The Broken Halo

Chapter 25: Slave Collar

”Hey, kid.”

As Simon was lost in his thoughts, Zaglur’s voice drifted into his ears, forcing him to come out of his thoughts.

He looked at the Merchant, and he saw the ever-present smile on the lips of the Merchant.

His gaze slowly lowered to Zaglur’s right hand, and he saw an open metallic collar in his hand.

His brows instantly became furrowed. He didn’t recognize what it was, but he had an idea about what it could do.

When Zaglur saw Simon’s frown, his lips curled up slightly, and with a soft chuckle, he took a step toward Simon.

He placed the metallic collar around Simon’s neck, and with a clank, the collar shut closed and tightened around his neck.

Simon did not try to fight or resist since he knew that it was not possible.

Zaglur was either an Archfiend or a Greater Demon, and he had not even awakened his Demonic Heart.

There was no way he could defeat Zaglur despite his experience and knowledge.

The gap between them was just too wide.

Instead, what he did was touch the collar. He touched the exterior of the collar and the interior.

When he touched the interior, his eyes flashed with a pondering glint.

’There are rune engravings on it, and I can also feel six holes in the collar. What are those holes for?... Electricity?’

As Simon pondered on the metallic collar around his neck, Zaglur tilted his head slightly with an expression of slight intrigue.

”You’re oddly too calm, and I can’t help but wonder why. I can’t believe that the first thing you did when I placed that slave collar on you was to inspect it. You didn’t even try to resist.”

Simon glanced at Zaglur, then he stopped inspecting the collar.

”And what would happen if I was not calm? I might just get myself killed or hurt.”

Zaglur’s smile widened slightly.

”I see... I guess it’s probably because of the Devourer’s bloodline that’s flowing through your veins that you’re so calm. There’s no way such a bloodline would not give you immense benefits, especially one that’s related to your mind.”

Simon noticed that when Zaglur talked about the Devourer’s bloodline flowing through his veins, there was a flicker of confusion and uncertainty in his eyes.

And he knew why.

’He cannot sense that I have a high grade bloodline flowing in me. If I truly had the Devourer’s bloodline in me, even Zaglur might feel his bloodline trembling or giving off a reaction because of how close he is to me.’

’But I don’t have the bloodline of the Devourer in me. I only have his skill. And I unconsciously used the skill in a state of anger back in the Tribe.’

’That must have been proof to him that I absorbed the Devourer’s blood essence. But what would happen to me when he finds out that I don’t have the Devourer’s bloodline?’

’Would he be more suspicious and curious about how I can use the Devour skill, that is if he has extensive knowledge on Devourers... or would he decide to kill me once he believes that I have no use and I’m just a talentless demon child... Would he kill me out of anger because he has lost a very precious blood essence?’

’I guess my situation is worse than it seems.’

Approximately five seconds had gone by as Simon was lost in his thoughts, and after the third second when he didn’t reply, Zaglur continued walking towards his unknown destination.

Simon subconsciously followed, then he looked at Zaglur and asked calmly.

”What’s going to happen to me?”

Zaglur glanced at Simon with the same light smile.

”Are you sure you want to know that? You know that ignorance is bliss at times, right?”

”And ignorance can be what also gets you killed.”

Zaglur chuckled, then he shook his head with a wide grin.

”Very true. What’s your name, boy?”

”Blackmoon.” Simon answered simply, obviously giving out the name his mother gave him.

Unsurprisingly, Zaglur had a strange expression when he heard his name, and he subconsciously glanced at the black moon in the sky of their world.

”What a name. It’s obvious your mother has been lazy and irresponsible from the time you were born. No wonder she sold you so cheaply and made such a foolish decision,” Zaglur said without even trying to hide or mix his words in front of Simon.

Simon instinctively had the urge to refute Zaglur’s words, to tell the demon merchant that his mother had actually not been irresponsible and lazy, but he instantly suppressed the urge.

His mother sold him for money, how could he ever think of defending her?

Zaglur shifted his gaze to Simon, then he smiled.

”You asked what would happen to you, right?”

Simon nodded slightly.

”First of all, you’re my slave from now on.”

Zaglur pointed at the black metallic collar on Simon’s neck.

”If you ever try to hurt me or harm me in any way, that collar would automatically cause you immense pain. It would either release a powerful bolt of electricity or those little holes you see would release spikes that would pierce through your neck.”

”And I can also kill you with a thought.”

Simon frowned slightly.

”Do you really believe that I can hurt you or harm you? I’ve not even awakened my demon heart.”

Zaglur shrugged nonchalantly.

”I didn’t create the slave collar. I found it in the ruins of a destroyed clan.”

Simon touched the collar with a finger with a pondering expression, then Zaglur spoke once again.

”As for what would happen to you, well, I’m going to have to remove the Devourer’s bloodline from your body. You see... That blood essence you devoured is actually meant for one of the six main clans. I’m meant to sell it to them for a ridiculous amount of money, honestly.”

Simon had a slightly baffled expression when he heard this.

”Won’t you rather absorb the blood essence and get more power instead of money?”

”No.” Zaglur instantly answered.