Sorcery Monarch

Chapter 75: Barbarian Slaves

 

The light rain gradually stopped.

 

The ground became more level.

 

Returning to Bay Village once again, Adam Smith felt anxious, far from the ambitious state of mind he had when he left.

 

His personal guard captain, Meren, noticed his boss’s furrowed brow and chuckled mischievously, “Is it really worth worrying about? The lord of Bay Village shouldn’t care too much about their numbers, right?”

 

Adam Smith shot him a glare and rubbed his tense face before trying to force a smile, replying helplessly, “Don’t you understand by now? When working for the lord, completing tasks is mandatory, and extra contributions are rewarded, but if you cause trouble, then…”

 

Leon, who was leading the way, overheard their conversation, either intentionally or unintentionally. His eyes scanned the tall, strong figures in the group.

 

Barbarians!

 

More precisely, they were—barbarian slaves!

 

Each of these barbarians was tall and robust, and even though they hadn’t eaten well in recent days, they still exuded a fierce energy.

 

According to Adam Smith, the number of professionals willing to settle in Bay Village had sharply declined, and recruiting talent for manufacturing had been disappointing.

 

To make up for this, he had bought a large batch of barbarian slaves, mainly for a master-level barbarian expert.

 

This barbarian master was willing to work for the lord but only on the condition that he could bring 1,000 barbarians with him, including 800 elderly, women, and children.

 

The barbarian slaves themselves weren’t much trouble.

 

But the 800 who couldn’t produce any value and would only be a burden—that was a problem.

 

Moreover, Leon clearly remembered that most barbarian slaves had a knack for stirring up trouble and always managed to cause issues.

 

Over time, very few territories were willing to accept barbarian slaves.

 

However, barbarian professionals often ventured into human lands as adventurers and were quite popular as teammates in adventuring parties.

 

As team members, barbarians were appreciated for their straightforwardness, bravery in battle, and willingness to sacrifice themselves—they were excellent companions.

 

But this thousand-strong group of barbarians might not be accepted by the lord, which could damage the lord’s opinion of Adam Smith and his ability to get things done.

 

That was what worried Adam Smith!

 

The barbarians seemed to understand this as well, remaining silent along the way.

 

Regardless of age or gender, they tried to appear harmless and made sure to eat as much as they could during meals.

 

After all, they might soon have to fend for themselves.

 

The gradually smoother roads weighed heavily on Adam Smith’s mind.

 

The lord’s pace of development had never slowed, which meant that if he failed to keep up, he might be discarded.

 

How could Adam Smith feel at ease under such pressure?

 

Just as Adam Smith’s worries deepened, a large group of kobolds came rushing over.

 

Everyone stared in shock as the kobolds spread out and dumped small stones along the roadside.

 

These kobolds even used tools, expertly leveling the road’s surface as they worked.

 

Even the barbarian slaves, watching the kobolds scurrying about, couldn’t help but feel confused.

 

The wagon drivers, who had heard rumors, gazed in amazement at the scene before them.

 

This spectacle increased their confidence in the treatment Adam Smith had promised.

 

Meanwhile, the large gathering of adventurers couldn’t resist starting a conversation.

 

“I wonder if the rumors are true—can a single troll really fetch 50 gold coins?”

 

“Probably not anywhere else, but here? It seems plausible…”

 

“I’ve already heard from the Adventurers’ Guild; it’s definitely true. I even heard they plan to set up a branch here…”

 

“I can believe the first part, but a new guild branch? That’s probably a rumor…”

 

“Haha, whether there’s a branch or not doesn’t matter, as long as the bounties are high enough…”

 

“Fifty gold coins for one troll—that’s a reward unlike any other…”

 

“Has anyone thought about bringing trolls in from elsewhere?”

 

“Haha, nice idea, but the lord isn’t a fool…”

 

“One simple truth spell would reveal that kind of trick, so don’t get any funny ideas…”

 

“I heard the lord has a dragon!”

 

“That’s definitely true—it’s already the talk of Bloodmoon City…”

 

“Some spellcasters say it’s probably a drake…”

 

“It’s still a dragon… and way stronger than any ordinary lesser dragon…”

 

“…”

 

With various thoughts in mind, everyone arrived at the gates of Bay Village.

 

The well-ordered ranks of soldiers, just like before, awaited their arrival.

 

This time, the number of formations had increased to five.

 

Over 200 soldiers stood in a powerful display, giving everyone who arrived a stern welcome.

 

Reflecting on the lands being cultivated along the way, Adam Smith finally understood why the lord was always recruiting more people.

 

At the same time, he realized that the situation he was about to face might be even more difficult than he had anticipated.

 

Among the barbarian slaves, a wagon slowly came to a halt. Inside, an old barbarian shaman stared deeply at the towering walls, her wrinkled face showing a trace of sadness.

 

A tall, rugged barbarian approached, bowing his head in respect, his face tinged with shame.

 

His massive, powerful frame bore rough tattoos of a large, tusked mouth. His calloused hands lifted to help the elderly shaman dismount the wagon.

 

“We survived that terrible battlefield; we won’t give up so easily. Let’s see what happens…”

 

His words only deepened the barbarian’s guilt. He glanced nervously at the soldiers, his eyes showing both restraint and unease, as if he were facing formidable opponents.

 

The other barbarian slaves also gathered closer, led by the tall barbarian and the shaman, as they slowly approached the gate.

 

The rest of the caravan crew turned their heads, curious about what the barbarian slaves intended to do.

 

Yet, the soldiers in formation showed no reaction, as if they hadn’t noticed the barbarians approaching.

 

Old John narrowed his eyes slightly, while nearby, Golden Fang’s muscles tensed—both sensed a faint pressure from the tall barbarian approaching slowly.

 

However, Ralph remained calm and turned to the hurried Adam Smith, asking:

 

“Is this the master-level expert, Ms. Tana?”

 

As he asked, Ralph turned to face the elderly barbarian shaman.

 

He smiled serenely, showing no hint of prejudice despite her being a barbarian.

 

The unusual display left the old shaman hesitant. Before she could respond, Adam Smith quickly nodded and answered:

 

“Yes, this is Ms. Tana, the master I invited. She’s an expert breeder, skilled in raising advanced warhorses, camel beasts, and komodo beasts.”

 

Before the shaman could reply, Ralph gestured politely.

 

Bay Village welcomed all talent with open arms.