Chapter 35

Moving people is surprisingly easy.

A suitable atmosphere and stirring words.

And clear signs of danger visible to the naked eye.

When these elements combine, the chaos they create possesses the power to paralyze individual rationality in an instant, transforming it into a massive flow that moves hundreds and thousands of people.

My subordinates, strategically placed in the underground waterways of the Central Hall where the guards were lax, had set up barrels of gunpowder all around the area and detonated them simultaneously at the appointed time.

However, the objective of this action was far from just blowing up the Central Hall.

This place, reinforced by magic, couldn’t be easily destroyed with such a level of firepower.

In fact, the pillars that were hit only received minor scratches—not destruction.

Yet, even this level of force was enough to cause vibrations throughout the entire Central Hall where the auction was taking place, and that intense tremor successfully created great confusion among the people inside and outside the hall.

Originally, my plan was to raid the auction house in the ensuing chaos and seize the ‘item’ I targeted.

However, the assistance from Auriel, added unexpectedly, reinforced this pre-existing plan.

As a performer, Auriel could freely come and go in the Central Hall.

Some of my subordinates managed to disguise themselves as her church officials, who I had wiped out the day before, and infiltrated deep into the interior of the hall without any obstruction, where another plan was set in motion.

At the moment when the scheduled shock occurred, we used a hastily prepared spell scroll containing the fire-spell to make it look like a fire broke out in the auction.

Moreover, the cries from my subordinates announcing a fire were enough to turn the already chaotic auction house upside down.

No matter how important the auction items were, the fundamental instinct for survival easily trampled over such things.

As a result, the auction house that had just been filled with people was now almost empty.

Though I could see a few people lying on the ground or sitting dazedly amid the still-thick smoke, this was no longer a major problem.

With even the navy guards having vanished, I began to move to retrieve the item I targeted.

At that moment.

“… How amusing. Was this… your doing, nobleman?”

“…”

A voice came from right beside me.

However, I was not surprised by this.

I had already anticipated it.

Amid the turmoil surrounding us, this person was calmly holding their ground…

It was the woman wearing the White Crow Mask, who had just competed with me a moment ago.

“Why do you think so? Do you have any evidence?”

“None. It’s just that… while everyone else is panicking, you remain overly calm.”

As she spoke, crimson magical power oozed from her body.

I frowned slightly at the tingling sensation I felt.

‘This woman… is strong.’

The distinct sensation I felt wasn’t from a special magic, yet the strength that could influence someone like me indicated that this person was not ordinary.

At least level 10…

Perhaps even more.

In response to this, I began to channel my magical power toward her as well.

My golden magical power pushed back against the crimson energy enveloping us.

Then.

“!…”

She flinched and took a small step back.

I spoke coldly to the woman, who seemed a little taken aback by this unexpected turn of events.

“Isn’t that the same for you? You appear to be the culprit behind this incident from my perspective.”

“…”

My warning hung heavily in the air.

She remained silent for a moment, quietly gazing at me.

And…

“…Heh, well, I suppose that’s one way to look at it. Fine. The details aren’t that important to me anyway.”

With that, she withdrew her magical power.

As she eased her hostility, I also withdrew my power and looked at her.

The Crow Mask prevented us from seeing each other’s faces clearly.

However, more importantly, I sensed her strength.

There was no need to engage in a meaningless fight now that I realized she was a formidable opponent.

And above all.

At this moment, we had other priorities.

“Then… let’s hurry. We need to collect the item, don’t we?”

Calmly stepping forward, the woman drew the sword hanging at her waist and walked past me toward the stage where the auction had been held…

I followed her, moving alongside her for now.

I passed through the thick smoke and arrived at the stage.

Carrying the heavily rattling box, I headed toward the lower part of the stage.

“Is that really enough? There are still plenty of valuable items inside.”

She asked in a calm voice, pointing toward the back of the stage.

Surely, there were indeed many enticing items stacked there that hadn’t been auctioned off yet.

However…

“I don’t need anything else. You can take whatever you want.”

“Won’t you regret it? Considering this rare opportunity, if you don’t exploit greed now, when will you?”

“I don’t like being overly greedy. The goal is in hand, so take care of the rest.”

It was a statement I wouldn’t normally make, but it was true in this case.

There was no need to say it, but…

Anyway, after finishing that statement, I stepped down from the platform without any lingering attachment, while the White Crow Woman shrugged lightly and proceeded to where the auction items were stored.

Just as I was about to escape this place after ending this short but notable meeting…

“Ugh…”

“E–Elkana… are you okay?”

“Ugh… yeah. I’m fine. It’s nothing to worry about.”

“…?”

I heard a familiar voice as I moved through the smoke.

Turning my head toward the sound, I found…

“You guys… what are you doing here?”

“…Huh?”

“Ah… Father?”

The familiar figures began to materialize in my view.

Ambasha, somehow dressed in a navy uniform, and Elkana, limping with an injury to her leg.

Watching them, one with a large bag on one shoulder, I was filled with confusion and a lightly absurd feeling.

*

The sudden commotion had thrust everyone into chaos.

Within that chaos, Achroiel began to regroup her subordinates and get to work.

“Please come this way! Kindly move swiftly so as not to disturb those coming from behind!”

“Those injured should come this way. We’ll provide first aid.”

People were spilling out as if they were forcefully expelling something they had ingested the night before due to a hangover.

As Achroiel and the navy worked hard to guide the injured, ensuring no further chaos ensued, they managed to assist a significant number of victims.

“Phew…”

“It’s a relief; it seems like no one has sustained serious injuries or issues.”

Though there were several injured, fortunately, there still were no reported deaths, and according to news just in, the situation in the storage area had also stabilized.

Although the attackers had escaped quickly and could not be caught, they managed to prevent further harm.

However…

“It’s not the time to relax. We have no idea who did this or why.”

Even as things were roughly being sorted out, Achroiel’s expression remained icy.

“That is true, but…”

“Don’t let your guard down; while the situation here seems to be sorted, it’s time to get serious about figuring out what’s happening.”

“Understood.”

“And…”

Achroiel bit her lip slightly as if about to say something.

It was about the two individuals, Elkana and Ambasha, who had yet to show themselves despite the considerable time that had passed.

Pain in her heart arose from the careless suspicion she had felt, and in the confusion, the two individuals remained elusive.

With a sense of mounting self-loathing, Achroiel, now utilizing her available resources, immediately ordered her subordinates.

“Leave only the minimum number of personnel needed here and follow me. I need to go in and assess the situation.”

“Yes, Admiral.”

The official purpose was to assess the situation and rescue any remaining survivors.

However, at this moment, Achroiel was solely focused on Elkana and Ambasha.

‘If they haven’t shown up yet, they must still be inside… perhaps they’re seriously injured, waiting for help…’

Hoping for their safety, Achroiel approached the Central Hall that was still billowing smoke.

And then.

– Whoosh

Achroiel gathered her magical power at her fingertips and unleashed it.

Simultaneously, winds reminiscent of a whirlpool began to stir around her, and the smoke that had been obscuring her vision quickly dispersed.

“I’m making my move.”

“Understood.”

With visibility regained, Achroiel and the navy moved swiftly inside.

As they began to collect the still-displaced individuals who hadn’t had time to evacuate, they quickly reached the auction house.

‘Even after coming this far, they’re still not in sight… where could they be…?’

An uneasy feeling washed over her.

In the midst of it, Achroiel increased the output of her magical power even further, rapidly scattering the smoke that filled the auction house.

Then…

“…Huh?”

“!”

In the next moment, Achroiel’s face froze.

As the smoke cleared, a scene began to appear before her eyes.

It was…

Elkana, collapsed on the ground, bleeding.

And standing in front of her was…

An unknown Plague Doctor, carrying a bag filled with auction items over one shoulder and Ambasha, who lay collapsed on the other.