The Kingdom of Ulster is located at the northwestern end of the Wild Continent and is one of the most powerful nations in the northern region.
Ancient Miluo City, located at the easternmost edge of the Kingdom of Ulster, is the largest trading city in the kingdom and even the entire northern continent.
Carrying two hares on his back and pretending to be a hunter, Boyle led Todd and Rachel through the streets of the market district, trying his best not to attract attention.
Concealing most of his mutated body beneath a heavy black cloak, Todd followed behind Boyle, carefully observing everything before him.
The spacious yet chaotic market was teeming with merchants of different skin colors and accents. There were traders from neighboring countries, tall, strong North Islanders, and a dozen or so strange groups speaking a common language and dressed in neat black robes…
Curious, Todd used his 'clairvoyance' ability to look at the group. Looking through the 'surface' of their coats, the black cross on their shirts and the cross pendant on their chests startled him: "How could there possibly be church merchants here?!"
Boyle glanced at the group and said in a deep voice, "There have always been people in the church in the south who are secretly trading with the north. This is an open secret in the Kingdom of Ulster. There are even rumors that a major reason why the church prohibits trade between the Silver Ring Kingdom and the north is because it doesn't want others to get involved in this business."
“This is impossible.” Todd shook his head in disbelief. “If it was merely to maintain the Church’s secret trade with the North, then the cost of this war is far too high! More than half of the Holy Guard’s army has been killed or wounded, and even the vice-principal of the Knights Templar has fallen on the battlefield…”
Todd's voice grew softer and softer, and his expression became increasingly serious.
Rachel glanced at him and asked Boyle, "What special products does the North have that the Church values so highly?"
“Fur, herbs, timber…” Boyle raised his chin and pointed to the largest platform in the market area: “However, compared to that, these are just small businesses that don’t make much money.”
Todd looked in the direction he was pointing and saw hundreds of people gathered around the largest platform in the market, with shouts and calls of hawkers filling the air.
Upon closer inspection, the goods on the market platform turned out to be—people.
Men, women, the elderly, and children were all chained together, with wooden signs indicating prices placed in front of their feet.
A slave trader was enthusiastically describing the origins of his goods to the buyers. Most of them were prisoners of war, while a small number were slaves from southern barbarian tribes.
“People from Silver Ring City, Holy Guard City, and some from the Orthodox Church,” Boyle said, stroking his chin. “These goods are the Northern Kingdom’s biggest ‘specialty.’”
“Humans…” Todd lowered his head in anguish, looking at his monstrous claws, and slowly said, “Humans, even without mutation, can easily lose their humanity.”
Rachel's eyes narrowed slightly: "Where will these people be sold?"
“The church and caravans from the North Island buy them, and most of them will be sold to the Southern Empire. Those believers in Allah have a very strong demand for these ‘white slaves’.”
The harsh sound of whipping and shrill cries filled his ears. Todd gritted his teeth, turned and left the market, his voice filled with helplessness and sorrow: "It's easy to save a person, but hard to save a heart."
After the three people left, the old man and the child emerged from the shadows.
"The wonder of this world is beyond description!" Clarence hunched over, watching the departing figure, a dry laugh escaping his lips. "Who could have imagined that such a fateful encounter would occur in a place like this?!"
Sabrina turned around and looked around, asking in confusion, "That's strange, I don't see any other guards."
“It’s not hard to guess. King Muxi has no children and no legitimate heir. He has no choice but to travel in secret.” Clarence moved his feet, struggling forward.
Sabrina rolled up her sleeves: "Then we can intercept him from the front!"
Clarence waved his hand: "It would be too conspicuous to make a move here. Besides, if I'm not mistaken, his destination... should be the same as mine..."
Before he could finish speaking, he frowned, his hand trembling as he reached into his mouth and pulled out a bloody tooth.
Looking at the withered and decaying thing in his hand, Clarence clenched it tightly: "The aging caused by the collapse of my soul is accelerating, and my time is running out."
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“This is the place where we originally agreed to meet.” Boyle led Todd and Rachel on a half-day walk to the seaside north of Ancient Gu City and said this to a shallow beach.
“If it weren’t for that damn storm, we could have gotten here half a month earlier,” Rachel said, frustrated.
Todd looked at the boundless sea before him and asked Boyle, "Where should we go next?"
"Come with me."
After saying this, Boyle followed the beach to a hidden cave, uncovered the branches and fishing nets used for camouflage, and a simple sailboat appeared before the three of them.
“The Land of Shadows is shrouded in mist, riddled with reefs and fraught with complex currents.” Boyle patted the sailboat and said with a smile, “Large ships can’t get close there; only small boats can navigate in.”
Todd raised his own question: "Is the Land of Shadows an island?"
Boyle thought for a moment and replied, “According to those who have returned from there, some say it is an island, while others say there is nothing there. The Shadow Country seems to take on different shapes and sizes depending on the seasons, climate, and ocean currents.”
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