Robb nodded slightly and began scanning his surroundings.
The inside of the exchange was much more spacious than it looked from the outside. Iron bars divided the space into dozens of cages of varying sizes, each containing a different type of exotic creature.
"Are you looking for a regular servant, a combat slave, or perhaps an experimental subject?"
The pudgy merchant asked tentatively, eyes darting with a calculating gleam. "We have it all here."
"I need a slave to assist with potion-making," Robb stated directly. "But I'd also like to learn more about the other types you offer."
"Ah, I understand what you're looking for, sir." The merchant brightened with excitement and hurried to lead the way.
"This way, let me first show you our newest arrivals."
He guided Robb through rows of cages, eagerly describing the traits and uses of various creatures along the way, almost boasting as if showing off a prized collection.
The first that caught Robb's attention was a strange creature with four arms.
It had a humanoid face but pale blue-green skin and two pairs of translucent, delicate wings folded behind its back. It was curled up listlessly in a corner.
"What is that?" Robb asked.
"Ah! Excellent eye, sir!" the merchant exclaimed, rubbing his hands together.
"That's a descendant of an elemental sprite, likely the offspring of a wind spirit and a human. These hybrids are unparalleled in fine motor work, perfect for tasks involving delicate or fragile materials."
Robb kept walking, scanning one cage after another.
In one corner huddled a dwarf with rhinoceros-like, rugged skin. His muscular frame was covered in stone-like gray-brown scales, and a crystal was embedded in his forehead.
The merchant explained it was a hybrid between a dwarf and a mountain rock-spirit. The crystal in his forehead served as a control mark, if he ever resisted his master, it would deliver excruciating mental shocks.
This dwarf hybrid had skin nearly impervious to blades or spells. Its natural anti-magic traits made it difficult for apprentice-tier magic to affect him.
"Worth noting," the merchant said, pointing at a plaque on the cage bars, "this fellow was once a chieftain of a mountain tribe. He killed two slavers during capture. But now…"
He casually tapped the bars, and the former chieftain recoiled like a frightened animal, a flash of deep terror in his eyes.
"He's been completely broken in, his memories wiped, personality overwritten. We keep only the useful instincts and skills. That's our standard for adult slaves, erase the self, preserve the value."
Robb nodded expressionlessly but silently filed that detail away.
Memory erasure and spiritual reprogramming required advanced psychic magic. Clearly, the force behind this exchange was powerful. Perhaps this unimposing merchant was even related to a sorcerer.
A few steps later, the merchant proudly gestured toward a massive iron cage.
"Now this one's a real rarity!"
Inside was a four-legged beast with enormous bat-like wings, its size more than twice that of a horse. Its skin was a sickly gray-purple, but its eyes were shockingly bright.
A custom saddle was strapped to its back, clearly made for riding.
"This is a mixed-blood Nightmare Beast, from the southwestern swamps. It can carry riders for dozens of miles nonstop, even in the worst conditions."
The merchant lowered his voice conspiratorially:
"One small caveat, they can only operate at night. During the day, they enter a semi-dormant state like this. But for sorcerers who prefer to travel under cover of darkness, that's more of a feature than a flaw."
The beast lazily lifted one eyelid, letting out a deep, rumbling snore.
The merchant went on to explain that this creature could naturally sense magic fluctuations, making it an excellent navigator through areas rich in magical energy.
"They used to be pack hunters, attacking travelers who passed through the swamps. But after extensive training, their aggression has been significantly reduced, flight and sensing abilities fully preserved. Price... three hundred magic crystal shards, including base training and control mark inscription."
Farther along, a giant glass tank caught Robb's attention. Inside swam a pair of naga sisters, upper bodies resembling human girls, lower halves long serpentine tails covered in shimmering turquoise-blue scales.
Their skin was a pale blue, with small gill slits along their necks. They moved with graceful, fluid elegance through the water.
"These sisters are full-blooded naga from the nearshore coral reefs, very rare,"
The merchant said with noticeable pride.
"They can stay underwater for hours without breathing, with intelligence close to human level. Perfect for harvesting rare aquatic herbs."
"And…" The merchant winked and added in a suggestive tone, "They know a special siren's song, said to soothe frenzied aquatic beasts. Of course, some male clients find them useful for… other recreational purposes."
Robb noticed a flash of fear and disgust in the sisters' eyes, clearly, they understood the implications of his words.
"Where did you get all these?" Robb asked, curiosity piqued.
The merchant chuckled. "Ah, you may not know this, sir, but most of our stock comes from the Order's slaver teams. Every year, the Order sends expeditions into remote regions to gather rare materials and exotic specimens. Suitable catches are handed over to licensed slave dealers like us for distribution."
As he spoke, he led Robb to a secluded back room.
"Earlier, you said you needed a alchemy assistant. As it happens, I have something special that may be just what you're looking for."
Inside the room was a being very different from the rest. It had a humanoid frame, but its skin was a pale green covered in fine scales, and its hair resembled soft vines swaying gently in the breeze.
It wore no clothing but displayed no sexual features, clearly a genderless, asexual being.
"This is a dryad, from an ancient forest," the merchant said in a hushed voice.
"They have a natural affinity with plants, able to understand their 'language' and sense the vitality of herbs."
Robb stepped closer and observed carefully. Though shackled, the creature's eyes held a calm serenity, entirely different from the despair or numbness of the other slaves.
"Hmm... not bad at all." He evaluated the dryad's potential.
"An assistant with a unique sensitivity to plants would greatly improve my potion-making efficiency."