"The auction will start soon. As for now, you may take a rest." She then bowed and politely left.
Dainsley followed her by sight before looking at his master.
"She's presumptuous for a servant, conversing to a VIP sponsor in a rather impertinent way," Dainsley commented.
Zavier remained silent. The servant might be a secretary or someone close to Stroke. Zavier quietly roamed his eyes and observed his surroundings.
An exquisite chandelier hung in the center of the ceiling. The stage was draped in velvet curtains. Different levels of audience seats, stating the status of the bidders were seen. Zavier and Dainsley were located on the third level of the theater auditorium. The third level consists of private galleries where sponsors or high-ranking nobles are located.
On the other hand, the second level was a dress circle where low-ranking merchants and nobles were sitting. The stalls on the ground level are for landlords, traders, and nobles who fell out of grace. As Zavier quietly waited, he caught sight of a man sitting cross-legged, waving at him on the other side of the third level. He was wearing an eye mask laced with red on the edges with extravagant designs, matching his sophisticated clothing. The servant who guided them inside the auditorium stood firm beside him. Zavier was right. He was Stroke's henchman.
Soon the bright lights in the theater dimmed. The voices slowly died down as a cheery voice reverberated from the stage. A masked man appeared from the side of the stage
"Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Mermaid Isle's auction of the year! I know all of you are excited to purchase valuable, exotic products from all around the world!"
"Now before we proceed to present the first product, I would like to specify that in your tables, you will see paddles in front of you. Now please turn them around."
Zavier and the rest of the bidders turned the paddles around. Zavier's paddle had the number 02 labeled on it. The host spoke once more.
"As you can see, ladies and gentlemen, there's a number imprinted on your paddles. This will serve as your number and you will raise this as you state your amount when you find the item you want. Well, I know that some veterans are here and some are new and may not have been aware of how our system works."
He then clapped his hands. "Well without further ado, let's call on our first item!"
********
The auction proceeded smoothly. Zavier and Dainsley watched illegal goods, creatures, and slaves being displayed and bought by bidders before their eyes. His heart clenched at the sight of children, men, women, fairies, and precious artifacts getting into the hands of strangers who mean no good. Zavier's eyes followed the steps of a chained boy being dragged out of the stage lifelessly after being purchased by a stranger from the lower floor. Dainsley clenched his fist as he anxiously looked at his master under the mask, gripping the hilt.
"Your grace."
Zavier remained silent. Though hidden under the white mask, his heart trembled at the sight of illegal trafficking. Yet he remained composed. He then spoke in a calm, emotionless, manner.
"Calm down Dain. Remember what we're here for."
Dainsley slowly loosened his hold as he breathed out. He eyed the culprit on the other side of the auditorium leisurely sipping his wine with his legs crossed as he watched the event unfold before him with interest.
"Darn bastard," Dainsley cursed under his breath
One section was left and the product Zavier was waiting for will be next. The auctioneer cleared his throat and presented the next product.
"The next products are slaves from the central lands."
The bidders started showing interest when the Central Lands were mentioned. Central Lands is once a prosperous capital that became barren due to the attack of the located beyond the Empire. Nonetheless, the host spoke once more.
"However! They're not just 'slaves'. They are slaves that our people have gathered and chosen meticulously with extraordinary capabilities." The audience began to show interest. The auction has been presenting high-quality 'items'. The bidders' expectations filled the atmosphere. The auctioneer grinned.
"Presenting the first slave, Tiger!"
The curtains opened, revealing a young girl with frizzy, long hair. Her clothes were akin to rags with huge holes in them. Her head was inclined, and her hands were chained. Cheeks were sunken, and severely malnourished. Upturning her head, and bloodshot eyes she growled loudly with her mouth covered with a muzzle similar to that of a dog as she snapped at them. The audience gasped in horror and amusement as two men beside her restrained her by pulling the heavy chains chained to her wrists and neck.
"Our first slave is an aggressive, teenage girl, like a wild tiger cub! She can defend you, as long as you can tame her well," he anxiously explained. "Or punish her and keep her chained like a dog! Your choice!"
"Oh and if I may add," he went near the microphone as if attempting to whisper. "She also has part canine abilities and is believed to be quite contaminated. But for some reason, she can still control herself."
The patrons gasped at the revelation as the presenter laughed. "Now my guests, the starting bid is 500,000 Zenos."
"550,000!"
"600,000!"
"700,000!"
"850,000!"
Zavier struggled to compose himself under the mask as he gripped the armchair's edge. As he watched the hideous spectacle of illegal trafficking before him, a familiar voice raised his bid for the girl on the front.
"2,000,000 Zenos!"
The patrons inside gasped, including the bidder. His cunning face gleamed at the price.
"T-Two million Zenos! Is there anyone willing to challenge the price?!"
The audience turned silent. The bidder spoke once more.
"Going once, going twice…" He then hit the gavel. "Sold for two million Zenos!"
Two women in seductive outfits and extravagant eye masks went near the patron sitting at the lowest floor. Wearing a simple outfit tailcoat and trousers, the patron stood up as he held one of the ladies' hand and kissed it. The lady's lips curved upward as she and her companion accompanied him to the backstage.
Zavier stared at the noble's back going away. For some reason, he seems familiar. Zavier was then reminded of his last conversation with Alistair.
"I have seen it."
He then returned his gaze to the center of the theater. The next product was being presented.
"We'll now be presenting the next slave, 'Sapphire Boy'!"
The curtains remained open. A man dragged the chains of a young boy in the same malnourished state as the previous one. His hair gray due to accumulated dusts and flees. His head hung in shame. His arms hung heavy due to the heavy chains weighing down his frail body. The audience cringed at the filthy sight of the boy, covering their noses and even turning their eyes away from him. However, Zavier didn't dare look at the boy in disdain nor took his eyes away from him. Dainsley noticed this and called his master.
"Your Grace?"
However, Zavier remained silent. He stared at the boy whose long, untidy hair, covered his face.
This child…
"This child may seem untidy at first look, but he possessed a unique prowess that will impress everyone!" The gazes of the auctioneer and the person pulling the chains of the young boy nodded in agreement. The guy let go of the chains and grabbed the face of the frail child. The child resisted as he tried to yank away his face from the muscular man's grip. His cries reverberated within the theater as the stranger cleared the hair covering his face and forcefully widened his eyes, revealing his translucent irises. The young boy bit his arm, causing it to bleed.
"You stupid brat!"
The guy punched him, causing the boy's nose to be thrown back as his nose bled. Some people watching began to stand up and rebuke the guy.
"Hey! Isn't it illegal to punch the merchandise?!"
Zavier scoffed under his breath. Merchandise? This people may be as good as the Damned.
The guy began to walk near the boy as he pulled his chains. The child was silently pulled as bruises were evident on his chained hands and neck. He then coughed hard when the guys stopped pulling. The guy then grabbed his face harshly and wiped the blood coming from the child's nose and rubbed it on his wound. As soon as the blood of the wound and the blood from the boy made contact, a golden light was emitted. And soon enough, his arm was as good as it was before.
The people watching the spectacle was impressed.
"As you can see…" the auctioneer turned his hand to the child. "This child has healing prowess! Forgive his look due to neglect. Nonetheless, I assure you will never regret taking this child!"
"Starting the bid at 600,000!"
The scene turned quiet. Despite the spectacle, the bidders were hesitant due to his looks and condition.
That was until a deep voice reflected among the audience.
"5,000,000."
"F-five million?! Who would dare?!" People gasped and murmured as they searched among the crowd who would dare buy the child at a ridiculous price.
Dainsley stuttered as he stared at his master in disbelief. "Y-your grace, are you sure?"
Zavier glanced at him nonchalantly before turning his eyes at the center stage once more. Raising his number to indicate his interest, Dainsley was stunned to see that his master would engage in such a game definitely against his moral codes. Zavier didn't bother to speak as the auctioneer turned his eyes upward. The spotlight turned towards them, turning everyone's attention towards them.
"A VIP?! Our VIP raised 5,000,000! Is there anyone brave enough to challenge that price?!" The auctioneer announced with such glee.
"Going once?"
"Going twice?"
When he saw that no one was daring enough to challenge the bidder, he slammed the gavel and announced, "SOLD!"
Zavier then lowered his number and caught Stroke on the other side smirking at him as he raised a glass of wine. Zavier looked at him indifferently and turned his back to leave.
Dainsley looked at Zavier with concerned eyes. "What made you buy that child your grace?" He knew that Zavier won't do something without a proper reason.
Zavier strode hurriedly through the empty hallway without looking back.
"You'll know soon."
Just then, a huge explosion thundered inside the setting, causing them to almost lose balance.