Amidal was a slave state, also the strongest nation in the ใSLAVEใ world. Specifically, it was known for possessing a triple-digit number of slave girls considered rare strategic resourcesโthe nationโs strength was well deserved.
Every year, Amidal sent out large transport ships to various coastal empires to levy slaves. This act was not only a show of wealth and a means to establish authority but primarily aimed at acquiring potential slave girls as โseeds.โ A large reason Amidal had far more slave girls than other empires was due to its use of these transport ships to collect slaves.
In a slave empire with hundreds of slave girls, it was unthinkable for princes and princesses not to have one or two by their side. Amidal currently had three princes, and the emperor was more than willing to allocate some slave girls among his three sons. He understood exactly what this meant: the future struggle for the throne would no longer be about conspiracies and schemes but a war fought over slave girls. In this war, only the victor would survive. The son who triumphed would be the best candidate to rule the empire and command all the slave girls. As for the losers, the emperor would disown those worthless offspring and toss their corpses into the wilderness to feed the wolves.
Properly utilizing your slave girls to grow stronger and kill your brothers who also possessed slave girls was the only path to the throne. Otherwise, you would be the one killed.
The kings of Amidal throughout history practiced this cruel form of education. They did not believe in familial affection, and the princes felt no fatherly love. Their mothers were executed after childbirth to sever any trace of weaknessโdespair forged the strong spirit they needed.
The princesโ personalities inevitably twisted. Their sole goal became the fight for the supreme throne: survival until the end.
Each prince was guarded by slave girls. Every prince had at least one slave girl accompanying him. Shadow Spider was the slave girl of Amidalโs second prince and was ordered by him to capture Bai Ya.
Bai Ya continued toward her goal, completely unaware of the colossal danger she had provoked.
For the stateโs human killing weapons, the second princeโs cruel education had twisted him into a sadist who derived pleasure from torment. She knew nothing of this.
A twisted prince and a terrifying dark slave girl awaited her ahead, standing as her greatest obstacles.
โIn the end, am I really lost?โ Bai Ya muttered, hiding in a dark alley. The faint light cast over the yellowed, foul-smelling map in her hand. At first, she could still understand it when entering the city, but as she went deeper into the town, and after the nervous misdirection while breaking the nobleโs encirclement earlier, she truly couldnโt make sense of this map now.
โForget it, Iโll take it step by step. Itโs seven hours back, so worst case, I have four hours left to act considering the return time. Four hoursโฆ Even if I canโt find the main base, causing a big commotion isnโt limited to just arson.โ Bai Ya tucked the map into her armor, pushed her silver hair behind her head to clear her view, and cautiously peeked out from the alley.
The escaped slave, Bai Ya Epher Clorom, had already spread the news of infiltrating the main city. The nobles had dispatched guards to search the entire city. The streets were crawling with people hunting her down, which was very bad news.
In a way, her movements were restricted. But this was no challenge for herโshe didnโt think clearing this โgameโ would ever be easy. She had three plans for this situation.
Maybe it was a hallucination. She felt a tickle at her neck, like someone had just breathed on it. At the same time, a cold little girlโs voice echoed in her ear.
โCome on, this alley has a dead end, about four meters high, with no doors or other exits on either side. Iโm hiding right at the entrance; how could someone appear behind me? Yeah, it must be a hallucinationโunless itโs a ghost.โ
Right, that ghost just said, โThat bitch, where is she?โ Didnโt it? Such an impolite little ghost girlโhow could she say that about someone? Decidedโif she ever had time, she would give that ghost a proper lesson.
โSneaky soldier, donโt ignore me.โ The ghost girlโs voice sounded again beside her ear.
Feeling a hand grip her shoulder, Bai Ya finally turned to look behind her. The clear voice and the sensation of fingers pressing through her clothesโshe couldnโt fool herself; someone was really there.
Her black hair braided into two pigtails with faded yellow rubber bands, long dark purple-black hair flowing behind her, beautiful purple crystal-like eyes, and a cute doll-like face. She wore a purple dress and black stockings. This little girl hovered in the air, locking eyes with Bai Ya.
โHmm, very cute,โ Bai Ya nodded in approval.
โโฆโ Shadow Spider stared at her expressionlessly.
โShh, donโt make a sound. Iโm figuring out how to avoid them,โ Bai Ya whispered, pointing toward the fifteen or so guards patrolling outside the alley. They were searching nearby; her group mustnโt make a sound. The wisest course was to move carefully into the shadows, wait until the guards left, then continue forward.
Alert, alert, and more alert. Cautious, cautious, and even more cautious. In this game, one careless step meant a bad end. Bai Ya knew this well.
โโฆโ Shadow Spider followed Bai Yaโs gaze and smiled wickedly when she saw the guards hunting everywhere outside.
Bai Ya turned back to watch the guards secretly. Compared to the sudden appearance of the ghost girl, she cared more about the soldiers hunting her. She absolutely could not be caught.
โAhโ!โ
A piercing, despairing scream made Bai Yaโs pupils contract instantly.
Slurping, the sound of liquid gushing and spilling.
Without warning, all the guards on the street died at the exact same moment. The scene made Bai Yaโs legs tremble involuntarily.
Whatโs happening? In just an instant, all the guards were torn to pieces! Flesh, organs scattered everywhere. The sight was eerie and horrifying, the air filled with the sharp stench of iron rust. Bai Ya fought back the urge to vomit.
What on earth is going on?! Stay calm. Judging from the neat cuts on the meat chunks, it seemed like they were sliced by invisible blades arranged in an irregular pattern. Iโm doomedโwhy do I have to encounter such a weird scene!
โHehe~โ
The eerie laughter of the girl at her ear suddenly made Bai Ya understand something. She turned sharply, eyes alert, staring at the ghostly little girl.
โThe annoying pests are gone now. Can you answer my question, soldier?โ Shadow Spider crossed her arms coldly.
โThat bitch, where is she?โ
Bai Ya thought she heard the voice of a demon.