I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 235

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I’m a Mother-in-Law, But I Don’t Want Family Conflicts Episode 235

“It does look like an ordinary shopping district.”

Gerta muttered while looking at the shops, having grown accustomed to it at some point.

“Well. The herbs sold at the shop we just passed are poisonous plants banned by the Empire. If you boil and drink them, you’ll die bleeding from your eyes, nose, and mouth. The extract being sold next to it is an addictive drug made by boiling those poisonous plants.”

“…I take that back.”

Though it looked ordinary at first glance, this was a place filled with items that couldn’t be sold on the surface.

I calmly looked around and moved forward.

While wandering around here and there, pretending to be uninterested, I witnessed a strange sight.

In this city where even shop owners wore masks, I discovered a girl with a bare face.

The child was peeking at the street from behind an alley with vacant eyes, and her clothing was like rags, which made her stand out even more.

‘That child?’

If this were the surface, I might have thought she was a child from the slums, but the circumstances here were different.

I approached her to hear about the child’s situation.

Just then, a man dressed as a soldier appeared from behind the alley and grabbed that child’s arm.

“Ahhh…!”

“Trying to escape again? Stay quiet!”

And he ruthlessly dragged her to the opposite side of the alley.

The moment I was about to open my mouth to stop the soldier without realizing it.

“Madam, where are you going?”

“…Baron Haldia.”

Baron Haldia, who had approached at some point, blocked my path.

Perhaps having rushed over in haste, he was breathing heavily.

“This area ahead is off-limits. If you desire entertainment, how about watching the arena on the opposite side? Or perhaps…”

‘He’s desperately trying to stop me.’

It seemed that what Baron Haldia wanted to hide was located ahead.

While I was pondering how to make him step aside, Lena stepped forward.

“How dare you block the Countess’s path? What is the meaning of this?”

Baron Haldia’s expression twisted. Whether his pride was hurt by being scolded by a mere maid, he kept moving his lips while suppressing his anger.

“What lies ahead might be a bit stimulating for the Countess to see. Please don’t be offended…”

“Baron, I heard that Paradise is a place where one can enjoy freedom that exists nowhere else in the world. Was that a lie?”

“That’s…”

Baron Haldia closed his mouth with a bitter expression as if he had chewed sand.

I continued my acting as an arrogant countess and pressed him further.

“A mere black market can be seen just by going to the back alleys of the capital. I’m not yet satisfied with Paradise. If you need money, just say so. I’ll give you as much as you want.”

“Money isn’t the issue, Madam. This concerns the trust between you and us…”

“How much for that trust?”

Honestly, I had wanted to say this line at least once.

I signaled to Lena with my eyes. Quick-witted Lena offered me a small pouch, and I threw it to Baron Haldia.

Baron Haldia staggered backward with a bewildered expression after receiving a heavy impact to his chest.

And as the pouch fell to the floor, the gold coins inside were revealed.

“Pl-Platinum Coin!”

Fortunately, Baron Haldia was the type who valued money more than pride. He picked up the gold coin pouch without hesitation.

“A-Ahem! If that is the Countess’s will… I shall also withdraw. However, please promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“The moment you see the ‘shop’ ahead, you must acknowledge that you are in the same boat as us.”

Perhaps his mind had settled thanks to the Platinum Coin, Baron Haldia warned without stammering.

“That’s exactly what I want. I was getting bored because the famous Masked Paradise was too ordinary.”

Though I spoke this way, even I found it difficult to predict what lay ahead.

Judging by Baron Haldia’s attitude, it seemed like an area they wouldn’t show to just any guests.

In other words, crimes worse than the level of the Black Market were taking place there…

“Then, please follow me. I shall guide you personally.”

I deliberately hid my suspicious gaze and followed behind Baron Haldia. Just in case, Lena stayed close by my side as she followed.

As we proceeded deep into the alley where no light entered, stairs leading underground came into view. This place was already quite deep underground, but I hadn’t expected there to be space even further below.

“Watch your step.”

As we slowly descended the stairs, a strange smell stimulated my nose. It seemed familiar, but I couldn’t guess what it was.

Then, Lena quietly whispered in my ear.

“…It’s the smell of blood.”

“…”

The tension grew increasingly intense.

At the end of the long stairs, a massive door unsuited for the underground awaited us.

When Baron Haldia knocked, a soldier who had been waiting inside opened the door for us.

Creak-

Beyond the door that opened with an unpleasant sound… the worst scene I could never have imagined was unfolding.

“Ah, aaaah! I’m, I’m sorry. I won’t go out again, so please…!”

“Please save me, please save me…”

“Now, the next item is a Southern Man! Look at this man who boasts beautiful Crimson Hair! With muscles stronger than a Horse, he can endure any kind of labor…”

That place was a Black Market.

However, it was a Slave Market where the traded goods were not objects, but people.

* * *

Lighting darker than before, people smiling unpleasantly, humans sprawled on the floor, giant cages, and screams…

When I stopped walking, Baron Haldia spoke with a concerned voice.

“Perhaps this is too stimulating for the lady?”

“…How interesting.”

I calmed my trembling voice and forced a smile into it.

“Yes, it should be at least this much to be called freedom.”

Baron Haldia’s eyes lit up as he agreed with my words.

“Oh, you understand! That’s right, this is true freedom, the way our Peon Empire looked when it claimed to be the strongest.”

Right, the Peon Empire wasn’t exactly a clean nation either. It was an invading country that attacked neighboring nations and plundered their lands.

So it wasn’t strange that there were still groups who supported the slave system.

Slavery was an inseparable evil practice in medieval times, so finding traces of it here was easy.

“…Are all those people here to buy slaves?”

“That’s correct. Also, our Masked Paradise maintains thorough security to protect our buyers’ safety. We help ensure you’re never caught even after purchasing. Our after-sales service is perfect too.”

Even I had been sold to the Duke’s estate because of money. So I needed to observe this scene coldly.

“Oh, specifically how?”

“First, we package and deliver them like livestock. You don’t need to worry about checkpoints. We’ve already bribed the checkpoints in the southern region. Ah, for those who want to use them immediately, we provide space here in Paradise.”

Right, what mattered now wasn’t the existence of this slave market, but Baron Haldia’s backers who made this possible.

They had a distribution network that could even trade humans. This fact had significant implications.

It meant there were officials who had sided with them…

“If there’s a slave you want, I’ll personally recommend one for you.”

Baron Haldia approached with a smiling face.

Just then, a woman across from us was being dragged away by soldiers. From the cage where she had been, a man who appeared to be her husband began screaming in despair.

It was because a couple had pointed her out.

“Please, my lord, I beg you. Take me instead of her! I’ll go, I’ll go!”

“Honey!”

Even after seeing this tragic scene, the masked couple exchanged jokes.

“How long will this one last?”

“I hope she lasts a month. It’s too far to come back again.”

It was horrific.

While I could understand it intellectually, experiencing it directly was another story.

Baron Haldia, unaware of my feelings, kept boasting about the slave market. My ears had long since closed to him.

Instead, I quietly called to Lena who was beside me.

“Lena.”

“Yes.”

“We still haven’t found clues about the backers.”

“That’s right.”

“So we should endure watching this scene, right?”

“That would be safer.”

Lena’s voice was calm, but I could tell it contained anger.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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