As the number of pioneers increased, a massive "pioneer resource trading center," tacitly approved by the Empire, was established in the central region of the New World.
The most traded and most popular "goods" here were slaves.
After Wang Jianguo arrived, he always felt that there wasn't enough labor in the household. He was ambitious and wanted to cultivate more land and build a real "Wang Family Compound," but relying on the existing twenty-odd slaves was far too slow.
"Come on, Xiao Hao, Dad will take you to 'buy some goods'!"
Wang Jianguo took Wang Hao and boarded the only hovercar in the manor. It took them half a day to reach the slave market known as "Red Earth Town".
Upon entering the market area, a pungent odor immediately filled the air, a mixture of sweat, blood, and excrement.
Everywhere you look, there are huge iron cages. Inside the cages are all sorts of "goods" from different races.
Elves, dwarves, humans, orcs... and even some demi-human races with scales or wings that Wang Hao had never seen before.
They were kept like livestock, the collars around their necks flashing a dangerous red light. Many were wounded, their eyes numb, as if they had lost their souls.
At the center of the market was a huge auction stage.
A bald, burly imperial merchant, holding an energy whip, pointed it at a trembling cat-eared girl on the stage and shouted:
"Attention, bosses! New arrivals of orcs, cat race! Young, highly malleable, and absolutely clean! Whether for fine work or as pets, they are the best choice! Starting bid: 500 Dragon Coins!"
The pioneers in the audience were casually calling out prices, just like they were buying vegetables at a market.
"Five hundred and fifty!"
"I'll offer six hundred!"
"This kitten is too thin, it won't be able to reproduce. Six hundred and twenty, that's the most I can give!"
Wang Jianguo was clearly not interested in this kind of "retail". He pulled Wang Hao and headed straight for the "wholesale area" deep inside the market.
The scene here is even more horrifying.
Hundreds and thousands of slaves were chained together and piled up like cargo in open enclosures.
The demon overseers brandished long whips, patrolling among them, and any slight disobedience would result in a severe beating.
"Boss, want to see the goods?" A merchant with a goatee approached, all smiles. "I just brought a batch of dwarves from the front lines. They're strong, hardworking, and perfect for mining! I'll give you a wholesale price for fifty or more, only three hundred each!"
Wang Jianguo shook his head and pointed to a group of elf slaves being held in solitary confinement on the other side: "How much do you sell those for?"
"Wow, boss, you have a good eye!" The goatee merchant's eyes lit up. "These are elven nobles, prominent figures in their homeland. Although they may not be very strong, they know a lot! Some can brew wine, some can carve, and some even know some magic! It's just that the price... is a bit high, at least two thousand points each."
"Let me see."
Wang Jianguo walked up to the cages and, as if selecting livestock, pinched the arms of one and examined the teeth of another.
The caged elves' eyes were filled with humiliation and hatred, but they dared not resist and could only let Wang Jianguo's rough hands grope their bodies.
Wang Hao followed behind his father, initially feeling a little uncomfortable. But he was quickly infected by the atmosphere.
Here, life can be measured in price. Here, he can choose his "subjects" at will, like an emperor. This feeling is far more addictive than simply ordering slaves around at home.
Suddenly, Wang Hao's gaze was drawn to a cage in the corner.
There was only one slave and one male elf imprisoned inside.
Unlike the other elves, even as a prisoner, his eyes remained sharp as knives, filled with an indomitable fighting spirit. His body was covered in wounds, but his back stood ramrod straight.
"Who is he?" Wang Hao asked, pointing at him.
"Hey, what a tough nut to crack." The goatee-bearded merchant spat. "I heard he's an elven knight, been to the battlefield, and killed our imperial soldiers. He's been unruly ever since we captured him. If it weren't for his handsome looks and good physique, we would have dealt with him long ago. Boss, this kind of troublemaker is hard to handle. I advise you to look for someone else."
Wang Hao didn't say anything, but Wang Jianguo became interested.
“Pull him out, let me see him.”
The overseer opened the cage, and two demon guards roughly dragged the elven knight out.
The elven knight stared fiercely at Wang Jianguo, his eyes almost overflowing with murderous intent.
“Not bad, that’s got some spirit.” Wang Jianguo wasn’t angry at all; instead, he laughed. He turned to Wang Hao and said, “Son, remember this: the wilder the horse, the more rewarding it is to tame. Buy it!”
"Dad, this..."
"Buy them! Not only him, but also pick fifty of the strongest dwarves, twenty skillful elven craftsmen, and ten humans who know how to farm! Our Wang family is going to make a big splash!" Wang Jianguo waved his hand triumphantly, like a king surveying his domain.
In the end, Wang Hao spent most of the manor's output over half a year to buy a slave army of nearly a hundred people.
As the estate expanded and the number of slaves increased, the royal family's status in the pioneer community near Green Creek Valley also rose.
Wang Jianguo was no longer content with being a "local tyrant" behind closed doors. He became enthusiastic about "socializing" and establishing connections with other estate owners, thus forming a new elite class.
This day marked the first anniversary of the Wang family settling in the new world, and also the first birthday of Wang Hao's son, Wang Xiaobao.
Wang Jianguo decided to hold a grand "family banquet" to invite all the prominent pioneers in the vicinity to showcase the Wang family's strength.
Li Xiulan and Zhang Lan started preparing half a month in advance.
They directed the female slaves in their household to clean the entire treehouse estate until it was spotless. All the tableware was replaced with mithril utensils plundered from the ruins of the elven nobility, and the walls were covered with captured elven art tapestries.
The banquet dishes were extremely luxurious.
The main course is a roasted whole dragonbeast—a powerful creature with delicious meat, unique to the New World.
In addition, there is the rare mushroom soup of the elves, the fire mead of the dwarves, and a fruit tower made of hundreds of otherworldly fruits.
For this banquet, Wang Jianguo specially summoned the elven craftsman slave he had bought who was skilled in carving to his presence.
"I don't care what method you use, before the banquet begins, you must sculpt a statue of three generations of our Wang family at the entrance of the manor! It must be tall and imposing! If you can't do it, I'll chop off your and your clansmen's fingers one by one!" Wang Jianguo threatened viciously.
A hint of sorrow flashed in the elven craftsman's eyes, but he ultimately yielded. He and several elven slaves worked tirelessly for over ten days, finally carving an extremely magnificent statue from a massive white rock.
On the statue, Wang Jianguo stands at the very top with his hands behind his back, gazing intently into the distance; Wang Hao and Zhang Lan stand on either side, their faces bearing the smiles of victors; and at their feet, an infant in swaddling clothes—Wang Xiaobao—reaches out his little hand, as if trying to grasp the whole world.
The base of the statue is composed of countless figures struggling in pain, representing slaves.
This statue, filled with a bloody and savage beauty, perfectly embodies the "spirit" of the pioneers.
On the day of the banquet, Green Creek Valley was bustling with activity and guests gathered in large numbers.
Those who came were all manor owners from the surrounding area, each bringing their most prized "collection"—the most beautiful elven female slave, the most valiant orc guard, or the most peculiar demi-human servant.
"Old Wang, congratulations! Your manor is getting more and more magnificent every day!"
"Oh, not at all, Brother Li, didn't you recently discover a new vein at your mine? That's where you'll really make a fortune!"
"Haha, congratulations to you all! We are all thanks to His Majesty's great fortune!"
The men gathered together, talking loudly and exchanging their experiences in managing slaves, discussing how to unite and suppress the nearby resistance forces, their words filled with an arrogant sense of superiority.
Meanwhile, the women, led by Zhang Lan and Li Xiulan, gathered on the other side, engaging in a silent competition.
"Zhang Lan, your earrings are really beautiful. Are they from the Elf Kingdom?"
"Yes, Sister Zhao. Our C-6 elf slave used to be a jewelry craftsman. I had him make it for me based on my memory."
"Oh dear, your old Wang is really capable. My husband only knows how to make slaves do rough work, he has no fun at all. Look at my hands, they're all rough."
"Sister, don't say that. Everyone knows your husband, Lao Liu, dotes on you the most. I heard he personally killed more than a dozen orcs during the last slave riot!"
They flaunted their jewels, their husbands' "achievements," and the obedience and skill of their slaves. It was as if their memories of being ordinary citizens on Earth had been completely erased.
The highlight of the banquet was the "entertainment program" prepared by Wang Jianguo.
He had the indomitable elven knight, along with several other troublesome slaves, brought to the open space in the center of the banquet.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Wang Jianguo raised his glass, his face flushed, and said loudly, "Today is my grandson Xiaobao's birthday, and also the first anniversary of our Wang family's establishment in the New World! To celebrate with everyone, I have specially prepared a great show!"
He pointed at the elven knight and sneered, "This guy is a former captain of the elven kingdom's knights, and he's got a tough nut to crack! Today, I'll make him fight the strongest demon overseer in our manor! Guess who will win?"
The guests erupted in excited cheers.
"I bet the demon overseer will win! I'll wager 100 credits!"
"That's not necessarily true. The elven knight's swordsmanship is renowned! I bet he can last three minutes!"
Amidst the cheers and jeers of the crowd, the gladiatorial combat began.
Although the elven knight was fitted with a collar to suppress his power, he still managed to fight the tall and strong demon overseer to a standstill, relying on his superb martial arts skills and indomitable will.
Every dodge and counterattack he made drew gasps and cheers from the guests.
They don't care who lives or dies; they only enjoy the thrill of controlling the lives and deaths of others.
Ultimately, the elven knight, exhausted, was struck by the demon overseer's whip, which broke both his legs.
He lay on the ground, panting heavily, still glaring with hatred at the group of laughing demons around him.
Wang Jianguo laughed loudly, stepped forward, stomped on the man's face, and announced to the crowd, "It seems the Demon Clan overseer has won! Men, drag this piece of trash away. Once his injuries have healed, he can fight again for everyone next time!"
The banquet ended amidst laughter and cheerful conversation.
This so-called "family banquet" was more like a carnival for the new aristocracy. On this land, they used the blood and bones of slaves to build their own decadent social circle.
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