RNP Chapter 432 Breaking the Contract
Chapter 432 Breaking the Contract
Chapter 432 Breaking the Contract
Tang Zijun briefly described her situation to Xiao Xiao. After all, Xiao Xiao had entered the wasteland world with her, and Tang Zijun didn't expect her to hide anything.
While Xiao Xiao was processing the information, Tang Zijun turned to look at Gloriand. "By the way, how are the slaves?"
"The slave trader brought the people here three days ago, but you weren't here at the time, so I paid a deposit and let the slave trader stay here temporarily while waiting for you to arrive. The slaves have now integrated into Black City, but they are still wearing the slave trader's shackles."
"As you instructed, I scattered them across various areas of Black City. A few who were still capable of fighting were assigned to mercenary groups and city defense teams, some were used for insect breeding, and the rest lived with the local people, doing things like sewing clothes."
"It sounds like a good arrangement. How are they adapting?" Tang Zijun asked again.
Gloria raised her hand and smoothed her hair. "I'm adapting alright. I've greeted everyone else, and no one is rejecting them. Although it felt a little strange at first, I got used to it after a few days."
As she spoke, Grilando seemed to remember something else. "Oh right, some elves have even secretly performed sacrifices to the god of nature."
"A sacrificial ceremony?" Tang Zijun frowned.
"Yeah, it's just murmuring something to the newly sprouted plants, but it's in Elvish, mostly saying things like thanking the god of nature, kind of mystical stuff," Grilando said casually.
Hearing this, Tang Zijun's brows relaxed a little. After experiencing some incidents with heretics, he was still quite resistant to sacrifices. Whenever he heard the word "sacrifice," he would immediately think of blood sacrifices. However, it seems that not all believers are so anti-life.
"I had their rituals stopped, after all, Black City is under your protection... If you don't approve, these beliefs will..."
"It's alright, normal rituals and prayers like this are fine. If she wants to talk to the plants, let her talk, as long as she doesn't cause any trouble," Tang Zijun waved her hand and continued. "Besides, aren't elves quite good at taking care of plants? As long as there's enough production, let them be."
"Hmm." Gloriand smiled as well. "Actually, that's what I think too. After all, the God of Nature is orthodox. If they have the ability to actually summon the God of Nature, then this awful weather can be somewhat restored."
Upon hearing Gloriam mention this, Tang Zijun suddenly remembered something. "You just said that the slave trader is temporarily staying in Black City, right?"
"Yes, Black City doesn't have that much money right now, and time is up. If you had arrived any later, I'm afraid..."
Tang Zijun just pursed his lips. Afraid of what? Even if they couldn't come back, they were still in the Wasteland Universe. He really didn't believe that the God of Merchants' divine punishment could reach them there.
Where is he now?
Speaking of that slave trader, Gloriand was a little annoyed. "It must have been in the mercenary group's tavern. That guy acted like a nobleman because we didn't pay the balance, bossing around the brothers in the group and drinking a lot of our wine."
In the dream world of a chaotic era, alcohol is a crucial element.
Due to the spread of divine war and calamities, most rivers have been polluted by misfortune. Under such circumstances, very few people would risk their lives to drink river water. In places like Black City, people drink well water.
Alcohol has a certain bactericidal effect and can also slightly purify pollution, so many people spend a lot of money to buy alcohol to drink, and the price of those alcohols has remained high.
I guess that's what that slave trader was after.
"Hmph." Tang Zijun's lips curled into a smile. "I thought I wouldn't make it, but since I'm not late, that's perfect. Take me to see him."
"Yes, please follow me."
The group soon arrived at the tavern run by the mercenary group.
This place was originally a tavern, but it was abandoned when Black City fell. After Grelando and her group returned, they put the waste to good use. They even found a lot of stored wine in the cellar when they first arrived.
It was precisely because of this windfall that Grilando was able to rebuild Black City into a human settlement.
Tang Zijun led the way, with Ge Lilanduo accompanying her, while Xiao Xiao and Nuomi looked around with wide, curious eyes, like country bumpkins visiting the Grand View Garden.
When they arrived, they were pulled into a large tent, and they didn't even have a chance to properly explore the surroundings.
Xiao Xiao overheard the two of them talking about elves, but she wondered if this elf was the kind she remembered. She really wanted to see it!
Upon entering the tavern, the first thing that catches the eye is the dim oil lamp.
Unlike the bustling tavern I had imagined, this tavern was noticeably more desolate. Although it was run by a mercenary group, even they couldn't afford the drinks here normally. After all, although life had improved, it wasn't yet at a particularly luxurious level.
Alcohol can sometimes be a lifesaver, so even when they drink, they have to be careful with their spending, especially now that a cold wave is hitting and many places don't have enough grain to brew alcohol.
The sound of Tang Zijun pushing open the door attracted the attention of some people in the tavern. The bartender and several members of the mercenary group stood up to greet her. They hadn't spoken much with Tang Zijun, but that didn't diminish their respect for her.
Besides them, a group of people at a table in the corner of the tavern were also alerted and turned to look at the door. The leader of the group smiled as soon as he saw Tang Zijun.
"Oh! My lord, you've finally arrived!"
The slave trader took off his hat, stood up, and came to Tang Zijun.
"I was wondering whether I should greet you, but unfortunately Commander Xiao wouldn't tell me which gate you entered the city through. Did you hear the wolves howling when you came? I didn't expect the area around Black City to be so dangerous, with monsters roaming around... By the way, have you prepared our transaction? Where are the things? Are they in the back?"
As he spoke, the slave trader glanced behind Tang Zijun, trying to see if his gold coins had been placed outside the tavern. However, his gaze soon fell on Xiao Xiao.
He was immediately attracted to this young and beautiful girl.
With her delicate features, fair skin, and long, snow-white legs, although her clothes were a bit odd, she still exuded a very alluring charm.
Since the War of the Gods began, the world has been in chaos. The most obvious feeling in this environment is that most people don't care much about their appearance. Regardless of race, everyone looks weathered at first glance.
But the woman in front of him seemed completely unaffected.
Feeling the somewhat aggressive gaze, Xiao Xiao frowned slightly. She disliked this look; it made her seem like a priceless item at auction.
Just as the slave trader was about to take another step forward to get a better look, Tang Zijun suddenly blocked his way.
"Don't you want your eyes anymore?"
Upon hearing this, the slave trader paused, then immediately slapped himself with a sheepish grin. "My fault, my fault! It's just that this sir is so holy, like a divine messenger, that I couldn't help myself..."
"You're quick to react." Tang Zijun crossed his arms and spoke calmly, his indifferent tone making it impossible to discern his true emotions.
Those who survive in chaotic times are never simple. They are very clear about their position and abilities, and they are also very tactful enough to do everything perfectly.
Tang Zijun thought the other party would be arrogant and domineering because of the contract, but she didn't expect that the other party wouldn't give her a single word to say.
Actually, Tang Zijun had misunderstood this. He didn't know enough about this world. Here, lowly beings like slave traders were not qualified to look directly at a noblewoman. And if the woman was an unmarried noblewoman, the consequences would be even more severe.
So after hearing Tang Zijun say "I don't want my eyes anymore," the slave trader subconsciously assumed that she was a noble like Tang Zijun.
Indeed, in today's world, the only people who can still maintain such smooth and fair skin are probably either wizards or believers in some gods, or well-protected nobles.
"Um, sir, please forgive my rudeness." The slave trader lowered his stance considerably, then looked at Tang Zijun. "...Shouldn't we finalize the trade agreement?"
"The transaction agreement needs to be improved." Tang Zijun casually pulled up a chair and slowly sat down.
Her fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound. After a pause, Tang Zijun's voice came out again.
"But I don't want to pay anymore, what should I do?"
"No, you don't want to pay?!"
The slave trader was taken aback, seemingly never expecting the other party to say such a thing. He had even imagined that the other party would try to lower the price because of his earlier rudeness, since such tactics were normal for nobles. But he never expected the other party to simply tear up the contract.
"My lord, you must understand that the transaction contract was written under the witness of the gods. To break the contract is to defy the gods... Aren't you afraid of their punishment?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Zijun shifted her body slightly, moving her head to Grelando's side. "Will the trading contract still be valid during the War of the Gods?"
Gloriand thought for a moment and nodded. "The history of trading contracts is very ancient, dating back to the ancient times. Back then, people traded with some indescribable beings, and even now, the divine punishment for trading contracts still exists."
"Oh." Tang Zijun nodded thoughtfully. "So, this transaction contract is part of the laws governed by the gods..."
As she spoke, Tang Zijun took out the contract she had been holding and tore it in half in front of everyone.
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