Chapter 12: Slave Auction
*Knock Knock*
Oli heard a knock on his room while Oli was sitting in the chair drinking some kind of tea and resting. Without having a thought about it, Oli just said, "Come in." In drowsy tone.
"It's me, young master. I just want to talk to you. I hope I don't bother you while you are resting." Zion.
"Uncle Zion? Come on in." Oli.
When Zion entered the room, Oli signaled Zion to sit at the chair, but Zion refused. Zion is taking his job seriously, so he can't just sit on the same chair as the acting Chairman of Leefside.
"I just want to talk about the goods you trade. Especially the spice." Zion.
"Oh? What about the spice?" Oli asked having a confused face while looking at Zion.
'Sigh. Just as I thought.' Zion thought to himself before answering Oli. "The spice you trade with Wyatt is much more than expensive than you can imagine, but that's not the bigger picture here. The spice is new in this Continent, so when the residents know about the existence of the spice, it could cause a huge impact and change in the Continental trade and economy of each Kingdoms and Empire. In short, the balance in power of the leading powers in the Continent can change the moment when the spice commercializes to the public. There are two options, diplomacy and war. In diplomacy comes the negotiation and treaty. War, well, I don't think I have to explain it further. War comes with killings and invading." Oli listens to Zion but still has a confused expression. He doesn't know why Zion was talking about this.
"So, the bottom line is, the spice is far more than expensive than what I requested to Wyatt. Right? Don't worry about it. I can talk Wyatt if he can add some platinum coins in the trade." Oli said while having a slight smile on his face showing as if he comprehend what Zion wanted to talk about.
"Sigh. Young Master, you don't talk about this matter with Elder Alfred, right?"
"Yes. I didn't consult this matter with Elder Alfred because, in the first place, it doesn't import--." Oli didn't finish what he was going to say when Zion spoke in an angry tone.
"Yes! It is important! Don't you know and think about the risk that can happen to the people of Leefside?! In the Vedrain Country?! When the information regarding who and where the spice originally came from a leak in other Kingdoms and Empire they, will invade us! They will kill every single one of the people, and the prisoner will become slaves! We don't have a military force to repel or resist the attack coming from the invading Kingdom or Empire! I don't want to sacrifice my family because of your short-sighted move!" Zion angrily spoke while pointing his finger at Oli.
Oli was stunned when he heard for the first time the angry tone of Zion. Oli doesn't know how to react and act. For the second time in his life, someone got furious at him. The always calm and serious Zion is now angry.
When Zion realized that he was pointing his finger at the young man in front of him, he quickly pulled it back and calmed himself. After a few minutes, he calmed down and started to talk in a calm tone where Oli can fully understand what he was pointing.
"I'm sorry young master if I got angry. I-I just want the best of my family. I don't want them to experience the horror of war. Especially my children." Zion while bowing his head.
In reality, Oli was not mad or anything to Zion. His heart is beating so fast. He remembers what the Directress of the orphanage said to him "I got angry at you because I care for you. So, don't take it seriously. I just want you to realize what mistake you made."
"It's just that the spice is much more luxurious than the other goods you can't even imagine. As you know, the food here is bland and tasteless but, with the help of the spice, even the commoner's food can be treated as a high-class food because of spice. If Wyatt wants, he can sell the information that the spice originated from Leefside village. If that happened, some Kingdom may invade and annex the Leefside just to get the spice. And I'm telling you, young master. War is never a good thing."
Oli thought carefully about what Zion said, and he was right. The glass cup especially, the spice is an abnormality in this world where, to begin with, there should be no spice here, but Oli brings that irregularities here without carefully thinking and consulting someone who has more experience here in the Continent. That move may risk the lives living in the Leefside village. And Oli admitted that he still has a lot to learn and consider in decision-making.
"Don't be sorry, Uncle Zion. I'm the one who should. I didn't carefully think about the possible consequences that my decision may bring upon the people of Leefside. I should consult Elder Alfred regarding this. I'm sorry I..."
'I selfishly thought only of myself and how I would get most of the benefits from the decision I made' Oli wanted to say this, but he can't. He acknowledged to himself that he only thought about how much money Oli would get if the gold nugget can become a bar and how he can get out of being the acting Chairman of Leefside and focus on making money.
That's the character Zion admired for Oli. Oli is not a prideful person. He listens to someone who has more knowledge and experience than him in any field of expertise.
Zion just smiled at Oli before speaking, but the last part is in a low tone. "Everyone makes mistakes, but the most important thing is to admit the mistake made. Don't worry, young master. Wyatt is trustworthy. He won't talk regarding where he got the spice and glass cup. Unless his brother's family found out."
"I'll go ahead, young master. You may rest now and ready yourself for the auction." Zion said before leaving the room.
Oli was left alone in the room while contemplating what he had done.
And little they did know that the assumption of Zion about the war. That war will soon be known as "The Spice War."
***
It was approximately 8:00 PM when Wyatt called Oli and his group. Wyatt is wearing a somewhat ducal attire, a yellow coat tandem with a waistcoat inside the coat. Partner with yellow pants ranging under the knee and high white socks with black leather shoes. In the back of the coat is embroidery with the lion's head that, according to Zion, it's the coat of arms of the Literra Imperial Family.
Oli was quiet during the trip, and he didn't speak up because he might have spoken something he shouldn't, so only Zion and Wyatt talked during the trip. The three are in the carriage of Wyatt on the way to the auction house, and a few minutes later, the group arrives at the auction house.
The group smoothly entered because of Wyatt. Wyatt is not only the Grand Duke of the Literra Empire, but he also has a high reputation of being wealthy and an influential merchant, so a lot of people know Wyatt because of that.
The auction house is like a concert hall on Earth. There is a stage in front and has an in-line chair where an ordinary and middle-class merchant can be seated. There's also a balcony, and being on the balcony can only mean one thing, a VIP.
Right now, Oli, Zion, and Wyatt are on the balcony, waiting for the auction to start. And when the auction house was almost full of bidders, it didn't take too long to start the auction.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great pleasure to have you here in our auction house, and I also see some familiar faces here. I hope we satisfy you in the slaves we have "prepared" with utmost courtesy." The auctioneer said with a wicked smile on his face, and when the people inside the auction house heard it, they laughed in a delightful tone.
"By 'prepared,' he means the method they used to get the slaves, which is abduction," Wyatt explained when he saw the confused face of Oli. When Oli heard it, his expression became disgusted, as if Oli consumed some kind of grotesque food.
"If you don't know, this auction house is in the proprietorship of King Wilfred Ossory, the King of the Ossory Kingdom. His family is one of the supporters of Supreme Pontiff, the one who founded slave trading, and Ossory Royal Family is the number one believer of the Supreme Pontiff teachings, the Creed of Pynis." Wyatt.
"This slave trading is madness! Everyone should have freedom and enjoy it to the fullest! And why is no one containing or opposing such peoples?!" For the first time., Oli exclaims while looking at the people who are laughing. Lived and grown on Earth where freedom has mostly adhered, Oli believed that anyone should have the freedom to decide for themselves!
"Is not that no one opposing or questioning them, they don't have the power to do so. The Supreme Pontiff holds immense authority and influence in both Holy Land and Confederation, considering that both Sovereign and Kingdoms are powerhouses in terms of military or economic power. So, by questioning or opposing them, you will face the military might of both the Holy Land and Confederation. Just like what happened on the Vedrain Kingdom and its allies." Wyatt said, then he looked at Zion. When Oli saw that, he also looked at Zion, but Zion didn't say anything.
Oli didn't know what to say when he heard it. He can't say anything. Oli is still struggling with how to accept and keep up with the practices and affairs of the Chronos Continent.
"If you don't follow the flow, you will just drown," Wyatt added. "And slave trading is the one who makes one-fourth of the economy of each Kingdom and Empires. So, if one wants to get wealthy in an instant, slave trading is the best option to that. Preventing or destroying slave trading is a difficult thing to do."
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