Chapter 20. Use the cards in your hand here and there. (7)
Time passed, and the auction resumed again.
“Huh, that’s boring.”
Princess Violet ended up not buying anything. It seems she didn’t have anything she liked after all.
“This is all the supplies we have prepared for today!”
The host shouted happily. His face was overflowing with joy.
“We would like to conclude today’s auction, thanking all of our guests for their enthusiastic participation so far!”
He bent down, putting one arm close to his body.
“It’s late at night, so please go in carefully. Thank you!”
With a thud, the lights on the stage went out.
“Ah, the auction has ended today.”
“Gem #5, I wanted it. Who was the top bidder?”
Rustling sounds began to be heard from all directions along with the sound of loud talking. It was the sound of customers standing up after completing their errands.
“We will pay for item 5, which was bid for 100,000 gold.”
“Please follow me. I will take you to another room.”
Or, they went to another place to pay money and receive the winning item.
What may seem like a bit of noise to ordinary people was clearly distinguishable to me.
“Shall we leave now?”
Princess Violet tried to get up from the sofa. I held out my hand towards her.
“Please remain seated.”
“Why? The auction is over.”
The moment you smiled meaningfully without saying a word,
smart.
Outside the room, an employee knocked on the door.
“Excuse me, may I come in?”
“come in.”
After permission was given, an employee opened the door and came in. He looked at me and Princess Violet, who were still sitting on the sofa.
“We confirmed that customer number 15 did not have the item he was bidding on. Is that correct?”
“that’s right.”
“Then I will show you the way out.”
I tilted my head towards him.
“I want to participate in the ‘last’ auction.”
The employee was silent for a moment at my words. Finally, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Okay. Do you know the rules?”
It was a secret tone, as if whispering an important secret.
“of course.”
When I answered in a similar tone, the employee took something out of his pocket.
“Take it.”
It was a pitch black mask with no patterns whatsoever.
“……hmm.”
A meaningful smile crossed Princess Violet’s lips. After Princess Violet and I finished putting on our masks, the staff member spoke.
“The final auction starts in 10 minutes. Please remain seated.”
As he closed the door and disappeared, Princess Violet, who was fiddling with her mask, asked.
“Last auction, what does that mean?”
“It is literally the last auction. Only special guests who know of the existence of this auction can participate.”
“How do you know this?”
“I heard about it by chance. I thought it would be fun, so I remembered it.”
To be precise, I knew it after seeing the original work.
My goal was to be the person who would appear in this ‘last auction’. No, should we accurately call it a product?
The person I was waiting for was going to appear on that stage in the most shabby and unsightly form.
“Really? That’s pretty interesting.”
Princess Violet smiled and tapped the end of her mask.
“But I don’t like this. Isn’t this a rip-off of our casino?”
“Should we bring the staff back and fix it?”
Princess Violet frowned at the bold statement.
“Quit. I was saying that if you just leave, the standard will be too low.”
The tips of Princess Violet’s fingernails tapped the mask.
“At our casino, masks are made by craftsmen. We don’t even use cheap materials like this.”
It seemed that they were involved not only in alcoholic beverages distributed within the casino, but also in these items.
Certainly, Princess Violet has quite the business aptitude. Because she was the one who bought the casino that was failing and made it as big as it is now.
Of course, appearing there and screwing over other nobles was a nasty hobby.
‘Isn’t it going to be even worse when I see the final auction later?’
The reason I brought Princess Violet here was also because of her personality.
Respect the truth and abhor lies. We value fair competition above all else.
That kind of honest personality will help turn this auction house around later.
‘In the meantime, I just have to take care of my business.’
I hid the smile on my face and waited for the auction to resume.
As I focused on hearing, I felt the presence of other guests who had not left like us.
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As I was doing that, I felt like an audience member waiting for the cookie video at the movie theater.
After exactly 10 minutes,
widely!
The stage lights came back on with a more cheerful sound. Just as the sound was different, so was the lighting.
Previously, a bright, white light was used to make the items visible, but now a dim light with a slightly red tint was used.
“You’ve waited a long time.”
The host also changed.
The voice of a younger man, and like us, he wore a golden mask covering his face.
“Thank you to all the distinguished guests who participated in the ‘last’ auction.”
He bent and straightened his back in a theatrical pose and spoke.
“This auction deals with items that are rarer and more valuable than previous auctions.”
A secret smile crossed his lips.
“Therefore, all transactions are made 100% in cash on the same day. Of course, there is no one left who does not know this rule.”
The host grinned and took a step back.
“Now then, let me introduce the first product!”
The curtain behind the stage was pushed up, and the lower half of the man’s body was visible beneath it.
“This is a very healthy and attractive men’s product!”
The curtain rose completely, revealing the man standing behind it.
Handcuffed on his arms and legs and wearing simple white clothing. It was a young male slave with a face of resignation.
“He is a high-quality, energetic person in his early 20s. He is from the eastern region, so he is tall and has solid muscles built up through training.”
The host gave the introduction naturally and fluidly.
“I’m sure that the ladies will like my natural blonde hair and clear blue eyes. Since I have a gentle personality, it might be a bit of a deduction for those who like a rebellious taste, right?”
The host said such things without hesitation even with a male slave right next to him. The smiling voice sounded as if it felt no remorse at all about this.
“Hoo……. It’s pretty good, isn’t it?”
“I like how tall you are. I think you’ll do a good job.”
“I don’t like it. I like it to have a more tame flavor.”
A small whisper came from the other guests’ seats.
“10,000 gold.”
Soon, someone held up a sign and started bidding.
“30,000 gold.”
“50,000 gold.”
It seemed very familiar to this inhumane slave auction, where human value is measured in money.
“oh my god…….”
It was a reaction in contrast to Princess Violet, who was unable to keep her mouth shut next to her.
“How can you auction off slaves? It’s prohibited by law in the Empire!”
Princess Violet’s bright, burning eyes were fixed on the stage and did not move.
“That’s why they’re doing it secretly like this.”
“Just leave these innocent things alone! How dare you do something like this in front of His Majesty?”
Princess Violet seemed ready to stand up at any moment.
“Calm down.”
I grabbed her shoulder and pressed it gently. Princess Violet’s shoulders shook roughly.
“Can’t you let go of this? How are you supposed to calm down after seeing that?”
“I’m telling you to look from afar. If we go out now and the princess makes a fuss, will all we do is hide the remaining goods?”
The strength slowly drained from Princess Violet’s shoulders.
“It is better to wait a little longer and act at the right moment. That way, you will be able to get a complete strike.”
“When is the right moment?”
“At least not now.”
Princess Violet regained her composure thanks to realistic persuasion.
“First of all, I understand. But Abel, why are you so calm? Did you already know?”
“No way. I was surprised too.”
Princess Violet’s brow furrowed slightly.
“You don’t look surprised at all…”
“I’m quite good at acting with facial expressions.”
He continued speaking with a shameless face.
“I had no idea the last auction would be like this.”
Actually, I knew it.
The reason I wasn’t that surprised was because I’d already seen this kind of scene before.
A scene where a human being loses all rights and self and is reduced to a commodity. It wasn’t much different from the slaves I saw in Kader’s estate.
However, compared to others, their treatment was relatively better. I could tell by looking at the condition of their body and the clothes they were wearing.
‘No, I can’t say it’s that much better.’
A laugh came naturally.
The fundamental difference between them and the slaves at this auction was that they were not just commoners.
A collateral lineage of a noble family that was defeated in a territorial war, or a nobleman whose property was confiscated.
Fallen nobles who lost their rights are sold as slaves in this market.
Not only does he know the etiquette of nobles, but he also has an outstanding appearance. In addition, he had a base sense of superiority at having someone who was once a nobleman at his feet.
Nobles bought them to enjoy such pleasure. By using them as slaves who wait on them at night, or by using them as direct servants.
‘It’s a nasty hobby.’
It really wasn’t funny.
I watched the auction unfold with a wry smile on my face. Princess Violet also watched the auction without hiding her displeasure.
“Thank you for your enthusiastic support. There is only one item left.”
Surprisingly, all nine slaves who appeared before him were successful bidders. And that too at a fairly high price.
“Just see what kind of nobles they are later.”
Princess Violet gritted her teeth.
“Are you spending that much money on something like this?”
I let her grumbling pass through one ear and focused on the next product coming up on stage.
“This is the highest quality product we have prepared today. I am also looking forward to seeing what price it will be sold for.”
The host spread his arms wide.
“Let me introduce you. This is the handsome boy item that will mark the end of today’s auction.”
Bruises, bruises.
The sound of small footsteps cracked across the stage.
“Oh my. You like it?”
“Aren’t you still too young?”
“It’s better that way.”
Praise poured in from the VIP area. Everyone’s attention was caught by the sight of the boy who appeared on stage.
Sarak, Sarak.
The clothes I was wearing were too big and dragged down my ankles. Nevertheless, the boy did not look funny at all.
Her silver hair shined dazzlingly as if it were made of melted silver, and although she was still young, her clear facial features were beautiful enough to captivate people.
“…….”
Lips pursed tightly to hide shame. The golden eyes shining brightly above them were delicate yet sharp.
‘at las.’
I looked at the boy and smiled meaningfully.
When I focused my attention and looked at the boy’s eyes, I saw that the intricate patterns engraved on them were shaking as if they were alive.
‘I’m sure.’
Those eyes symbolized a magical talent available only to a few humans in this world.
Ekarot.
It was the name of a boy who would become the most powerful wizard in the entire empire and later the owner of the Magic Tower. In the original, he is saved by Cain and becomes a spear who blindly follows him.
but.
‘This time, I’ll have to use that power for myself.’
I was thinking of taking that spear in my hand. By rescuing him right here, at the auction house.
fantasy,
