Blood Contract Volume 1 Chapter 5

It was already ten o'clock in the morning when they reached Saiwon City. On their way there, seven to eight slaves had died. Another two to three laid on the floor, like a pile of loose dirt.

After docking, Zero's face was pale due to all that rowing with one hand. His complexion didn't look any better than those two to three slaves who were on the brink of death.

Besides ― he had low blood sugar in the morning! In addition to working in the dark for a long period of time, he had become very light sensitive.

He lay on the floorboard and dry-heaved for a while. The deputy captain, Burnett, who had punished them yesterday, sat not far away and ate his long-awaited bat sandwich.

Around this time, a burly bald-headed sailor walked in. Zero seemed to remember that his name was Benny.

Bald-headed Benny walked towards the deputy captain. Along the way, he kicked a few slaves who were blocking his way.

He didn't know what bald-headed Benny said to the deputy captain. Afterwards, the fiery-haired deputy captain allowed him to pick a couple of helpers. Bald-headed Benny randomly kicked a few of the slaves and led them off the ship with their feet bound.

Zero at this time was sitting by the stairs. He very ‘fortunately' got kicked.

When they got off, they headed straight for the city market. They had to replenish the ship's food and water supply. It looked like bald-headed Benny showed no prudence when he chose his helpers. Zero only had one functioning arm. He really couldn't do much.

Saiwon City was a small coastal city. Because of its close proximity to the capital, Giffin (legend had it that G.o.d created this floating island paradise), this small city had become very prosperous as a result.

Although Saiwon City and Giffin were very close, it would take half a month to navigate around Helu Bay to reach Giffin, if traveling by sea. Not to mention, the slave ship's destination wasn't the capital. It was Lyon, the City of Flames. Therefore, the possibility of seeing the mystical floating island was very low. It was a good thing was that Zero wasn't all that interested.

It was apparent that bald-headed Benny often came here to shop. Not long after, he had bought all the necessary items. Naturally, he wouldn't go back to the ship this early. Bald-headed Benny already had women in both arms as he walked into a small tavern. Poor Zero could only sit outside and wait.

A group of slaves waited outside the entrance for nearly two hours. The sunlight was a bit strong. It made them very drowsy. Zero was no different. He lowered his guard and was ready to nap. Just then, someone woke him up. Sitting beside him was a ‘not for sale goods' veteran slave.

The middle-aged man was big or rather, it should be said that he was fat. Although he had an aggressive-looking face, his every gesture was friendly. He gave half of a moldy coconut bread to Zero.

Zero eyed him, received it, and sniffed it. After discovering that it contained no poison, he quickly wolfed it down. During his training, food was usually the reward. It became a habit of Zero's to never reject anything as long as he could eat and that it was non-poisonous.

The middle-aged man wore no expression on his face. He only nodded his head after seeing Zero unhesitatingly ate it.

While he was eating, he also surveyed the one next to him. He hadn't seen him before in the orlop deck. This meant that he wasn't into men. This was good news. He had someone to cover him and he didn't have to use his body to pay for it. To be honest, it wasn't that Zero had never done it with a man. Rather than having pain in his behind, he'd rather choose to be beaten up.

“You didn't seem to suffer much yesterday night.” said the man who then menacingly smiled.

Zero hesitated and then his entire body shivered, making him look sad and pitiful. He timidly nodded. “Someone from the second deck saved me.”

“That little white sheep?” The man laughed. His expression remained shady. “What a brave fella. After yesterday night's ordeal, he wouldn't dare to pretend to be a goody little two-shoes again.”

Zero inwardly trembled. “What will happen to him?”

“He won't die. He's an important good after all. But he's gonna get a taste first.” The middle-aged man smiled mockingly as he spoke yet his expression was full of disgust.

This further confirmed Zero's guess. This man wasn't interested in men. That blond youth…. It was better that way. The sooner he learned of the cruelties of this world, the more prepared for the future he would be.

As he thought about it, Zero had already finished his bread in two to three bites. He then turned his gaze towards the man's other half of the bread. Even though he was still very hungry, as a qualified ‘underling', he couldn't take away his portion.

The middle-aged man noticed his gaze and angrily roared, calling him an ungrateful dog and a b.a.s.t.a.r.d who should go to h.e.l.l. Nevertheless, he still handed the other half to Zero.

Zero struggled with his guilty conscience for a long while before finally receiving the bread. He tore the bread in half with his teeth and gave the larger half back to the man. The man immediately stuffed it in his mouth.

Seeing this, Zero also hastily stuffed his bread in his mouth. Because he ate too fast, he ended up choking and tears welled up in his eyes. The middle-aged man laughed out loud at his clumsiness. He patted him roughly on the back, almost to the point of breaking him.

At this time, two children scurried through the busy market with a group of men chasing after them.

“Cynthia, run!!!” The little boy screamed. He suddenly stopped and knocked down the nearby street stalls, blocking the men's path.

“Stand there, you little b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!!! You can't run so easily away from us!!!”

“Cynthia…. hurry! You go first!”

“Brother!!”

“GO!!!”

The little girl hesitated but then quickly turned and ran for her life.

They had been starved for too long. She hadn't run far but her legs were already wobbly. She fell right in front of Zero.

Suffering from a hard fall, the girl didn't cry. She wanted to get up but struggled and failed. Her hands were bloodied. A large ‘X” was tattooed on the back of her hand.

“Childe's fodder.” The middle-aged man once again menacingly smiled.

“What?” Zero bewilderedly asked.

“Childe refers to a vampire youngling who has yet to be introduced to and approved by the prince. Those two little runts are the Childe's fodder.”

“Cynthia….” The little boy saw the little girl fell and swiftly attempted to help her get up. However, he was detained by one of the men. Another two of them rushed up to the girl and one raised a thick metal chain, ready to strike her.

“CYNTHIA!!!”

[SLAP!!!] All the blood from his body rushed to where the chain had hit Zero. Immediately, the feeling of dizziness overwhelmed him.

Zero bitterly smiled. He must be crazy. He actually wanted to save a little runt who was destined to die.

[I have a sister. Her name's Cynthia. We lived in Pulusi….]

“Get up you filthy slave!” After the rest of them had caught up to the two children, they flogged their bodies with the thick chains. Their bones felt like they were being crushed. Searing pain radiated across the flesh.

The more they struck them, the more ferocious the hits got. The onlookers were expressionless, as if they had seen enough of these scenes.

“CYNTHIA!!!” The little boy nervously cried out loud. Zero hugged the little girl with an iron grip. Even though he was in so much pain that he was beginning to lose consciousness, he never let go.

“Hold it!” A voice sounded from out of nowhere. After hearing this voice, the men instantly stopped and courteously stood still. “Yes, my lord. Good afternoon, my lord.”

“What happened here? What are these slaves doing?”

“These two little ones are the marquis's escaped slaves, my lord.” One of the men respectfully replied.

Zero couldn't hear clearly their conversation. All of his nerves tingling with pain were more than what he could bear. Suddenly, a big hand grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head up.

“My lord!!! He's a slave from Rohm! He's too dirty, my lord. You….” The one who spoke was bald-headed Benny who had just come out from the tavern.

“He's an Oriental?”

“Yes, my lord. He's the lowliest of all slaves!”

“Yo, Katarxis! There's a black-haired Oriental human here!” The voice of the owner sounded very excited and the one named Katarxis impatiently responded, “It's only a lowly slave.”

“Ha?!! Aren't you interested at all? I have never seen an Oriental with black hair and black eyes before.”

The atmosphere suddenly dropped. The one called Katarxis grew livid.

“Alright alright! I know! I know! n.o.body can compare with him. But I'm taking this slave!”

Bald-headed Benny didn't know the ident.i.ty of these two men but clearly, they were vampires. Not to mention, this lowly slave didn't have any value.

“Yes, my lord. He's all yours!” He casually grabbed Zero.

Zero's consciousness was already slipping yet he held onto that girl tightly. The more bald-headed Benny tugged, the tighter he hugged. Seeing that he couldn't pry him loose, bald-headed Benny angrily stomped him on the back. Zero groaned in pain.

The n.o.ble who wanted Zero furrowed his brows. He pushed bald-headed Benny away, bent down, and picked up Zero in his arms. He then turned around to face the group of men who were out to catch Cynthia and said, “This little girl's blood isn't fit for a Childe. I suggest you find someone else.”

After everyone's focus returned back to the scene, the two vampires and the Oriental slave had already disappeared.

T/N: Thank you for having patience. The following chapters will be released soon as well. I changed Barney's sister's name to Cynthia which is the intended romanization. Also, welcome Katarxis! Zero's first of many fanboys makes his debut!