The night was calm and uneventful, with not a single assassin trying their luck in taking out the terrifying human that had arrived and already created a scene, metaphorically spitting into the faces of the beastmen races. Jack had expected for at least someone to come, too overconfident and angered by his earlier actions. No luck though, leaving Jack wondering if the locals are actually smarter than he initially assumed, only to shake his head in refusal, the memories of both the guards at the river as well as the foolish wolf beastman right outside of Kirinoid clan home proving otherwise. And that only left a single other explanation regarding the current situation- the most capable ones were all under a single force, all ordered to stand by and wait for instructions. That was fine too, Jack supposed, he could play the long game just as well, better more than likely.

  There was a small surprise waiting for him right under his doors however, left behind with quite the skill by a certain worker of Minge's inn- her movement swift and nigh imperceptible- clearly working for more than just this place. Jack had been ready to take action when the deed was done, awaiting the slightest indication that said servant girl had other, potentially harmful plans in mind, only to be left slightly disappointed when she had left without starting anything more.

  A quick appraisal revealed that the surprise was nothing more than a simple slip of paper, a message of sorts, not laced with poison, nor curse, nor any other harmful effect. A simple slip of paper with a short message, written in english, though several spelling mistakes could be picked up on it.

  'If yuu want info, ai got. informaishin is mai trade. Faind me in Slaivers squiare. Franks Curiosities is the naime of my place. Maike it not obvious yuu com for me and mai servises.'

  The message did crack Jack up just a tiny bit, the fact this Frank had written words as he heard them was funny. It was clear that the man spoke the language, sure. Written part however was not nearly as clean. Still, the offer did peak Jack's curiosity, the need for information on several topics becoming rather necessary if Jack wanted to make some changes around here, as well as speed up his own tasks so he could return back to the side of his kids. With seemingly no hurry, Jack headed over to the rooms of his maids, gathering them together and, after making sure no undesirable ears could pick up their conversation, inquired them about Frank's Curiosities as well as Slavers square.

  Much to his expectations, the Slavers square had quite the number of slave shops, capable of satisfying almost any desire you might have for a new slave- so long as said slave was a humanoid like creature. Be it humans, dwarves, elves, or any other human like race, there was likely a specimen or two that could be purchased for the correct price. Of course, there were other shops there as well, supplying all the necessary tools and supplies related to same said slaves. Be it slave collars, no matter the style and function, clothes of all level of quality, toys and everything else. If you could imagine it, there was probably someone who sold it there.

  "Anything I might be looking for that would bring me there, with no other decent alternative places in town?" Jack asked once he had a general understanding of the place.

  "If you ask around about high quality clothing for slaves, anyone daring enough to respond to master would no doubt direct you there." replied Valente.

  "And would the clothes you are wearing right now count as high quality? If I wanted for similar outfits for you, could any other place service my needs?"

  "Just there master. No self respecting beastman tailor would lower themselves to sew outfits for slaves." explained Sindu.

  "Perfect. Have any of you heard about Frank the one Eyed, or Frank's Curiosities?" he then asked.

  "Lita says she has heard the man knows much." Sindu translated after lita muttered something in what sounded a bit like french if Jack had to put a country of origin to it, though he could also be entirely mistaken.

  "Good. Let's get us something to eat for breakfast and then find our way there. if needed, can you guide me there?"

  "Yes master. We all have gone through there." Sindu replied with a bitter, a bunch of painful memories no doubt resurfacing.

  "Hm. Let's go then." Jack nodded his head and led the way, his six maids following closely behind him.

  The inn itself was rather empty this early in the morning, a couple of mostly drunk patrons still hanging around the corners, seemingly sleeping off their buzz from last night. And, judging from the state of the room, no actual brawl had taken place here- something Jack had maybee hoped for just a little bit, though he was fine with one not having happened. 'One day for sure.' he snickered in his mind.

  Once his group reached the counter a new face greeted them. Gone was the old monopoly mustache guy, replaced with decent looking lady in her mid thirties. Dark brown hair, hazel eyes and a bit of freckles on her face. Her appearance screamed 'village girl' if Jack had ever seen one, though he kept his thoughts to himself. What he was pleasantly surprised about was her form- well fed and with curves in all the right places, as well as lacking a black slave collar, just like the old man last night.

  "Morning sir. How can I help you?" she asked once Jack had stopped before the counter, his almost tow meter frame towering over the brunette barkeeper.

  "A filling breakfast for me and my maids." Jack replied "Don't skimp on the quality for the girls." Jack replied.

  The brunete tilted to one side, gazing behind Jack at the six women for a second before replying "We have game stew hot and ready, will that suffice for your needs sir?"

  "Yes. Seven servings for starters. We will see about more later." Jack replied, paying for his order straight away.

  "Take a seat at any of the tables and we will bring them over in a moment. " the barkeep replied, adding a second later "Anything to wet the meal sir?"

  "A pitcher with water and a few mugs will be fine, thank you."

  "Understood." the barkeep nodded and called for one of the barmaids from the back and delivered instructions while Jack led his group towards a large enough table to fit them all.

  Shortly after, their meal was served, seven plates of decently sized stew portions finding their way to their table, along with a pitcher of water and a few mugs, just as requested. Jack, of course, appraised the meal and water to make sure no 'special spices' had been added, and only once he was sure it was safe did he give the green light for the breakfast to start. The stew was hearty and filling, if a little simple in taste and presentation, though Jack did not mind it one bit. Sure, he could have made breakfast himself, leaving this food in the dust in terms of taste, but sometimes he just wanted something simple and grounded.

  After finishing his portion, he ordered another two servings for himself, as well as a couple more for the girls, each getting another half portion that they split equally among them. Jack was still keeping an eye on their condition, slowly helping them recover from the state they had been in so far. He also used the moment his second order came over to inquire about quality clothes for his maids, the barmaids replying with Slavers square as the obvious choice after they noticed the admittedly nice looking chokers on maid necks.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "Sindu, you know the way there?" Jack asked the girls, as if he had not known about the place beforehand.

  "Yes master. We can lead you there." she replied near immediately.

  "Good." Jack nodded his head once, reaching in his pocket a second later and after grabbing something from there stretched it towards the barmaid who had answered. The girl, smart as she was, quickly curtsied as she placed her smaller hands beneath Jack's outstretched hand, a few silver coins clinking as they were dropped in the now waiting hands.

  "Thank you sir." the barmaid thanked as she hurried away, beaming with a smile on her face. As a human server, there were not many patrons who would tip them, no matter how well they worked, so each such occasion was something girls like her would remember for quite the while, doubly so if rumors about just how dangerous and badass said tipper was.

  "Can you feel it girls?" Jack casually asked as Sindu led them towards the Slavers square "The space that's uncrowded around us? The wary gazes, the quiet whispers, the caution and fear that emanates from all those beastmen? It seems word of my little performance yesterday has already spread across the town like wildfire, with near all beastmen having been made aware."

  "It feels different from yesterday master. That much I agree, but that's as much as I can tell. My senses in not nearly as sharp as yours." Sindu replied, having already learned that Jack was not one for rhetorical questions most of the time, enjoying the sound of others voice, at least as long as those others were considered his people. Then, following Sindus' lead the rest of the girls answered as well, their responses quite similar to hers.

  "It's fine that you can't sense the nuances. Few could as well as I do. What matters is that you sense the change. Plenty people too full of themselves might not, failing to read the mood and ending up dead or the like. What does your gut tell you?"

  "That it's safe near you master. Not so much anywhere else." Valente replied, her voice carrying even more joy than before. As a fae she was always cheerful, no matter how dire her own straits, but nice meals and the lack of immediate threat of physical harm seemed to boost her mood even more. Jack could notice a similar improvement in the rest of the girls as well, though unlike Valente, they seemed to be waiting still for the other shoe to drop. Their minds were warning them that there was no such thing as free lunch in this world, especially not for human slaves like them in a society run by beastman clans.

  The Slave square made itself known before Jack could lay eyes on it, the smell of filth and desperation thick in the air, growing thicker still the closer they got. While bad, it was still bearable enough that the beastmen, with their sharp noses and desire to keep their fur still mostly clean, could visit without running away in disgust, refusing the spend even a second in such a filthy place. Each building here seemed more spacious, with open courtyards, each having its own stage of sorts, clearly mean to display their merchandise when a new shipment arrives or a sale is on, if such an event was a thing in this place- something Jack had a growing suspicion had been brought over from their world, no matter how far and relatively isolated this steppe was from the rest of the sentient humanoid races. Jack did consider for a while that there were, most likely, more similar places, each believing themselves to be the last bastion of civilisation on the plane, creating their own version of a perfect society.

  As Jack glanced around, evaluating teh buildings and the overall atmosphere, he also saw numerous slaves displayed like some simple property, their bodies barely covered with rags, though it was also clear that none of the beastmen walking along the street had even the slightest bit of lust in their eyes. If there was one saving grace for slaves around here, if one could call it that, it would be the lack of instances the beastmen would force them on the slaves, believing such acts between a beastmen and a humanoid the pinnacle of degradation and disgust. Only absolute degenerates like Grimka the Wicked would even consider it. Jack could understand the revulsion though, having the same exact opinion on the beastmen. He was no furry after all, no thank you. He had to admit though, the mere thought of the nigh inescapable future where some females of beastmen kind try and seduce him, only to be either ignored entirely or rebuked with prejudice did bring a smile to his face.

  The one thing he found rather confusing however was the state the displayed slaves seemed to be in. Weak and seemingly half starved, with obvious signs of malnutrition and abuse. Jack, in his humble opinion, assumed it would have been much simpler to sell off the people captured if they seemed at least decently fed and kept, not what was before his eyes.

  "Any reason the slaves I see all around us are in such horrible condition?" he asked his maids, his displeasure clear for all to see- disappointment and traces of disgust adorning his face.

  "These are the ones that have not been sold for seasons. The longer you remain in the hands of the slavers, the worse for wear you will be. If no one buys you within five turns- five times two seasons- you are sent down to the slave arena, most likely torn apart by beasts for the entertainment of the greater clans. The ones you see out here are on their last legs, a few weeks until they are sent down there." Sindu explained.

  As they moved past the low grade slave traders, moving deeper into the Slave square, better maintained shops came into their view, along with slaves in slightly better condition, improving with each new shop. It was in one of those that Jack noticed a man with a rather special name, a certain plan of his resurfacing along with a certain thought. 'The world sometimes has such a sick sense of humor, it's genuinely scary.'

  Spartacus(35)

  species- human

  class- slave fighter(uncommon)

  level- 11

  If this was not a sign, Jack did not know what was, thus, deciding to allow this particular game to play out, with obviously modified ending though, he called for the maids to wait a bit, turning towards the shop that 'owned' the man. The transaction was finished quick, with the human fighter changing owners in mere minutes. All Jack had to do was jingle a sack of coins and the beastman shopkeeper was more than willing to accomodate.

  While finishing up his purchase, Jack did not forget to inquire about a proper tailors shop that could replicate the outfits his maids wore, receiving rather detailed directions as a result. With that solved, their group, now with an addition member, moved ahead, once more guided by Sindu, though now she was following the recently acquired instructions.

  "How good is your english?" Jack casually asked Spartacus.

  "Well enough master." the man replied, though Jack could feel the fire in the man's eyes. This one had not yet been broken, molded into a proper slave, despite the collar he was shackled with. A slight smile crept on Jack's face at the realization, his hand moving with subtlety, his spirit power engulfing the two men as to ensure Jack's words do not reach the wrong ears.

  "Know that whatever we speak of now, will never be repeated before anyone else, nor will it be heard by anyone but us here and now, I have made sure of it. So, tell me, would you like to be given a chance to topple this whole system? To make the beastmen ruling this city and the steppe into slaves, just as they had done with humanoids for who knows how long?"

  With each sentence, Spartacus quivered almost imperceptibly, his soul and spirit resonating with it, as though that was his purpose- the only reason he was still alive and kicking. And Jack noticed it all, his smile morphing into something almost predatory now, just barely hidden from anyone around them. "I see you like the thought of that. It might be possible as well since my presence could become the catalyst that's needed. Tell me, how much would you be willing to sacrifice for that?"

  "My life if necessary." Spartacus replied without hesitation, anger and desire for revenge flashing in his eyes.

  "Alright then. Play the part of the obedient and soul crushed slave for a few days longer then. I need to gather a bit of information about this place. Not from here if that was not made obviously clear."

  Spartacus just nodded, seemingly taking on the role assigned to him, though there was the slightest spark of life in his eyes, one that looked towards tomorrow and what it might bring, and unlike most other slaves, this particular hope was not the result of his slave collar.

  The next couple of hours went by in a rather mundane way, with the group finding themselves in the mentioned tailor shops and checking out their stock of fabrics, as well as prices and the time it would take for outfits Jack would like ordered to be made. Then, after a couple ones were requested and paid for, the delivery to their inn included, they left, accidentally stumbling upon Frank's Curiosities. Totally accidentally indeed.

  Jack Raja(?)

  Age- 27

  Species- human(?)

  Level- 30

  Class- Awakened twin aspect of Creation and Destruction(Ex)

  Stats unassigned: +4

  Attributes:

  Strength- 34 (14+7+13(gear))

  Vitality- 28 (12+8+8(gear))

  Dexterity- 29 (15+6+8(gear))

  Intelligence-20(15+ 5(gear)

  Spirit- Spirit- 30 (20+10)

  Skills- Wisdom of Creation and destruction(EX), Choice of the creator(EX), Eyes of procurer(EX), Matter storage(EX), Arukain language(C), Spark of inspiration(EX), Origin of matter(EX), Unbound by laws of the lessers(EX), The end made manifest(EX).

  Spells- none.

  Titles(unlocked): The real Monster, Big Game Hunter, The brilliant rookie, The insane Solo. Monster debugger.The actor. Executioner. Survivor. Pioneer, Record breaker.The new champion supreme. Slavemaster.

  Gear: Two handed sword(t3)+ 5 str +5 vit: Armor 3str +3 vit +3 dex; Ring 1 - spatial storage, ring 2 +5int, ring 3 +5 str; amulet +5 dex.