Chapter Four: The Auction and the Relic
“I really feel bad about doing this, Sitri, even though we’ve just talked about repaying my debt not long ago.”
“Oh, please don’t feel bad about it. That’s how we roll, isn’t it?”
Sitri cracked a wide grin as her close friend displayed an apologetic expression.
Indeed, Sitri was a bit low on cash at the moment. She’d been making a massive quantity of potions to be used when charging Relics and selling them off at a giveaway price. Additionally, she’d spent a considerable amount making the metal puppets for her older sister to train on.
Initially, Sitri had started accumulating money to increase her options and broaden her available choices. She usually diversified her assets so that she could flee any time if she needed to. But because of that, she couldn’t just summon a large sum of liquid cash on a whim upon request.
Eva had approached her to ask her to stop giving him loans anymore and to discuss repayment plans, but Sitri wasn’t particularly concerned about loaning money. Though, in actuality, these “loans” didn’t come with interests or deadlines—she didn’t even care if they were repaid. As for marrying him...well, she didn’t have to debate that to come up with a conclusion.
Nevertheless, Sitri had made it her policy to support Krai with loans as much as she could. Of course, her fondness for Krai played a role, but it was hard for her to imagine that a “close friend” of hers, who earned quite a bit as a hunter, would borrow money just to squander it.
Regarding his hobby of stocking up on Relics, considering that these Relics proved to be useful in Grieving Souls’s expeditions occasionally, she had no reason to stop him. However, even if his hobby had been a pure extravagance instead of collecting Relics, she probably wouldn’t have stopped him either.
Sitri was on Krai’s side through and through. Just like Krai, who had always, still was, and would always stand by her side through thick and thin, she was ready to go through hell and high water for her close friend.
Love was blind.
***
Having received news from Matthis that he’d made contact with the owner of the Reversible Face, I headed for the negotiation venue.
By my side, I had Sitri as my escort. She’d shown not a sign of reluctance when I’d requested a loan from her despite what I’d just promised not long ago.
Sitri smoothly and swiftly linked her arm with mine and explained with a smile, “Don’t worry. We’ll be able to finance this to a decent level if I liquidate some of my materials and potions in reserve. Though the research might have to be delayed slightly.”
“I’m so sorry. Don’t be mad at me, okay?”
“You don’t have to worry about a thing. If worse comes to worst, we could borrow from the bank, though I’d prefer not to. We Alchemists have an immense advantage when it comes to getting a loan...”
“...”
“My sister is going to help too, so don’t worry. It’s an absolutely necessary Relic, right? I’ll acquire it for you by any means necessary.”
“Yeah...uh-huh...”
“We’ll...put ourselves second. To be honest, I don’t really feel like it, but we’ll put ourselves second,” said Sitri with a grim resolve, as she clenched her fist.
I felt really guilty.
Liz had said it might be tricky for Sitri, and indeed, Sitri’s financial situation appeared to be much worse than I’d imagined. Naturally, I couldn’t just put Sitri through hardship for my sake. I’d tried withdrawing my request, but it’d already been too late.
Sitri had the bad habit of prioritizing me over herself, not only today. It was probably for the same reason that Liz didn’t strongly oppose my borrowing money. It was wholly my charisma that was to be blamed for having my clan members reject all my loan requests.
“But, we must first determine the amount we need... Let’s take care of the hunter who owns the Relic when it comes down to it. Negotiation is my strong suit after all,” continued Sitri as she smiled seemingly cheerily.
That was a terrifying smile.
Never had I resented more my inability to see through the emotions she was concealing within.
Though, I wonder what she means by “taking care” of them... I’d prefer to resolve this peacefully if possible.
Liz had ventured into a treasure vault to assist me in fundraising, and it seemed she’d be vault-hopping later. I’d never heard of anyone going vault-hopping, but I didn’t get the chance to stop her.
I’ve accumulated a large debt. Am I a sugar baby? Am I?
Regardless, there was still hope. Depending on the negotiation, I might be able to get by without overburdening Sitri.
Direct negotiation was a double-edged sword: It offered the advantage of securing a desired Relic before others, but the opponent could also exploit the situation and inflate the price. Though, on the other hand, there’d been a few cases where the negotiation had broken down due to a high price offered by the opponent, and yet there actually were no other bidders at the auction. In those cases, one could end up winning the Relic at a price far cheaper than originally proposed in the negotiation.
The Relic I was targeting this time looked awful, so awful that an ordinary hunter might even consider not bringing it back—in other words, the other party should be looking to dispose of it as soon as possible. If things went well, I should be able to obtain it at a rather low price.
The negotiation would be easier if I were an acquaintance of the seller, but given that this Relic had apparently been obtained from a distant treasure vault by a foreign hunter, my chances were slim.
“Though, if the owner was amiable, we won’t have to resort to rough measures.”
Every single one of Sitri’s statements was disturbing—she was an Alchemist, weak in hand-to-hand combat. Her statements were probably just a joke, but even her jokes carried a certain menace that couldn’t just be dismissed.
The sky was clear with not a cloud in sight, but my heart was filled with uneasiness.
A tavern adjacent to Explorers’ Association’s capital branch, The Challengers’ Classroom, was chosen as the venue for negotiation. It was the most famous tavern in the capital, always bustling with hunters returning from treasure vaults. The drinks and food there were affordable, regardless of their quality. All hunters from novices—who tended to be poor—to veterans gathered here, making it the perfect place to learn about the freshest news in the capital. Even I used to frequent this place a lot during my early days as a hunter. Though since Liz and Luke had been banned from the establishment after an incident, it’d been a while since I’d visited.
Pushing my way through the hunters, who were dead drunk despite it still being daytime, I headed towards the table arranged for the meeting.
From a distance, I spotted the table, and as my mind registered the figure of the surrounding hunters, I stopped in my tracks reflexively.
Sitri also seemed surprised, placing a finger on her lips.
“Oh...uh...”
This was bad.
I checked around, holding on a glimmer of hope I’d come to the wrong table, but it was indeed the right one. There, by the table, sat Arnold and his comrades, with whom I recently had an intractable strife.
There should be more hunters than one can possibly imagine coming into the capital at this time of year—why am I so unlucky...?
Sitri was our only muscle here. Dealing with a Level 7 vanguard would be impossible if things went south.
Maybe I should just leave.
For a moment, that thought crossed my mind. But then I remembered that it’d been Matthis who’d set up this negotiation. As much as the old man, fawning on Tino, was a suspected lolicon, I couldn’t just disgrace him by bailing on this meeting he’d taken the trouble to arrange amid his busy schedule.
At least we’d resolved our strife(?) in an encounter, and I’d apologized through Chloe. They wouldn’t just pounce on me the moment I show my face...I thought.
As I remained standing frozen, attempting to gather my thoughts somehow, Sitri approached the table with a bright smile. Her courage was commendable, considering her altercation with them in the tavern not long ago.
I hadn’t fully steeled myself yet, but I couldn’t possibly let Sitri go alone either. Hastily, I followed her petite figure.
As the approaching figure drew near, Arnold looked up, his expression perpetually sour as always.
Please forget about us.
Despite my desperate wish, his expression contorted fiercely.
Of course it would.
Next to him, A widened his eyes upon seeing us and raised his trembling voice, “Wh-What are you—”
“We extend our sincere gratitude for your willingness to engage in the negotiations today. Mr. Arnold.”
Without flinching, Sitri struck preemptively with a cheerful voice. Her eyes were twinkling—genuinely.
Come to think of it, doesn’t she have a thing for men like Arnold? Huh...
A was left speechless at her radiant smile.
Arnold clicked his tongue and gestured towards the seat across from him with his chin.
Suppressing the sharp nervous cramps in my stomach, I sat down.
And so, the negotiation began.
***
What the heck is this man thinking?
Arnold hadn’t expected to face him in a negotiation, and now he was unsure of how to proceed. He still felt the anger smoldering within him, but a deeper disquiet overwhelmed that burning rage.
This flow of events was clearly unnatural, and his experiences as a hunter so far told him now was the time to stay calm.
With their leader maintaining a stoic silence, the other members who were about to raise their voices held their tongues. They were probably echoing Arnold’s sentiments inside their minds.
The man before them was—how should they put it—too enigmatic.
As he sat in front of Arnold, his expression was tranquil, almost lethargic, to put it bluntly. His body was slender for a hunter, lacking in both muscles and strength. With him, he carried no weapon.
Was this a gesture indicating a lack of intent to fight, or was it more akin to what he’d demonstrated last time—that he didn’t need weapons? Either way, his audacity to show up so calmly after such provocation was anything but ordinary.
In contrast, the woman tagging along beside him was brimming with a serene aura. Her hair color, eye color, and facial features were all reminiscent of the Stifled Shadow who’d once overpowered their party. If the Stifled Shadow represented “vitality,” then this one represented “serenity.” Her appearance was refined, and her fair skin was unblemished. Every move she made was graceful but, at the same time, without vulnerability.
She must’ve camouflaged it, but upon closer inspection, the aura she concealed within her wasn’t significantly different from that of the Stifled Shadow. Her physique indicated she was a rear guard, but they couldn’t afford to let their guard down. Arnold had likely only seen through her disguise because hers was inferior to the Thousand Tricks’s.
She was a Griever, undoubtedly a mighty individual.
Arnold licked his lips. Despite everything, he should be in the superior position in this situation.
They’d been informed that someone had expressed interest in negotiating the purchase of the Relic they’d sent in for appraisal. When he’d heard the news, Arnold had thought this person had quite the strange tastes, yet he hadn’t expected it to turn out to be the Thousand Tricks. Could this mean that this man was the Level 8 hunter rumored to be seeking out Relics? It would be too great a coincidence otherwise.
Initially, he’d be glad even if that Relic could fetch a price to cover a round of drinks at the tavern, but now, knowing that there was someone who desired the Relic, this was a different story. Relics were expensive; there were even some that were traded for hundreds of millions.
After they’d concluded their self-introductions, the woman who’d identified herself as Sitri spoke with a smile as if their earlier altercation hadn’t happened at all, “Krai has a penchant for collecting peculiar Relics. He was intrigued when we learned about this particular Relic—”
“It’s a curious item that we’ve taken the trouble to bring all the way here from Nebulanubes,” said Eigh, having fully switched gears, meeting Sitri’s words with a broad smile. “To be honest, that took quite some effort, and selling it at a low price won’t cut it. This is an item that could sell well to not just hunters, but also dilettante collectors; am I right, Arnold?”
He glanced at Arnold’s expression.
That was a bluff. At least, there were no takers for that mask at Nebulanubes. Even nobles who fancied rare items were picky about their acquisitions: surely no one would want a flesh mask that appeared nothing but cursed.
Upon hearing Eigh’s words, Sitri pressed her hand against her mouth, her expression troubled.
She said, “I see where you’re coming from. But unfortunately, I don’t believe anyone in this capital would desire that eerie mask. Krai, here, isn’t insisting on acquiring it either.”
The negotiation was still in the probing stage.
Just as she’d said that, the Thousand Tricks’s eyebrows moved slightly, and his expression contorted momentarily.
The change in his expression was all too evident. It was hard to tell if it was meant to be a poker face or not. With such a blatant display, there was no telling whether he was genuinely agitated or simply putting up a show.
Eigh was bewildered, but he kept it from showing on his face. Arnold, who’d known him for long, understood what he felt.
Wait. Is this really a coincidence to begin with?
The Thousand Tricks, who’d been in conflict with them and hellbent on provoking them, had offered to negotiate for the Relic Arnold had brought in.
Could such a thing really happen by mere coincidence? It would’ve been understandable if the Relic had been a well-known item, but it’d been a flesh mask that had failed to sell back in their hometown.
If anything, they should’ve been at war with one another; there was no reason for the negotiation to succeed. Despite that, this was obviously an unnatural situation, and as the leader of the party, Arnold ought to make his decisions cautiously.
“It’s not like we’re insisting on not selling it.”
“I’m afraid it’d probably fetch a lower price at the auction than if sold to us right here. I doubt anyone would vie for that Relic and bid on it. Can I presume that Mr. Arnold shares the same perspective with your experience as a high-level?”
She’d hit the nail on the head. That was what Arnold and his party had been told before they’d taken the Relic in for appraisal.
Hunters and nobles were cautious when it came to purchasing Relics because there existed ones that posed risks to their owners. Such Relics usually looked like that—just like...that mask.
“That’s not fair,” said Arnold as he crossed his arms and reclined in his chair. Staring at the Thousand Tricks instead of Sitri, he continued emphatically, “That was a Relic we’ve gone to great lengths to find. We still don’t know its effects, and it’s disheartening to see a potent Relic being bargained for a dirt cheap price. I’d rather just discard it in that case.”
He’d even been told there was a chance that the mask couldn’t be appraised.
There were two major ways of appraising a Relic: researching the accumulated literature for information or activating it and trying it on. If the former method failed to determine its functions, appraisers would resort to the latter. But appraisers were humans too. Manifestly dangerous Relics were sometimes rejected by appraisers as impossible to appraise—in fact, that mask had been rejected back in Nebulanubes.
The appraiser Arnold and his party had commissioned was a man with decades of experience, well-known for his competence even within the capital. If even he refused to appraise the Relic, there was probably no one in this city who could appraise it. In that case, the mask would likely only sell for collection purposes.
“You seem to have an idea of its effects. We can’t put a price on it as it stands. How about you tell us what kind of power the Relic holds?”
He meant to unsettle them. Information was gold, and no one would divulge it straightaway just because they’d been asked to do so.
Sitri frowned as if exasperated at Eigh’s words.
Sitting by her side, the Thousand Tricks spoke up with a serious look on his face, “That...I can’t tell.”
“Humph.”
That was as expected.
Arnold was about to raise his voice and retort, but the Thousand Tricks, with a troubled smile, said unexpectedly, “But if I have to say one thing about it—if my speculation is correct—it’s a slightly dangerous Relic. Even the law of this land would prohibit its use. I’d let it go as soon as possible if I were you.”
Arnold had been a hunter for a long time, and to survive as a hunter required more than just physical strength. To excel as a hunter, one needed good bargaining skills to negotiate appropriate prices for the transaction of Relics and monster materials acquired from treasure vaults, as well as communication skills for things like making connections with influential people. While these were primarily handled by Eigh, Falling Fog’s vice leader, based on his experiences thus far, Arnold had come to understand its importance to some extent. And now, his intuition was telling him that this aloof man in front of his eyes—the Thousand Tricks—was lying.
The Thousand Tricks looked at Arnold with a serious expression.
“‘Slightly dangerous,’ you say?” said Arnold, as he tilted his brow and glared at the Thousand Tricks, the latter leaning back slightly.
Arnold mentally cataloged every thought and action: his expression, his demeanor, his words.
Arnold retreated into his own thoughts.
“The law prohibits its use,” “It’s slightly dangerous”—these aren’t words people use in negotiations.
If so, I can easily imagine why you’d want this Relic.
But this would surely just make us all the more wary.
The Thousand Tricks is an excellent tactician. Apparently, he can see through absolutely everything. Why is this Thousand Tricks negotiating so crudely?
Facing the silent Arnold, the man before him seemed to be assessing his capabilities with his gaze.
“The Thousand Tricks, you lied just now, didn’t you?”
He flinched.
“‘Slightly dangerous’ and that ‘you’d let it go if you were me’? Funny. You trying to trick me?”
Cold sweat streamed down the Thousand Tricks’s cheek as he became unsettled.
What a splendid disguise. Even in Arnold’s eyes, he appeared to be nothing but genuinely in a panic.
Right. Don’t be deceived by his words. Read between the gaps between the lines.
“Dangerous.”
“He’d let it go if he were me.”
Yes. Didn’t the Thousand Tricks sound almost as if he didn’t want Arnold to part ways with the Relic?
At that moment, a revelation descended upon Arnold. He felt like all the pieces of the puzzle had come together.
Could it be that he thinks that I—a Level 7—am an idiot?
Sitri was smiling next to him, but a cold light gleamed in her eyes as though she were looking at pathetic worms. Though she’d disguised her outward expression, she couldn’t conceal the light in her eyes from Arnold.
“Arnold?” said Eigh beside him, casting a sidelong glance at his leader.
Arnold had made his decision.
“All right, I’ll sell it to you. Yeah, let’s see... Eight million gild—no, ten million gild. I’m not cutting it down any lower, and I’ll have you pay me in full, all at once.”
While it was a high price for a hideous mask like that, this was an amount that a high-level hunter could easily pay.
The Thousand Tricks’s eyes grew as wide as dinner plates.
Sitri looked at Arnold with eyes as if questioning his intent.
Perhaps because Arnold’s reaction had been unexpected, his companions rustled. Despite that, all decision-making authority in Falling Fog lay with the leader, Arnold. Though, if that flesh mask sold for ten million gild, they’d surely be more than happy.
Eigh, next to him, looked at Arnold as if questioning his true intention.
“Arnold, are you sure?”
“Yeah. ’Cuz it seems to be a ‘slightly dangerous’ Relic.”
Twisting his lips, Arnold smiled as if intimidating his opponent. In front of him, the Thousand Tricks shuddered.
“You didn’t think I’d not sell it to you because of your provocation, did you? Humph... Indeed, we have our strife, but that’s a different matter. For now, I’ll pretend that has never happened.”
“Huh? Ah, that...I’m terribly sorry.”
Seemingly confused, the Thousand Tricks scratched his cheek.
To begin with, it’d been quite unnatural for a Level 8 hunter to directly engage in negotiations to acquire a Relic that was considered slightly dangerous. If he’d truly wanted it, he probably wouldn’t have involved himself explicitly like this.
The changes in the Thousand Tricks’s expressions were also “too natural,” making it look all the more unnatural. It all seemed just like an ostentatious information drop.
His words were laced with lies.
Arnold contemplated the dynamics between them.
Recalling the grotesque flesh mask—which instilled a visceral sense of awful revulsion—that he’d sent in for appraisal, Arnold felt a chill down his spine for the first time in a while.
Taking a deep breath, he looked into the “eyes” of the seemingly distressed Krai Andrey.
It was said that eyes speak louder than mouths, but all that he could sense from the Thousand Tricks’s darkness-evoking irises was bafflement. The emotions hidden within remained inscrutable to him.
But why did this dude put up such an obviously unnatural negotiation?
The situation was complicated, but as he put himself in his opponent’s shoes and contemplated the situation, Arnold unraveled his intent: the flesh mask was probably not just “slightly” dangerous but perilous enough that the Level 8 hunter hastened to retrieve it. Appallingly, the Thousand Tricks seemed to intend to make Arnold and his party hold on to that Relic—or rather he’d most likely made this his plan sometime after they’d met. Though, Arnold couldn’t detect any hint of a lie in his claim that the Relic was illegal.
Considering all that, and judging from the character of the Thousand Tricks they’d conjectured based on the intelligence they’d collected thus far, Arnold came to a conclusion: the Thousand Tricks had learned that an extremely dangerous Relic had been brought into the capital and had decided to take action. His goal was most likely to prevent the Relic from falling into the hands of the nobles, merchants, and hunters in the capital.
According to Eigh’s investigation, the Thousand Tricks had been solving incident after incident in this city. It might sound too flattering to be true, but there were always people who didn’t act to benefit themselves—especially among the high-level hunters.
Looking back on it now, Arnold found it abnormal that in the tavern they’d randomly chosen when they were new here was a Level 8 hunter, a rarity even within the capital. The tavern they’d chosen was a cheap saloon; given the Thousand Tricks and his companions’ level, they surely could’ve opted for a slightly better place. The Thousand Tricks had likely already been observing them at that time.
But there, trouble arose for him: his party had gone on a collision course with Arnold’s. The Stifled Shadow’s actions, he dare say, had come unexpected even for the Thousand Tricks.
Having one’s reputation tarnished was a critical blow for treasure hunters that would invite scorn from other hunters and affect their future endeavors. Arnold boiled with anger whenever he recalled that incident.
Then, the Thousand Tricks, realizing that his chances at a successful negotiation had been lost almost entirely, had shifted gears on the spot. Abandoning his attempt to negotiate through gentle persuasion, he’d begun provoking them repeatedly with questionable attitude and words instead. He’d tried to infuriate Arnold so that he’d withdraw from the auction altogether.
The Thousand Tricks’s objective probably was to prevent that dangerous Relic from falling into the hands of and being used by curious nobles, wealthy merchants, and hunters of the capital—at all costs. In other words, his best course of action would be to acquire and safeguard the Relic himself, but for now, keeping Arnold and his companions out of the auction would also achieve his objective.
It was just natural for people to be unwilling to part with such a thing even if they were told that it was a “dangerous Relic” and that he’d “let it go if I were you,” let alone if it was said by their archenemy.
Yet, Arnold wasn’t going to be deceived.
“You think I’m an idiot? You think I’d be so stubborn over an extremely shady Relic like that? Your purpose is to ensure that the Relic doesn’t fall into others’ hands. Am I right?”
“Huh...?”
His bluff was obvious.
Indeed, if Arnold were a low-level hunter, immature and unable to control his emotions, he might have gone on to stubbornly withdraw from the auction out of spite; he might have believed that the Level 8 had coveted the Relic so much that he’d lie to get his hands on it. But now that he’d thought about it rationally, what would Arnold’s party stand to gain if he withdrew from the auction?
That Relic looked ominous at a glance; any hunter who was even slightly cautious wouldn’t think of using it. Arnold never considered trying on that mask himself, and he would vehemently oppose it if any of his party mates had attempted to.
Now that he knew it was a dangerous Relic, he’d have no choice but to keep it under strict lock and key—a responsibility that was a meaningless burden for them.
Or perhaps, was it his plan to buy time by making them withdraw from the auction temporarily? There was even the possibility that he planned to discredit Arnold and his party by accusing them of possessing a dangerous item. In fact, he couldn’t deny the possibility of criminal organizations targeting the Relic and assassins attacking them for it either. In the worst-case scenario, could the Thousand Tricks have been provoking Arnold into using the mask so that he could consign the mask into oblivion alongside Arnold? According to the information they’d gathered beforehand, the Thousand Tricks didn’t seem to be wicked, but being indulgent alone wouldn’t have gotten him to Level 8.
Arnold and his party mates were aliens here; anything they could’ve done to them would be fair game.
Numerous possibilities flashed through Arnold’s mind in an instant. Arnold knew not of the power of the mask, and because of that, his predictions were inevitably all just possible outcomes. But regardless of which possibility it turned out to be, it was certain that things wouldn’t turn out well for them.
As he pondered the myriad of possibilities, the somewhat vacant face in front of him began to feel like a terrifying visage concealing a fierce resolve.
He carefully examined the Thousand Tricks, who’d been silent for a while now.
He was most likely testing Arnold, testing to see if he was indeed brilliant enough to see through the Thousand Tricks’s ostensible performances and blatant lies and uncover his true intentions.
What if I’d been imbecile whose mind became clouded by my own anger and thus unable to grasp the Thousand Tricks’s intentions—what would have ensued?
And assuming Arnold’s assessment was accurate, what could he do to make the man who’d attempted to manipulate them feel the sorriest? What course of action would provide Arnold and his party with the greatest benefit?
Should he deliberately go against the Thousand Tricks’s wishes and sell it to some noble or merchant? Should he have done so even though they’d yet to establish any connections in the capital?
After all, palming off a Relic to influential individuals despite knowing that it was dangerous would be a thoughtless act of an idiot.
Whose words would people trust more: the Thousand Tricks, who’d performed numerous distinguished services for this land, or the newcomer, Arnold? It wasn’t hard to imagine who’d win this fight—going against the Thousand Tricks was too risky for him.
Or should he use the Relic himself? Should he try on such a glaringly dangerous item that even appraisers hesitated to appraise? Arnold might be intrepid, but he didn’t have a death wish.
Or rather, should he decline the negotiation and just proceed to put the Relic up for auction? That was an option, but he was quite sure that the chances of the Relic fetching a high price were slim. Furthermore, this Thousand Tricks in front of him would most likely just win the bid in that case. Unfortunately, he couldn’t set restrictions on who could bid on the item.
Should he just securely keep it with his party? But that wasn’t going to benefit anyone, and they’d be dancing to the Thousand Tricks’s tune completely.
At the end of his labyrinth of thoughts, a simple solution awaited: get to the negotiating table and sell the Relic off—and use his plans against him to demand a reasonably high price that was hard to turn down. This was the course of action that would bring the most benefit to Arnold’s party without any risk; in exchange, it inflicted no substantial damage on the Thousand Tricks. It was the optimal compromise.
“Now, what’s your call?”
Was he overthinking it? There certainly was such a possibility.
The Thousand Tricks might have said it was a dangerous Relic, but there was a possibility that he might have been mistaken about that. Or even—though almost impossible—there was a nonzero chance that the flesh mask could indeed be a useful Relic despite its appearance. Either way, if it did happen to prove useful, he could then accuse him of lying during negotiations. Besides, regardless of the authenticity of his claims, Falling Fog had no use for that Relic. Even if it was useful, he had no intention of donning that. Disposing of it right here was his best option.
He couldn’t afford to make a wrong decision. He’d repay humiliation with humiliation—this was Arnold’s way.
Setting the price at decently high was, at the very least, his small act of retaliation against the Thousand Tricks for probing them. Ten million gild was not a reasonable price tag for an unappraised conspicuously dangerous flesh mask.
As Arnold curved his lips into a smile, the Level 8 hunter, of which only three existed in the capital, put on a somewhat pathetic expression.
In all likelihood, the Thousand Tricks had discerned that Arnold had seen through all his plans. Even the Thousand Tricks probably hadn’t anticipated his opponent, whom he’d tried to ensnare, to handle the situation so calmly. But then, the Thousand Tricks couldn’t really refuse those terms.
This is our victory.
Sitri shot a quick glance at the Thousand Tricks next to her and, just as Arnold had anticipated, nodded with determination.
“Very well. We’ll take it for ten million gil—”
“Wait a second!!!”
Before she could finish her sentence, a hunter sitting at an adjacent table suddenly interrupted. It was a middle-aged man, an unfamiliar face. Being stared at, the man raised both his hands in an exaggerated pose and forced a wry smile.
The man said, “I’m not here to start a fight or anything. That Relic—I’ll buy it for double the price.”
“What?! What did you just say?!”
Eigh shot an astonished gaze at the absurd intruder. Even the Thousand Tricks seemed bewildered.
The appearance of a hunter willing to purchase that flesh mask for twenty million gild had been unexpected. Equally unexpected was another unrelated man at another adjacent table suddenly raising his voice.
To Arnold, it didn’t really matter whom he sold the Relic to. After all, he didn’t owe this town or the Thousand Tricks anything. While it’d only be all the better for them if the Relic sold for higher.
So what on earth was happening here? This person here should’ve just heard the Thousand Tricks said the Relic was dangerous.
Sitri put on a loathsome expression.
As if this unfamiliar man had opened a can of worms, hunters throughout the tavern began raising their voices after him.
“Wait, I’ll pay twenty-five million!”
“Hold on. I’ve had my eye on it all along! I shall offer thirty million!”
“That’s the Relic the Thousand Tricks has been going after by any means necessary. I’ll offer forty million!”
“You’re just planning to resell it! Get lost!”
“Wh-What’s going on?! Who are these people?!” said Eigh as he stood up and anxiously scanned the tavern.
Before he knew it, the tavern erupted with clamor. The patrons’ gazes were laced with a palpable aggression, and some even began wrestling one another. They were all fervently shouting their respective bids.
With their mouths agape, drunkards watched the spontaneous auction unfold.
Drunks looked on with vacant eyes at the sudden auction.
“Forty-two million!”
“Forty-three million!”
“Dammit, I’ll offer forty-five million!”
“You don’t have that kind of money with you! You’re in debt, so what are you even saying?!”
“Shut up! I’ll sell my equipment to finance it if I have to!”
What? Is this a joke? Do these guys really want that flesh mask this much? ...Is there some intel I’m missing?
Arnold groaned at the incomprehensible sight.
If this was the case, then Arnold’s conjecture about the Thousand Tricks’s plan became increasingly questionable.
Why do these people want such a grotesque Relic? What’s happening?
Sitri scanned the surroundings and let out a small sigh. Then she said, “This is all because, Krai, you’ve been trying to borrow money from all over the place—you should’ve just asked me from the very beginning.”
“Heh...”
Despite his deflated sigh, the price of the flesh mask kept shooting upwards.
One of the drunkards staggered to his feet and, in a cheery voice, began to host the impromptu auction.
It was all beyond control now. These people raising their voices were all deadly serious.
“One hundred million.”
And that was when an incongruously delicate voice cut through the storm of boisterous bellows.
The hunters, who’d been inflating the price gradually, all turned towards the source of the voice.
Standing on a table dotted with fallen bottles, a figure in a luxurious white dress came into view. At her waist, a sword that seemed out of place for her childish limbs hung.
“I, Éclair Gladis, shall acquire that strongest Relic, or whatever, for a hundred million! Understand?!”
“Ugh. This is why I don’t like nobles and merchants... Krai, can we just withdraw from this negotiation?”
Sitri let out a frail sigh and tugged at Krai’s sleeve.
With a smile brimming with confidence, the girl who’d claimed to be Éclair looked down at the Thousand Tricks.
***
“What on earth...was all that about? Did I do something bad?”
Holding a hunter gossip magazine in hand, I clicked my tongue for the first time in a long time in frustration with the current situation.
The magazine was opened to a colorized page with an article detailing the deeds of the leader of a certain clan, a high-level hunter, bustling about to acquire a certain Relic that was set to be auctioned at the upcoming Zebrudia Auction. Though the name of the hunter had been withheld, given the rarity of Relic maniac hunters who were also clan masters, anyone reading it would surely immediately recognize that it’d been referring to me.
The negotiation had been going quite well until someone from the crowd had suddenly interrupted and caused chaos. But it’d been the intrusion of Lord Gladis’s daughter that had completely derailed it.
I was hoping to somehow purchase the Reversible Face within ten million gild, but Arnold decided that he’d put it up for auction once again.
Arnold appeared to be bewildered by the sudden turn of events, but the one most bewildered was me.
I hadn’t expected that so many people would be interested in that strikingly creepy mask, and neither could I fathom what the earl’s daughter meant by “strongest Relic.” I did try to tell Lady Éclair that it wasn’t the strongest Relic but rather a dangerous one, but she hadn’t seemed willing to hear me out.
The Reversible Face was far from being the strongest Relic. It was merely a Relic that changed one’s appearance without boosting one’s combat abilities or anything. While it could do things like making one appear more muscular, it didn’t actually give them more strength. And since their body would just be wrapped in a layer of muscles, this actually had the demerit of making one’s movements more difficult if they just changed their body shape haphazardly.
Well, to be fair, it was illegal but not dangerous, so I might have been lying about that, but even so, snatching it away from me just because I wanted it was just too mean. While it wasn’t against the rules, it was definitely a breach of etiquette.
Do these people have no ethics? “Don’t expect ethics from nobles and hunters”? Ha ha.
But true enough, nobles were surely wealthy, weren’t they?
Eva looked at me with a gaze a few magnitudes chillier than usual and asked, “So, what’re you going to do?”
All while I was still asking for help to repay some unrelated debts, I was already planning to purchase the next Relic. Now that I thought about it (or even without thinking about it), I realized I was completely hopeless. What’s worse, I was reporting it only after the fact.
Someone, please do something about me.
But allow me to offer an excuse: there was a chance that the Reversible Face would only be available in this auction! It wouldn’t be an overexaggeration to say that this could possibly change my entire life.
Now that I already have a ten-digit debt, what’s another eight-digit one? It’ll only be merely a few percent more. Won’t you agree?
“Krai? Please answer me.”
Oh, right... You don’t think so, do you...? Do I have no choice but to give up, after everything?
Ten million gild was an enormous sum of money that an average person couldn’t even earn in a year. But for Grieving Souls, it was an amount we could easily cover with a single hunt.
That said, a hundred million was a different story. To put it simply, it’d be ten times more. Grieving Souls was a party of seven including Eliza, so for each person to earn a hundred million, by simple calculations, we’d need to bring back at least seven hundred million gild worth in Relics and rare materials.
There were only very few Relics that could fetch for a high price. Relics valued at over a hundred million gild were known as “centimillioners” and acquiring one was one of the dreams for hunters.
Since we also had to set aside some money as a reserve fund, earning seven hundred million gild in one go was challenging even for us. Well, as challenging as it might be, it wasn’t impossible.
That said, it took courage even for me to just casually pay out a hundred million with all that debt I had. Liz, who was on the hunt for Relics too, probably wouldn’t be able to do much either...
But above anything else, the biggest issue was that it seemed a hundred million might not be enough, after all.
“There are rumors that the daughter of House Gladis is frantically buying up all the Relics,” Eva said.
I remained silent.
“I’ve also heard that a few large trading companies are working to obtain these items as well. I presume prices are soaring because of it.”
“Ugh.”
“Don’t you ‘ugh’ me! Good grief!”
Nobles were sparing no expense as they scrambled to buy up the vast assortment of Relics. No normal hunter could stand a chance against these nobles—the difference in wealth was much too great. The prominent House Gladis had been supporting the empire for generations. Trading companies lacked ties to nobles, and they were dying to change that.
Relics were a product of nature, and they were infamously rare. Globally and historically, they were used as offerings. The worthiness of the hunk of meat on offer aside, the fact that Lady Éclair had thrown her hat in the ring would undoubtedly reach the ears of the restless trading companies involved in the auction.
Hunters made good money, but the ones who held the most wealth within this nation were trading companies and nobles. I was sure that none of them were willing to hurl their entire fortune to obtain a Relic, but as a person with debt, I couldn’t take the risk and fight against such a powerful foe. I was sure that trading companies had their own reasons, but why would Lady Éclair have a need for an unlawful Relic? Did she want to obtain the strongest Relic and become a hunter? She couldn’t do it. It didn’t matter just how powerful of a Relic she had; without cultivating her own strength independently, she would forever remain a small fry. I was a prime example.
“So, what will you do?” Eva asked.
I couldn’t offer a reply.
“Please think carefully, Krai. Do you really require that Relic?” she asked kindly, trying to dissuade me. “You already have plenty.”
But I wanted it. I wanted that Relic so badly. If I could have it, I’d take it in a heartbeat. Did I really not need it? I scratched my head furiously. While it might have been possible for me to scrounge around and gather a hundred million, a battle of wealth against nobles and trading companies was an impossible one. And the auction was drawing near. I was a trueborn consumer, and I didn’t stand a chance from the get-go.
Eva sighed. “If you were going to make that face, why did you go out of your way to get yourself in debt and hand out information?”
“I-I don’t remember doing that...” I replied. “Hmm... I wonder how much money Lucia has saved—I-I’m kidding! I’m just joking!”
Eva, who would usually support me no matter how pathetic I was, gave me a sidelong glance of revulsion as though she was looking at a piece of trash. But if I were allowed an excuse, Lucia had said that if I was truly in dying need of money, I had permission to take her savings of my own accord. As reliable as a younger sister could be, she’d stated that if I were to be in debt, it would’ve been best if I was indebted to her.
Still, well...I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll do my best. If it’s not enough, I’ll just give up on the Relic. My savings weren’t nearly enough to outbid nobles or trading companies. I also had Sitri to worry about, and this couldn’t have come at a worse time. I felt bad for doing this, but if we were to go to confectionery stores in the future, I would need Tino to humor us as well. Just as I made my decision, Sitri burst into the room, slightly out of breath.
“This is why I don’t like nobles and merchants...” she said with a huff. “They always, always try to solve matters with money or by wielding their power. They use cheap and dirty tricks to steal what you want, Krai...”
Instead of the usual bag that she had slung over her back, she was clutching a large suitcase that could’ve easily fit a person inside. She wore a serene expression, but her eyes were brimming with determination. This might be a sudden side note, but Sitri hated to lose. Her grace belied the fact that she was just as strong-willed as Liz. My spirit was already half broken, but it seemed like the intrepid Sitri was determined to fight back.
“Krai, if it’s money you need...I’ve got it,” she elucidated. “We can still fight. I went out of my way to create secret potions for them, but the moment I got a criminal offense tacked on, those nobles changed their attitude in the blink of an eye. And I want to get back at those merchants for selling my potions at exorbitant prices, stuffing their wallets more than necessary. I’ll be killing two birds with one stone.”
She seems more fired up about this than me...and I feel like our initial motives have shifted here. Sitri placed the suitcase out in front of me and undid the lock, revealing a mountain of wealth that no normal person would usually see. Glimmering silver coins, exponentially more precious than gold coins and worth a hundred thousand gild each, were piled high. There was clearly more than a hundred or two of this precious currency, and the suitcase was stuffed with them as some rolled onto the floor by my feet. Eva looked taken aback. If there was any business transaction that required a suitcase full of silver coins, it would be done with a check.
“Where’d you get this?” I asked.
Didn’t she say that she was flat broke? The pile of beautiful silver coins in front of me was easily worth more than a hundred million gild. Sitri’s porcelain skin turned a touch pink.
“These are my marriage funds that I’ve been secretly saving and hiding from my sister,” she said. “There’s about eight hundred million.”
I couldn’t hide my shock, and Eva followed suit.
“Marriage funds?!” she cried, her eyes wide with shock.
I see... Marriage funds... A flurry of questions filled my mind. Didn’t you save a bit too much for just marriage? Since when did you start saving up? Do you have a partner in mind? But first and foremost, there was no way that I could accept such precious money. Sitri, you’re going too far... This is a bit much. This isn’t some secret stash you’ve been hiding away—it’s a whole fortune.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t take the money you’ve been saving up—” I started.
“I planned on using this on you, so we’re just using it a bit ahead of schedule, I suppose...” Sitri replied, her ears red.
I was confused now. “Huh? By marriage funds, did you mean you saved this money for my marriage?”
We were longtime friends, but I couldn’t believe that she saved money for me, whom she had no blood relation with. That can’t be it.
“Hmm?” she replied quizzically. “No, this money is for my marriage. You can think of it as an early dowry.”
“I think men are supposed to pay when taking a woman’s hand in marriage.”
If I were to add on, this payment could only be given to one’s marriage partner. Sitri stared at me with befuddlement before she pounded her fist on top of her palm.
“I suppose you’re right...” she said. “But hey, in marriage, I think both the man and the woman should work together to build a relationship. And I’m the type who commits to her man.”
She let out an airy giggle.
“Yeah, uh-huh. Ha ha ha ha...” I replied.
Sitri’s unexpectedly a bit of an airhead, I guess. As I spoke cheerfully, Eva, who’d been silent this entire time, grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me violently.
“What are you laughing about, Krai?” she demanded. “You’ll be forced to marry her at this rate!”
“Huh?” I replied. “Nah, that can’t be...”
I assumed it was Sitri’s usual marriage jokes. Marriage? Me? I’d never even thought about it. This was a once-in-a-lifetime commitment, and I thought it was best to think about it carefully once I retired from being a hunter and took on a steady job to settle down.
“Once we get our hands on that Relic, it’ll be in lieu of your engagement ring,” Sitri said.
Huh? No way. I didn’t think a grotesque mask of flesh could be seen as a ring at all. I grew calm upon hearing her outlandish suggestion, but Sitri continued passionately.
“As for me, if you don’t mind, I’d like a ring from your collection.”
That, I didn’t mind one iota. My collection was important, sure, but Sitri and the others were much more precious to me. I was more than willing to offer her a ring Relic, but I still felt like I was taking advantage of her. Even a Safety Ring wasn’t worth eight hundred million. How could I ever repay Sitri? I crossed my arms and mulled over my choices while Eva stepped forward and slammed the table loudly, a smile plastered on her face as she gazed down at Sitri.
“Sitri, I believe I’ve said that Krai’s debts would be repaid in full,” Eva said.
“Huh? Ah, don’t mind us,” Sitri answered. “Our bonds aren’t so shallow that our marriage would crumble just because of debt.”
“The number one reason that causes hunter parties to collapse is money troubles! Because you’re so lax with him, he’s become lousy with money—”
“Huh? Ah, don’t mind us. I’m willing to accept Krai, lousy with money and all.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about!”
Eva remained dauntless even in the face of a high-level hunter. I’d told her to never lay a finger on Liz and the others, but I felt like her words were filled with emotion.
“Please! Don’t! Make! Weird! Promises! With! Our! Clan master! What’ll you do if odd rumors start circulating?!” Eva shouted, taking a few moments to catch her breath. “I’ll definitely pay back all his debts in full. You have my word. This includes the marriage funds that you’ll loan Krai. Is that clear?”
Sitri sighed. “This is why I don’t like merchants.”
She slumped her shoulders in surrender, causing Eva’s cheek to twitch. I had nothing to offer in this fight as I crouched down and was ready to flee. I’m raising the white flag. Sitri’s marriage is more important than a Reversible Face. I just wanted it if I could get it for relatively cheap. I’m so sorry that I’m out of touch with money. I feel sick... Urp...
“Just you watch and see, Krai,” Sitri said, determined. “I’ll buy that Relic without fail.”
“Uh, nah, I think I’m good,” I replied. “I’m pretty sure it’ll be expensive, and there’s a chance that eight hundred million won’t be enough...”
I tried to give a reason to stop her, but even I knew that her money was more than enough. That Relic’s abilities weren’t worth that much. But Sitri only balled her hands into fists and leaned forward fearlessly.
“Oh, don’t act so reserved!” she said. “I can gather more money if you wish. I’ll use whatever means possible to get that Relic. Why don’t we spread bad rumors about that item? It’s much easier to lower its price than to gather more funds.”
“Uh sure...” I said before I stopped myself. “Uh, no, no, no. T-Take it easy, okay?”
When I saw the twinkle in her eyes, I was determined to stop her from running wild.
***
Perhaps due to the Zebrudia Auction being just around the corner, the Explorers’ Association was busier than ever before. For hunters who used the imperial capital as their base, the auction was a golden opportunity to gain a fortune, and it was a perfect chance to bid for powerful weapons and boost their power.
There was a larger crowd than usual gathered in front of the quest brief. Preparing for the day of the fated auction, some were searching for information regarding the treasure vault, hoping to gather more Relics. Others were reading up on quests from outsiders, trying to gather a few more gild for bidding. Tino was in the crowd too, standing on her tiptoes and craning her neck to read the quests among the throng of tall hunters.
With the auction nearing, almost all the good quests were taken. Quests to defeat nearby monsters were all gone, and only those that required ample time and wouldn’t make it for the auction remained. The crowd of hunters all let out a murderous air, frantically glancing around with bloodshot eyes, hoping to grab a lone Association employee who might have new quests to offer.
Everyone gathered here is third-rate, Tino thought. The date of the auction had already been decided long in advance, and first-rate hunters had already gathered the necessary funds and Relics for the event. They were likely snickering at the third-rates who were panicking while making last-minute preparations. Tino wasn’t interested in the auction. She wasn’t very materialistic, and she was reluctant to waste her money. So, why did she have to be treated with scorn like the crowd of ill-prepared hunters? Unable to be affected by the excitement buzzing in the air, she suddenly heard a voice call out to her.
“Hey, Tino. You all right?”
Tino silently turned around and saw a Thief that she’d been in a party with in the past, during her journey in the White Wolf’s Den, Rhuda Runebeck. As always, she had a headful of silky brown locks and a full chest that would catch anyone’s eye. She’d recently ranked up to Level 4, and the two ladies were close enough to engage in casual conversation whenever they bumped into each other.
As a fellow Thief, Tino got along quite well with Rhuda, even dragging the latter along to her master’s training. Tino rarely visited the Association and thus didn’t meet Rhuda often, but they were friendly enough to be called friends. As Tino stared silently, Rhuda gave a strained smile.
“You seem to be doing well, as usual,” she said. “Are you done with your training?”
“My sister said that she would go on a treasure vault tour,” Tino replied. “I was left behind because she said that I was dense.”
“Th-That seems par for the course for her...”
A gossip magazine filled with information related to treasure hunters was thrust in front of Tino. The opened page had a summary of the Relics that would be offered during the auction. She took the magazine and scanned through the pages. A certain famous hunter was scurrying around and trying to gather money to purchase the most powerful Relic. The other hunters were aiming for it as well, of course, but even nobles were going for the item with bloodshot eyes. The precious Relic was gathered by a Level 7 hunter from a foreign nation, who barely made it out with their life. The noble in question were even on friendly terms with the Ark Rodin, and several trading companies were scrambling about, trying to get their hands on this item. Everyone knew that this Relic would be the highlight of this auction.
“This magazine’s talking about Krai, I take it?” Rhuda asked.
How true was this article? It even had predictions on the powers of the Relic along with its estimated price at the auction. It contained a bold statement that claimed that any hunter who could get their hands on this Relic would be guaranteed a boost in their level. Gossip magazines couldn’t be trusted to begin with, but Tino furrowed her brows when she read just how baseless these claims seemed to be.
“They’re wrong...” Tino mumbled.
“Huh?”
“Master...wasn’t lent money in the first place.”
Rhuda gave a look of astonishment.
Tino had only seen a snippet of the exchange, but as far as she knew, no one was willing to loan Master a single gild. She was left speechless when she saw him die an honorable death, crumbling away into tiny pieces. The magazine stated that Krai was gathering money by the hundreds of millions, but where could this number have come from? Tino cocked her head to one side in confusion while Rhuda’s eyes twinkled with glee.
“Hmm, so you’re saying that this isn’t about Krai?” Rhuda asked.
Tino fell silent, but she was sure that they were referring to Krai. There weren’t many high-level hunters out there who were clan masters and had a penchant for collecting Relics. Once she finished reading, she gave a deep sigh and handed the magazine back to Rhuda. It ended with a few words that poked fun at that certain high-level hunter, claiming that anyone who aimed to collect Relics without giving a second thought towards expense was truly laudable and a perfect image of what a hunter ought to be. The hunter was able to use their powers and influence as a clan master to their fullest and even had a woman in the same party give up all her money for the cause. These roundabout chiding remarks and derisive comments could only be written by a fearless author. They were all lies. Tino gave up on trying to stare at the quest brief among the crowd and sat at a table located within the meeting space. Rhuda sat across from her.
How shall I explain this? Tino thought. Rhuda was a Thief recruited by Krai for Tino. Though it was a temporary party, she had gotten acquainted with the clan master and had reached out, worried about him. I don’t want to put her good intentions to waste. Compassionate Tino also pitied the woman for being in a tizzy because of these baseless rumors. After a few seconds of hesitation, she opened her mouth.
“Master has already found a way to obtain the Relic,” Tino said firmly and concisely. “His debts...can be taken care of, and you have nothing to worry about.”
“Huh?” Rhuda asked, her eyes wide. “Are you sure?”
As far as Tino knew, no one in the imperial capital could compete with Master’s fondness for collecting. In fact, she had once followed Liz into his room and saw that it was decorated with a countless number of Relics. There were easily over a hundred on display. From common ones to those that didn’t have any rumors whatsoever, his collection could likely trump any Relic store in the capital. The prices of Relics varied on demand, but if he were to change all of it to money, it would easily be over ten billion gild. The term treasure hunters, always on the hunt for treasure, couldn’t have encapsulated Tino’s master better. And...I’m sure debt isn’t an issue either.
Sitri’s face flashed across Tino’s mind, causing her to shudder. Siddy likely admired Master even more than Lizzy—they were truly siblings to the core. In fact, not only would Siddy allow her master to be in debt, she would happily lend as much money as she had. This was clear as day to even Tino, who tried to avoid her sister as much as she could. Should Siddy not have enough money, she would most certainly employ any means she could to prepare the required gild. Tino shook her head, trying to rid herself of Siddy’s glare whenever the former had stepped close to Master.
“Master will always obtain any Relic he desires,” Tino said. “I think this silly information was spread on purpose by him.”
“Huh? Really?”
“I think.”
How could this not be calculated? There was no reason for him to grovel to Ark Rodin and ask for money in front of a huge crowd, and he didn’t have to look so absorbed with his money in the lounge. Tino didn’t have a single clue about Master’s ingenious schemes, but she knew that he would always plot something amazing. The outcomes would always be amazing. I don’t quite get it myself, but I know that they are.
Rhuda shot a dubious look before she regained her composure and leaned forward. She glanced around, worried about her surroundings, and whispered into Tino’s ear.
“So, Tino, what exactly is Krai aiming for?”
“A weird mask,” Tino whispered back. “It resembles an old Relic that Master had, but I think it’s a completely different item. I don’t know what power it holds.”
“Awww... I was kinda curious about that.”
A Reversible Face was Master’s favorite Relic until recently. The current one must surely be different. I heard that the Relic was so ill-reputed that Lizzy crushed it into pieces. Admittedly, Tino wasn’t a fan of the item either as it often changed faces. “This must be the true Thousand Tricks!” Master had said, causing his surroundings to grimace and wince. Even Siddy hadn’t been able to let out a hearty laugh. And who could blame her? Though it was the inside that counted, no one would be happy to hear that a person they admired was ecstatically gazing upon a shifting face while calling it a Thousand Tricks. Master is an amazing person, but he’s just so far ahead of me that I can’t understand him.
“W-Well, if you’re sure...” Rhuda said. “Everyone’s been whispering rumors and I knew he’d be fine, but...”
It was likely true that both nobles and trading companies were getting involved. Other hunters were gossiping about that too, after all. It was almost guaranteed that this Relic would soar in price—there had been such instances occurring before for the auction.
What would soon begin was the fight for the limit. Only super first-rate hunters could stand a chance against merchants and nobles. But why is everyone so worried about Master? He might seem a little unreliable, but that’s nothing more than his image. His high level surely attests to his skills. For Tino, who felt like a speck of dust in comparison, she found it hard to understand this train of thought.
“Oh, and by the way, what’re you here for, Tino? It seems like everyone’s scrambling to get quests.”
“S-Since I can’t train, I wanted to make as much money as possible and assist Master...” Tino spoke with downcast eyes, her voice fading away into the air.
***
In the clan master’s office, a raucous debate between Sitri and Eva had begun. To them, I was treated as a complete bystander, and I was tempted to sneak out and buy myself a sweet treat or two.
“As I just said, if I stop selling my potions and Steps refuses to provide materials, I’m sure that a vast majority of trading companies would cooperate with us,” Sitri explained.
“Potions aside, are you planning on picking a fight with trading companies?!” Eva shouted. “We’d also be troubled if trade dealings crumbled!”
“Well, that’s something that you have to deal with, so it’s not really my concern... But if it’s for Krai, I’m willing to change the location of my base, so I really couldn’t care less about the merchants of this nation. I think everyone would agree with me.”
She’s so extreme. In contrast to the stern Eva, Sitri had a smile dancing on her lips.
“I thought that my store was becoming a bit too large for my liking anyway,” Sitri added. “First and foremost, Krai is our leader. He’s not just the clan master.”
It sounded like she had no concerns about the well-being of a clan that we built. I couldn’t blame her; I was the one who wanted a clan and she cared little about its members. Recently, I had stopped exploring treasure vaults completely, much to her dismay. Eva’s shoulders were trembling from rage at Sitri’s biting remarks, and I quickly jumped in to try to soften the blow before sparks flew my way.
“Don’t, Sitri,” I said. “You can’t pressure the trading companies. I know negotiations can include talks like that, but we can’t be inhumane against people that we’re indebted to.”
What’ll happen to the clan if Eva leaves? I’m even having her handle foreign affairs.
“I understand,” Sitri reluctantly said. “But if we can’t circulate rumors or negotiate with the merchants...”
“I’m just letting you know that both of those options are against imperial law,” Eva chimed in.
Yeah, I know. They were illegal methods. My bad, okay? I don’t need that mask anymore. Sitri looked up at me with a bright smile.
“Then why don’t we negotiate with the seller once more?” she suggested. “If we’re not too picky about the method, we might be able to obtain the item for cheap. We can state that the seller got intimidated by the fuss that was being made and left the empire with his tail between his legs. That’s a likely scenario, isn’t it?”
“Hmm? I don’t think so,” I replied. “No one’ll agree to that reasoning, I think.”
I didn’t quite understand where she was coming from, but there was no way that Arnold would nod his head in agreement just because we tacked on a small additional fee.
Sitri continued pensively, “Hmm, this might cause a bit of a fuss, but it’s best if Lady Éclair is gone. What do you think?”
“Huh? I don’t think she’ll just...vanish. She doesn’t seem to like me much either.”
While her reasons were unknown, it might’ve been because she liked Ark. He and I weren’t on bad terms, but the newbie hunters of Zebrudia were apparently divided into two factions: mine or his. As a side note, I was definitely part of Ark’s faction—it was a no-brainer for me.
“But there are quite a few boorish hunters out there, and it’s clear that she’s wealthy,” Sitri surmised. “Plus, she’s infamous for disliking hunters. It wouldn’t be odd if she was abducted, and there are many hunters out there willing to do anything for money. What do you think?”
“Huh? I’m sure she has guards around her. She’s probably fine.”
She was the daughter of a noble. Zebrudia was prominently known for its hunters, and nobles made sure to hire guards who were just as powerful. Sitri folded her arms in front of her and groaned loudly.
“But I don’t think any of them are resistant to my original blend,” she said. “You require mana material which you would then need to direct away from mana growth.”
In the past, Sitri had made an original poison potion that was effective against phantoms. Since it worked against phantoms and monsters, it would certainly work against humans, but apparently, only she could make it, and there was little chance that her item was leaked elsewhere.
“Mhm, uh-huh,” I said, “But since only you can make it, there’s no way it’s out on the market.”
It was then that she clapped her hands together as though I was exactly right. “Don’t worry, I made sure that Talia knows how to make it. Perfect for times like these!”
Uh, what? Don’t worry? I didn’t think there was even a ghost of a chance that Talia would betray Sitri.
“Just because Talia knows, doesn’t mean that she’d leak your recipe,” I said. “That seems highly unlikely.”
“Huh, I guess you’ve got a point.”
Sitri once again seemed lost in her thoughts. Eva, who’d been listening quietly with her eyes open, finally decided to say a few words.
“W-Wait a sec. You guys aren’t serious...are you?”
“Huh?” I asked. “What do you mean?”
Did I say something? I feel like I’m losing track of this conversation. Eva was staring at Sitri, who tilted her head to one side in befuddlement.
“Huh? Er, well...” Eva stammered. “I-I know you aren’t like that, Krai. I believe in you. I do.”
Sitri began mumbling to herself. “Well, if we can’t go to the seller and we can’t auction it, the only thing we can do for the Relic is... Well, maybe beforehand, but this risk is too great...”
From her serious expression, it was clear that she was trying to get that Relic for me no matter what. But I had no intention of using grayish methods to obtain it. I’d just tackle the auction straight on; if I couldn’t get it, I couldn’t get it. In fact, it might be better if I don’t get it at this rate. Please use your marriage funds for yourself.
“I’m grateful for your ideas, but you don’t have to do anything,” I said. “I’ll just bid at the auction fair and square, and if I fail, I fail. I don’t want it that desperately anyway.”
“If you say so, Krai,” Sitri said. “Then I’ll do my best to gather more funds.”
Honestly, you don’t need to do that either. Eight hundred million sounds more than enough. For the first time since I came to the imperial capital, I was eager for the auction to end. As I saw a fired-up Sitri and a frowning Eva, I prayed that this entire affair would end without a fuss.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login