Saturday in Vale is much busier than any other day, and that’s evidenced by the throngs of people out from work and enjoying themselves. A lot are just relaxing and shopping – basically doing the things they couldn’t find the time to do during the week. Others are more interested in the entertainment going on, which includes at the Vale Arena, where gladiatorial combat takes place.
Maybe “gladiatorial combat” and “arena” are too loaded terms, though. The arena is a fighting arena, but it’s also where bands hold concerts, and theatre troupes hold plays and shows. It’s simply called the arena colloquially because it’s a raised platform surrounded by stadium stands. Similarly, the combat isn’t to the death or all that violent.
Competitions and tournaments were just other methods of staying in business that many former huntsman families turned to, and now martial artists duke it out, always with the safety of aura, for the entertainment of the masses. It’s a place of gambling and entertainment.
You head toward the other spectacle of the day – the Grand Slave Market. It’s a huge open marketplace held within an indoor market. Outside, police officers check ID, but it’s mostly for age purposes. Vale may be swimming in debauchery, but that’s no reason to let young children see naked people. The oddity is that the age for getting in is only 14 – though thankfully the age for becoming a slave is 16. You can only assume the reason to let 14-year-olds in is because the government thinks they’ve passed some arbitrary level for maturity.
To be fair, most 14-year-olds you knew had seen porn by that time, including yourself. Keeping a teenager’s innocence in the age of the internet is a lost cause. No one blinks an eye at you and Emerald entering, however. Emerald may be short, but she doesn’t have the proportions of a child.
Immediately inside the entrance, there’s a stand erected with a big banner saying; “So you want to sell yourself as a slave – what to know” and, to your surprise, it’s quite busy. There are a few men and women discussing the particulars with suited government officials offering free advice. It’s odd to see so many official-looking people here, but the overall consensus appears to be that the best way to keep the market safe for everyone involved is for it to be heavily regulated.
It's not a bad idea. It’d be easy for less scrupulous people to abuse the system otherwise.
“I assume you’ve never been to a slave market before,” you say, and Emerald shakes her head, curiously looking here and there. It seems a lot of her fear has evaporated after seeing so many normal-looking people about. This is neither as abusive or as seedy as she imagined.
“How does it all work?”
“It’s an auction for the most part. Girls are brought up one after another and people bid for them. However, you get a chance beforehand to go about and see the girls on display, like goods sold at a market. Guys too,” you add, “but they’re in a separate hall. Makes it easier to be in the right place. We’re headed for the women’s side. You can go around and look at the girls, but, unless you have permission, you’re not to touch them.”
“Who gives the permission?”
“The girls themselves. They sign a waiver beforehand yes or no. There’ll be a sign to make it clear. But even then, there are rules. Nothing to harm or leave marks, and obviously no penetration or anything sexual. And trust me, there will be officers everywhere, so they’ll know.”
“Why would girls let themselves be touched, though?” she asks.
“It’s because it can get you a higher value – if you’re confident in yourself.” You lead Emerald through a doorway and into a wide hall. Her eyes widen as she sees several raised stages, with naked girls standing upon them. Some stood casually, others in chains with signs around their necks.
Realistically speaking, the signs and chains are pointless, but they can add a certain flair and excite the audience. Though, in some cases, they might also be needed. People need to agree to become slaves, but that doesn’t mean everyone here is happy about it. The prime example would be any criminals who accepted a slave deal rather than prison time. Others would be girls who agreed at first, but then changed their minds or became aggressive for one reason or another.
Most aren’t like that, though. Most are winking and turning around for their potential buyers, posing, and laughing, or, in some cases, showing off other skills like singing and dancing. Emerald is struck by the strangeness of it all.
https://x.com/Imagebank34/status/2083952712157466900?s=20
“You have to remember that these women have, for the most part, agreed to this,” you explain to her. “They’re doing this to escape debt, to get out of dead-end jobs, or even because they know this will just be a better life for them.”
The most beautiful girls will know they can earn more from ten years of sex than they can in a hundred years of hard work. Is that lazy? You don’t think so. It’s just common sense to do what’s best for you.
“These aren’t unwilling slaves, and however much they’re sold for is directly paid to them at the end – with a bonus added on by the government. It keeps unemployment down, you see.” Her only response is a vacant nod, and then a quick blush as a naked woman with blue hair blows a kiss her way. “Being sold for a high value not only means you get more money, but it probably also means you’re going to have a better experience. Or at least a more comfortable one.”
“Really?”
“Yes. For one, the stupidly rich probably have multiple slaves, so that’s immediately less work for you because others will take up the slack.” You count it off on your fingers. “Secondly, people respect something that cost them more money, so they’ll be more careful with them and not do anything to harm them. Finally, even if the rich owners do have weird tendencies or fetishes, you’re at least sleeping in better conditions, eating better food, and all-around living in a better place. Compare that to a working-class owner, who’ll probably just have you sit in their apartment being a cook, cleaner, and sex toy all at once. Every day.”
There are other types of owners, of course. There are people like you, who might buy someone for business reasons like running a brothel or porn, and you’ve also heard of “relief girls” in offices or factories, where a girl will be bought to serve as pleasure for the people working there. Sort of a free benefit of a job there, and something to keep your staff happy and reduce employee turnover.
Sometimes that’s just as another employee who anyone can bend over a desk, or, in less valuable cases, a girl on her knees in a corridor with her mouth open, so that anyone might walk by and take a moment to enjoy a blowjob between tasks.
Either way, it’s better to be sold for more, so it’s not a big surprise that a lot of girls will happily waive the rights to their dignity and let people touch them. The discerning buyers will expect that, as they won’t want to buy someone on sight alone and discover they’ve made a mistake later, and the girls know it.
Having a “no touching” sign in front of you is as good as having a sign that says, “I’ve got something to hide” or “I’m not confident in my body and you shouldn’t be either”. Even if that’s not the case, it’s going to look that way. It’s the same as buying a car. You’d expect a chance to test drive it to see if anything is wrong.
Some might not like the metaphor when dealing with real people but that’s the reality of it.
“Don’t a lot of guys come to just look and touch girls, then?” asks Emerald.
“Inevitably,” you reply, “but they’ve already accepted that their bodies will be free for the use of their buyer, so it’s a small sacrifice to make.” You rest a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry so much about it. They were all made well-aware of what would happen before they signed up. This is a state-run industry nowadays.”
You both walk down the bustling aisles of the market, Emerald in shock and you with a more discerning eye. It’s going to be difficult to afford any of the girls sold hee, and the Grand Market will be even worse than usual. This is when the biggest buyers will show up, which is great when you’re selling, but less ideal for buying.
On the other hand, everyone knows that too, so the weekend is when the finest girls will be put up for sale. Slave trainers, especially, are best off selling at the Grand Market because of the increased potential for profit.
“Are we looking to buy a slave?” asks Emerald.
“Not today, most likely. I just want to get a feel for how it works – and find out some details. There. Look.” You point to a stand, sort of like an exhibition stand, except that instead of women, this one is selling tools for slave training. It makes sense that this would be a good spot to do so given that a lot of slave trainers would be here. “I figure if there’s anyone to ask about getting into the trade, it’d be those who serve it.”
The little stall isn’t all that impressive, but there’s a wide array of restraints, equipment, and odd items for sale there, including two cages off to the side. A few men and women are looking over them speculatively as you approach. There’s a sign on a cloth draped over the table where some of the goods are laid out that reads “Jaune’s Second-hand Slave Equipment: we buy and we sell”. The young man behind the table can’t be any older than 18, but has bright blue eyes, blonde hair and a winning smile.
“Hey there,” he says, noticing you and waving. “Interested in any equipment for your slave? It’s almost as good as new. Most of this comes from fancy types who thought slave trading would be easy, bought all the equipment, then gave up when it was hard work and sold it on cheap. I guarantee a lot of it hasn’t been used for more than a month.”
“I’m not a slave!” says Emerald, hotly.
Jaune, or at least the boy you assume is called that, laughs. “I know. You’re not wearing a collar. But I assume you’re here because you’re looking to get one. A slave, that is. Not a collar.” Emerald calms down at that, and Jaune glances at you. “Is that not the case?”
“We’re browsing for now,” you say, “but we’ll almost certainly be looking into acquiring one later. Maybe even several. For now, I just want to know more about how it all works.”
“Yeah? Well, you’ve come to the right guy. Jaune Arc, future slave trainer extraordinaire.” He poses proudly with his hand against his chest. Then he slumps a little. “At least I will be once I get enough money saved up to get started. That’s why I’m doing this business on the side. Got to get started somewhere, right?”
It’s a good attitude to have for sure, and you admire his entrepreneurial spirit. In the future, he could be competition, but there’s no reason to treat him like that now. For now, neither of you are slave traders. That means there’s no reason to burn bridges.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Joker and this is my assistant, Emerald. We run a porn studio.”
“Ah.” He blushes a little, which is somewhat funny given he’s professed to wanting to be a trainer of sex slaves. “That’s cool. I guess? So, uh, you’d be looking to have a slave to act, right?”
“We might, or I might look into slave trading myself in the future. Is there any requirement to get started?”
“Are you asking if there’s a license you need or some official course? No.” He shook his head. “Anyone can buy a slave, and anyone can call themselves a slave trainer, but it’s usually better to at least have a place of residence that has facilities for a slave. That can be a room set aside for them, usually with a locked door, or something more official.” Jaune laughs, and says, “I still live with my parents, so that’s a no-go.”
“I can imagine. Earning money to move out?”
“Actually, I’ve got enough for that,” he says. “Just not enough for that and a slave, and I figure there’s no point starting one without the other.”
“How does it work, then? Slave trading?” you ask. He seems like a knowledgeable fellow, and quite easygoing as well. "If it's not too much of me to ask?"
“Nah, not at all. It's good to have friends in the business.." He hesitates. "I think? Mom always said strangers are just friends you haven't met yet. Anyway, you buy a slave and are registered as their new owner, at which point you have the right to sell them on again anywhere you like. It can be at an auction, or it can be a private sale, though you need to sign forms at the city hall either way. There’s always a rep here at the auctions so that’s the easier way to do it, but if someone comes and makes you a private offer for a slave then it can save you the auction house’s cut of the profits. That’s 20% by the way.”
“So much?”
“They handle the advertising, the sales, the city’s cut of the tax and the legal work. Realistically, they come away with maybe 10%, and the other 10% goes to costs. It’s a fair deal, all things considered. But that does mean buying a slave and instantly selling them back is going to be a loss. You need to increase their value first.”
“That’s where the hard work comes in,” he says, smiling in a way that tells you he isn’t afraid of said work at all. “You need to improve your slave before you move them on, but what way you train them is up to you. You always want them to be obedient and… uh… broken in, if you know what I mean.”
“Aren’t they all obedient anyway? They’re selling themselves.”
“There’s a difference between resigned and obedient.” says Jaune. “Most of the girls here will do what you tell them to because they know you own them, and because they don’t want to upset you. That’s enough for a lot of people, but the really wealthy buyers will expect true obedience. That’s where a girl doesn’t do what you say because she’s afraid or knows it’s pointless to resist, but when they do what you say because they want to serve you. It may sound like a small thing, but it’s the difference between a reluctant servant and a devoted one, and the rich people you want to target can tell the difference.”
Interesting. You’d never considered the difference before, but it sounds like Jaune knows a lot about the industry. Having a connection like that certainly isn’t a bad idea. “You mentioned training in other ways. If obedience is expected, then what are the optional things?”
“That’s about discovering what to sell. You ever heard of that saying of how a sculptor can feel the statue before they start chiselling? It’s like that. The best slave trainers can look at a girl and say – this girl will be the perfect housekeeping maid and teach them to cook and clean. Others, they’ll look at and say – this one should be a performer and teach them to sing or dance. It’s about figuring out their potential and training them to reach it.”
“What about sexual skills?”
“Oh, those are pretty much always expected, but even then there’s a difference between training a girl to be good at sex, and having them master every single art. Slaves that do that are typically called comfort slaves.”
“And if I wanted to train them to be perfect in everything?”
“I mean, you could, but a jack of all trades isn’t usually that big a deal. If someone buys a slave then they can only work so many hours before becoming tired, so having them be able to cook, clean, sing, dance, have sex and more just means they won’t be able to do everything you’ve trained them for. Plus, it’d take longer for you to train them before selling them on, so it’d cost you more looking after them. It’s better to stick to one specialisation.”
Good point. You need to keep your eye on the money, so it might just be better to get someone fully obedient, up to snuff in sex, and then pick an angle to train them outside of that so they can be sold off as a specialist.
“What are the usual specifications?”
“Glad you asked.” Jaune grins. “The first is comfort slaves, who focus on sexual ability. That’s usually best saved for beautiful slaves with good bodies. They’re not expected to be too smart or anything, but it can help. You want everything to focus on looks and sex ability. Exotic women usually make good comfort slaves as well.”
“The second is work slaves. This may sound boring, but a lot of companies buy slaves instead of hiring employees, so work slaves will need to be good at things like admin and office work. That’s good for clever slaves and looks aren’t usually as important. Sex doesn’t matter so much there, though a lot of work slaves are also used by other employees, so it’s a good idea for them to have some grounding in it.”
“After that is housekeeping slaves – think maids, so skills around cooking, cleaning, organising the house finances and things fit well there. A lot of housekeeping slaves are expected to look after the needs of their master too, so, again, sex is important. Looks matter for housekeeping, but it’s not as big as it is for comfort slaves. The big thing will be that they’re trustworthy and devoted, because they’ll be left alone and trusted with a home to look after. You don’t want a rebellious or stubborn housekeeping slave.”
“Performance slaves are slaves that are meant to entertain, so singing, dancing, but also fighting can fit to some degree. Sex, too, but what they’ll really want to master are things like stripteases, pole dancing, lap dancing and putting on shows. Aesthetics matter here, since they’ll be showing off their bodies a lot.” Jaune hesitates at the end. “The last one is… well, it’s a little niche, but it can be really profitable. Some people frown on it.”
“Oh?”
He had you at profitable.
“Animal slaves are… well… There are some people who are more interested in a pet than a slave, so some trainers make a name for themselves, and a killing, teaching girls to act like animals. I’ve heard the best ones can even make them think like animals too. Cats, dogs, horses, but I’ve even seen girls made to act like cows and given some drugs so they lactate and can be milked. I’ve also heard there are some who like it when these girls are taught to actually… well… perform like animals. Rut one another… or… well…”
He trails off, but you think you know what he’s saying.
“Is that legal?”
“It’s not illegal,” he says. “It’s just not talked about in polite company.”
It’s a surprise, but it shouldn’t be. The filthy rich will seek any pleasure, and the familiar quickly becomes stale. How long would it take before they start dipping into vices considered socially unacceptable? It’s not illegal, and you’re sure a woman needing money could be convinced to sacrifice their dignity for the right price. Most people can be convinced to do that.
“Thanks for giving me the basics,” you say. “Anything else I should know?”
“Only that the early stage of training a slave is about discipline. They might belong to you, but that doesn’t mean they won’t test their boundaries. Also, every slave is different. Some will be easier or harder to deal with. A good trainer should be able to figure that out before they buy one. Look at how they act. Tell them to do things and see how quickly or slowly they follow your orders. And also keep in mind that perfection isn’t necessary.”
“If you want to sell a slave for tens of thousands at the biggest market to the richest buyers then they will expect an S-Rank slave, but it’s easier to get from D-Rank to C-Rank, then it is C-Rank to B-Rank. And not every girl has the potential to be the best. You want to figure out the best place to sell, because increasing someone’s value 1,000 lien is meaningless if it took you a week to do so, and it cost you more than 1,000 to look after them. Don’t be afraid to sell early if you think they’re good enough to make a profit.”
That’s wise advice. You wouldn’t have to sell at all if you didn’t want to, either. You can make money off slaves in videos, and perhaps later in a brothel, so the cost of keeping them can be offset with the money they bring in, and you might decide to have several slaves that you plan to keep full-time. On the other hand, you might also have a slave that you buy to use because they’re cheap, make money off them, and sell later when you want to upgrade to a more valuable slave.
“Thanks for your help. Can you give me a heads up on the average slave prices?"
"No such thing as average I'm afraid," Jaune says. "I'd say the lowest I usually see is around 3,000 lien, and the highest here is usually approaching 50,000. But," he adds, "this is the market for general buyers. If you sell a few slaves and get noticed then you can be invited to the exclusive market, and that's where the rich and famous buyers are. There, slaves are expected to be premium quality, and the prices reflect it. I've heard they can go for 200k+. Highest I've ever heard of went for 10 million."
That's the market you want into, obviously, but it's going to take a lot of work to get there.
"I take it these goods are all useful?” you say, indicating the pieces on the table.
“Yes. You can technically train someone without them, but it’d be really hard. If a slave is disobedient, for instance, then you could just shout at them and tell them off, but you could also use this.” He points to a set of restraints that involve a leather collar, straps down the front, and some at the back with a pair of cuffs. “This fixes around a slave’s neck, and then locks her hands behind her back. It won’t hurt, but it’ll keep them restrained and feeling vulnerable. It can be a good punishment to remind them of who is in control. You could even attach a leash and take them outside if you wanted to, to really drive home the fact that you’re the one who gives the orders.”
How very appealing an idea. Of course, it’ll cost money, and there’s no point buying now before you even have a slave. A bell sounds over the hall as well, signalling that people should come to the front for the auction to begin. You bid Jaune farewell, and he encourages you to come back again if you ever want to chat or do business.
As you leave, you can’t help but think it would be easy to get him involved in your business if you wanted to. He’s looking to earn money, and he’s obviously quite entrepreneurial. You’d have to pay him, though. He’s focused on his goal and isn’t going to compromise that for nothing.
Author's Note:
Original Quest: https://fiction.live/stories/Running-the-Red-Light/z3DQkYE5X8YBXovZ8/home
Visual Novel: https://andoravn.itch.io/running-the-red-light