his limbs lean, his bright green hair flickering slightly as if it were alive, like flames. His eyes—sharp and glowing—held a quiet defiance that the others lacked.

The announcer spread his arms. "And now, for my personal favorite! The last and rarest trade of the night—Nox!"

The crowd’s reaction was immediate. Whispers of intrigue filled the air, people shifting in their seats to get a better look.

Hina sucked in a sharp breath beside me. "That’s him..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the murmuring crowd.

Serina nodded. "Yeah. He’s the one."

I exhaled slowly, my gaze locked onto the screen. "So... he’s here," I muttered under my breath. "In this underground market."

Billie’s brother. The person we had been searching for. And now, he was about to be sold.

The announcer’s grin widened as he turned off the massive screen, plunging the room into a soft golden glow from the overhead chandeliers. He clapped his hands together, drawing everyone’s attention back to him.

"And that, my dear guests, concludes our preview for tonight!" His voice carried smoothly through the air, filled with excitement.

"I’ll now give you all thirty minutes to consider your bids. Feel free to mingle, sip your drinks, and strategize before we bring out each trade one by one for a closer look."

The crowd murmured in approval, some already pulling out sleek devices to calculate their offers. A few men chuckled, raising their glasses to toast to what they called a promising night. The soft hum of conversation, the gentle clink of glasses—it all disgusted me.

Hina turned to me, her brows furrowed. "Now how should we rescue him?"

"Yeah... there are a lot of people and guards around," Serina added, glancing toward the armored knights stationed near the exits. Their hands rested casually on their weapons, but their sharp gazes constantly swept over the room, missing nothing.

I exhaled, stuffing my hands into my pockets as I scanned the area. "First, we need to locate him. Figure out where they’re keeping all of them."

"They must be keeping them all somewhere together, right?" Serina mused, tapping her chin. "It’d be easier to move them that way."

"Yeah... behind the stage," I said, shifting my gaze toward the grand velvet curtains draped over the back.

Serina frowned. "How do you know? There are a lot of doors here." She gestured around the hall, her eyes narrowing as if she were trying to spot some hidden entrance.

"Think about it," I said. "They need to bring them out fast. There’s no way they’d waste time running back and forth from a hidden chamber. The backstage area makes the most sense. Close, efficient, easy to control."

Hina nodded. "That actually makes sense. If we can get back there, we might be able to find where they’re keeping him."

"Exactly," I said. "And we only have thirty minutes."

"Let’s go and check," Hina said, determination lighting up her eyes.

Without hesitation, we turned on our feet and started moving.

We kept to the edges of the hall, slipping between groups of well-dressed guests who were too engrossed in their conversations to notice us. Every few steps, we slowed, pretending to admire the décor or listen in on casual chatter to avoid drawing attention.

The guards, thankfully, seemed more focused on watching for external threats rather than people inside the event.

As we approached the side of the stage, Hina suddenly nudged me with her elbow, her voice dropping to a whisper. "By the way... how do you know so much about backstage areas? You got some experience sneaking around auctions I don’t know about?"

I shot her a flat look. "Yeah, Hina. That’s exactly it. Spent centuries infiltrating illegal underground markets for fun."

She smirked. "Figured. You are an idiot afterall."

Serina sighed. "Can you two not right now?"

"She started it." I said, straightforward.

*Bleh* Hina showed me tongue teasing me.

Now that we were closer, I could see the folds of the heavy curtain shifting slightly as people moved behind it. There had to be a passage leading backstage somewhere nearby. We just had to find a way in—without getting caught.