Chapter 60
Gasps of awe escaped the customers as they saw the siblings.
"Oh, what is this? I thought they weren't selling slaves today!"
"They usually sell them early, but suddenly they're bringing them out at the very end?"
"Yes, it wouldn't feel right without this!"
"But it looks like only two this time?"
"And they seem to be siblings."
The two, dragged in, were disheveled, but their eyes still held a spark of spirit.
The white-masked figure pulled the chains of the restraints around their necks, drawing them to the center.
"Now, today, some of you may be disappointed that we've suddenly brought out the slaves last, and there are only two! But there's a good reason for this!"
As the murmuring subsided at the white-masked figure's words, he approached the siblings and continued, "Because these siblings are..."
And at that moment.
"Ice Needle!"
The moment the blue-haired girl thought the white-masked figure was close enough, she stretched out her hand towards his neck and chanted.
However.
Simultaneously with the chant, the restraints activated, and strength drained from the girl's body, causing her pupils to waver.
And the ice needle, which had almost formed at her fingertip, merely became a single drop of water that plopped onto the ground.
"Sister!"
Her younger brother quickly supported his sister, who had nearly collapsed.
The white-masked figure, unfazed and as if he had been waiting for this, stretched out his arm towards the bidding area and shouted,
"Because they are mages!"
Cheers erupted from the bidding area.
"Wow, they captured mages?"
"Insane! But if they're from a noble family, can they handle it?"
"They would have taken care of that themselves."
"If you keep them locked up without getting caught, they'll never be found."
Slavery was forbidden in the Flondia Empire.
However, there were still humans who sought to own and exploit others, and typically, the powerless, those without connections or leading nomadic lives, became their targets.
But even those who grew bored of this sought stronger stimulation, which was the desire to possess knights or mages.
Individuals with strong spirits, who decided from a very young age to pursue a single path and diligently trained towards it.
Those who possessed honor that could not be bought with money.
Objects of respect and envy.
The very act of owning them was, for these people, ecstasy and the realization of their desires.
Furthermore, unlike slaves who would quickly lose hope and their eyes would dull with a little torment, these individuals offered fresh stimulation every time.
Of course, even the strongest spirit would eventually break, but even that provided excellent entertainment for them.
"Listening to her chant just now, it seemed like ice-elemental magic."
"If it's ice-elemental... There aren't many established noble families with ice mages, so the possibility of repercussions is low, no matter where they're from."
"Hey, tell us properly. Which family are they from? Are they direct descendants, or entry-level disciples? They couldn't possibly be direct descendants..."
But the white-masked figure immediately replied,
"Surprisingly, they are direct disciples. They are direct descendants of the Marceline clan, located on the outskirts of the eastern empire. Their names are..."
"...My name is Liquita Marceline. My brother is Ellard Marceline."
Liquita, supported by Ellard, glared at the black-masked figures in the bidding area.
Her gaze was as if she intended to remember every single eye and exact revenge.
"Your heinous deeds will surely..."
Smack!
"Oh dear, my apologies. I accidentally laid a hand on a clean item."
"Sister, Sister!"
"Gag them."
"Yes, sir."
The guards gagged the two.
The white-masked figure spoke again in a cheerful voice, "Since they've introduced themselves, shall we officially begin the bidding? First, Liquita Marceline here. The starting bid is... 500 gold!"
"Bid!"
"I'll bid 600 gold."
More expensive than any item that had appeared so far, yet no one thought it was too expensive.
They wanted to acquire a mage, even if it meant spending everything they had.
"Disgusting bastards. Now they're even kidnapping and selling mages."
An expletive escaped Eisel's lips.
He wanted to rush out and rescue them immediately, but realistically, there was nothing he could do in that situation.
"Haa... Kain. Let's track them down later, after we leave. And when the restraint timer runs out, we'll try to rescue them."
"..."
"I know it's unpleasant to watch, but we have no choice but to observe for now. You understand, right?"
Eisel let out a deep sigh.
Even as he did, Liquita Marceline's bid continued to climb.
"780 gold! Any more bids?"
"Ugh... I should have brought more money."
"I shouldn't have bought that earlier..."
An astonishing sum, yet people lamented not having more money.
"If there are no further bids, it's sold for 780 gold! Congratulations! And now, moving on to Ellard Marceline. Likewise, the starting bid is 500 gold!"
"I bid 700 gold right away."
"Bid!"
Following Liquita, the auction for Ellard Marceline promptly began.
"Hah... And if they're separated, it means we'll have to split up for the pursuit. This has gotten complicated."
Eisel reached for his forehead but, realizing he was wearing his mask, sighed again.
"860 gold! If there are no further bids, it's sold!"
The price soared to the very end, fueled by the thought of it being the last chance, and ultimately, Ellard was sold for 860 gold.
"Alright, alright! For those who didn't win a bid, please don't be too disappointed. We still have a surprise item left!"
"Oh, now that you mention it..."
"A surprise item, what could it be?"
The white-masked figure, just like before, surveyed the bidding area, then nodded.
"Before revealing the surprise item, I must first explain the circumstances of how this item came to be here."
The white-masked figure walked across the empty auction platform, speaking.
"I received the news. Silver Fang, who has been a consistent patron of our black market, was annihilated just yesterday, I hear. They were scheduled to participate today, but unfortunately, a tragedy occurred, and they couldn't make it."
The moment the words Silver Fang left the white-masked figure's lips, Eisel's face hardened.
"But curiously, the number of guests we expected to attend today perfectly matches, don't you think? My goodness, could it be the ghost of the unjustly deceased Silver Fang is among us? Or..."
The white-masked figure spread his arms wide.
"Could there be little rats secretly hidden among us?"
At this, the customers murmured and looked at each other.
"Don't worry, everyone. Please calm down and take out the small, round containers we handed out when you entered, and open them, if you please?"
"Oh, that thing?"
"Where did I put it?"
As the black-masked figures reached into their pockets for the containers, Eisel, too, tried to mimic their actions and whispered to Kain.
"Kain, we've been found out. They don't usually count every participant, so it seems they prepared for this in advance. Try to act like you have something for now? We need to find a chance to escape... Kain?"
But Kain didn't even pretend to reach into his pocket, remaining seated and still.
"Hahahaha, Young Master! Did you receive it and then lose it? Just a moment, please. I'll help you find it..."
Eisel tried to buy some time, shouting and attempting to move.
"It's a key?"
"There's a key inside."
"That's right. That key can unlock your restraints. You may now remove your restraints."
At the white-masked figure's words, Eisel, too, had no choice but to stop dead in his tracks.
"They... modified the restraints?"
The black market typically uses restraints that have no key for safety, or ones that cannot be opened for a certain period, even if they do have a key.
But this time, they had modified them to be instantly unlockable with a key to catch intruders, and had even distributed those very keys to everyone.
"But this means the organizers won't be able to control things..."
If the escorts here started fighting to claim what they wanted...
Clank.
"…!"
At that moment, Eisel saw Sir Zechrom, the 6-star mercenary he'd noticed earlier, expertly unlocking his restraints first.
As if he had known this would happen all along.
"Hahahaha! What you're thinking is probably correct. He's a 6-star mercenary we specially hired today to quickly quell any disturbances that might arise among the guests."
The white-masked figure was now looking directly at Kain and Eisel.
No, all the black-masked figures' gazes were now fixed on them.
"...Why go to such lengths? We're already wearing restraints..."
"Because you might have also modified yours to open with a key and brought them. But it seems you haven't. Or rather, you can't undo them, seeing as you still haven't."
"..."
"The skill with which Silver Fang was massacred was apparently extraordinary. So we wanted to capture you more certainly, more safely. Because you are the surprise item that will make the very end truly shine!"
Clap, clap, clap.
The white-masked figure applauded.
Eisel looked at Kain.
Kain was still frozen in his seat.
'This is my fault.'
No matter how excellent Kain's magical abilities were for a 3rd Circle mage, or that he could use body enhancement and mana enchantment, or his reaction speed, his judgment in situations, and...
No matter how perfect he was in every way, ultimately, he was still just a sixteen-year-old boy.
'He trusted me enough to wear restraints and infiltrate the black market, only to fall into a trap and be unable to do anything, about to be sold. It's only natural for him to freeze up.'
It was already remarkable that he wasn't grabbing Eisel by the collar, crying and clinging to him, blaming him and demanding responsibility.
'I need to get him out of here, no matter what.'
-If you go all the way up through those ceiling gaps, you'll reach the mine entrance.
-It'll be useful for escaping.
Even with the restraints, he might not be able to use magic properly, but it was worth trying.
If he could swiftly pick up Kain and somehow escape to that entrance while the opponent was still off guard...
"It's better this way."
"Huh?"
Kain spoke then.
His voice was surprisingly calm.
Kain stood up and took off his black mask himself.
Silky white hair cascaded down.
His red eyes, like a deep sunset, and his porcelain-white skin were revealed.
Small screams erupted among the black-masked figures who saw Kain's bare face.
"Such a handsome boy...!"
Lady Rosanne pointed at Kain's face and exclaimed,
"I, I'll buy him! I'll empty all my remaining money, no, I'll cancel everything I've bought if I have to!"
At that, the white-masked figure burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! While we generally don't allow refunds, we will consider it based on the bid amount. So..."
The white-masked figure spoke to Kain and Eisel.
"Would you prefer to come up to the auction platform yourselves? Or should we proceed with the auction with you standing there? We'll let you have your way."
After confirming that Kain and Eisel couldn't remove their restraints, the white-masked figure's demeanor became even more relaxed.
Even if, by some chance, their restraints came off, they couldn't win or escape against all the escorts and guards present, including a 6-star mercenary.
"Hey, are you crazy? Exposing your face..."
"Eisel."
Kain called Eisel's name.
"I was wondering what to do since you were watching, but it seems I don't need to anymore."
"What do you mean by that..."
Kain turned his head and looked directly into Eisel's eyes.
"Before we came in, you said you'd grant me one wish."
And then he said,
"Leave this place. Right now."
