Word Count: chapter: 1,033||story: 4,473||Chapters: 4/30

Brron signed the papers, taking official ownership of his newest slave. He wondered how long this one would last. He'd never owned a human slave who made it longer than a year and most of them didn't last half of that.

He doesn't look very strong. Just stubborn.

Brron thoroughly enjoyed the stubborn slaves. He had a very successful method that hadn't yet failed to tame one of them. Some of them resisted longer than others, but in the end, they all bowed down to him.

As would the rest of the world in due time. Brron made his plans long-term and he'd waited a long time to get as close as he had now to success.

With the paperwork dealt with and his new property boxed up in the carriage, Brron cast one quick look at the gladiator slaves in training, wondering if he should buy another one. So far no one from here stood a chance against Johan and with Johan's mission coming up soon, Brron wanted someone new to take over the position of champion.

I heard that Edo Phoenix has a new warrior. Perhaps I should take this 'Kaiser' from him.

Or he could challenge Phoenix for possession of Kaiser. Kaiser wouldn't be allowed to duel in his own defense, which would mean one of Phoenix's lesser gladiators would have to fight for him.

With all of those thoughts bundling through his mind, Brron made his way to his transport. He'd satisfied his desires for this trip, for the most part.

The box with the new slave in it remained silent. Or rather, the slave chained within did. Brron found himself displeased; he liked a little fight when he wanted to tame someone. Even Johan and Rune had given him a bit of a struggle in their early days, until they'd learned the manners and submission proper for their station.

Perhaps the slave was just saving his energy for later. Brron decided to look on the bright side with that.

It only took a day or two to get back to his fortress. He made certain the slave received rations of food and water, enough so that no one had to worry about the merchandise dying before they arrived at home, and spent most of the rest of his time scouting the area for potential gladiators and anyone else that might satisfy his blood lust.

Unfortunately, no one suitable for that turned up, which put Brron into an even worse mood by the time the fortress hove into sight. He flexed his fingers, ready to unleash discipline wherever necessary.

All of his servants, slaves, and warriors arrayed themselves into position as soon as the carriage rolled into the entryway. The box with the new slave was taken down from the carriage and opened up. Brron reached inside and grabbed the leash attached to the slave's collar, yanking him out.

"Welcome to your new home," he snarled, enjoying the look of terror on the human's face. "Everyone here outranks you, but you will obey only me. Is that understood?"

The slave's eyes darted from Brron to the others and back again, but he gave no answer. Brron disciplined him right away, with a strong hit to the face that knocked him down on the ground. The Mad King didn't let him stay there but for a moment, dragging him to his feet by the leash.

"I asked you a question, slave. And that was a warning. I can get much, much worse."

Sweet, sweet terror flamed in the human's gray eyes and he nodded quickly. Brron decided to allow this, for the moment. Everyone had to start somewhere.

He gestured toward the two that stood closest at hand and they stepped over in near perfect time. He'd always found that amusing and encouraged it.

"These are my sons." Brron rested his free hand on the one closest to him, dressed in warrior's gear. "Johan, Champion of my arena." He raised one bony finger to indicate the other. "Rune, the chief of my household. Rune will instruct you in your new duties and has full permission to discipline you in any way that he sees fit."

Brron smirked close to the new slave. "I expect you to learn quickly, if at all. Those who fail to satisfy me have but one fate awaiting them: to die."

The human's eyes rounded even more. Brron couldn't have been more pleased if he'd wanted to. This was how one trained a slave: absolute fear and the threat of death hanging over their heads, not pleading nicely with the occasional punishment.

He gestured roughly toward Rune. "Take him away, have him cleaned up and put in a uniform. I expect to see him working for his dinner tonight. He'll be my personal servant. They claimed he was stubborn and refused to learn to obey. Change that for me, Rune. I know you're good at it."

Rune bowed low from the waist. "As my lord commands."

Brron tossed him the leash and Rune led the new slave out of the courtyard. The slave hurried along, too fast for Brron to get an idea of his expression, but the Mad King didn't care. Either the human would learn to bend under the yoke of his new life or Brron would have the chance to kill him.

"A stubborn one?" Johan gave him a considering look. "Is that why you bought him?"

"I didn't. The slave master gave him to me because of that stubbornness." Brron chuckled as he rested one hand on his adopted son's shoulder. "But leave him to Rune. I have other plans for you."

Johan nodded, jaw set. "Have you found someone to take my place here?"

"Not as of yet. But I have a few thoughts in mind. You may rest assured that I won't let your place remain unfilled while you're gone." Brron smiled, thinking of that mission. Johan would be so very good at what he was going to do.

Brron doubted there would be anyone else in the world capable of entering into the service of Haou, seducing him into exhaustion, and then killing him. No one but his son.

To Be Continued

Note: Thank you for reading and I hope that you enjoyed the chapter. Please let me know what you thought of it if at all possible.

Note 2: Rune is better known in anime canon as the double of Johan that Juudai met in Dark World. Here, he is Johan's twin brother.