“So the guy’s name is Renar. Beast Bloods, huh? I’ve heard about them. But not much is known about their core practises. It’s good that you guys caught…”
Ari was about to make a formal statement regarding the prisoners Eren’s team had brought with them but was stopped after seeing a kid on a colt with only an intact arm on him. The rest of his limbs were missing from their joints. The guy looked crestfallen in his chains. As if death would be a mistress he was willing to hug with his only one intact arm.
“What did you guys do to him?”
Ari had to ask. It’s not like she hadn’t seen a ranker getting amputated by another ranker. But the one who got amputated was just a kid. A ranker’s code dictated that Eren’s team go easy on him even when he was in the wrong.
“Eren happened to him. But he was not wrong in doing that. I mean, he was wrong in chopping the guy’s limbs but he was not in his reasoning. Do you get it? I mean..”
Ken was replying with a serious face, trying to defend his battle buddy’s actions. But it was not what the mutilator wanted from him at the time.
‘Just shut the hell up, you **** **** ****. You are making my case worse here with your talk.’
Eren wanted to fill the guy’s mouth up with a bucketful of lava to shut him for the time being.
In the end, Marla took over and explained the event in detail without any bias. Ari nodded her head before declaring her verdict:
“Alright. We will send the prisoners to the city prison for the time being. A panel of judges will regulate their punishments as per the known crimes they’ve committed.
The Ace ranker is here to stay. He’ll not get away that easily. But I don’t think we have much on the kids. So they’ll be given lighter punishments.”
“Greetings, Adept Arizihana. I was wondering if you could tell us what would happen to the Ace ranker’s lackeys?”
Eren asked as soon as Ari gave them a brief about processing the criminals they had brought. He had a plan in mind and wanted to confirm something first.
“Hmm? I’m only guessing here. But from what I know, the kids will have to serve a minimum of 10 years of enslavement to the city of Silvermoon. It may be more dependent upon the judging panel and their behaviour.
Renar will have to face a minimum of 50 years of enslavement. His ranking journey is over with his damaged beyond repair mana core. So the 50 years will be like lifetime enslavement for him if he survives that long.”
The group of cultists didn’t like that their punishments were being talked about in front of them. As if they didn’t exist in the same space as their lawful captors. But they couldn’t speak anyway. Their mouths had also been shut close by the runic pattern drawn over their cheeks by Adept Marla.
A jolt would pass through the captive’s tongues whenever they tried to open their mouths without permission. That’s why they didn’t open their mouths without permission the entire time they were travelling.
“10 years of enslavement, huh? Are we getting rewards from the city of Silvermoon for taking care of the nuisance for them?”
Eren asked with a slight bow. He was not sure who would make it worth it for him to spend his time and energy on a waste of time cultist catch and release, but he wanted his share for doing his work anyway. And he had another reason to ask the question as well.
“Rewards from the city of Silvermoon are indeed there. But they’ll be given to Marla who would then distribute those as per your contribution. I’m guessing you have something on your mind with the way you are asking about these things.
No need to feel shy, Eren. just tell me what do you want?”
“Alright then. I want Agatha to be enslaved to me with a binding contract.”
Everyone froze at Eren’s bold statement. They all felt that maybe Ari shouldn’t have said “no need to feel shy” to this devious teen. The act was akin to leaving your door open while going outside so that the thief has an easy time robbing you.
Agatha looked hatefully at the terrorist who had terrorized her. Then she got scared for her future if Eren becomes her owner for at least 10 years. The guy was a freak. He would bomb girls without any hesitation. What would he do to them if they were his slaves?
Agatha didn’t want to find out the answer to that question. She tried to run away with all her might but the runic chains lit up and made her stand still at her place.
Marla, the controller of those chains, didn’t even look at the captive’s futile attempt to run and let the show go on. Something much interesting was unfolding after all. Her apprentice never ceased to surprise her till now.
“And what makes you think I would agree to your request? Eren, you are a student so you might not know. But enslavement is the biggest source of profits for city governments, approved by the kingdom. It’s free labour with the only expense on the enslaved person’s daily necessities.
So giving a potential human resource away is a huge loss for any local government. It’s all about economics in the end. If some of the city officials have their way, they would start a manhunt for even the pettiest of criminals and dish out maximum enslavement punishments to keep the city’s budget in the profit.
The criminals’ imprisonment is part of your mission. You will get paid for the sanctioned capture by other means.
Why would the city’s administration allow a brat like you to take up their valuable resource all to yourself?”
“No. The city officials won’t let me. But you can, Adept Ari.
I’m sure you must have a sway over the judgement. If you can plead from my behalf, They’ll let me have the slave.”
“And why would I do that? You know about ranker’s codes right?
Equivalent exchange. What’s in it for me?”
“Well for a starter… your life.”
Eren looked straight in the Adept ranker’s eyes after he said that. He had finally remembered Ari from his past life.
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AN: About the **** **** ****. I just couldn’t find better words than Eren would use to cuss the white knight. Normal NSFW words just didn’t cut it. They didn’t have that rage behind them that Eren is expected to feel while hurling them towards the protagonist.
So imagine the worst terms Eren would use for Ken and fill in the blanks. Also, do let me know the terms you came up with by including them in the comment section so that I can use them on Eren’s behalf in the future. Just remember to alter your spellings to avoid the safety filter. ?