Hearing Ragnar's introduction, Daniel was taken aback. This bear-like muscular old man was the patriarch of the Stenmark clan, a major player in the Curtained World! And to top it off, he was also a High Councilor of the Hightower. Daniel couldn't believe that he had been in the same room with such a prominent figure.
For the past five days, other than ruining the royal family's underworld business and killing some royal court mages, Daniel had instructed Maria to gather general information about the Curtained World society, including its norms, common knowledge, and laws, since he was not yet strong enough to disregard them completely.
As a result, he knew exactly who Ragnar was and how much influence he wielded over the Curtained World as the High Councilor of the Hightower.
Daniel stood up and shook hands with Ragnar, acknowledging the respect given to him.
"Oh, nice to meet you, Lord Stenmark," he replied.
Daniel then turned to Maria, asking her to prepare a cup of coffee for Ragnar. However, the patriarch raised his hand to stop her.
"Thank you, but you don't need to. I still have urgent business outside," Ragnar politely refused, earning even more respect from Daniel for his lack of arrogance despite his position of power.
Daniel nodded in acknowledgment before considering Ragnar's invitation to the auction event. It could be a good opportunity to see what kind of things the mages in the Curtained World were interested in, especially since he needed a lot of gold bullion and magical materials to buy booster packs from The Keeper.
"Sure, I'll go. Do I need an invitation card, or can I just mention your name when I arrive?" Daniel asked.
Ragnar reached into his suit's inner pocket and pulled out a black card trimmed in gold, handing it to Daniel.
"This is a VIP card for the auction event, which I received from Montgomery. Write your name on it, and it will display the location of the auction hall. The card also serves as the key to enter the auction hall, so don't lose it," Ragnar instructed.
"Got it," Daniel replied, taking the card and writing his alias "Magitek" on it. The map of the auction hall immediately appeared on the card, displaying his current location and the shortest route to the hall, like a GPS.
After explaining about the invitation card, Ragnar added, "Just a reminder, the auction hall is heavily guarded. So make sure that your followers don't cause any trouble."
"Understood," replied Daniel with a nod.
He then handed the invitation card to Maria and said, "Maria, please keep this safe for me."
"Yes, Master," Maria replied and took the card, tucking it safely into her pocket.
Daniel thought for a moment before deciding to bring Michaela as his bodyguard and Maria as his assistant. They would be his eyes and ears at the auction, and he trusted them to handle any situation that might arise.
"Thank you for the invitation, Lord Stenmark. We'll be sure to attend," Daniel said, showing his appreciation.
"Then, see you tomorrow," Ragnar said, and he began to make his way out of the common room. Daniel followed him to see him off.
As they walked, Ragnar felt obliged to tell Daniel about the negotiation tomorrow. He didn't want to deceive the young man, so he decided to come clean.
"Kid, tomorrow Tessia's king would like to use the auction house as the place to negotiate with you," said Ragnar.
Upon hearing the mention of the king, Daniel's face immediately darkened, and his eyes turned cold as he looked at Ragnar.
He suppressed his anger as he sensed that Ragnar was just trying to give him a heads up. He wasn't surprised that Ragnar knew about his feud with the king, as it wasn't a secret to someone in Ragnar's position.
Ragnar nodded in appreciation of Daniel's coolheadedness and proceeded to tell him about the negotiation.
"He knows that he messed up big time, so he wants to negotiate. What he wants is for you to stop your vengeance against him," said Ragnar, his tone serious.
Daniel clenched his fists, feeling the anger and hatred burning inside him. He had vowed to avenge what the king did to him and Koyuki, and he couldn't just let it go.
Seeing Daniel's reaction, Ragnar gave a warning.
"I know you've killed many royal court mages before, and it's not a big deal in the eyes of the Hightower Law. But Victor has a seat in the Hightower council, and the law states that..." Ragnar trailed off, hesitant to say the next part.
Daniel let out a cold smile, finishing the sentence for him.
"The life of a councilor is to be protected, and anyone who makes an attempt on their life would be severely punished. I know, Lord Stenmark," Daniel said, his voice laced with cold and calculative malicious intent.
Ragnar couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy as he observed Daniel's cold and calculated expression. He had dealt with dangerous people before, but there was something about Daniel that made him even more uneasy than Wrath's overwhelming power.
At least with Wrath, Ragnar knew what to expect. But with Daniel, he had both power and a calm demeanor that made him unpredictable.
"I just wanted to give you a heads up, Kid. You don't have to accept the negotiation if you don't want to. Just don't kill the king, that was all I asked." Ragnar said, trying to diffuse the tension in the air.
Daniel's expression softened a bit, and he nodded his head in understanding.
"Thank you for letting me know, Lord Stenmark. I'll keep that in mind," Daniel replied, his tone more neutral now.
Ragnar nodded in response before bidding Daniel farewell and heading back to his hotel. As he walked, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of monster Daniel truly was and what kind of trouble he would bring to the Hightower in the future.
— Morning 10.00 AM - Prosperity Auction Hall —
Daniel arrived outside the white high-rise building, the Prosperity Tower, one of the landmarks of Sector Alpha city. The building was as prosperous as its name suggested, with a sleek and modern design that stood out against the rest of the city's architecture.
Inside, there were several amenities, including a five-star hotel, conference rooms, and various financial offices. The lobby was spacious and filled with people dressed in business attire, bustling about their day.
Daniel was dressed in a green formal suit with a black luxury vest over a crisp white shirt, giving off an air of extravagance that caught the attention of office workers and passersby alike. It was clear from his attire that he was of a different class than the people around him.
Michaela, his bodyguard, wore a black formal suit and black gloves, a standard outfit for a professional guard. Maria, on the other hand, wore a formal dress paired with a black suit jacket, giving her a serious yet elegant look befitting her role as Daniel's secretary.
Daniel strode confidently into the building, with Michaela and Maria following closely behind. The lobby was grand, with polished marble floors and high ceilings that exuded luxury. As he surveyed his surroundings, Daniel's attention was drawn to a large, muscular man with long white hair that flowed like a lion's mane.
It was Ragnar Stenmark, dressed in his usual attire of a large overcoat over his black vest and formal shirt. Despite his imposing stature, Ragnar greeted Daniel warmly, waving him over.
"Good to see you, Kid," Ragnar said with a friendly smile as they approached each other.
"Likewise, Lord Stenmark," Daniel replied respectfully, shaking hands with the muscular old man.
Ragnar turned to Michaela and Maria, acknowledging them with a nod.
"I see you brought your entourage with you," Ragnar remarked with a chuckle, his suggestive smile making Daniel feel uncomfortable.
In mage society, polygamy was considered the norm and even encouraged, especially for mage family lines with special magic related to the bloodline. Ragnar himself also had three wives waiting for him at his main house.
"Michaela is my bodyguard and Maria is my secretary," Daniel explained, trying to steer the conversation away from any romantic implications.
Ragnar nodded in acknowledgment but his teasing smile was still on his face telling Daniel that he did not believe him before gesturing towards the elevator.
"Shall we get going then?" he said.
Daniel nodded, and the group headed towards the elevator to make their way to the auction hall.
—
The opulent glass elevator swiftly carried Daniel's group and Ragnar to the 70th floor, where the circular sightseeing room with an outdoor observation deck encircled the large auction hall inside. Upon arriving, they saw that many guests had already taken their designated seats.
Ragnar deftly navigated through the crowd, leading Daniel's group to the VIP room of the auction hall that was reserved for members of the Stenmark Clan. The room was lavishly decorated with plush velvet armchairs, crystal chandeliers, and artwork that adorned the walls.