Chapter 152: Slave Market negotiations. Mugen, Priestess, Roxanne.

You slide your hand around Rika's waist, as you gesture toward the radio with your other hand. She activates the microphone, accepting her tactical vest pressing against your side.

"I'm famous enough as The Enchanter that I had a contact invitation waiting for me," you begin, voice steady and professional. "So it should be somewhat known what my announced enchantments offer. We'll expand on that list after this conversation."

Rika's posture shifts subtly - recognition that you're negotiating from a position of overwhelming strength.

"Assuming the underground market isn't dumb enough to have missed our original video sent through Navy channels, you know I'm gathering dimensional travelers. Confirmed non-Earth-local individuals. So far, only reported anime and game characters to my knowledge." You pause deliberately, letting the weight of your resources settle. "Several have already been confirmed in or en route to the rapidly budding slave markets."

Albedo moves closer, her golden eyes fixed on the radio speaker with predatory interest. C.C. sets down her tablet, attention fully captured. Robin pulls up a notepad, pen ready.

"So here's my angle," you continue, hand tightening fractionally on Rika's waist. "I'm currently the richest man on this planet and looking to buy or trade. But I can't exactly go to the local grocery store during a zombie apocalypse to purchase people lost across dimensions. Your turn, Ms. Slaver with the wonderful southern drawl."

Static crackles for three heartbeats. Then Platinum-Three's voice returns - warmer now, calculating excitement barely concealed beneath professional courtesy.

"Well now, sugar, I was wonderin' when you'd get around to contactin' us directly." Her accent thickens deliberately, playing up the regional charm. "Yes indeed, we know exactly who you are. That Navy broadcast went through every functional radio network from here to Alaska. Fuel generation, electricity, real magic - Lord have mercy, you're offerin' salvation itself."

Papers rustle in the background. "I got three confirmed dimensional travelers in my custody right this minute. Male fighter from some unknown world - calls himself Mugen, violent as hell but manageable. Then there's a traumatized young priestess, barely speaks, from whatever hell she came from. And my prize acquisition - cooperative young woman with floppy dog ears named Roxanne, claims she's from somewhere called Vale, which is located within the Brahim Empire. Still got her slave collar from her original world, if you can believe that."

Rika's fingers dig into your arm slightly - recognition of the tactical advantage you've just gained.

"Now, payment options." Platinum-Three's tone shifts to pure business calculation. "Standard currency's worthless. Ammunition, fuel, preserved food - those are baseline trades. But you? Enchanter, you're offerin' infinite resources. So let's talk about what you're willin' to pay for guaranteed non-terrestrial merchandise."

You lean closer to the radio, Rika's waist still under your hand. "The list of things I can offer has steadily increased. Let's first confirm what's already on the table - what enchanted locations do you know of?"

Platinum-Three's voice crackles back immediately, papers rustling audibly. "Let's see... Eureka Costco up in Northern California, that's confirmed operational. Redding Costco, Sacramento region, Bakersfield, Moreno Valley, Riverside - all the way down through Southern California. Phoenix Costco out in Arizona, and Dallas Costco in Texas. All generating fuel independently according to what my scouts report. Every single one of 'em lit up like Christmas and pumping gas like the old world never ended."

She pauses deliberately. "Though I gotta say, sugar, the access situation varies considerably. Some of those facilities got organized survivor groups managing distribution. Others... well, let's just say territorial disputes are ongoing."

You exchange a glance with Albedo, who's listening intently from beside you. Robin sets down her pen, attention fully captured.

"Here's my first payment," you say clearly. "Advance knowledge that hasn't been announced yet. The airports - Eureka Regional, Redding Regional, Sacramento Executive, Fresno International, Phoenix International. All enchanted with the same package. They generate diesel and gas just like the Costcos, but they also produce aviation fuel. Jet fuel, helicopter fuel, everything aircraft need."

The radio goes completely silent for five full seconds. When Platinum-Three speaks again, her professional mask has slipped entirely. "You're tellin' me there are five fully operational airports with unlimited aviation fuel? Lord have mercy, do you understand what that means for transportation networks? For trade routes?"

"Why else would I have enchanted Airports." you confirm. "And if you can get pilots willing to work, I can enchant aircraft directly. Planes, helicopters, whatever you need mobile. The catch is they have to operate under my oversight - no warlord consolidation, no exploitation operations. A clear divide of Legitimate and Illegitimate transportation and supply only."

Albedo's golden eyes narrow with approval. Rika's fingers tighten slightly on your arm.

Platinum-Three exhales slowly, calculating. "You just handed me intelligence worth more than any three dimensional travelers combined. What's the price tag on this generosity, Enchanter? Because nobody gives away this kind of advantage without expectin' something substantial in return."

You lean forward slightly, hand still resting on Rika's waist. "My price is straightforward. Priority access to any dimensional travelers you capture - first refusal before you offer them to other buyers. Transparent communication about their locations and any information you gather about others in the network."

Albedo's golden eyes track every word with calculating approval.

"You'll want to expand your network," you continue. "Or at least get in touch with other organizations worldwide. I'll be expanding my list of gas stations and airports as I progress. Oh, and if it matters - there's an enchanted gas station in La Paz and another in Torreón, Mexico."

Platinum-Three's silence stretches for three heartbeats before she responds, her southern drawl thickening with genuine interest. "Lord have mercy, you just keep droppin' bombs don't you? Mexico facilities mean cross-border trade routes just became viable again. My people been strugglin' with southbound coordination for weeks now."

Papers rustle audibly through the speaker. "Priority access and first refusal - that's reasonable considerin' what you're offerin' in return. Transparent communication about captures and network intelligence, I can work with that. But sugar, you gotta understand - my competitors ain't gonna be happy when word gets out I got exclusive arrangement with The Enchanter."

Rika's fingers tighten fractionally on your arm - recognition of the leverage shift you've just created.

"I'm currently focused on international Navy ships," you explain, maintaining professional tone. "Getting tankers across the world to restart worldwide fuel routes. But I'm certain there's room for a smart woman to reap benefits during the process."

Platinum-Three laughs - genuine amusement mixed with calculating appreciation. "Smart woman indeed. Alright Enchanter, here's my counter-offer. You get priority access and first refusal on all my dimensional traveler acquisitions - that includes the three I'm holdin' right now. I provide transparent intelligence on network operations, competitor movements, and regional captures."

She pauses deliberately. "In exchange, I want enchantment packages for my primary facilities - nothin' fancy, just basic fuel generation and repair functions. And I want advance notice on any new infrastructure you're enchantin' that affects West Coast operations. That fair?"

Violet maintains her watchful position near the communications station.

"One more thing," Platinum-Three adds, tone shifting to pure business calculation. "Those three dimensional travelers I mentioned? I can have them ready for inspection within forty-eight hours if you're interested. The priestess girl needs careful handlin' - severe trauma. But Mugen and Roxanne are both stable and cooperative."

"Let me clarify - you're getting priority, not exclusive arrangements. If there's a group unwilling to hand over dimensional travelers, they won't be the first or last I've made disappear."

"Understood completely," Platinum-Three responds without hesitation, her southern drawl sharpening into pure business calculation. "Priority access means I contact you first, transparent intelligence sharing, and volume discounts on bulk acquisitions. That's fair consideration given what you're offerin'."

You lean forward slightly. "As for your facilities - consider upgrading before you have me enchant places. Airports, universities, military bases, fancy multi-story hotels. Enchanting that out-of-the-way mansion lost in Nevada's cliffs would make me question if it's worth the effort."

Platinum-Three laughs - genuine amusement mixed with calculating recognition. "Point taken, sugar. I got three primary facilities worth your attention. Main compound near Bakersfield - formerly California State University, fortified perimeter, generator power. Secondary site outside Sacramento - converted hotel with vehicle bay. Tertiary location in Portland - repurposed office complex with rooftop access."

Papers rustle audibly through the speaker. "Each site's got defensive positioning, supply storage, and communication equipment. Worth enchantin' if you're serious about infrastructure investment."

"That reminds me," you continue smoothly, "I should probably check on that fuel truck I gave away." You pause deliberately, letting the implication of mobile generation capabilities settle.

The radio goes silent for three full seconds. When Platinum-Three speaks again, her professional mask has slipped entirely into raw interest. "Lord have mercy. Mobile fuel generation? That changes every calculation about regional distribution and territory control."

Rika's fingers tighten fractionally on your arm - recognition of the strategic information you just leveraged.

"When it comes to the dimensional travelers," you state clearly, "just give me a location. We'll visit them now."

Platinum-Three exhales slowly, recalculating her entire approach. "The three are in Bakersfield. Coordinates are thirty-five point thirty-five north, one-nineteen point zero nine west. Former hotel, three-stories with reinforced perimeter. I can have all three ready for inspection within twenty minutes."

She pauses deliberately. "Fair warnin' though, Enchanter - Mugen's violent but food-motivated, Priestess barely speaks and startles easy, Roxanne's cooperative but views herself as property. You want clean merchandise evaluations, I recommend separate inspections rather than group presentation."

Albedo shifts her stance, clearly preparing for potential combat deployment.

"One more thing," Platinum-Three adds, tone shifting to pure strategic calculation. "Word's gonna spread fast once you start enchantin' my facilities. My competitors will either try negotiatin' similar arrangements or attempt hostile acquisition of my network assets. You prepared for that kind of regional destabilization?"

You laugh aloud, the sound drawing curious glances from Robin and C.C. at the communications station. Through the telepathy web, you reach out to Albedo with clear direction. "Pass word to Asia, Rin and Mikasa - return if they're done visiting Lyra and Kira's graves."

Albedo's mental acknowledgment comes instantly, followed by her relay to the cemetery group.

You lean forward toward the radio microphone, Rika still positioned at your side. "We're still at the start of a zombie apocalypse. The power grid's out. I'm amazed your network's functional with such limited fuel."

Platinum-Three's laugh crackles through the speaker - genuine amusement mixed with professional acknowledgment. "You got that right, sugar. We been scrapin' by on generator fuel and scavenged supplies for weeks now. Half my operations run on rationed diesel and prayer."

"Unlike your competitors," you continue, "you'll now have all the fuel you want and running electricity. While I don't doubt the stupid will attempt to steal what's yours, that's half the reason I left the publicly announced Costcos unguarded. The dumb ones can kill themselves publicly over the fancy fuel locations."

Silence stretches for two heartbeats. "Meanwhile the airports might have less convenience, but they produce the same amount - technically more because of the aviation fuel."

"All that adds up to there's not much stability left to worry about as it is. As for competitors negotiating - you already know how hard it is to reach me. So pray they do. You can either take them into your network or accept them as neighbors if you fail."

Papers rustle audibly through the speaker. "Just be careful," you add, voice dropping into harder register, "that you don't make the mistake of receiving a rape victim. I might make the mistake and wipe you both out."

The radio goes silent. Rika's fingers tighten fractionally on your arm - recognition of the threat's weight.

"It somehow hasn't happened yet," you continue quietly, "but there's an admittedly dangerous part of me hoping for when I get the excuse to cut loose."

Platinum-Three exhales slowly, professional mask slipping toward genuine concern. "Message received loud and clear, Enchanter. My network operates on clean merchandise principles already - damaged goods don't sell well, and assault victims are liabilities nobody wants. I'll make damn sure any acquisitions maintain your standards."

"Now then," Platinum-Three continues, tone shifting back toward business calculation, "about those three dimensional travelers I mentioned. You want inspection schedules for all three, or prefer individual evaluations?"

"We'll be at the coordinates within twenty minutes for individual meetings," you state clearly into the radio. "I'll bring someone who might be able to help the priestess. No name on this one?"

Platinum-Three's response carries genuine surprise. "Hell sugar, I didn't think to ask. Girl barely speaks - mostly just nods or shakes her head. Blonde hair, young face, clothing of choice is some kinda white-and-gold church robes. Startles at sudden movement, won't make eye contact."

You nod toward Rika, who cuts the transmission.

Your hand slides away from her waist as you step back from the communications console. The command center feels oddly spacious with only six women present - Albedo still standing next to Rika in her white evening gown, C.C. still in the captains chair with arms crossed, Robin with her notepad, Violet watching silently, Yoruichi perched casually on the tactical display table, and Musashi lounging against the far wall with relaxed confidence.

"Albedo," you ask directly, "what was Asia, Rin and Mikasa's response?"

Albedo's golden eyes meet yours with calm precision. "Asia answered immediately. She's already returning through the Gate with Rin and Mikasa - should arrive within five minutes. She expressed concern about the traumatized priestess and asked if you wanted her to prepare any specific healing configurations."

C.C. speaks up from her position at the navigation station, tone characteristically dry. "Asia also mentioned they completed their cemetery visit. Lyra and Kira's graves are properly maintained. She didn't elaborate further."

Robin sets down her pen, attention shifting fully toward you. "Platinum-Three's description, White-and-gold robes, blonde hair, young appearance. did you recognize it?"

You answer, "Yes and no. While that description fits almost every non-Japanese priestess in the category, that her name was mysteriously missed while even Mugen's dumb ass got named, likely suggests she is the 'priestess' of a series named Goblin Slayer. It's a series that famously went down the darkest goblin stories possible, while mysteriously keeping all of the characters named by their character classes or roles, instead of actual names. A dimensional variant of any kind from that origin is almost guaranteed some form of trauma, so that psychology makes complete sense."

Violet steps forward slightly, voice steady and measured. "Severe trauma cases require careful approach. Asia's healing capabilities may help with physical stress, but psychological recovery will take extended time and patience."

Yoruichi grins from her perch atop the tactical display table, purple hair catching the overhead lighting. "So we're going shopping for traumatized dimensional travelers from an underground slave network. This should be entertaining."

"Only one is traumatized from what we just heard." You pause, considering how to continue.

Musashi pushes off from the wall, silver-pink hair shifting with the movement. "If combat becomes necessary, I'm ready. Though from Derek's example, it sounds like this Platinum-Three operates with professional calculation rather than stupidity."

Albedo's wings shift slightly behind her. "The Bakersfield compound coordinates place it roughly one hundred seventy miles southeast. Transportation will be instantaneous once Asia returns and we finalize the inspection team composition."