Bishop Reyes frowned as he looked at where the killing intent was coming from and saw a little boy glaring at him murderously.
The boy quickly retracted his glaring eyes realizing his mistake and tried to hide in obscurity but it was too late.
Bishop Reyes made his way to the corner of the tent and the man working for the slave trader moved the transparent curtain revealing children of various ages curled up together in a compact space.
Ethan also arrived on the spot and looked at the children of similar age as him. There were boys and girls aged between six to fourteen. Seeing them, Ethan couldn't help but wonder and think about what would have happened if he wasn't so fortunate to be born as the Duke's son. Perhaps, he could have been one of the children in front of him.
"Lord Bishop," The man who was guarding the children bowed and greeted.
Ethan saw as Bishop Reyes looked at the boy whose features were different from the natives. He was quite tall for his age and had broad shoulders and sharp eyes. His clothes were ragged and dirty like everyone else's and his face was covered by his long black hair. The little of his face that was visible, it could be seen that boy's face was also covered with dust and dirt.
Meeting the bishop's gaze, the boy did not falter as his expression became stoic. Just then, a little girl as old as him peeked out from behind him. Only then the boy flinched and moved to cover the girl behind him.
'So much killing intent for a child… Why? And for the bishop? What's the story here?' Ethan who had been observing the whole situation thought to himself in wonder.
The bishop, seeing the fierce-looking boy and the timid girl behind him, smiled benevolently like a kind old man looking over his children. Even though his behavior seemed friendly and kind, the smile on his face gave Ethan the creeps for some reason.
With an amiable tone, bishop Reyes said to the slave trader's employee while pointing at the boy and the girl behind him. "I want to buy these two children."
'Oh, I know for certain that the killing intent came from this boy… Such killing intent at such a young age and that toward the bishop too. Is it hate? Why does he hate the bishop so much? Interesting.'
'But the boy is in trouble now… Bishop Reyes has most definitely too somehow sensed the killing intent of the boy. And from what I know about this fatty, he seems to be the kind of guy to kill if someone were to simply look at him the wrong way for more than two seconds.' Ethan thought.
All of a sudden, Ethan felt a strange tingle and his eyes widened. Trusting his instincts, he used the appraisal skill as his eyes glowed. Soon after, Ethan's eyes widened further and his lips curled upwards as if he had hit the biggest jackpot of his life.
On the other hand, the slave boy stepped back while his face paled and a look of despair flashed in his eyes as he heard the bishop say that he would buy him and the girl behind him. The boy gritted his teeth trying his best not to lash out.
The man keeping guard over the slaves smiled with delight hearing that the bishop was buying two children slaves. Since the children were of no use to anyone, most of the time no one bought the children, and they died either by some disease, cold, or weakness since the slave trader would not spend more money and feed the slaves properly after some time had passed and no one was interested to buy the slaves.
Just as the watchdog was about to go and make a contract, a voice suddenly rang as Ethan called out, "Wait!"
The watchdog and bishop Reyes simultaneously looked at Ethan with doubt. The watchdog asked, "Yes? What is it?"
Ethan did not respond to the man and turned to Bishop Reyes, with an awkward expression he said, "Umm, Lord Bishop… I would like to have these two children if you don't mind."
Hearing the sudden request, Bishop Reyes furrowed his brows and blurted in hesitation, "That…"
"Is there a problem? Won't you give me a face this time? Seeing children the same age as me in such a pitiful state breaks my heart. It would be blasphemy to God if I simply ignore them and do not even attempt to do my utmost." Ethan urged in a passive-aggressive manner.
"That is. I wished to do my part as well." Bishop Reyes blurted flustered by the sudden change.
"How about this then? You can pay for their freedom and I shall provide them employment in the White Family. I believe that would be better for them. Or the Church can take in all these other children since it's so charitable and I can free these two children. What do you think of this arrangement?"
Hearing this nonsensical and ridiculous banter, Bishop Reyes's browse twitched as a vein popped at the back of his head. At this moment, High Priest Gerhart came forward with a smile and whispered to the bishop, "Lord Bishop, We cannot offend him."
Bishop Reyes calmed himself and smiled stiffly. Talking while lightly gnashing his teeth he spoke reluctantly, "Haha! I am truly in awe of the Young master's generosity and virtue. The church shall free these two then. Please take care of them properly. May God Bless Everyone!"
"Amen!"
"Amen!"
Ethan nodded with satisfaction and spoke happily looking at the Bishop and thanking him for his generosity. Thinking that it wasn't that bad to get in the good graces of Ethan with some gold coins, Bishop Reyes forgot about the kid who had been glaring at him like he had killed the kid's father and left happily, not bothering with anything anymore.
A strange glint flashed in Ethan's eyes as he approached the slave child. Suddenly he noticed the kid moving his arm suspiciously and strangely and sighed inwardly.
Looking straight into the boy's eyes, Ethan discreetly used a skill he had learned from the library of the temple. It wasn't much but it was useful in a situation like this.
His eyes glowed dimly as a strand of frigid weak Elemental Essence reached out of his body like a super thin cable. The strand of the energy was so tiny and weak that no one noticed it. But when this energy entered the boy's body, he felt like he was looking at a beast from hell. His body froze completely and the small knife he was holding became stuck in his palm and he could not even lift a finger. He could not understand what was happening and could do nothing but palpate in fear as his body trembled uncontrollably.
Without wasting any time, Ethan quickly approached the boy while everyone else thought that the slave boy was so happy to be bought by Ethan that he was trembling with shock.
"Fool! What do you think you're doing? Do you want to get yourself and your sister killed?" Ethan whispered in the boy's ear like a devil while the girl behind the stunned boy watched with anxious eyes while clenching her fists.
The boy finally woke up from the trance and calmed down. Although he was still very doubtful and cautious, he did not resist anymore.
Ethan drew back from the boy with a gentle smile, becoming an angel from the devil in a blink of an eye as he said, "Unfortunately, even I cannot save everyone. Let's go."
The two children then followed Ethan and the others while holding each other's hands, the Little girl looking at Ethan with curious eyes while the boy looked around with doubt and vigilance as they followed behind carrying anxiety and uncertainty in their hearts.
When the fat slave trader was that so many slaves were bought by the Bishop and Ethan, he couldn't be more delighted. In his happy, the fellow even gave a good discount but Ethan did not care. He couldn't wait to get out of this place and return to the mansion.
The Bishop bid farewell to Ethan and took off with several men and women that he had bought.
As Ethan walked between heavy security with the three slaves or servants of his amidst countless admiring gazes, the two children and the women were also checking him out curiously with a curious eye.
After reaching the carriage Ethan said, "Have these two sit with us in the carriage."
"Young Master, do we head to the orphanage?" Albert asked.
"No, have one knight escort the woman to the orphanage and tell her to wait for me until a later date. With these two we return back to the mansion." Ethan replied calmly.
Albert bowed. Ethan, with the two children, boarded the carriage. The beautiful slave woman looked at the carriage with envy but did not complain and left with a knight.
As the carriage began moving, Ethan sat on the cautioned seat of the carriage in front of the children with his appraisal ability active and thought to himself in exasperation, 'Finally, I finally found them. Not one but two at that. Today I really hit a jackpot.
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