Mysterious. That was what I would like to call bidder number one. Despite the hood over his head, his physique was quite... small. Compare to those werewolves outside my shop, Bidder number one would look like a wimp.
"Five thousand gold coins," he said, dropping a pouch on my palm that was laid open in front of him. "You can count them."
The side of my lips stretched, weighing the pouch by tossing it up a little. "There's no need, Boss." I cocked my head in that felon's direction.
"He's all yours."
Bidder number one slowly turned his head in the felon's direction, but said nothing. I studied his body language — although there wasn't much to read since he barely made significant movements or spoke anything other than the payment. Should I ask him what he planned to do to that lunatic on the corner?
I cleared my throat. "Boss, it seems that person owes you a lot. To pay five thousand gold coins... that's a lot."
"A lot?" Bidder number one peeled his eyes away from the felon to me. His lips hooked up into a mocking smirk. I couldn't see his eyes, but I was certain he was looking down at me. Not that I truly cared. I was simply asking out of plain curiosity.
"Five thousand is nothing to compare to how precious this man had stolen from me," he remarked almost sarcastically. "The life this man had taken from me... never mind."
Huh... I closed my lips, rocking my head in understanding. That was strange, I thought. For a split second, I felt a murderous aura from bidder number one. He truly wanted this felon dead, for sure. He didn't show it until now, so I was curious. Still, what he said was quite contradictory.
"What?" he asked out of nowhere, as he was about to drag the felon with him. I snapped my eyes and saw him looking back at me. "Get it out. Whatever your thoughts, I mean."
Hmm? I pondered on why I should let these thoughts out, but I figured I should.
I sported a polite smile. "Nothing, Boss. I just thought if a life is so precious, it should be priceless. If there's a price on it, I don't think it's as precious as you think it is."
"Hah..." He chuckled and nodded. "Then, are you saying instead of getting this person in a proper way such as paying for him, I should've abducted him?"
"Eh... boss, that's not what I am saying." — shit! He might change his mind! I knew it!
"But I think you are right." I bit my tongue when he spoke again. "If a life is so precious, there shouldn't be a price on it. But I bought it for five thousand gold coins... I guess that is just the value of his life to me."
My brows rose, keeping my mouth shut while watching him hold on to the rope tying the felon down. When I thought he would drag the felon out of Bedo, he lifted him up with one hand, then suddenly grabbed his neck.
"Ack!" I flinched when the felon yelped, flinging his legs in every direction as his feet left the floor.
'What the? Will he kill him in my shop!?' I panicked as it seemed that was what bidder number one would do!
"Hey, boss!" I hollered, darting my eyes from the felon and the hooded man. "You see... I know my shop is a bit of a mess, but please don't kill him inside! It'll be troublesome to clean the remains in here." But to no avail. Bidder number one was unfazed while gazing at the felon under his grip.
"How about outside, eh?" I added along with an awkward laugh, motioning my arm towards the door. "There's a very large space outside! Use that space as your ring!"
"Five thousand gold coins..." Bidder number one mumbled while the felon yelled and coughed at the same time. The latter's face gradually turned red as his blood circulation suspended.
"... that is just my brother's worth, huh?" he snickered, shaking his head. "Merchant, if a person's life had an affordable price on it, does that mean exerting effort for vengeance isn't necessary?"
What? I looked at him, wide-eyed. What the hell was this man saying? Did my words truly get into him? And stirred his beliefs? Oi, oi...
"Hah, that's right. I already paid for this man's life. Killing him instantly or torturing him until he begs to die doesn't matter anymore."
"It does!" I gasped. This fucking lunatic!
He cocked his head and smirked at me. "You're quite fickle, Merchant," he remarked. "But I guess people like you are the hardest type to understand. I'll visit you again if I need anything."
I blinked twice, and before I could think of a reply, my mouth already opened automatically. "Hehe... sure, sure! Just come in here anytime. My shop offers anything that you need with the right price, of course."
"Haha... you're born with this." Bidder number one chuckled, but he didn't let go of the felon. Instead, he sauntered towards the door while carrying the felon by the neck.
"I just got an idea on what to do with this person who had stolen the precious life of my little brother."
I froze, staring into Bidder number one's back as he departed the shop. A life of his little brother? I blinked twice before leaning back while clutching the pouch in my hand.
"I guess that lunatic also killed children." I scrunched my nose up, walking back to the counter to lean. I tossed the pouch on the counter, making some gold coins slip out. My eyes lit up as I picked up one gold coin. I bit it and grinned, confirming this was real.
Goodness... I already thought two thousand gold coins were the maximum I would earn. But to think I would get five thousand gold coins... man, I was lucky. The traumatizing experience I went through last night was all worth it.
"Now I have a capital and..." I trailed off and arched a brow upon hearing some abrupt noises outside the shop. To fulfill my curiosity about what was going on, I carefully tiptoed towards the door to peek.
My under-eye instantly twitched as the felon was being surrounded by all the active bidders who wanted his head. The bidder who won the bidding was... standing on the side, letting the others handle him.
'Damn... just what kind of sick mind did he have to translate my words differently?' I wondered, grimacing as the Alpha of the wolf pack picked up the felon with one hand. 'So, since he already paid for that felon... he thought exerting more effort is not necessary, huh?'
I didn't know if bidder number one was smart or he was crazy. Either way, what I was certain of was... he was someone who had an MC characteristic. Mysterious, appeared to be a fragile man but actually strong, and had lots of money. How he ended the bid that stunned everyone, including me. It resembled how those main characters in the stories I watched and read left everyone flabbergasted.
"Bedo, I think we just gained a crazy client," I mumbled, watching the felon run away as they freed him, only to hunt him down in the forest. I shivered as I heard maniacal laughter outside before the wolves, the mages, and all the active bidders disappeared from their spot to chase after the felon.
"Well, I don't really care what the hell they planned to do with that psycho." I looked down at the heavy pouch in my hand, grinning from ear to ear. I looked up out of habit every time I wanted to talk to Bedo.
"Bedo, what do you want to eat? It's Ammon's treat."