Chapter 1030


    “At the time, the Yard Family should have all been killed, but the Fletchers showed mercy and let all the


    women go. Over the years, they have all passed away from old age. It would not be wise to seek out the


    Yard Family for help.”


    Once Sophia became aware of the history of the previous dynasty, she also thought it was unreasonable


    and they were better off looking for the child on their own.


    The next day, Michael and Quinton went out together to look for the child. Originally, Sophia nned to


    evaluate the market to prepare to work with the Yard Family, but after finding out the situation, she


    decided not to anymore and went along with Michael to search for the child.


    Thepetition was high so it was not a loss even if she stepped out.


    Because this was the Ronney Group’s territory, and the Ronneys and Michels werepetitors, she


    did not have much of an influence here. She was unable to receive a lot of information, but she still


    managed to gather some here and there. Michael and Quinton were also able to get some information.


    In the end, all their information pointed in the same direction—the ck market.


    The ck market was a ce where people were trafficked.


    It was an illegal industry that the government had no control over. They had been in existence for


    centuries—ever since the maritime period. When colonizers trafficked Cethosian workers and ck


    ves, it slowly gave form to the market and let it develop until it became thisrge-scale industry today.


    It even had aplete business chain. Behind closed doors, conglomerates and government officials


    continued to tacitly approve of them. Hence, they had never gotten banned.


    Every day, people were delivered like goods in mass quantities to be sold off. There were men, women,


    and children—anyone that had a value.


    Sophia and Michael drove for an hour before they arrived at their destination.


    Getting out of the car, it looked like a regr shopping street. All they saw was famous international


    luxury brand retail stores, exclusive stores, and even the Michel Group’s high-end mobile phones. It was


    a woman’s paradise.


    Michael turned to Sophia and said, “You can take a look around here. Hope and I will go down first. I’ll


    come and get you once I’m done.”


    But, it was not an ordinary day and Sophia was unwilling to take a step away from him. Tugging on his


    hand tightly, she said, “I want to go with you.”


    He squeezed her hand lightly. “You shouldn’t go there.”


    Sophia bit her lip, and her face turned red. “I… I don’t want to leave you.”


    Michael smiled. Holding her face in his hands, he gave her a peck and said, “That ce is not suitable


    for you. You will regret it.”


    She quickly shook her head. “I won’t talkter. I won’t get in the way.”


    In the end, he brought her along with them. The ck market was just within the area. Even though the


    ce was filled with people from the underworld, no one dared to mess with the consumers. However,


    heinous criminals were crawling all around the ce. Even if Sophia had bodyguards, Michael still did


    not feel at ease, so he decided to bring her along.


    Quinton felt dejected as he silently watched them act lovey-dovey with each other, but he soon


    dismissed it from his mind.


    Love did not work on a firste, first served basis. People did not get to call dibs on someone just


    because they saw them first.


    The difference was only in whether love was present or not.


    It was clear that Sophia had never loved him.


    …


    Over a dozen people entered thergest department store. Once they all shuffled into the elevator, they


    went two levels down to the basement. When the elevator doors opened, they were confronted with a big


    door that was guarded. The man asked coldly, “Did you make an appointment?”


    Michael and Sophia were wearing masks. They kept themselves hidden among therge group of


    bodyguards and did not say a word. Quinton took the lead and said, “Yes. Number 29834. My boss and


    his wife are unable to bear children, so they havee to pick one.”


    A person went to look up the appointment and found a match. It was a Cethosian married couple who


    were unable to have children, so they came to pick a child from this ce.


    Once their identities were verified, the door opened. Sophia followed the rest of them in.


    It was a whole new world on the other side of the door; one that could overturn the world that Sophia


    knew.


    An underground bazaar was taking ce inside. It was not much different from the underground bazaars


    in Cethos. There were a lot of shops, the air cirction system constantly brought in fresh air, and there


    was no odor. It was spacious and not stuffy.


    Michael walked ahead silently. Holding onto Sophia’s hand, he murmured, “Don’t act rashly no matter


    what happenster or things will get messy.”


    Sophia nodded. This ce was not to be taken lightly, so she did not dare to mess around. After all, no


    matter how powerful they were in Cethos, they could not beat the local tyrant here.


    Heads bobbed around in the crowd of people. Most of the stores were selling none other than people!


    Men, women, children, elderlies, beautiful ones, ugly ones, and even strange ones—all sorts of people


    were being sold.


    A woman with heavy make-up, who looked like a procuress at first nce, was choosing beautiful young


    women and girls under the protection of a tattooed bodyguard. There was also a gruff and perverted old


    man lusting over young women through the disy window with a stack of cash in his hand.


    There was also a beer-bellied, wealthy-looking man who brought away young and strong men. No one


    knew where they were being taken.


    Once they entered, Sophia felt her whole body go cold as though she had just stepped into hell.


    This ce maintained order with its own rules. Under all that mor, a lot of heinous crimes were taking


    ce. Sophia acted carefully and was cautious with every step she took.


    Quinton said, “Our people are in. They will let us know if they find anything.”


    He was familiar with these ces. “This is the misceneous area where they sell all kinds of things. We


    have to walk further to get to the specialized area.”


    There were all sorts of people in the misceneous area. The sellers were also very strange. There were


    buyers for all the goods and goods for every buyer. Every day, the turnover and profit made one boil with


    anger. That was how this big and inhumane industry was produced.


    For money, people could take on the form of any monster.


    Sophia looked at those ‘goods’ that had a numb expression on their faces that looked like they had gone


    through immeasurable torment. They were sitting in a daze by the disy window waiting to be


    purchased. Feelings of destion and anger grew within her, but she realized how powerless she was.


    She could not change a thing.


    All of a sudden, she came to an abrupt halt and stood still where she was. Michael kept tugging her


    forward, but she did not budge.


    Sophia’s eyes were fixed on one of the stores at the side. A child was up for sale by the disy window.


    It was a little Cethosian girl. She was very beautiful and was dressed neatly. Her glistening eyes were


    filled with misery and fear.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    She looked to be the same age as Carmen. She was supposed to be a little princess, spoiled and


    cherished by her parents, but she had been sold off to this ce and turned into one of the ‘goods’ that


    were up for sale.


    She was even wearing a wristband with a number on it. If people liked her, they could take her to the


    counter, pay the price, and carry her out of there. The people there could even provide legal identities


    and adoption procedures.


    Sophia felt her heart ache and could not take another step. Breathing heavily, she only kept her eyes


    fixed on that child.


    Michael knew that bringing Sophia in would cause trouble.


    Anyone with a conscience who entered this ce would burn with indignation. They would want more


    than anything for a huge fire to burn the whole ce down. Unfortunately, the reality was that cruel. That


    ce was not going to disappear and there was not much they could do about it.


    Michael tugged at Sophia, pulling her back into reality. Her weary gaze moved away from the young girl


    as she slowly followed Michael forward. It did not keep her from feeling terrible. Lowering her head, her


    tears slowly soaked through her mask.


    When they had just taken a couple of steps, however, she suddenly wrenched her hand out of Michael’s


    grip and ran back. Rushing into that store, she went and carried the child out, then stood before Michael


    with pleading eyes.


    He almost expected that to happen.