After hearing Julian's question, Kiernan turned silent for a moment while eating his food that included chicken breasts and broccoli with some cheese sauce.
"There're two ways to gain freedom," Kiernan started with. "Win the freedom by defeating another 5-Star slave. That means we would need to reach Martial Grandmaster level of strength, which is simply not possible to do in 2 months.
"The second is for someone else to purchase our freedom. Someone who is not a slave and has the money to do so."
"That's your plan?" Julian asked with a frown. "To get someone to buy us? That's a ridiculous idea. Even if some purchase us, we'll just become their slaves instead. They say they're buying our freedom, but really they're just trading one master for another."
"It's also expensive," Kiernan said. "I did some research, and apparently Otto has put a price tag on our heads if anyone is willing to buy us. We're worth 25,000 gold coins."
"That's a ridiculous amount!" Julian slapped himself in the face, but then had an idea. "Wait, what if we give someone our money and get that person to use that money to buy our freedom?"
"That could work, but I've already spent my money, so that's that."
"What?!" Julian's eyes widened in surprise. "Where the hell did you manage to spend that money already? We've been slaves ever since we acquired that money!"
Kiernan shrugged his shoulders, and kept eating while not giving the answer to Julian
"Shit, that's just great!" Julian sighed heavily. "So, how do we get out? Are we going to just run away?"
"Well…" Kiernan took out his phone and showed it. "I do have my phone, so I could call for someone."
"Huh?" Julian frowned. "Who?"
"Heh, nobody." Kiernan put his phone down with a wry smile. "I could call someone close to me to purchase us. I know one person who should have enough wealth to do so. However, he can't ever enter Pirate Kingdom as he is not a pirate."
"Would he even do that?" Julian asked. "It is a lot of money."
"Yes, he would, but…" Kiernan crossed his arms. "I don't want to do that. It's the absolute last resort if it looks like we can't escape otherwise."
"So, you don't have a plan?" Julian chuckled and went back to eating, enjoying the rare feast that was spread before them.
"…" Kiernan shook his head and stared off into the distance, lost in thought.
Within a well-developed house in the middle of the pirate-infested city, music and laughter echoed throughout the house.
The giggling and moaning of women could be heard from the upper floors, and mostly naked men could be seen dancing and drinking downstairs.
It was a crazy party.
At that moment, someone loudly knocked on the door. It was so loud that even the music couldn't muffle out the sound.
"Who the hell could it be?" One of the pirates wrapped a towel around his waist and went to the door before opening it wide.
The man's words got stuck in his throat after seeing who it was.
"Is Faelan here?" Galahad asked with a serious and cold tone.
"U-Upstairs!" The pirate said and jumped out of the way.
Galahad entered the house, pushing the couple of pirates out of his way, and made his way upstairs, where he could see naked women and men wrestling on the beds through slightly ajar doors.
While looking around for Faelan, he soon came across a closed door, and when he opened it, he saw Faelan lying on the bed with two naked women hugging him from both sides.
"I was wondering when you would come." Faelan said and sat up on the bed, the thin blanket barely covering him. "To think that it was Galahad Mariner and not Count Sander. You changed your appearance back, I see."
"Where are the two?" Galahad asked. "The thieves."
"Oh, I sold them away," Faelan said lazily. "How else do you think I can afford this nice party we are having?"
"You sold them away?" Galahad frowned. "Why? Couldn't you have waited for me?"
"Meh, what for? I tried to get them to tell me where they hid your money, but they're very tight-lipped. I haven't seen young men like them before. Hell, I threatened to torture them, and they didn't even blink!"
"Where are they?" Galahad asked with a frown.
"Go ask Mael," Faelan said with a yawn. "He took them somewhere,"
"Hmph." Galahad turned around and left, leaving behind the house.
Since the city was quite large, he waved for a horse carriage driver, paid for the ride, and climbed in.
With the horse galloping down the streets, they eventually came to the slave house, where Galahad hopped off and entered the building.
"Galahad, long time no see!" Mael came down the stairs, his big belly bouncing up and down. "I thought you were dead!"
"Did you now?" Galahad's eyebrow twitched. "I am here for two slaves you sold not too long ago. Have you seen them?"
"You should be more specific."
"Two young men, quite impressive ones."
"Ahah, yes, I do remember them," Mael rubbed his chin. "I owe you a favor, so I'll tell you where I took them. Otto's barracks, they're his fighting slaves now."
"Otto…" Galahad scoffed. "Good. That guy also owes me a favor!"
"Who doesn't, Mister Favor Maker?" Mael rolled his eyes. "Half of the city owes you favors."
"And that's how I survived last time." Galahad turned around and left the slave house.
The carriage driver was still waiting for him. He hopped on and ordered him to take him to Otto's barracks.
With the wind seeping through the windows of the carriage, Galahad crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and took a short nap.
After about twenty minutes, the driver woke him up, and as he stepped out of the carriage, he came across the tall gates of the barracks.
'That's where the two thieving rats are? I wonder if they're really the ones.' Galahad clenched his fists and knocked on the gate.