Sovereign of the Ashes
Chapter 1174: Consideration

Chapter 1174: Consideration

The knightly orders of Magus World would not normally go as far as trading or selling their own vassals.

The two orders that led the war had acted fairly. After Hephaes’ death, they compensated the remaining centaur gods with a decent amount of war resources.

The centaur tribes under Hephaes suffered heavy losses, but overall, they still walked away with respectable war earnings.

If that had been the end of it, the Maya Tribe would have been fine.

But what truly stung was what happened next.

Before the other three centaur gods who fought in the same war even returned to Centaurworld, they started carving up Hephaes’ former powers.

And according to Luna, Hephaes’ death might have had something to do with those very same gods.

Her grandmother, Maya, might know more.

At that, Luna kneeled before Sein, crying and pleading, “Please save my grandmother! She’s the only family I have left!”

Her mother had died in one of the expansion wars launched by the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring, so Maya really was the only close relative she had now.

“Your grandmother? Where is she?” Sein asked, frowning.

“She was brought here too, to be sold at this auction. But they separated us when we got here.” Luna sobbed.

Technically, Luna and other centaurs like her had been sold legally by their slavers.

Sein had no way to intervene through the alliance’s laws. All he could do was follow the auction house’s rules.

He flipped through the crystal catalog again, but there was no mention of Maya anywhere.

Maya was a demigod-level centaur, far stronger and more beautiful than Luna.

Naturally, her price would be much higher.

If someone like her was not listed as one of the “finale items”, then there was a good chance she had already been reserved in advance by a powerful client through a back channel.

Taking a deep breath, Sein rested a hand on Luna’s trembling shoulder and assured, “Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out.”

Helping Luna and the Maya Tribe wasn’t just an act of compassion, and it was not only because they were old acquaintances.

Sein was nearing his breakthrough to Rank Four, and there were things he needed to start thinking about for the future, especially after establishing his own divine tower.

High-quality ensalved cannon fodder was still one of the most important assets for any divine tower or knightly order preparing for interplanar war.

The Spider Queen had also made it clear to him that time was running out.

The only way to give himself a fighting chance in the looming war between two top-tier civilizations was to build up as much strength as he could beforehand.

In the armies of cannon fodder he planned to raise, half-beastmen, centaurs, and the lesser sea races of Magus World were his top picks.

The half-beastmen were led by Eugene, an extremely sharp and calculating figure, so Sein figured the price would be pretty inflexible when it came time to negotiate.

Although Eugene had sworn to help him no matter what, Sein knew better than to expect a free lunch.

As for the sea races, their position in Magus World was pitiful. But technically, they were still part of Magus World and protected by its laws, so Sein could not exploit them too much.

Compared to the other two, the centaurs really did seem like the best option. His past experiences in interplanar wars had proven just how capable centaurs were in battle.

Sein did not know any other Rank Four centaurs personally, so assisting his “golden agent” was his best move for now.

The Maya Tribe already had some experience in the slave trade, which meant taking them under his wing would save him a lot of work.

A mage’s train of thought was always so complicated but realistic.

But Luna was in no state to think about any of that.

Caught in a desperate situation, she saw only Sein’s act of righteousness.

Compared to how the rest of Centaurworld’s tribes and gods had treated her, Sein felt like a miracle.

If he had asked her to devote her life to him, she would not have refused!

After all, now that he had won her in the auction, Luna technically belonged to him.

Still wearing the Faceless Mask, Sein summoned the auction attendant again.

This time, he deliberately released his demigod-level aura.

“This centaur says her grandmother is a demigod-level centaur. I’m very interested in acquiring her too. Pass the word up the chain,” he said.

Though low in life level, the attendant had worked auctions for years and had developed a sharp eye.

Anyone sitting in these private booths had to be at least Rank Three.

Sein’s presence was as immense and suffocating as an abyss. He was not someone a low-ranking attendant like himself could afford to offend.

The attendant quickly nodded and excused himself.

Sein did not have to wait long. A knock came at the door, and a Rank Two Land Knight in armor stepped into the booth.

He wore an awkward expression, clearly recognizing that Sein was a demigod-level mage—one of the highest-tier guests the auction could ever hope to host.

Events of this scale rarely attracted true Rank Four powerhouses. Hence, demigods typically represented the peak of both status and spending power.

“That demigod-level centaur you asked about is indeed one of our listings, but she has already been reserved by a Paladin named Sir Thomas,” the Land Knight informed nervously.

Sein did not give the man a hard time and simply said, “Take me to him. I’m sure I can work something out with the good Paladin.”

“Of course. Please follow me,” the Land Knight replied with a quick nod, then led him out of the booth.

Sir Thomas held the title of “Paladin,” which meant he was also a demigod.

Sein met him in a pleasantly warm underground room.

Thomas had just secured his prize and looked like he was about to do some “warm-up exercises” before Sein’s sudden arrival interrupted him.

The portly knight’s displeasure was written all over his face.

The room was warm because there was an indoor artificial hot spring.

As Sein entered, he spotted Maya—bound and half-submerged in the water. Her posture was awkward, almost indecent.

Her clothes were still intact, which meant the paladin had not yet done anything to her.

Thomas was clearly not short on wealth; he wore no fewer than six ornate magic rings on his fingers.

And given the fact that he was also a demigod, Sein would have to treat him as an equal.

Instead of jumping straight into negotiation, Sein took a moment to scan Thomas from head to toe and swept his gaze across the room.

Sein could detect a faint sulfur scent. There was likely a small magma vein running beneath the hot spring.

The silence dragged on, and Thomas’s expression grew darker with impatience as the masked stranger said nothing.

If it had not been for the strong demigod-level aura radiating from Sein, he might have already chased him out.

Just before the knight lost all his patience, Sein finally broke the silence.

“Sir Thomas, if I’m not mistaken, you have demon blood in you,” he stated calmly.

Thomas narrowed his eyes, studying Sein warily, but eventually gave a nod.

Sein reached into his robe and pulled out a small vial. “I happen to have the blood essence of a Moltensteel Demon Lord. It should strengthen and purify your bloodline.”

He gestured toward the centaur in the water. “In return, I want her.”

Thomas stared at the vial for a long moment, then glanced down at Maya, bound in the hot spring.

After a heavy silence, he gave a slow nod.