Chapter 34: New Subordinates (1)
Sigmund exited his space and arrived inside a large warehouse, properly decorated to temporarily house the people that were rescued from being sold into slavery.
He and his clone, Perry, might have utilized underhanded means to rescue the slave but, in the world of the black market, ethics was out of the question.
He surveyed the location including those beings who were magically levitated, wrapped in azure orbs of light individually while they remained unconscious.
Perry managed to line those captured into proper rows with more men than women, all of them emitted slight mana fluctuation.
Sigmund changed his clothes to an azure silk coat over a v-neck white cotton shirt and a pair of mauve linen trousers as he arrived at the warehouse. His simple elegant fashion style could not receive compliments as he dealt with unconscious beings numbering five thousand with another two hundred for children who were sold into slavery. Among these children were a few elves and dwarves.
All of the grown beings retrieved during their operation were humans and possibly all were mages. The strongest among them was in mage level 3 while the rest were in mage level 1, possibly because of the trauma experienced, affecting their foundation and cores.
Perry detected twenty beings in mage level 2 while the five were in mage level 3 with two women possessing a higher level than others.
Those in mage levels 2 and 3 were placed in a separate partition inside the warehouse as Sigmund observed them. Their naked bodies were magically wrapped in simple white robes to make them dignified as the celestial sage intended to awaken them.
Seven hours after the rescue, Sigmund motioned those he selected to rouse from unconsciousness. Monetarily, fifteen of the men retained their physique despite being unconscious for too long but all of them remained sluggish as they awakened. The women's reactions were different as some came out of shock while others were sobbing. The remaining had faces painted with incredulity.
Sigmund waited a few minutes for those awakened to get used to the surrounding before announcing. "You have been captured as slaves before we rescued you and placed you here. For how long? That is the question that you must resolve. Today is the 14th day of Lune Satlo within the year 102550."
After hearing Sigmund's initial speech, all were bewildered with each having various thoughts as they digested their present situation.
One man from the group observed his surroundings and the people whose attire was almost similar to this. With shoulder-length dark blonde hair, dark blue eyes, and muscular features, he initially thought to be naked after seeing him captured by their conquerors, caged in tight clusters, and transported to another area. The last time he was conscious was when he and his, men arrived in a dark facility, showered using a water cannon that brought vertigo to him and his colleagues, and then stripped off the remaining garments. After that, all was blurry and uncertain until his recent re-awakening in another facility where he noticed two tall youthful-looking men, standing at a certain distance while one spoke of the current date.
If what that man on a small pedestal spoke of was true, then it was not yet long before he and the men were captured and taken elsewhere.
While he was observing the people in the group, he noticed most of them to be his colleagues in the army from a second-class village. When they were conquered by stronger mages, they were helpless to fight back and returned to their village. The only thing he was thankful for was that he was captured alive while most of the groups of soldiers in the village were killed. Perhaps, he might see the others after he decided to leave this facility.
Judging by the two persons before him and this group, they were here to rescue them. But after the Bojoc Village was conquered of its territory, it was unlikely for him to return there unless these people would grant them opportunities.
While he was thinking of a temporary strategy to extricate himself from this facility, he suddenly heard someone calling his name. "Captain Bastian?"
He turned to see a tall lanky man with broad shoulders and recognized the dark blonde hair despite the disheveled state and drooping green eyes, that used to be sharp and alert before. "Nath? Not here."
After seeing the man called Nath, his eyes shifted to the others behind the man who called him. He immediately recognized their faces. He surmised that all those who were captured from his team in the village army were alive, at least that's what he could see as many of his men were in the same facility as he was: alive and seemingly okay.
When Sigmund noticed the men were familiar with each other, he signaled the rest to stop the noise as he continued to speak. "I believe all of you are familiar so I am not concerned about someone being alienated from this group. The reason I gathered you here is because of your mage level which would imply your capability to deliver certain tasks for me. I am presenting to you an opportunity to work for me, all of you."
Sigmund eyed each of the persons in the same area as they all halted in releasing any noise. But most of them were stunned.
"I believe you all came from the same village. That's what the history from the facility of slave traders who captured you and sold to slavery had in their information."
The man named Bastian looked bewildered but he immediately returned to his stoic expression.
"The village you used to live in was taken and has a new village chief. I am not sure that when you decide to return to your village, you will be safe from the clutches of the people who captured you. But, as I mentioned, I can give you a job opportunity with pay and even a dwelling place as your residence. Each of you can be bestowed with a job and a place to live. As you work for me, you won't be starved."
Sigmund's speech seemed to be a practiced pitch but everything was impromptu as he was used to doing this when dealing with people. His words seemed to take effect among the ladies while he sensed some men harbor slight skepticism.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone