Chapter 56: Selecting Maids

"Young Master, where are we going now?"

Leaving the Gourmet Pavilion, Xiuer held the young man's arm, her lovely face lit up with a happy smile. Since following Xu Feng, life had become so full and bright, and the little girl had grown much more cheerful than before.

"Let's just walk around. Hmm, I want to buy some maidservants."

"Buy maidservants?"

A strange expression flickered across Xiuer's face. Xu Feng paused, then realized her thoughts. He shook his head and gently patted the girl's bottom: "Silly girl, what are you thinking? I'm not *that* kind of guy. The mansion the Duke gave me doesn't even have any servants, so of course I need to buy some maidservants."

"Oh!"

Xiuer replied, though inwardly she didn't quite agree with Xu Feng's explanation. Was the master not lustful? Yet at night, one girl was never enough; he often wanted both her and Sister Xiao Yun with him. And there was that catchphrase he often repeated: "If a man isn't lustful, even pigs can climb trees."

The master was clearly saying one thing while meaning another. Of course, despite this small, silent complaint, Xiuer's affection and loyalty toward Xu Feng were beyond doubt. This little grumble was actually like playful banter between lovers, filled with deep affection.

Hailan Star was still in the Middle Ages. In the empire, buying and selling slaves was a legal trade, protected by law, and it generated huge tax revenues each year.

As the largest port city and goods distribution center in the northern part of the empire, Rotterburg not only had specialties from various regions and numerous cargo ships but also hundreds of slaves transported in. Besides humans, there were beastmen from the northern wilderness. Decades ago, elf slaves had been the most popular—for no other reason than they were a race synonymous with beauty. Every captured elf could fetch an astronomical price.

However, nowadays, the empire was on good terms with the Nature Alliance, and the incredibly lucrative elf slave trade had been banned by imperial decree. As for the Orc Kingdom, although there had been no war with the empire for twenty years, relations between the two sides had always been tense, so the beastman trade was still booming.

As for human slaves, some were impoverished bankrupts, while others had been reduced to slavery due to crimes. In short, there were many sources...

In addition, there were dwarves, mountain gnomes, and even cyclopes. Hailan Star had many highly intelligent beings, and the variety of slaves here was virtually endless.

Nothing was unavailable; only unimaginable... Of course, that was just a promotional slogan. For instance, elves might still be traded in extremely limited quantities on the black market, but such transactions were absolutely nonexistent in open slave markets.

Xu Feng and Xiuer arrived at the port outside the eastern city. Not far away was a large open area—the slave trading district. To enter, each person had to pay one silver coin.

The City Governor had implemented this measure for several reasons: first, to increase tax revenue; second, to prevent people from entering merely to wander around without intending to buy, as excessive crowds could easily lead to chaos. Three years ago, an incident had occurred where a large, disorderly crowd allowed slaves to escape.

One silver coin was enough for an ordinary family to live for a week. With such a high admission fee, naturally no one would willingly be a fool, ensuring that everyone who entered was a genuine buyer.

Of course, if you were willing to pay another silver coin, the slave merchants would provide a guide—a young woman who would accompany you throughout, introducing the slaves' origins, races, and characteristics, ensuring customers bought with peace of mind, used with confidence, and consumed with satisfaction.

Speechless. Why did these lines sound so familiar? One silver coin was truly a drop in the bucket for Xu Feng. However, since he was only buying a few maidservants, he didn't need someone beside him promoting. Even when shopping at supermarkets in the past, Xu Feng never liked listening to promotional staff; he preferred to pick things out himself.

Due to the high admission fee, aside from the merchants, customers inside were few and far between. There was no scene of loud hawking, completely different from what Xu Feng had imagined slave trading to be like.

Xu Feng and Xiuer attracted many glances. Firstly, of course, because the man was handsome and the woman beautiful. Secondly, because of their attire. Although Rotterburg had many mansions and estates with a high demand for servants and maids, nobles would never personally come to such a place. Buying and selling slaves was always left to their subordinates.

As Xu Feng walked along, he kept shaking his head, thoroughly disappointed. There were many slaves here, but the vast majority looked pale and malnourished. Neither their appearances nor their figures were satisfactory—too thin, too dark.

Occasionally, he saw a few slightly better ones, but they looked almost like dinosaurs!

Although Xu Feng was now surrounded by beauties and wouldn't be interested in the maidservants he bought back, as the saying goes, everyone has a love for beauty. Since they would be maidservants, it meant he would see them frequently. They didn't need to be stunningly beautiful, but at least they should have delicate features. Otherwise... bringing back a few dinosaurs would surely ruin his appetite during meals.

Xu Feng had no masochistic tendencies.

Damn, the advertisements were so enticing, but the goods here were all like this. Xu Feng felt greatly disappointed, as if he had been somewhat deceived.