Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Loreana’s Past – An Unforgettable Visage

"After that, we were all directed to the selling area. It was where purchasers could inspect the "goods" and place their bids.

The excited crowd stood in stark contrast to our despairing thoughts. There was no sympathy in those gazes, only more greed.

We witnessed multiple batches of people being auctioned off one at a time. We saw our friends and comrades being received by their buyers, who, ignoring their pleading, enthusiastically dragged them off. That feeling of waiting for the same fate was revolting, to say the least. Not all those sold were children, however. There were many adult women, dressed in clothing based on their "quality".

Finally, the turn of the batch I was part of came on stage, and so did the time for the conclusion.

You could just by looking at the faces of the crowd that it was the main attraction there. After all, who wouldn't want a slave that can be used for more than just entertainment? It was actually the primary reason they kept raiding new cities on a regular basis, because those living in their own bases were mostly already assimilated or were labor slaves who couldn't be expected to produce strong progeny."

"As the line in front kept getting shorter, I was finally pushed on the stage. As I adjusted to a brightness that was darker than the night, a burst of applause and praise erupted. I was standing there stiffly when I heard people applauding and praising something. On a screen behind me, my data was being presented. Apparently, it seemed to have pleased a large number of individuals."

Loreana chuckled coldly and said, "Of course, some of them were just complimenting my appearance. Did you know I dressed up nicely just for that trip? That was supposed to be the most unforgettable day of my life. But when I heard the crowd's praise, all I felt was despair. They weren't just praising me for the sake of applauding me. No! They were praising the qualities that they desired in me; things that they wanted to possess before anyone else. That's when something odd happened..."

Loreana's face had taken on a remarkably calm expression, which made Anom realize that whatever happened next was anything but good.

"I saw that man… He was forcing his way through the crowd. I couldn't be too sure but, when he finally made his way through the front, he seemed to be holding something. He only raised his head to peer at me after putting his hand in his pocket.

That look... It was nothing like the other people's lascivious and greedy expressions. I noticed a gleam in his pupils... As if he had finally discovered what he was looking for.

And trust me, realizing what he was looking for was you wasn't a good thing.

As a result, he began placing bids. Each one bigger than the last until no one dared to step forward to compete with him. He seemed hell-bent on getting me. It looked unprofessional to a merchant. But that guy didn't seem to mind.

As the mallet echoed through the deafening crowd, it also sealed my destiny in the hands of that person.

I was dropped off in the parking lot not long after. But what surprised me was that the guy never looked at me again after that. He seemed rushed, as he simply handed me over to his subordinates and departed.

Nothing much happened as I spent my days tied up along with a few other women. The guy who bought me at the auction seemed to take good care of his men, because those women were clearly bought for their pleasure. I couldn't decide whether to be relieved or worried, as I heard the begging sounds of those women for a continuous few hours, before there was complete silence.

I wasn't sure if it was my fear-induced hallucination, but one of those men—who appeared to be the leader—seemed to be particularly interested in me. No, he didn't want to assault me like the other women; he wanted to possess me, and it was obvious in his gaze that he knew something about me. Something only he and his boss were aware of.

And I believe it was because of his instructions that none of them attempted to harm me. But maybe because the situation frustrated them to no end, they made what was the most stupid decision of their life."

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"As we passed through the forest, a woman's laugh echoed, making everyone alert. But they soon relaxed, and were even excited. After all, they had "finished using" the previous women and had disposed of them. That soft laugh seemed to energize them, as they swiftly changed course after a token protest from their leader.

I couldn't see what was outside because I was inside the carriage. But, based on what I heard from those guys, it appeared that a man was driving a carriage without any guards had appeared in their vision.

As he cautioned his subordinates, the leader appeared wary. After all, those who dared to venture in this manner could either be fools who got lost or those who were truly capable. But when that guy politely asked them not to bother him because he just wanted to appreciate the journey with his lady, their suspicion turned to contempt. For guys like them, politeness equates to weakness. Furthermore, they had already been pulled in by the woman's voice who was inside the carriage. They were not going to depart without getting what they desired.

Screams rang out, but it was those guys who were escorting me screaming! Finally, a ray of hope appeared in my mind. The sounds outside soon died away, and the man appeared to be departing as his steps became more distant.

I was quite nervous. I wished to ask for assistance, but I wasn't sure if they would accept it. But just as I was about to say something, the lady, whose voice had not been heard once during the fight, spoke up.

I heard the door of their carriage open as the woman disembarked after she asked the man to halt. As she finally arrived outside my door, the sound of her soft steps made my tense heartbeat beat at the same rhythm.

She opened the door with a hint of surprise on her face, but it couldn't have been more than mine as I saw the face that I knew I would never forget for the rest of my life.

"You should ask for help when you need it, child," her young but mature face was as gentle as she spoke kindly. There is no need to hesitate. Only by asking for assistance will you truly comprehend what it is like to assist others."

The miracle I had hoped for had appeared in front of me in such a way that I could do nothing but cry. The lady was also very patient as she carried me inside her carriage in her arms. She rubbed my back while holding me on her knee until I regained my voice.

Soon after I had calmed down, I told her what had occurred, to which she only sighed, as if she had seen such things many times before.

When I informed her that my hometown had most likely been taken over by bandits, she didn't even pause before ordering the man—whom I assumed was her butler—to turn around and go there.

She kept me company as she attempted to divert my attention away from my thoughts. Using her energy to create different shapes, she told stories and about her experiences of roaming around the world. I didn't think much about it at the time, just thinking of her as someone strong. She didn't seem to care either, as she just kept doing her best to make me feel better.

Although I couldn't bring myself to smile, her attempts did help me forget about all the anxiety and uncertainty I was experiencing.

Soon, the carriage came to a halt as a deafening silence screamed at me."

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