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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
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Chapter 91: Auction House (1)
***
That night just before midnight, Damien slipped out of the palace.
Upon arriving at the tavern, Carmen welcomed Damien.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“It’s an opportunity to have you here, Sir Damien.”
Carmen said with a smile. Her skill in accommodating and talking to others was extraordinary.
“I’ll escort you to the auction house.”
Carmen guided Damien to a carriage she had arranged in advance. The carriage carrying the two of them started its journey through the night streets.
“Where is the auction taking place?”
“It’s prepared at the Marlin Theater.”
Damien was slightly surprised to hear that.
The Marlin Theater was the largest theater in the Apple Kingdom and a symbol of the capital.
He hadn’t expected the influence of the Green Scent to extend to the extent of renting out the Marlin Theater.
“It seems larger than I thought.”
“We were able to rent a good venue because many nobles will attend the auction.”
It seemed that many nobles with connections in the Green Scent would be present.
After a while, the carriage arrived at the theater. The two of them got off the carriage.
Despite all the lights being off, quite a few people were gathering at the theater. They all seemed to be nobles intending to participate in the auction.
“Come this way.”
Damien followed Carmen into the theater. It was a passage used by VIPs.
Carmen led Damien into a lavish room. Red carpets covered the floor, and expensive-looking artworks decorated the room.
“This room is only for the VIPs who’re coming to the theater. You can rest here until the auction begins.”
Damien nodded as he admired the artwork in the room.
“Sir, I heard you’ve had some conflicts with His Majesty Alexander recently.”
Carmen suddenly brought up the topic. Damien looked at her with interest.
“You have good ears. Knowing such news already.”
“It’s inevitable for the weak like us to survive.”
She approached a corner of the room. Tapping on the seemingly thin wall, he said, “This side of the wall is unusually thin, so you can hear sounds from the next room very clearly.”
“Perhaps there was a flaw in the construction.”
She chuckled softly.
“Even if it’s noisy, I’d appreciate your understanding.”
With that said, Carmen left.
Damien sat on the sofa, trying to guess her intentions.
But it didn’t take him long to realize that there was no need for that.
– It’s an honor to serve you again.
Carmen’s voice came from the adjacent room.
– His Majesty Alexander.
***
Alexander.
As soon as that name was heard, Damien immediately suppressed his presence and approached the wall, leaning in to listen.
– I’m not particularly pleased.
– If you could tell me the reason, I’ll fix it immediately.
– Don’t give me excuses. It’s because your people messed up the job!
There was a sound of something breaking, indicating that Alexander had thrown something.
– I’ve warned you several times. Oliver, that idiot, should have been kept in check!
– If that’s the case… I have nothing to say.
-There shouldn’t be! There shouldn’t be! Stupid bitch. Can’t even follow orders to keep him in line.
Earlier, Carmen had mentioned that providing entertainment to Oliver was to maintain connections.
But listening to their conversation, the truth seemed different.
– Do you know what that brat did? He said he would go to tackle the Orcs! That fool who was obsessed with booze and women!
– I have nothing to say even if I had ten mouths to feed.
– Damn it! If you had done what you were asked properly, that idiot would have been kicked out a long time ago!
Audible gasps filled the air, echoing the intensity of Alexander’s struggle to rein in his anger, evident in his ragged breaths.
– We couldn’t do anything either because Damien Haksen warned us not to approach the Crown Prince.
– Oh, really… Is that brat intimidating to you but not to me?
– It’s not that…
– Isn’t it!
Thud!!!
This time, the sound of furniture falling over entirely was heard.
– We’ll do whatever it takes to make up for it.
“Who do you think will give tasks to idiots like you again? I’ll make sure you guys pay the price for this incident properly!”
– Please calm down…
– Get the fuck out of here!
The sound of something being thrown again echoed. Soon after, the sound of the door closing was heard. It seemed like Carmen had left.
‘He truly was a different person than he appeared to be.’
In front of nobles and officials, Alexander Apple played the role of a knight dedicated to the kingdom.
In reality, he was nothing more than someone who played petty tricks against his nephew.
‘There’s only one child of the king, Oliver. Does he think he’ll inherit the throne if Oliver is kicked out of the Crown Prince position?’
Damien was lost in various thoughts. It was when the door opened again.
– Your Highness, you seem very angry. It was noisy even from the corridor.
A woman’s voice.
Her tone was very stern and cold. Although her face wasn’t visible, it seemed like she would remain expressionless no matter what happened.
– Leona! Do I look like I’m not keeping my cool? All my plans have been ruined because of these idiots!
– Please calm down. It’s already happened. Getting angry won’t change anything.
The woman spoke with a stern tone. Surprisingly, Alexander began to calm down as the woman suggested.
– I think that this crisis is an opportunity. By seizing this opportunity, Your Highness could obtain what you desire even faster.
– Faster?
– After all, the original plan has failed. We aimed to ruin Oliver Apple’s reputation to bring about his downfall and kick him out of his position of crown prince… but haven’t we been without any good results for years due to the firm support of the King?
– That’s… true. Oliver, that fool, has been causing trouble for years, and my brother always seems to turn a blind eye to his misdeeds.
The woman continued.
– Since the Crown Prince volunteered to tackle the Orcs, if he fails this time… This could be the chance for him to lose the position of Crown Prince.
– Didn’t I think of that? Damien Haksen is by Oliver’s side! Isn’t that enough? Not to mention, there is knight like the Michael Ryanbloom and other knights from the side of Duke Goldpixie!
– Indeed, it’s a strong force, but you don’t need to worry. We just need to mobilize all my sisters’ abilities.
– Do you have any plans?
Damien focused more on figuring out what plan was being discussed.
– It’s time for the auction to begin. I’ll explain more later. Besides, there are items we must purchase to proceed with the plan.
As the two left the room, Damien couldn’t hear any more about the plan.
He was biting his tongue in disappointment.
Carmen entered the room where Damien was.
“Did you bring me here to listen to this?”
Damien asked Carmen. She simply smiled quietly.
“If what Alexander Apple said is true, I can’t just leave you alone. He said you deliberately interfered with the Crown Prince.”
“There’s no excuse for that. But I hope you understand this. If someone like His Highness Alexander Apple demands something, we have no choice but to comply.”
Even if Green Scent was influential, they couldn’t stand against royalty. There seemed to be no other option even for them.
“What do you want from me?”
“We just hope you’ll step back from this troublesome conflict.”
“When Alexander Apple gains power, you’ll benefit greatly too.”
At Damien’s words, one corner of her mouth twisted.
“Sir Damien, our Green Scent was formed by gathering the weak. Survival is our only purpose.”
For the largest organization in the Apple Kingdom and it had a such simple goal.
“Until now, We have witnessed many powerful figures fall. According to our experience, His Highness Alexander may not be as reliable as we think.”
It was a wise judgment. In reality, Alexander Apple hadn’t left his mark anywhere in the future.
“I guess I’m reliable, huh?”
“That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”
At Carmen’s words, Damien couldn’t help but laugh. She truly seemed like a woman who had honey on her tongue.
“Do you know who the woman with Alexander Apple was?”
“I have absolutely no information about her. I’ve tried digging a few times, but couldn’t find anything.”
If even Green Scent couldn’t find out, it was even more suspicious.
If even Green Scent didn’t know, Damien had no choice but to find out for himself.
“I need your help one more time.”
“Please tell me.”
“Since the entire theater is being used as an auction venue, do VIP customers have private rooms?”
He referred to completely separate spaces from the seats in the theater.
It was perfect for having private conversations, but the rental fee was expensive, so not just anyone could use them.
“I’d like you to place me in Alexander’s adjacent room.”
***
Carmen kept her promise to Damien.
The private rooms at the Marlin Theatre were quite spacious, with tables and chairs arranged for comfortable viewing.
Looking outside, people were filling up the seats. Since it was a secretive meeting, the attendance wasn’t too large.
– Leona! Tell me quickly. How do you plan to fail the expeditionary force?
The voices of Alexander and the woman came from the adjacent room.
To hear their conversation clearly, Damien amplified his hearing with magic.
– Just wait a moment. Since it’s a dangerous discussion, let’s prepare first.
A strange wave spread beyond the wall. At the same time, the voices of the two disappeared.
Damien’s pupils dilated upon sensing the wave.
‘…Dark magic?’
There was no mistaking it. Just now, the woman had used dark magic.
‘…And it’s not just ordinary.’
The woman had used high-level dark magic that only experienced high-level dark mages could use.
‘Is Alexander Apple in collusion with dark mages?’
In his past life, Oliver concealed everything even after overcoming the rebellion and ascending to the throne.
If Alexander was the mastermind behind the rebellion, everything fell into place.
Revelation of a royal family member’s alliance with dark mages would not only stain the Apple royal family’s reputation but also invite interference from the Church.
‘A member of the royal family in collusion with dark mages…’
With the thought of a dark mage being right next to him, his killing intent showed signs of erupting but Damien suppressed his emotions.
It wasn’t time to showng emotion. There was much to uncover.
‘Although it’s high-level dark magic… there is a way to eavesdrop.’
The woman’s dark magic created a barrier to absorb sound. Even with amplified senses, Damien couldn’t eavesdrop.
But if it was dark magic, Damien could use it too.
Damien slightly released the dark magic in his bracelet. He discreetly manifested dark magic within the woman’s unnoticed range.
‘A small hole should do.’
Using dark magic, Damien created a hole in the barrier without the woman noticing. Then, the voices of the two started coming through again.
– …It is unfortunate, for Noctis has painstakingly gathered a horde of orcs for you….
Damien clicked his tongue at the woman’s words.
‘Are they saying they intentionally caused the orc incident?’
That was possible. There was only one dark mage sect capable of such a thing.
The Monstrum Sect.
They not only controlled monsters but also mutated them to fight.
Among the sects of dark mages, it was known as the most difficult to fight.
– Darn it, we planned to get hefty support from my brother by instigating the orc incident. Who would’ve thought that idiot would intervene.
Listening to the conversation, it seemed they had planned to incite the orc incident on purpose and make it seem like Alexander was suppressing it.
‘Come to think of it, Alexander has gained a lot by resolving incidents in the kingdom.’
Perhaps all the incidents he had resolved so far were all staged.
It was to boost his reputation and expand his influence.
– I informed Noctis. I told her to increase the orc horde and mix in other large monsters.
‘Orcs and ogres? Can we fail them with that? They have at least two mid-class knights there.’
– That’s why I asked Marina to prepare poison.
It seemed there was another dark mage accompanying Alexander.
‘So, if they’re talking about poison, the other one must be from the Venom sect.’
They were a group that dealt with poisons and dabbled in alchemy as well.
‘It’s getting annoying.’
Poison was a formidable weapon. A single drop of deadly poison could kill even the strongest.
Damien had no worries about dealing with poisons, but the issue lay with the other knights.
– However, crafting a poison that works against mid-class knights is extremely difficult. That’s why I said we must participate in this auction.
– So, there’s something I need to buy for you?
– Quite a few items. It might be a considerable burden.
– You don’t need to worry about that. I brought a lot of money just in case.
Alexander reassured.
– But you must promise. I must ensure the failure of this expedition.
– You need not worry. I will ensure the success of this plan, putting Pandemonium’s name at stake.
At that moment, Damien felt as though he had been struck by an arrow to the head.
Pandemonium.
The largest, strongest, most sinister group of dark mages operating around the empire.
They were capable of annihilating entire nations if they mobilized all their forces.
Because of this immense threat, they were simultaneously being watched by both the empire and the Church.
‘How amusing. Incredibly amusing indeed.’
In his past life, Pandemonium was Dorugo’s most powerful ally.
Therefore, anger surged within him. Suppressed hatred rose its head and screamed.
He felt the urge to barge into the adjacent room and tear the woman apart.
But Damien gritted his teeth and suppressed the hatred.
Killing that Leona woman wouldn’t be difficult. But doing so might make him miss the other two dark mages.
He had to wait until he could kill all three of them.
– I’ll be back in a moment.
At that moment, a man in ceremonial robes entered Damien’s room.
“Sir, These are the items up for auction.”
After handing Damien a booklet, the man left. He unfolded the booklet and examined its contents.
“Hmm.”
Unfortunately, there were no items that caught his interest. Nevertheless, he continued to browse through the back pages just in case.
Then, one item caught his eye.
‘Mana cultivation and Related Techniques. About 50% burnt by fire?’
He was always searching for new mana cultivation techniques.
The starting bid was unusually low, probably due to the damage caused by the fire.
‘Should I purchase it?’
It was regrettable that it had been damaged, but with Damien’s experience and knowledge, he could restore it.
‘Is there anything else?’
As he flipped through a few more pages, another unusual item caught his attention.
‘Unknown item. Grants immunity to cold when carried, also blocks frost-type magic?’
As Damien read the description, he exclaimed in surprise.
‘…The Heart of a Spirit?’
If his guess was correct, it could be considered a treasure.
The Heart of a Spirit was not widely known compared to its value, so it could be acquired cheaply.
– Your Majesty, please take a look here. The Heart of a Spirit is being auctioned.
But Damien wasn’t the only one who recognized the Heart of a Spirit.
The dark mage of Pandemonium also recognized it.
– We must acquire this. It’s not an item easily obtained.
– Understood. Let’s also purchase this.
– We appreciate Your Majesty’s discretion.
Damien clenched his teeth. It wasn’t a very favorable situation.
Although he was quite wealthy himself, his opponents were royalty.
There was no guarantee he could win a financial battle against them.
– Are there any other items we need?
– We also need a bundle of Moonflower, Basilisk’s Eye, Mandragora Powder, Heart of the Seven-Star Sage, and a Dried Fruit of the Withered Tree.
– With those items, we can create a poison capable of killing mid-class knights, right?
While listening to their conversation, an idea occurred to Damien.
The Heart of a spirit was placed towards the back, while the items mentioned by the woman were placed in the front.
Anyone could participate in the auction and bid on the items. And Damien knew about the items they needed.
‘Shall I stir up some trouble?’
***
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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
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