Episode 48. Tolois Auction House (1)
“Your Majesty! I have checked everything. I think this should be enough!”
Kuje shouted cheerfully. He was holding a leather pouch in his hand. It was filled with the blood of the trolls he had hunted so hard just a moment ago.
“I think the ticket to the Tolois Auction House will be more than enough. Plus, I got the blood of a Finn Troll.”
It was a fin troll, a mutant form of troll. While regular trolls are large, fin trolls were smaller than adults.
Finn Trolls are born in groups of five, and to compensate for their small size, the five work together as a close-knit unit.
It was said that the blood was different from that of a normal troll, and that it was worth more for admission to Tolois.
“Let’s go, Kuze.”
Rubin said as he wiped the blood on his dagger from the dead troll’s body. Kuze was looking at Rubin with interest.
Even though the number of trolls here is not that many, how can they be so indifferent?
Moreover, if he was a child of the main family, he would have had little experience in combat, let alone seeing a monster.
Rubin’s fighting ability was beyond imagination. It was clear that winning the ‘second selection’ was not a coincidence.
I don’t know what kind of situations unfolded during the test, but if I was at that level, I would have done everything with ease.
‘In fact, these questions are trivial compared to your goal, Master.’
Last night’s conversation.
After hearing Rubin’s goal of severing the ties between the Lilic Empire and the Assassins, Kuze was confident that nothing he heard would surprise him.
“Your Majesty, we will be able to arrive at Tolois the day after tomorrow afternoon.”
After returning to the carriage.
“Kuje said, stacking leather pouches containing troll blood on the roof of the carriage.
Kuze, sitting on the stable, started the horse again. The horse, excited by the blood of the troll on the roof, started to run even faster than before.
‘Arriving during the day… I guess I’ll arrive at a reasonable time.’
The Tolois Auction House’s opening time was just after sunset. It was not an exact time, but rather a method based on sunset.
-Have you ever been to the Tolois Auction House, Rubin?
In response to Haneke’s question, Rubin thought back to his past life. He had been to an auction house while on a mission through Tolois. During those few days, he was able to learn about the structure and methods of the auction house.
-It may sound funny, but I’ve been there for over seventy years and it’s such a famous place.
‘No matter how famous it is, it’s not an auction house that famous nobles would visit. There are many more famous auction houses in the imperial capital.’
That being said, it is true that Haneke was a unique person. The reputation of the Tolois auction house was not inferior to that of any other auction house in the archipelago.
Haneke is a nobleman of military origin and comes from the long-standing Brion lineage. It’s just that he didn’t care about such things, but other noblemen were different.
The Tolois Auction House was a place that not only the first-class nobility, but even the ‘imperial nobility’, who were more noble than royalty, occasionally visited for entertainment.
The reason nobles could come and go as they pleased was because it was a place where they didn’t have to leave their names in the first place.
Anyone who entered there, whether noble or commoner, had their existence guaranteed by something other than their name or status.
‘Anyway, Haneke will also have his first opportunity to experience the Tolois Auction House.’
-So, to be honest, I’m really looking forward to it.
‘I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.’
Rubin’s carriage moved steadily forward with minimal rest.
The city of Tolois bordered the northern border of the Kingdom of Lihon. Although it was part of the Kingdom of Lihon, it was practically an autonomous city granted by the Empire.
‘Just two days west of Tolois is the ‘Ashen Harbor.’
Rubin mapped out his future itinerary.
If things go as he intends, the Tolois Auction House could be settled within a week.
Rubin was the one who decided the next order.
‘Ash Harbor.’
From the beginning, the events of the Silver-Haired Rebel Yan and the Tolois Auction House were not planned, but that was not the case with the Ashen Harbor.
It was a point that had been on my itinerary since I decided to go to Capotini.
Ashen Harbor is located right outside the western border of the Kingdom of Lihon. As it was one of the direct territories of the Empire, it was a major transit point for ships heading to the western part of the continent.
‘If I’m lucky, I might be able to ride the ‘Blue Cat’.’
Anyone with even the slightest interest in ships would know the Blue Cat. The ship’s departure port was none other than Ash Harbor.
Rubin, who had been interested in the Blue Cat in his past life, had vowed to see it in person during this trip.
“master.”
Kuze of the coachman called. Rubin, who noticed that they had arrived, glanced down at the carriage window.
Beyond the hill, the outline of the Tolois was visible. Then, Haneke’s exclamation rang out.
-Is that Tolois? How can a city look like a ‘hat-wearing man’s head’?
Rubin snickered. He too had thought the same thing when he first came to Tolois in his previous life.
A huge mountain. And the middle of the mountain was filled with a huge disc.
-That place with the brim of that hat is a city?
‘That’s the auction house. The ground, shaded by the brim of the hat, is the city.’
Haneke burst out laughing again. It seemed he understood why it was called ‘Auction City’.
Because to anyone looking at it, the upper part, or ‘awning’, looked more splendid and sophisticated than the ground.
‘Compared to the awning, the ground is a place that doesn’t receive much sunlight.’
-This is interesting. Are the people at the auction house more important than the citizens?
It wasn’t a wrong statement. The auction house was a special area, so it was outside the imperial law that applied to all kingdoms. Only the laws of the auction house had to be followed.
“Your Majesty, shall we go straight to the auction house? The timing is just right, so I think we can enter the auction house.”
“Yeah, the sooner the better.”
The sun was setting. Tickets would be on sale at the auction house by now.
* * *
In the Tolois, the city was called the ‘ground floor’ and the auction house was called the ‘awning floor’, which was a direct reflection of the shape of the brim of a hat.
The city on the ground did not have separate gates and was always open without the concept of entry or exit.
On the other hand, the auction house was different. To get to the auction house, you had to go up to the top of the mountain via the city’s central street.
Now, the central road was crowded with carriages gathered from all over the continent.
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“Your Majesty, there are a ton of people.”
When Rubin’s carriage pulled into the main street, dozens of carriages were already waiting to enter the auction house.
-Is there some kind of festival going on?
‘No, this is the norm. There are special sales weeks every season, but not now.’
When an item of enormous value is put up for auction, the auction house will adjust the auction period for that item. They will try to put it up for sale during the special sale week that occurs each season.
The special sale week was incomparable to the usual crowds.
Now, the line of people waiting to get in just fills up the main street, but then the line will stretch all the way out of the city.
Moreover, since information on auction items was distributed to each palace, it was possible to see the faces of the royal family at that time.
-There’s someone walking over there.
From up ahead, servants from the auction house were walking around the carriage, selling tickets.
All the servants were wearing seal skins, which was also a symbol of the Tolois Auction House.
Thud thud.
These seals were a no-no for greetings. They didn’t even ask for ID or a pass. The servant would just stick his head into the open carriage and ask:
“Who is the representative?”
“I’m going.”
Rubin raised his hand.
“Your assigned number is 6321. Troll’s blood… Are you ready?”
“Here it is!”
Before he knew it, Kuje had untied a leather pouch containing troll blood from the roof of the carriage. In one hand he held the blood of a regular troll, and in the other hand he held the blood of a pin troll.
“Let me check.”
The servant took a rag from his pocket. Then he put the rag into a leather pouch and soaked it in blood.
Chiik- hwaruk!
A servant wraps a cloth around a stick and lights it on fire. The troll’s blood produces a green flame, so he checks it.
“Hoo.”
However, the blood of the Finn Troll was a little different.
The center of the blazing fire was still green, but the edges were yellow. The servant, who confirmed this, opened his eyes wide and looked satisfied.
“You’re a rare pin troll. I’ll put you in the front row.”
“thank you.”
The servant did not wonder how the young master had managed to obtain such a thing.
It was partly because of the rules, but it was also an auction house where strange people from all over the continent gathered, so it was difficult to get things done if I was surprised by something like this.
“The formal auction process will take place on the awning floor. What about the carriage?”
“Please keep it.”
People who stayed at the auction house for months would sometimes dispose of their carriages in the meantime. Rubin had no intention of doing that.
“Kuje. Leave a leather pouch on the roof.”
“Yes, your highness.”
It was Tina’s fault. She would arrive at Tolois later than them, find the carriage, and buy a ticket with the blood of the trolls left behind.
“Oh, you’re leaving some troll blood? With that much, you should be able to get some as a gift from the awning.”
“No, it’s okay.”
The servant whetted his appetite.
“Please show me the back of your hand.”
The next step. Rubin and Kuze held out the back of their hands to the servant. The servant put fluorescent paint on the back of their hands. It was a magical paint, and this mark was the entrance ticket to the auction house.
Although it looked simple, it was a high-dimensional marking magic.
Sssssut.
In an instant, a small ripple appeared in the area where the paint had been applied. The ticket had been properly granted.
“I’m telling you this just in case, if you’re thinking of causing trouble inside, don’t. There are a lot of powerful people inside.”
The servant spoke skillfully, as if following a set script.
Rubin and Kuze nodded as if it was natural. No one would cause a violent conflict in the auction house unless they were stupid. At least not among them.
* * *
“Are you an auctioneer or a bidder?”
The receptionist asked. He too was wearing a seal skin over his head.
“I am the auctioneer.”
“Your assignment number is 6321… Okay. Please go through the door on the right.”
The receptionist raised one hand and pointed in the direction. When I turned around, there was a door there. It was the door for auctioneers.
I had experienced it once in my previous life, but it was really a mechanical process. All the servants of the auction house, including the receptionist, turned the gears of the auction house as if a golem was handling the work.
Rubin followed the receptionist’s instructions and headed for the door on the right. As he approached, the door slid open on its own.
A wide open view is revealed within a moment.
It felt real again that I was at the top of a mountain.
“It’s a dizzying height.”
Mount Tolois. There is a city on the ground, an auction house on the ‘awning’, and a reception desk on the top.
Attendees who were given tickets on the ground were to ride the auction house’s narrow-gauge train up the spiral to the top of the mountain.
Then came the line of receptionists, and the split between the bidders and the bidders, just as Rubin had just experienced.
Thud thud.
A table and chair were placed in a large hall. It would take some time for the next procedure to proceed. Rubin sat on the chair and looked out the window.
“Kuje.”
“Yes, your highness.”
“How much money did you receive for living in seclusion?”
“The initial capital is 30 million lire.”
The amount paid by the family for living expenses. Since it was initial capital, more could be requested later.
Moreover, since the annex and other miscellaneous processes were handled by the Imperial Command, there was no need for Rubin’s funds to be used.
“Thirty million lilac. I’m sure I’ll need more money.”
Kuze’s eyes widened at Rubin’s monologue.
Of course, 30 million lire is not a huge amount, but it is enough to live a life of disguise. But it is not enough? For some reason, a sense of unease began to well up in my mind.
“Your Majesty, is there a reason why you came here…?”
“Why would you come? I came to sell meteorite.”
In fact, Kuze had never thought that Rubin’s purpose in coming to the auction house was to ‘sell items’.
Since I had only been staying at the Roinenga mansion, I thought I had just picked one of the places I had always wanted to visit.
But the purpose of the visit to the auction house was not to be a bidder but to be a client.
‘Does this red piece of wood sell in a place like this? How much do you think it costs?’
Kuze wanted to quickly relieve his anxiety, but unfortunately he was not given the opportunity to do so. Just as he was about to ask Rubin a question, the auctioneer showed up.
