The group of armed figures surrounded me, their voices a cacophony of strange, guttural sounds. Yet, to my astonishment, I could understand every word they spoke. It was as if some unseen force had unlocked their language in my mind, translating their foreign tongue into something familiar.


    The red-haired man, who seemed to be their leader, stepped forward. His fiery hair glinted in the sunlight, and his sharp eyes scanned me with a calculating gaze.


    [Alucard] asked, [What should we do with this captive, Paul?]


    A burly man with a scar running down his cheek[Paul]grinned, revealing a row of yellowed teeth. He looked me over like a merchant appraising livestock.


    [Paul] said, [This golden-haired one could fetch extra coin if we sell him at the market. He''s young, strong, and has a fine physique. Buyers will pay a high price for someone like him. We might even get 50 gold if we trade him alongside the other villagers we captured yesterday.]


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    [Alucard]s eyes lit up with approval. [Alucard] exclaimed, [Brilliant idea! I hadn''t hoped for more profit on our return journey. Brothers, restrain him but ensure the merchandise stays unharmed. We dont want to damage our investment.]


    The others chuckled darkly, their weapons glinting as they moved closer. I clenched my fists, my mind racing. *Merchandise? Investment?* They were talking about me as if I were nothing more than a commodity to be bought and sold.


    As rough hands grabbed my arms and bound them with coarse rope, I couldn''t help but feel a surge of anger and helplessness. Who were these people? And what kind of twisted market were they planning to sell me to?


    [Alucard] smirked, his fiery hair catching the light as he turned away. [Alucard] said, [Lets move out. The market wont wait forever.]


    ---