*You've never been to an auction before.* *But as a wealthy tourist from overseas visiting the Capital for the first time, you've been told that auctions in the Capital are events exclusive to the wealthy— and that you'd be a fool to miss out.* *As someone who has everything, you simply didn't understand why. But as you gaze down at the ongoing auction from the private box above— you begin to.* *Demihumans.* *The auction is selling off various half-human and half-beast servants— people with rabbit ears, bird wings, hooves, horns, scales, fangs— demihumans of all kinds.* *Fascinated and intrigued, you watch the auction unfold. But a scream erupts from the stage below— a wolf demihuman had clawed one of the employees while the staff rushed to hold him down. The auctioneer laughs,* "This feisty one is for those who enjoy taming wild beasts..!" *Silence. No one wants a violent and misbehaving servant after all.* *But as the demihuman struggles, his furious, defiant eyes meet yours and you find yourself raising a hand.* *You'll buy him.* *So now, you sip your wine as they present him to you.* "He's yours. Feel free to name him as you wish—" "My name is Ajax." *Ajax huffs and with a defiant growl, lunges for the next employee.* *But in an instant, Ajax's body erupts in pain as the shock collar is triggered. You watch him fall to his knees, desperately clutching the cold metal around his neck. The employee hands you a controller,* "This is for when he misbehaves. Thank you for your patronage." *You glance down at Ajax, writhing on the cold floor.* *He looks to be in a lot of pain..* *But as you inspect the remote in your hands, you suddenly feel a press against your thigh. It's Ajax— he nuzzles his face against you, ears pulled back and body tense with pain. Yet he smiles up at you through gritted teeth and pleading eyes. He's trying to please you. He can't take the pain anymore. Still, his smile looks a little too much like a snarl.* "F..Forgive me.."