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As I was allowed inside, I couldn't help but ask.
Who was he?
Why was this man—Bereto—helping me get into an underground auction?
"Sir…" I finally spoke up.
"Ah, don't worry," he chuckled lightly. "I know you're concerned about something, but this is purely my own initiative—it's not because I'm kind."
I narrowed my eyes. 'If not out of kindness, then why?'
"Then?" I pressed, demanding a clearer answer.
Bereto grinned. "I saw you in the slums earlier," he said casually. "Seeing your strength, I thought of offering you a position as my bodyguard. So? Interested?"
I rejected him without hesitation.
"No," I replied firmly. "But I appreciate your help. If you ever need assistance, come find me—I might consider it."
Bereto studied me for a moment before chuckling softly.
"Hohoho… An interesting young man," he mused with amusement. "Well then, enjoy the auction. I'll be taking my leave."
Without waiting for a response, he walked away, leaving me in front of the growing crowd in the auction hall.
I exhaled slowly, still unsure of his true motives.
But for now…
Focus. I wasn't here to play around.
"Too bad… He could've been lucky to be my bodyguard. Hmm, but oh well… I still have someone else in mind."
Bereto hummed softly as he made his way to a VIP room, his steps steady, brimming with confidence.
As someone from the underworld, Bereto was clearly no saint.
However, his crimes weren't enough to label him as a monster or a devil.
He wasn't a heartless butcher, but he had no qualms about operating in the gray areas of the law.
A dealer of illicit goods, someone who sought more than just profit—he thrived on the thrill and challenge of acquiring things that weren't meant to be freely available.
And more than that…
He was among the high-ranking elites of the underworld.
His and Corrin's paths may have only crossed briefly today, but their encounters were far from over.
Sooner or later…
They would meet again—under very different circumstances.
Meanwhile, Corrin took a seat in a corner, waiting for the auction to begin.
His eyes scanned the massive hall, observing everything with a sharp gaze.
Although he admired how such a large establishment could exist within a lawful city, his thoughts immediately jumped to one conclusion—
'There's no way this place operates without backing from high-ranking officials.'
The scale of this venue was too grand, its security too well-organized, and its management too polished for it to be just a mere criminal syndicate.
Someone in the government was supporting this operation.
But well, that wasn't his concern.
Corrin wasn't here to uncover conspiracies or enforce justice.
He was here to find his sister.
According to the information he had gathered, the slaves to be auctioned tonight had been prepared a month in advance.
And if his memory was correct, the village chief sold his sister about a month ago.
That meant…
There was a very high chance she would be here.
His fingers curled into a tight fist, his jaw clenched.
He had already braced himself for the worst.
Yet, despite his efforts to suppress his emotions, the rage he had kept buried was slowly boiling over—ready to explode at any moment.
I waited for a while as more seats around me filled with masked individuals.
Of course, I had one as well.
I quietly observed the dimly lit stage, while the murmurs of the auction participants filled the air.
Then, suddenly—
A spotlight flashed on.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
A loud voice echoed across the hall.
At the center of the stage stood a man in a black suit, exuding confidence. His face was concealed behind a silver mask, leaving only his mouth visible—curved into a sly smirk.
"Welcome to this long-awaited exclusive event! As always, we have prepared a collection of rare treasures that can only be found here. So, get your wallets ready, because tonight… everything is for sale—at the right price!"
Applause filled the room.
I remained silent, observing carefully.
This was my first time attending an auction in this era, and so far, the system wasn't too different from what I knew in the past.
One by one, the items were displayed.
From rare artifacts and enchanted gemstones, to exclusive potions said to extend one's lifespan by several years.
The prices skyrocketed, as wealthy bidders competed fiercely for the items they desired.
I wasn't particularly interested in most of what was being offered.
Until—
"And next, we present a special weapon recovered from ancient ruins in the East!"
My eyes immediately locked onto the stage, where an assistant carefully placed a massive longsword on an ornate golden stand.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Lament—a high-grade magic longsword reinforced with top-tier mana crystals! Not only is it sharper than mithril, but it also releases energy waves with every swing!"
I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing the sword.
Its design was stunning—its blue-silver blade engraved with intricate runes. The mana aura surrounding it was stable and powerful, a clear sign that this wasn't just any ordinary blacksmith's work.
This was no regular longsword—it was a weapon capable of changing the tide of battle.
The auctioneer's grin widened.
"Alright, we'll start the bidding at 500 gold coins!"
Several hands immediately shot up.
"600!"
"750!"
"1000!"
I remained silent, letting the others drive the price up first.
Once it reached 1500 gold coins, hesitation began to creep into the bidders.
That was when I calmly raised my hand.
"2000."
The room fell silent for a brief moment.
A few people turned to glance at me, likely trying to assess who I was.
Finally, after a few seconds with no higher offers, the auctioneer struck his hammer.
"2000 gold coins! Sold to the mysterious guest over there!"
I smirked slightly behind my mask.
With this longsword, I could further enhance my abilities without relying on the old weapon I had been using.
However, before I could feel satisfied with my purchase, the atmosphere suddenly shifted.
The auctioneer cleared his throat, then spoke in a more dramatic tone.
"And now… we move on to the most anticipated part of the night."
Some auction participants straightened up, their gazes filled with an unsettling excitement.
I clenched my jaw.
The auctioneer raised his hand, then snapped his fingers.
Behind him, a curtain was drawn back, revealing a line of individuals—all bound in chains.
Slaves.
The room fell into a heavy silence.
I felt my entire body tense, my fingers digging into the armrest of my chair.
My blood began to boil.
The rage I had desperately been holding back was starting to rise—ready to erupt at any moment.
Because this was it—
The moment where everything would begin to spiral.