"Oi, are you sure that you want to do this tonight? That miss had a guardian with her. Did you not see the glare her guardian leveled us with? I thought I was going to die!"

One of the slave traders complained as he shivered. He still remembered the maid's glare and how it froze him in place.

He had not been able to move an inch after a good while.

"Don't worry! I know people like her quite well. She is all talk and no bite. Maids like her are taught to look intimidating so that no one approaches their charge, but it is superficial.

Besides, I saw the maid head down to get dinner for the child. We will not get a better opportunity to grab that child and get away. And it's a noble child at that. She will fetch a great price on the market."

The slave trader almost salivated at the thought of getting more money for his catch of the day.

He had been in this business for a decade and had gotten used to gauging a slave's worth.

As such, he was sure the noble lady he was eying would easily fetch an amount equal to the highest bidding ever.

The pair walked up the stairs and entered the corridor. They had specifically chosen a time when the only one on this corridor was the young miss they were after.

Everyone else had been bribed to be away in one way or another.

*creak*

As the pair walked, there was a sudden sound of the wood creaking. It made the second slave trader stop as he tried pinpointing where that noise had come from.

"H-Hey, I think we are falling into a trap. We should head back now. We can try again-"

The second slave trader proposed as he tried to make his partner agree. But the first slave trader was too lost in his thoughts of money and fame to stop.

He grabbed his second partner and made a fist near his face to intimidate him.

"Stop spouting nonsense! Do you even hear what you are saying? We cannot go back empty-handed. My wife would kill me since I promised her a fortune, and I also-"

*Squeak*

The voice was louder this time, making the first slave trader freeze. He finally realized he was not quite as alone as he had thought on this floor.

"Who are you, and what do you want? Don't you dare come closer, o-or I will attack. I am armed with a magical weapon, and I can-"

The light suddenly went out, dousing the space around them in black. The moon outside was also covered by clouds, leaving no room for light to shine in the corridor.

"I-I don't want to be here anymore! Sorry, but I will take my leave now. You are on your own, boss."

The second and scary slave trader made a run for it, and the first one tried to stop him.

"Hey, stop running away! You can't leave me here alone like this…fuck, he's gone! What do I do now?"

The first slave trader questioned before he turned around and decided to fulfill the mission he was here to take care of.

He did not even make it three steps inside before the sharp bite of metal against his neck. One more step would make him cut his throat and die.

"I would not advise you to move, or you might die. Now, you will tell me all you know about this slave-traders ring and what you are planning. Otherwise, your throat might not survive the night."

A melodic voice asked. The first slave trader suddenly realized that his opponent was a female. If so, then he had a solid chance to take her.

Her voice did not sound that strong, and the slave trader decided to take a chance.

He allowed the knife to cut his neck a little before he dropped down and kicked at where he thought the female was.

But the light in the corridor suddenly returned, making the man close his eyes at the flash.

That was enough for the female to not only avoid his attack by jumping up but also grab his arm as soon as she stabilized it and twist it behind his back.

The hell of the female's right shoe pressed against the man's back, and it made him gasp in pain as his whole body was twisted around.

"It looks like you have no shame. Or did you want to be placed in such a humiliating position in the first place? I don't enjoy this as much as you do, so I will have to hold you down in other ways."

The slave trader had his first look at his attacker, and he felt stunned to see a delicate beauty. She snapped her fingers, and the slave trader was suddenly unable to move.

"W-Who are you? I have no beef with you, so let me go. If you make enemies with me, you will be in a world of pain and suffering. You don't know the kind of people that have my backing…"

"Ah, is that so? I wonder how impressive those who have your backing are? I wonder if they would make an enemy of Duke Lockhart for you…ah, did you not know? The lady you were going after tonight was a part of the Lockhart duchy, and I am no different. Now, will you speak up, or will I have to make you sing with a different method?"

The woman in the suit asked with a slight smile, which made her look angelic and demonic at the same time.

'Fuck! I made a mistake. I went after the wrong target and will die because of it. Sally, Liam, I am sorry! Your husband and father will not be able to make it home tonight.'

The slave trader whispered inside his mind as he accepted his fate.

He knew he was going to die today, and then, who knew what would happen to his family?