After finishing his flattery, the thick-skinned swordsman suddenly felt a pang of guilt when he saw the elf beside him looking utterly unimpressed.
It was as if he had just scammed a naïve child.
To shake off that uncomfortable feeling, he quickly changed the topic. "Later, I'll need you to come with me to the post station. Someone got me the auction catalog and the invitation."
Illiya didn't notice anything odd about Darius's behavior and simply nodded nonchalantly at the so-called "trouble" his bodyguard mentioned.
"That's fine."
...
Before heading to pick up the items, Illiya insisted on finding a place to stay first.
From what he had seen while entering the city, the streets were packed with people.
It wouldn't be long before all the good accommodations—specifically, the ones that met the high standards of an elf—were completely booked.
Darius absentmindedly led the way, his steps light and carefree.
He was only acting as a guide while watching Illiya pay for things without hesitation.
His heart was filled with envy.
"Elves are really rich," Darius muttered with a face that looked as if he had never seen wealth before.
It wasn't until they reached the post station that Darius snapped out of his daze.
After receiving the auction catalog, his expression turned serious the moment his eyes landed on one particular item.
Noticing the change in the swordsman's expression, Illiya felt a vague sense of unease—one that only grew stronger by the second.
Without a word, Darius handed the auction catalog to Illiya, his voice unusually soft. "No wonder this auction is attracting so many people."
Illiya was puzzled.
When his eyes landed on the second-to-last item in the auction, his composed expression finally shattered.
[ Lot #200 – Dark Elf (Alive) ]
After reading the auction list, Illiya's face immediately turned cold.
At first, he had assumed the auction was popular simply because of the key to the relic is being sold.
However, now, it was clear that things were far more complicated.
Not only were people here for the key to the telic, but there were also those who had come for the dark elf.
The elf race had many branches, all commonly referred to as elves, and dark elves were one of them.
They possessed unique magical attributes and preferred dark environments, which led to them being classified as a separate lineage.
Because of these traits, dark elves were difficult to track, and their formidable combat abilities allowed them to escape even when surrounded by multiple enemies.
For one to be captured and put up for auction—it wasn't just shocking, it was infuriating.
From the moment Illiya saw the dark elf listed in the auction, his anger surged.
If not for his rationality barely holding him back, he might have already used Forbidden Spell 64 to obliterate the entire auction house.
Darius as a former royal knight, was equally enraged by this blatant violation of the Continental Pact.
A thousand years ago, many weaker races were hunted and sold in mass numbers, with some nearly facing extinction.
Caught between silent suffering and violent resistance, the oppressed races eventually united and launched an unexpected rebellion.
This plunged the continent into centuries of chaos, with battlefields littered with corpses.
That era was considered one of the darkest periods in history, and the heavy losses suffered by all races led to the creation of the Continental Pact.
Among its regulations, the very first law strictly prohibited the auction (or trade) of sentient beings.
The punishment for violating this was severe.
That was why Darius found this situation so utterly absurd.
For the Treasure Pavilion to auction off a dark elf—this was nothing short of trampling on the dignity of the entire elf race.
No matter how deep the Treasure Pavilion's background was, there was no way it could withstand the wrath of an enraged elven race.
More than that, this event was a blatant slap in the face to every race on the continent.
Did they think the continent was too peaceful lately?
Darius nearly coughed up blood in frustration.
However, no matter how turbulent his emotions were, the most urgent task at hand was to keep the ancestor beside him calm.
At that moment, dozens of solutions flashed through Darius's mind, but before he could say a word, he heard the elf's voice, filled with killing intent.
"I have never seen such audacity before. Elves have never been a race to shy away from war. If they fail to provide a justification that convinces my people, I truly wonder whether the Treasure Pavilion will continue to exist on this continent."
Darius's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
He had no desire to fully comprehend the deeper meaning behind his employer's words.
"Ah… so what do we do next? Are we still going to the auction?"
Illiya looked at him in surprise, his golden eyes filled with confusion, as if he couldn't understand why Darius would even ask such a thing.
"Of course, we're still going. But I've already reported the matter of the dark elf's auction to my teacher. I believe the local head of the Treasure Pavilion will provide me with an answer soon."
Darius could only force an awkward smile.
He had no objections, of course.
He felt no sympathy for the Treasure Pavilion—none at all.
They had been recklessly dancing in someone else's forbidden zone.
Now that retribution was coming, they had only themselves to blame.
There was no reason to pity them.
It was just a shame that the Treasure Pavilion's reputation was about to plummet.
..
Illiya remained in a low mood even as they entered the auction hall.
It was understandable.
No one would feel cheerful after discovering that their own kin were being treated as merchandise.
After presenting their invitation to a waiting attendant, they were led toward an upper-level private box.
The location was excellent—offering a clear, unobstructed view of everything happening on the auction floor.
The box directly faced the auction platform, making it the perfect vantage point for observing the items up for bid.
Illiya and Darius sat in silence, watching as attendants came and went, bringing in fruit platters, tea, and light snacks.
They even thoughtfully turned on the display screen, which listed all the items to be auctioned that day.
Once everything was prepared, the attendants gave them a respectful bow and exited the box.
Illiya paid no attention to any of it.