章 43: Facing off against the raiders

"That's one of the reasons I need your help. Together we will isolate the building with Astral Energy" Hal said

Eugene went silent briefly. There were so many things that could go wrong but what were friends for?

'I believe your 'offer' of friendship is now paying off' Grimiore said and Hal ignored it.

The slave house happened to be a very lucrative business and as such they had a force that while less than the great family's was still substantial enough to cause issues for a small group like theirs.

The establishment belonged to the Holger family, a Plebeian family who had monopolized slave trade in Salmon city and made it into a lucrative business. It was rumored that they had a secret that helped keep their slaves in line, ensuring that even those with relatively strong cultivation bases did not rebel.

Hal would not claim this as easy however he really did have a plan and was fully prepared to implement it.

***

Holger Estate

A large expense of land built upon wealth gained for slavery. A large building stood on the right side seemingly separate, a building with a plaque on it which read Saive Auction House. The front for the Holger family slave business.

What was most ironic was the fact that they had no real need to have a front as after centuries it was pretty clear what they did to make money.

The main force of the Holger family were the raiders. They were the ones who went to random settlements filled with weak denizens, settlements like villages, and brought them back to Saive Auction House where they would be briefly groomed before an Auction was held to sell the ones ready for trade.

The Holger family had made a lot of wealth from the business and it was all for an opportunity to become a great family or maybe even replace one.

Another successful raid had been completed the day before and there were new slaves for grooming, all in all, the slaves were about a hundred in total. The ones ready for the next auction were about 20, but that was okay.

Usually they preferred those with weak cultivation bases not because they offered less resistance but because not many train their slaves. Instead they maltreat them until they die of exhaustion or old age and then they return to the auction house during the next slave auction. So of course the Holgers would not attempt to cripple their business by training their slaves.

In a case where they acquire those with strong cultivation bases they sold them at a high price, not because of the quality alone but because such a sale would most probably affect the next auction.

The main members of the family at present were Corban Holger, the family patriarch, his only son Brysen born of the tryst he had with a now dead servant and his sister Adler Holger the one he dotes on the most, a bitch and an absolute nightmare.

The Holgers prided themselves as good business men and women. So it was with business-like scrutiny that they studied their new acquisitions.

"So many new toys to play with" Adler giggled while subtly licking her red lips. In looks Adler was quite a beauty it was her personality that made her hated.

"Now, now Adler this is business and I will not allow you to ruin the merchandize" Corban cautioned lightly while Adler pouted

"You're no fun" she whispered

Corban turned towards his son "well what do you think?" He gestured at the slaves before him

"They should fetch quite a sum" Brysen said with such enthusiasm that his father raised his eyebrows

"Are you sure you are ready?" He asked

"Yes I am sure"

"Very well you will join the next raid. You will start from the bottom so as to really understand the true essence of this business. It's how I started" Corban said and then gestured at one of the raiders.

"Arlo, you know what to do"

Arlo bowed and along with a few other raiders he led the slaves to the basement of the auction house.

BOOOM!!!

A sound of demolition went off as a dome of royal blue/ cyan colored Astral energy covered the entirety of the estate.

"What the hell is going on?" Adler asked as she ran outside with Corban and Brysen on her heels.

Outside, four individuals stood waiting for them and they were of course Hal, Melinda, Rita and Eugene. Their entire surrounding reduced to rubble and guards unconscious or dead

"Lady Melinda? Master Swanson? What is the meaning of this?" Corban asked in an angry voice

"Retribution, thats what it means" Hal said in a calm voice

"I remember you. You're that Payne kid she bought over a week ago, you're Hot" Adler said licking her lips

"Thank you. It's always nice to be appreciated, I hope you still think so by the time the day is over" Hal replied with a smile

"And you want retribution with this little force of yours" Corban chuckled as the raiders flooded the courtyard, the scene of the destruction and let lose the pressure of their cultivation bases with most at the peak of the Energy sensing realm and a few at the Cosmic pearl realm.

A group of ten led by Castor also came in from the outside, they were the strongest of Melinda's servants and were all bound to Hal by one of his contracts.

They were however mostly at the energy sensing realm and did not prevent their side from being outnumbered.

The three main members ran deeper into the manor and the battle began with Melinda pointing her finger at the crowd

"Third grade skill: Shooting stars"

Boom!!

A large number of men were blasted backwards by the skill and most of those at the Energy sensing realm fell unconscious with a couple of them dying instantly. those at the cosmic pearl realm were injured but fine and were getting back to their feet.

Melinda's preemptive strike had allowed their side to take advantage. Hal stretched his hand and astral runes (bind) appeared in front of it again and again to slam into their opponents and hold them in place for an easy strike.

He went after both those at the Energy sensing realm as well as those at the cosmic pearl realm, however continued usage threatened his mental health so he had to stop and rely on cosmic attacks to use against opponents.

"Eugene, Melinda, Rita, remember the plan. Leave this ones to us" Hal said and the three left. The Two ladies a little reluctant.

So far, everything had gone according yo plan. With the Primordial Cosmic Grimiore and his Essence King bloodline ability. it was only a matter of time before he surpassed his enemies and even allies, but he could not wait that long and as such he needed help.

So he was only going to hold off those of this level while the others would go after Corban and Adler, the ones with the strongest cultivation base in the Holger estate.

The moment they left, The attack became even harder to bare with. Suddenly Hal's eyes became pitch black as he used {Fear!} And instantly all attacks suddenly stopped as the raiders shivered with fear

"Arrrrggghh" Some of them screamed while the others were too paralyzed to speak and ever the opportunists castor and the others attacked slaying as many as they could before their master's trick stopped being effective.

Soon the raiders numbers began to dwindle and when they realized Hal was the key to their defeat they went after him with more direct assault. And then as though the Cosmic lord was smiling down at them, reinforcement arrived in the form of Arlo along with the raiders that were with him.

Arlo had been busy securing the slaves and also...he wanted a grand entrance not to mention that most of the members of that squad were antagonists towards his leadership of the raiders and he was glad to be rid of them.

Arlo's cultivation was at the mid stage and when he came in to attack...

"Second grade skill: Cataclysm" Hal used one of the skills he had and had been looking for an opportunity to use.

The ground shook as boulders made of cosmic energy emerged from a two circled ring and rolled towards Arlo who was trapped by the energy as the boulders collided with him with a force enough to turn him flat. He was alive but barely...An arrow made of astral energy stabbing through his neck sealed the deal.

The raiders he commanded were shell shocked. None of those present were really Hal's match and the only reason they were still alive was because they were in a group and the battle was not one on one. Also Hal had mostly been holding them down for his Men to take advantage as they were mostly battle fresh.

When he saw Arlo, he just did not like him and decided to give him some special attention. The raiders were suddenly retreating slowly before a voice sounded.

"Stay where you are, I will take care of Master Payne here" the one who owned the voice was someone Hal recognized and would have never expected to come here.

He was the slaver/auctioneer who had handled Hal's sale and the pressure he was giving off was of the peak stage of the Cosmic pearl realm something Hal had never expected even in his wildest dreams.