Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

When Tilan saw the King Camp of the Wolf Blood Species from the carriage window for the first time, she saw rows of white banners, with cured cow tails hanging from the flagpoles. The gray-white cow tails fluttered in the wind. A single one looked rather lonely, but when such banners formed an unbroken wall line, it gave off an imposing aura.

There weren't many trees on the plains, but here they used wooden walls to enclose a camp that stretched for several kilometers, standing out strikingly on the boundless grasslands.

Around the King Camp were many scattered tents and parked wagons. Along the road were various small stalls selling items. Some people were guarding their stalls, selling cheap trinkets, while the larger caravans would enter the camp for transactions.

As she passed by, Tilan didn't rush inside; instead, she got off the carriage and browsed the roadside stalls. The vendors here were mostly individuals, selling crudely made tools, sometimes with fruits or food.

"These are stalls run by those who don't want to pay to enter the King Camp, and there are many swindlers too. If you aren't discerning, it's best not to buy anything here," Guy explained to Tilan, seeing her interest.

"Is the fee to enter the King Camp very high?" Tilan recalled it was the same at Shilin Mountain Castle.

"For individuals, yes, it is somewhat high, roughly three times that of Shilin Mountain Castle," Guy thought for a moment.

"The Wolf Blood Species are rather domineering, but on this big riverbank, no other forces dare to run a market, so settlements have to come here to trade."

As the two were talking, a commotion erupted ahead. Several Wolf Blood Species members, riding high-headed wolves, brandished large blades and overturned the roadside vendors and stalls, seizing some goods.

"Freeloading bastards," said the leader of the Wolf Blood Species, his face flushed red, his expression ferocious, and the blade in his hand still stained with blood.

After this bout of wreaking havoc, the roadside vendors hurriedly packed and fled. The travelers at the roadside also watched them with some fear. Luckily, the patrolling Wolf Blood Species didn't trouble those preparing to enter the camp; they circled around on their wolves a few times before returning to the camp.

Seeing there was nothing more to be seen, Tilan returned to the carriage and joined everyone else in lining up to enter the King Camp.

"You lot, twenty carriages, you need to pay an additional 800 Blood Marks," the guarding Wolf Blood Species glanced at the number of carriages in the caravan and demanded Guy hand over some more goods as an entrance fee.

Guy could only shake his head, then had his companions bring out a box of tea cakes as the entrance fee.

Seeing him obediently hand over the payment, the guarding Wolf Blood Species nodded in satisfaction, clearing the way.

"Next," they continued to call out.

Once the caravan entered the campsite, there was initially a slightly winding wooden wall passage. But stepping out of it, they found a vast marketplace. Lines were artificially drawn on this open space, dividing it into several large sections for the caravans to set up stalls and trade. Seeing the Wolf Blood Species squad patrolling within, it seemed there were dedicated personnel to maintain order.

Tilan estimated from the carriage that just in this market, there were roughly over 1,600 people, making it very bustling, with dedicated spots for buying hot food and drinks.

At this point, the caravan, guided by the market management personnel, settled in an open area. The crew members began to set up efficiently, leaving Guy and Flan in charge of the trade arrangements here, while Tilan and Sura took a few others to browse the market to see if there was anything worth purchasing.

"It's rare to visit such a large market, we must take a good look this time," Sura said in high spirits. Living with the caravan recently had been somewhat dull for her, as she wasn't very good at bargaining. The caravan environment also didn't allow much use of her skills, and she had to set aside her usual maintenance and forging tasks.

Loloria was also glancing around curiously, her hood covering her face, revealing only her eyes, preventing others from seeing that she was a Mechanical Body.

Just as they said earlier, many market goods were food, including a large amount of fish jerky and sausages from nearby settlements, dried fruit slices, and beef strips hard as stone.

Apart from food, there were utensils and daily necessities made by the settlements, like clay pottery, cast iron kettles, hoes, and pickaxes. Occasionally, one could spot decorative items, though few bought them.

However, if one were to ask where the most people were, it would undoubtedly be the slave trading area.

Order on the plains was fragile, with constant conflicts. After a settlement triumphed in battle, killing all captured individuals would be a huge waste. So, some valuable people were kept alive and brought to the King Camp for sale.

"Bongani Hsiu (good slaves)," a dark red-skinned figure stood on a wooden platform, his voice rough and unclear, but his meaning clear: the caged black-haired woman at his side.

The woman, seemingly between thirty and forty years old, had disheveled hair and vacant eyes, her clothes in tatters. Seemingly alarmed by the banging of the cage, she stood up mechanically and then lowered her head.

Beside the cage, a board with skewed writing described her as "seamstress, woman," suggesting she possessed some sewing skills, making her a relatively valuable slave.

After the bidding began, the crowd below started shouting prices, quickly climbing from an initial 100 Blood Marks to 200 Blood Marks, then gradually approaching 300 Blood Marks.