The request proposed by Su Li, how could President Roger possibly refuse? He proactively mentioned the fifth underground layer precisely to invite Su Li to take a look.

So after Su Li finished speaking, he immediately stood up and laughed, saying, "The fifth underground layer is generally not open to outsiders. Even the Commerce Association Directors are not qualified to enter. But Su Li, my friend, is not an outsider to our association, so you can certainly go in and browse freely. If you find any slaves you like, feel free to speak up. I’ll make the decision and sell them to you at the most favorable price."

Although Su Li knew he was speaking casually, and he was already grateful that he didn’t overcharge, he still smiled and said, "Thank you very much, President Roger."

The fifth underground layer is where the Gray Market Trading Company holds truly high-value slaves, and he definitely couldn’t miss such an opportunity during his visit to Marle Castle.

President Roger took out the keys and said to Su Li, "Gentlemen, please follow me." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Even President Roger, as the head of the Gray Market Trading Company, underwent numerous checks while passing through the underground corridors, and several large doors required him to open them personally using keys and gemstones.

Seeing this, Su Li somewhat believed what President Roger just said, that ordinary Commerce Association Directors might indeed not be qualified to enter.

Especially passing through the door to the fifth layer, this door was forged from the Dwarves’ signature Refined Brass, about 10 meters high and 8 meters wide, each door weighing several thousand pounds, requiring a complex mechanical transmission system to open.

The unlocking mechanism was the Rune Lock on the door, meaning that a key engraved with the same power essence had to be inserted to activate it. Dwarf runes are created through Bloodline Power, forming a self-contained system. Even if others crafted identical keys with similar rune patterns, without the same bloodline, they couldn’t activate the mechanisms on this door.

As the door rumbled open, the appearance of the fifth underground layer was suddenly revealed before Su Li, prominently in the center of the hall stood a Holy Image of Redema holding a Warhammer, forged from Black Iron, nearly 10 meters high, engraved with Church Holy Words that gleamed like liquid gold.

Then, from the lower edge of the Warhammer, over a hundred chains extended like a web into the surrounding circular prisons. Under the suppression of the Holy Image, all kinds of evil spirits found it hard to stir up any trouble.

The small cell where Belos Dragon Hammer was once imprisoned seemed negligible compared to here; each cell was forged from Black Steel, with two Knights in Fine Steel Plate Armor guarding outside each prison door.

With over a hundred cells, it wasn’t many. It would take less than an hour to see them all, but he started with a shock.

In the first cell was imprisoned a Vampire noblewoman, part of the Vampire kind, her skin unnaturally pale, whiter than snow, but exceedingly powerful, possessing Champion-level combat strength.

The Vampires in this world initially defected from the Human Empire Knights, so they’re not those sickly beings with Eastern European accents hiding in the dark. Instead, they are strong warriors capable of wearing Heavy Armor, wielding a Greatsword, and going to the battlefield to fight.

Seeing Su Li and Hilude standing in front of the cell, both full of interest in the Vampire noblewoman inside, Roger chuckled and said, "This is a Vampire noble captured by the Empire last year on the southwestern battlefield. She’s only 230 years old, very young, yet already a powerful Blood Knight, and she has mastered two Death Magic spells, capable of Life Suction and Hell Vitality."

"[Hell Vitality]?" Su Li asked curiously, "What abilities does this magic have?"

He’d seen Life Suction before, and it left a deep impression, directly utilizing the purple Wind of Death to draw others’ Life Energy. But Hell Vitality was genuinely new to him.

President Roger, in good spirits, joked, "It’s a bit like your Sunfire Church’s Divine Ability. A Vampire can use this ability to inject primordial malice into a large number of Undead Creatures, making them move quickly. Moreover, they will be more skilled in using weapons."

Huh? Isn’t this exactly like Hilude’s Divine Magic [Master of Battle Techniques]? She can also pass on Violet’s martial arts to allies.

This means this Vampire woman is actually a strategic talent.

Before Su Li could continue inquiring, President Roger proactively said, "You know, some powerful Blood Knights with unwavering fire burning within love conquering these Vampires. It’s rumored that our great Divine Emperor Redema once slept with a Vampire noblewoman. So many Knights are willing to challenge this taboo. Many Lords of the Empire’s Border Prince’s Territories are interested in her, and the current bidding price has already reached 11,500 Golden Crowns. In less than three days, the bidding time will end. If the Bauhinia Knight is also interested, you must act promptly."

11,500 Golden Crowns?

Are these people insane?

The price of Empire slaves has always had a clear range, typically equating to 40 to 60 months of a profession’s salary. For example, an Elite Knight’s monthly salary is 5 Golden Crowns, so a slave’s price would be between 200 and 300. Similarly, a Champion Knight’s monthly salary is 25 Golden Crowns, so a slave’s reasonable price would be between 1000 and 1500 Golden Crowns.

Of course, due to the scarcity of Champion Knights, their attributes resemble luxury goods somewhat, so high-end slaves severely overcharge. But usually, it’s only 2 to 3 times the norm.