As I continue to run through the streets of the outer city, I quickly realize I’ve never physically been in this area.

Of course, my rats have visited it and healed people within the alleys and on the streets here. However, since I allowed my scan to work autonomously, I don’t really have a strong impression of this area.

This entire area is like a compacted rural place. The people walking around and working below in the farms appear like a combination of miners and farmers, covered in dirt and dust.

Unsurprisingly, the little I can hear from everyone around me makes it seem like the miner aspect is more prevalent. Most of the people here don’t control what they grow and are, in fact, farming on the behalf of someone else.

Not only that, but this part of the city in society seems to be really regulated.

Not only are they within the city bounds, but since the owners of such farm can keep everyone in one place and have farms that don’t spread out across a lot of land horizontally, but vertically, they can monitor everyone here.

I can even see the places that these people live, that dive deep into the earth and are like the tightly packed apartments I once heard of in Japan. It appears whole families get packed into this, though they don’t seem to get the chance to stay in there for long. No matter their gender or age, they all are working on the underground farms.

Unlike the people in America who unionized and got better living conditions that weren’t owned by their employer… every aspect of these people’s lives are regulated by their bosses.

And keep them in line are overseers, whose job is to keep them moving at any cost. Since there’s so many farms nearby, and many of them are owned in giant patches, there’s always work to be done.

It’s not a good situation, to say the least.

It’s also a reminder of the history of slavery in my world. Something I feel strongly about.

In this case, I’m forced to turn my head away and continue moving through these areas.

Unlike individual injustices, society wide ones I’m just not at the level to handle them yet.

Not only that, but I can feel the countdown tick on those items that I’m looking for being available.

I think that until I see a group of people and children getting absolutely beat down by an annoyed overseer.

They are all looking near death with the severity of the blows.

The overseer appears to be a body cultivator, and also someone with a heavy hand.

I’ve seen some people get beat up enforced to work as I’ve been running here, but nothing like this.

I will not sit around and just let this happen. But I’ll need to navigate it in the right way.

… As long as I make this quick, I should have enough time, as I was already making good time.

During my journey through the jungle, I ended up switching out of my normal clothes and using some of the normal ones for cultivators to wear that I bought on my last spending trip.

With my stealth mode activated, no one could really get a clear look at me.

But now I make my presence known, by appearing by the side of one child.

Seeing someone suddenly appear in your view is a shocking thing for anyone. The overseer's hand freezes in midair before he quickly bows in my direction, completely ignoring the group.

Typically, when you are in front of cultivators, the only solution is to beg for your life and focus on serving their needs.

“Hello young master. Is there anything this lowly one can do for you?”

My conversation scan and normal is fully active.

The children had been slow to work and when they were getting beaten to death, some adults had said something… leading them getting beaten to near death.

In terms of the overseer, they are the stereotypical bully.

It’s easy to see that the most effective way to deal with someone like this is with the noble cultivator image.

I sniff at him before looking at the children and adults in the group.

He shivers at the sound, before looking at Where I’m looking. With a swallow, he apologizes.

“I’m sorry for letting you see such disgraceful sights. I will dispose of them shortly.”

He begins.

Slowly and methodically, I raised my hand. A cold voice emerges from me.

“Did I tell you to do such a thing?”

I can practically hear his heart stop.

… it only skips a beat, though.

He falls silent, no words able to emerge.

I fill the silence with my speech.

“I find this group curious. I’d like to purchase them.”

The few people who are still conscious in the group grit their teeth, with some shedding tears. Being bought like this is never good news with a cultivator.

Although slavery is illegal, people are slaves by another means.

On his side, the overseer it’s beside themselves, as this has now become an opportunity for them.

“Honored Young Master, I’m sure you already know that people like this have debts to the owners of this plantation. I can tell you, though, that I can take care of everything and make sure they are yours for a small amount.”

Things like this aren’t usually so open, but occasionally are because of the straightforward nature of cultivators when they want something and can just get it.

The overseer, directly asking for a bribe, is honestly a stupid idea.

Despite the fact that he works for the owner of this plantation, that doesn’t mean he would be as protected as someone in a group like that taming group.

Because of his greed and stupidity, I can’t just let this go. To do so would go against the dignity of a cultivator. Unknown nobles could just kill him easily. However, even a normal cultivator could probably get away with it as well.

This gives me an opportunity to teach him a lesson and send a message.

In an instant, I have my hand on his neck and lifted in the air with just two fingers. Just enough to make breathing difficult, but not enough to kill him.

All the while, keeping my face impassive.

At first, he desperately reaches towards my hand to pull it away but then lets it drop, as Resisting could get him killed.

I casually look around, as if inspecting the surrounding people in the work that’s been done.

“I wonder what your bosses may think when they “learn you’ve been stealing their hard earned money.”

He sweats, even as he chokes slightly.

“Not only that, but if you’ve been going through workers so quickly, it probably costs them more to have them replaced. “

I look straight at him now

“If you were working for me, I would already have had you killed.”

I dropped him and turn away. He falls to the ground gasping for air, before moving into a kneeling position with his head on the ground.

“I’m not the only one watching these areas, so take this as a word of warning.”

He profusely agrees, and I let him continue for a while before cutting him off.

“With that said, I still need this done. Do what you need to make sure their debts are paid and the transition is made. Anything left afterwards is yours to keep.”

I level an even stare at him. He can’t see it, but others can and are.

“I don’t need to say what will happen if you decide to cheat me.”

I then toss a big silver on the ground in front of him.

Everyone around freezes. As he looks up, he does as well, before immediately scooping it deep into his pocket. Where fear was before, there is now happiness. And also, wariness of the surrounding crowds.

I dismiss him and he runs off to take care of things and get away.

Only the group and countless eyes watching are left.

Kneeling down, I go to each of them and begin healing their wounds completely. I go almost the full distance, just to the point of slightly increasing their spirit root, as well.

People around watch as the light shines from my hands and one by one, they each appear healthier than before.

Once I’m done, I look around and make a comment aloud.

“Maybe I should check with his boss, as it appears many people have little to do.”

At those words, people run to get back to work and away from here.

With mostly only the people I had healed left around here, I scan each of them to find the leader of this group. It appears to be a young man not much older than me.

As I am running out of time for my original goal for this trip, I secretly hand a big silver to him and say something aloud to all of them.

“Buy a place for all of you. Live your lives and try to help people as you can. That’s all I want from you all. “

And with that, I get up and walk away.

My conversation scan tells me I should add something more to help them in the future.

“If able, also help your fellow person in the same way that I have. Get people out of the system or improve it yourselves.”

My scan tells me that’s all I need to say for them to come to their own decisions, though there is more I could say.

Unfortunately, I don’t have time to go in any more detail. I have quite the distance to cover and I had to stay stealthy while doing.

To the eyes of the inevitable watchers, I practically disappear and merge within the crowds once again.

I should be able to reach the slums by the end of the day.

… these cities are just way too big. And I’m still relatively close to it!