"Release them at once!" Adrian sheathes his sword to the neck of the burly man, "I don't have the key My Lord!"
"Who has them?"
"I-uh."
"Look for a man with green coat with gold lining, he has brown hair and wears an orange max. His codename is Copper Fox." The lady in the cage said.
"You seem to be awfully familiar with the people around here My Lady, are you sure you're not a slave as well?" He retorted sarcastingly as he face her, 'I didn't expect to meet her like this.'
"He's... my middle man."
"Oho, so... why are you here?"
"Its a long story, can't you find him? He and the other guys who work here dragged my attendant! She might be in danger."
"Sir Thorne."
"Alright, I'll look for him."
Thorne left with the man who Adrian just previously almost killed with his sword, "What are you doing?" The lady distrustingly asks. "I'm releasing you, step back."
The sword glowed with a celestial light, its blade etched with glowing runes. When it struck the lock, a burst of radiant magic shattered it, casting a warm, golden light that revealed the cage's interior.
"You—!" The lingering light reflects on the lady's eyes, Adrian held our his hand, assisting the lady, "Are you an Arcane Knight?"
"I am not."
"Then... how?"
Adrian wasn't able to answer when the slave hiding in the darkness corner of the cage run towards him, caughting him unguarded he stole his sword and pointed it at him. "Stay back!" Adrian commanded at the lady, and he did. "Who's he?"
"He's the slave in this cage."
"I didn't see him in the auction earlier. And wait, you were locked up with him?!"
"I... yes. And can't you do anything to him?"
"Didn't you see, he has my sword?"
The lady was dumbfounded by Adrian's answer, "Fine." She tried to stole the sword away, but this only agitated the slave.
The slave raises the sword, with eyes almost beaming, 'Blood lust.' They both can tell. They look at one another, and the next thing they knew, the slave had emitted an aura just like Adrian's earlier when shackling the lock, but the slave's aura was minimal, not even reaching halfway of the sword, "Aaaah!" He shouted, but then, Adrian saw an opportunity to knock him down by striking the base of the neck with a quick and firm blow.
The slave fall on the floor letting go of the sword.
The lady almost rushed to the slave when Adrian stopped her almost immediately, "What are you doing?"
She glared at him, 'She wasn't even half grateful for my rescue, she just rushes to the slave. Why is she even in here?'
"Marquess!" Sir Thorne reappeared dragging a man tied up in hands and legs with a gag on the mouth, "I got him, Copper Fox."
"Oomf—"
"Where's my attendant? Where's Rose?"
"Mmm. My Lady..."
The Lady didn't even needed to leave the slave for her red-head attendant rushed and hugged her, "I'm sorry for leaving you here! I! That sly fox dragged me on his office, and tied me there. I.. are you alright, My Lady?"
The two ladies continuously comfort one another, "This... its an official case isn't it?" Sir Thorne almost sigh heavily immediately, "This could cause the auction to shut down." But his partner, Adrian wasn't really attentive, he was looking at the lady he has been searching for. "Did you know this would happen?"
"Huh?"
"I just, ever since last week, it seems like... Who is she anyway?"
On cue, the attendant rose from the floor and bowed to the two men, "Thank you for saving My Lady, I... I'm truly greatful."
Soon enough, the lady finally rose, leaving the slave comfortably sleeping in, "Thank you... I'll make sure to return the favor, but first, we have to sort this out. This Night Auction just harrased a noble, and I can not let them go unpunished!"
"Oomf!" Copper Fox tried to retort, and then few burly man entered the hall, "Wha-what are you doing here? Boss Fox!"
"Oomf!"
"Don't even try—" Sir Thorne showed what seems to be a badge to the men, "We are from the Arcane Enclave Investigators, we are here on official businesses. "
"Oomf! Ah!" Copper Fox had finally removed his gag after many attempts, "What? Why? What did we do?"
"What did you guys didn't do?" Sir Thorne retorted.
Adrian's tone was cold and precise as he addressed the room, "The Night Auction is under investigation for several severe offenses, illegal transactions, reports of unlawful methods used to obtain slaves and noble individuals, unverified sales, sold without proper authenticity, corruption and bribery, violation of trade regulations, and just now, inhumane treatment to noble guests, including Black Rose, with her attendant being assaulted. These actions are a profound violation of our laws and standards of the Astorian Kingdom."
....
Before my eyes, Copper Fox, the Curator, and the other men working at the Night Auction were handcuffed, other detectives and investigators came. 'This didn't happen in the novel.'
I find myself seating on a barrel with the slave sleeping on my lap, Rose is giving testimony on my behalf, and then the guy that rescued me appear in front of me.
"What do you want? Will you arrest me now?" I looked up to him, without his mask, I can now see clearly his face. I hate to admit it but, 'Who are you?'
He didn't answer me, but he kneeled before me, "!!!"
"Is he yours?"
"What?"
"The slave. Is he yours? Did you bought him? Are yoh keeping him?"
"I... You can't take him from me! I'll buy him!" I found myself wanting to keep him despite everything, the second lead, Kael, the future Arcan Knights Leader, the devoted sword of the female lead, he's just sixteen. "You can't keep him. He's obtain by the auction through illegal means, we have to detain—"
"Detain?! He-he's just a boy! Look at him! He's clearly abused back in there, how could you detain him? It's not his fault if he was abducted or what—"
"I didn't say that." As I look up to him, I couldn't help but feel my face burning, 'I don't know who he is but—'
"He has potential."
"What?"
"Earlier, you saw that right? He could be an Arcane Knight, he can use his aura and transfer it to the sword."
'He saw that too?'
"But, you just said, detain him. I... I won't allow you to! Do you not know who I am, I'll make sure—"
"I don't know who you are, but I promise you, I won't hurt him. Its précaution to detain him amongst others, but clearly, he is not the only one abused. Some were drugged, hit, and could not even fend themselves, it seems My Lady pities them and we just want to help them."
"How about this." He grabbed an object on the pocket on his coat, as I defensively continuously shield Aric from him. "That's—!"
"The Celestial Dreamstone."
It's the item I wanted so badly earlier at the auction, but I figured I'll just buy another piece at the backroom, "Every item is now under the Investigation Team, all the nobles who were participating and their bought items were also given back, including the slaves, but not this one."
[The Celestial Dreamstone, also known as the Mother Birthstone, is a living elemental gem renowned for its extraordinary properties. It radiates a deep, iridescent blue light with flecks of silver and gold that swirl like stardust. This mystical stone has the unique ability to give birth to a range of elemental gems when nurtured under specific conditions—proper care, environment, and temperature. Each new gem it produces is unique and imbued with distinct magical properties, reflecting the diverse elements it can birth. The Celestial Dreamstone's glow shifts with its environment, showcasing its role as a vital source of elemental energy.]
"It seems, My Lady really wants this Celestial Dreamstone. I'll trade him for this."
'Why can't I have them both? The female lead had them, both, why can't I?'
The capability of the Celestial Dreamstone to give birth was discovered by the female lead, after the Crown Prince proposes to her with a ring with Celestial Dreamstone, she cares for it deeply and hid it in a jewel box, after being exposed to moist, it produces a different variant of stone.
"He's not an object, or an item to be trade for, Detective."
"Didn't My Lady just tried to bought him earlier?"
"I—" I hesitated to answer, this child is only two years younger than Celeste, but for me, who is much older, I can't just turn away, not when I know his story. He's a child that was abused, he even died protecting the female lead without even being recognize properly. 'How can I?'
"How about this, I'll let you know his welfare, I'll even see to it that he gets to be taken care of. He has the talent, and if he doesn't want to stay at this Kingdom, I'll make sure he gets back to where he came from, even though I don't think it exists anymore."
I find myself sniffling, 'How embarrassing? I feel like a child being comforted by this man.'
"Plus, I'll give you the Celestial Dreamstone. Deal?"
I look at the Kael one last time and to this man in front of me, 'Why did he never appear in the novel? I know what the Arcane Enclave Investigation is, but I didn't know him, maybe he's not an important character.'
"Deal." I reached out to the Celestial Dreamstone and shake his hand.
'It's warm.' The man who saved me from the auction and save Kael, the mysterious man who outbid me to the Celestial Dreamstone, a detective, a variable who seems to know about the intricacies of the auction that was only revealed later on to the novel. His green eyes looks at me, with a burning passion.
'Who exactly are you?'