The SSS Legendary Dragon Chose Me On Rebirth

The moon was fatter in the sky than the week before, its silver radiance shining down like silver touches, warping on everything it could beneath.

One of those things was Vacuse Vorrakyn and his attendants, with ten groups of stage three Soulbearers.

Lord Joryth Mveil was also with them.

"So this is the boundary, and beyond this is the eastern side of the city?" Vacuse asked. He was pointing at the half-faded red paint that cut the city into two. Although the buildings and layout themselves did not change.

Joryth nodded. "Yes, my lord. But... do you really want to enter the eastern side? The young lady of the Eastern Region is there and there are rumors about her temper."

Vacuse snorted, his eyes dark. "The Ash Rat also carry out operations from my side, right?"

"Yes. They operate throughout the city."

It turned out that the Ash Rat gang had their headquarters in the eastern side of things. And to get to him, Vacuse would have to cross over.

He had no qualms about crossing.

"Let's go, lead the way."

Joryth shivered and swallowed. He looked at the ten stage three Soulbearers and asked again, "Are you really sure, my lord, that we took enough fighters?"

Vacuse frowned. "They are enough. They are the New Dawn after all. Besides, only stage three and below can remain in the city, and you already told me that the Ash Rats do not have up to ten of those rank."

Joryth nodded and then stepped over the red line.

Harkon and Kagerou followed immediately, while Vacuse then followed, and the ten Soulbearers finally covered up behind them.

The city was near dark and silent, as if it had no inhabitants. But Vacuse knew better. Underground, it was seething. Literally.

A massive undercity existed below, expanded from the days of mining and turned into one of the biggest crime cities in the Western Region and the Empire.

As Vacuse and the others walked above, they slowly covered their faces with dark masks and pulled the hoods over their heads to hide their identity.

Joryth led them to a building and then through there, to the underbelly of the city.

It was strange.

There was no sky or moon, and the air was stiff and old. And although it was bustling with people going and coming, everything was almost silent, the people talking in whispers.

They all covered their faces and the lights between the stalls and on buildings were dimmed.

It was like a ghost town... not like Vacuse had been to a ghost town before.

Joryth led them to one of the most impressive buildings. The building was at least four stories and covered in deep darkness. But Joryth knocked on the wooden door.

At first, nothing happened, but then the door slid open and a hulking man stood there. He looked at the covered faces. "Business?"

Without hesitation Vacuse raised an object he was holding. It was a rat... a black wooden rat carved so carefully it resembled a real one.

It was given to him by Joryth, who said it was the highest invitation card that would lead directly to the boss. He said it cost him a lot to get his hands on it, and Vacuse promised to compensate him later.

Immediately the man saw the rat, he stiffened and then let them in without hesitation.

He led them even deeper underground, and straight into a large room that was littered with cages and gang members walking around going about their business.

The business of tending to the enslaved.

And there were a lot of enslaved.

Humans, Orcs, beastmen... was that elven? Fairies. And even races that Vacuse could not name. Old and young, male and female. There were even monsters, chained to their cages.

The large room smelled of shit and piss, of unwashed bodies. Those in the cages looked at everything with bleak and somewhat hopeful eyes. After all, at this point in life the only thing they could hope for was a good master.

Vacuse watched it all and disgust rose up in him. But he did not let it show in his movements as he approached each cage, examining it thoroughly as if he was looking for weapons to buy.

The same was true for the others. The guards that followed him were all checking the cages as well.

But then something happened. The conversation in the room lowered and the gang members all looked toward one direction, where a man clad in black was making his way toward Vacuse.

The man was tall and a little fat. He moved as if he would burst into motion and snap anyone's neck in an instant. A black half-mask covered his face, showing his thick lips and yellow teeth. "Oh, my! What wonderful customers we have tonight.

"Welcome! Welcome! Welcome to my place! What do you want? We sell everything after all!"

Vacuse turned to the man and his eyes narrowed behind his mask.

'...this is the leader of the Ash Rats? He is in the third stage. But... how did he know to come to me directly?'

Vacuse looked at him and then decided to do away with the disguise. Why should he continue? He was strong.

He opened his mouth, but the leader of the Ash Rats beat him to it. "To think I would be able to enslave a Dragon! This is a first!"

Vacuse blinked. Then sighed. He had been betrayed again.

He removed the mask and fixed the man with a dark piercing look. "Let me guess, Joryth Mveil?"

The leader laughed joyfully. "Ah! Him! Of course. You have stepped into his territory and tried to take what belongs to him! What else could be done but to sell you?"

Vacuse looked at the man with curiosity. "How do you plan to get away with this? Not the illegal human trafficking but kidnapping me? The Gold Accord hovers above and... I am the Dragon heir."

It was simply the truth.

He was curious how they wished to pull it off. Did they really think they could enslave the Dragon heir in the Western Region?