Hmm...
So this is the auction that I’m meant to take down.
There’s not many people going around the pce, just to be safe though, I’m trying to keep track of all the faces I see, perhaps for normal people, trying to memorize everyone would be difficult but for me, I can keep thousands of individuals remembered if need be, I did so back when I was at war, this much shouldn’t pose a problem.
Still, I doubt the ones going out on the streets are part of the sve auction staff or customers, they’re probably just civilians, once again though, better safe than sorry, I promised Marisa to take care of this pce, so I’ll do just that.
“Here”
Inauspicious guards in the entrance, they look at my letter and let me enter without a hitch.
I really will never understand some people, looking around everyone seems to be unaware of who I really am, although to be fair I am containing myself to be as bnd as possible, regardless do they not fear the consequences of the w?
I’m pretty sure svery it’s illegal as that butler mentioned, how can so many people be participating in an illicit activity without batting an eye.
Plus what is this pce anyways? There’s a lot of people coming and going to different parts of this building, is it perhaps that they’re not all culprits, but the building it’s used for more than just sve auctions?
That wouldn’t make sense, if that were the case I wouldn’t have the need of using invitations, just what kind of pce is this?
“Welcome dear customer! I don’t recognize you Ma’am, new around here perhaps? Have some chips courtesy of the house”
Weird attendant didn’t even let me speak and-
Wait, chips?
Oh no...
All around there’s tables with people surrounding them, different sorts of tables around. This pce it’s high quality since instead of being torch lit, the room it’s illuminated with magic mps. It's honestly quite impressive but...
“S-say, what is this pce supposed to be?”
“Oh? This is a Casino! Has Ma’am never heard of them before?”
“I-I think I’ve heard of it”
“Great, If you’d allow me, I recommend the poker tables, they’re always fun to begin with!”
No! No! No! I shouldn’t py card games! I’m here because Marisa tasked me with an important mission. She reminds me so much of Hestia I can’t help but smile when I think about it.
No! Even Hestia would be mad if I started gambling right now.
“I’d rather steer clear of card games…”
“Then how about this one, The game is pretty simple, we spin the roulette and you have to say if the ball is gonna nd in bck or red, or odd or even number, if you’re feeling adventurous, choose an individual number and get bigger rewards”
I shouldn’t bet! I’m terrible at bets! I always lose! It’s...
Hmm...
Well, Marisa told me to wait for the signal, and this table it’s close to a window here on the second floor. I should be able to see Heather’s signal when it shows up. Plus the nice attendant gave me some chips as courtesy, it would be rude to not use them.
Looking at them they have numbers written down on them, I’m guessing local currency.
“200 on red!”
I pced my chip in the weird marked table and when the roulette stopped spinning, it nded in a red number.
“Congrats, see it wasn’t that difficult, there’s more options with higher payouts, feel free to try!”
“Will do~”
This is surprisingly fun!
—————————————————————————————————————————
So this is the pce, a rather small building...
I can’t believe myself, countless times have we marched through this pce unaware of the true nature behind the run down walls. And not once have we done anything about it, granted the town lord was involved in the disgusting actions of this pce, but that’s not an excuse, I have truly failed as a knight...
With my heart pounding so hard I felt it was gonna come out of my chest, I handed the letter to the receptionist, he very kindly let me inside. Still, I can’t let my guard down, looking at the pocket clock that Marisa lent me, I see that I’m just in time for the auction. Honestly, where did Marisa even get a clock? Pretty sure she’s ransacking the pace like she owns the pce, although if you ask her, she’s gonna say she actually do owns the pce, frankly at this point I can get behind the idea of her actually running the town, the piggy it’s, I hate him from the bottom of my heart!
There were many seats all around the main stage, wasn’t this auction supposed to start right now? I don’t think they have started yet, looking at the clock once again, it’s on point for the auction to start.
Hmm... I shouldn’t look so much at the clock, even so, 15 minutes, I have to endure this farce for 15 minutes, trying to be as discreet as possible.
“I can’t believe my eyes! Is that you, Heather, ex-captain of the pace guards!?”
Dammit! I didn’t expect for my cover to be blown in the first 5 seconds! Then again everyone in town knows me already, and the missing limbs aren’t helping...
“Y-yeah...”
I have to look sharp, if I fail here my sister will end up paying the price! As well as the rest of the sves in this pce.
“What is someone as righteous as you doing in a pce like this?”
“Well, it’s none of your business, but if you must know, and as you can see, I can’t precisely do a lot of things I used to do, I’m here to get a sve to help me with the house chores”
Grr! I’m gonna hit myself with a whip when all of this is over! It’s just a ruse! Lies to not risk the operation! Don’t let it get to your head!
“Ha! I see, that does make sense”
It helps the fact that this is the cheapest sve auction of the three, so this is the one I’m gonna stand out the least as I’m not a noble, thank god for Marisa’s foresight!
On that note, what does this guy think he is, acting all high and mighty! Is he a noble or something? I don’t even recognize him, he’s probably a baron maybe? From another town? I want to break his nose...
“Ladies and gentleman, please take your sits, the auction will begin in just a moment”
I was handed a paddle with the number 13 on it by an attendant going around our seats, it seems this is how I’m gonna participate in the auction, that is if I’m in the need to do it to begin with, personally, I want to puke, the idea of participating in a sve auction makes my stomach churn, really, looking around, I could see nothing but trash people, giddy and rexed, ruining lives for fun!
“First up, and to warm this auction, let’s start with a strong first purchase! She’s only 8 years old, I’m sure everyone is gonna have fun with her if you buy her”
“MOMMY!!”
Tch... I expected it to be uncomfortable, but she’s just a child! The idea that it could be my sister made me feel incredibly anxious, but when they took the bag covering her head, she was a child I never saw in my life, this however didn’t ease my heart in the slightest...
“We’ll start the bidding with 2,000!”
2,000 nars! That’s all you think ruining a child’s life is worth!? Looking around again, I expected that only a few of the disgusting nobles would be the ones to eye her up, but to my surprise everyone in the room was checking her out...
“Number 5!”
“2,200”
“Number 24!”
“3,000”
“Number 49!”
“4,000”
Ugh... I hate how they keep bidding for her, I’m sure she’s been separated from her family by force! And these scum of people are just trying to buy her like a farm animal!
Nn... deep breaths, the auction took a bit to begin, it’s only for 15 minutes, in fact this is beneficial, the more they stall each other bidding, the less people are gonna have to be humiliated in public like this.
“WAAAHH!”
The poor girl ran away, or at least tried to, but the auction guy pulled the chain on her neck, making her fall to the ground, her loud cries echoing around the room.
“Oi! Bitch! Who told you you could just run away huh!?”
“I'M SORRY!”
*smack*
“I'M SORRY!”
The auction guy continued to beat her with his cane, all the while the poor girl rolled in a ball on the floor.
“Ah! I’m sorry dear customers, as you can see, she stills need a bit of-“
*smack*
“Discipline!”
The poor girl is id motionless on the floor, a small puddle of blood forming under her. I didn’t realize it since my eyes couldn’t turn away from the gruesome scene, but the metallic taste of blood came from my mouth for a second. It seems I was grinding my teeth a bit too aggressively, I didn’t even notice.
“Let's continue the auction then”
“Number 14!”
“20,000”
I looked at the guy next to me, the same one that questioned me about being here is now buying the girl for an outrageous amount of money.
“Milord”
The guy on the chair opposite of mine next to him interrupted him after making the bid.
“Yes?”
“Do you really need to pay so much for a girl like her? She doesn’t look particurly useful”
“Of course, did you not hear her screams? They were music to my ears”
“Do we have another bidder? Number 14 is keeping her in 3”
“Ah, can’t wait to hear her scream like that again”
“20,000! On the count of 2, did I hear someone say 21,000?”
“how many times can I break her fingers I wonder”
“No one will raise their hand? Sold to 14 in 1!”
For the love of god Heather! Stay your hand and steel your resolve! It’s just for a little while!
“Aaaaaaaaaand S- oh wait 13!”
“25,000”
Ah what am I doing!?
I’m supposed to not make any ruckus! To keep a low profile!
“Interesting choice, but I don’t think she can help you that much with house chores”
Why do you care about it!? Honestly even if what I said before was true she would be a thousand times better than if she went with you!
“Number 14!”
“30,000”
“I imagine so, but”
“Number 13!”
“32,000”
“I’m sure she’ll be fun to have around”
What’s with that!? I just said the first thing that came to my mind!
Ah! I already blew my cover, so all I can do is start to stall! If I keep this going back and forth bidding, the pace knights will come here before any other girl is sold!
“Number 14!”
“33,000”
“Well, I have to say I’m surprised, I never expected for the legendary knight to be such a kinky one”
“Number 13!”
“32,500”
“You’d be surprised”
For some reason Marisa’s face came to my mind, but that’s not important for now.
“Number 14!”
“35,000”
“It seems to me you’re hitting the end of you spending money”
“Number 13!”
“36,000”
“What would you know?”
For much that I want to punch this guy! I really have to hold out! If Celestial or Marisa can come help me out the better!
—————————————————————————————————————————
“The next girl is quite a cutie wouldn’t you agree, let’s start with a small price of-“
“20,000 on 30! Come on!”
“26, sorry ma’am, the house wins again”
Grr... dammit! I’m gonna have to bet even more to win the money I lost back and-
“Ah, out of chips again”
No problem I’ll just go to the counter to exchange for more, good thing I keep rge amounts of money from different countries in case of emergencies, honestly I’ve never been a fond of economics, Hestia and Liam were the one that knew about those sort of things, as for me, I just hoard things and just sell them to people, they pay well for certain metals and other stuff, even if they’re becoming harder to find.
...
...
My savings are empty...
I can’t believe I spent all the local currency I have...
“Hey out of cash, do you accept other valuables for trade?”
“Hmm, that would be difficult, more so since we’re just about closing”
“Oh really, that’s a shame, guess I’ll have to take my leave for the day then”
“Oh, it’s fine, thank you so much for your patronage! feel free to come back anytime”
“Thanks! The games were great I’m sure to come back one day”
Well, that's that, I should head back and-
Wait, why did I come here again? Oh crap!
“And with that dies and gentleman, the auction for today is over, see you all next week”
End? But it hasn’t even begun, I’ve been pying for only 5 minutes, look, my clock says...
It says Marisa is gonna kill me! I looked outside the window and I saw a faint smoke signal coming from near the guild, how long has that been going on!
Ah! Not good, not good! I remember the people who were here! I do it’s, hmm...
Why do humans all look so simir!?
“Ok! Everyone stop where you are!”
I quickly sealed the exit with an ice barrier, and told everyone to stay put!
“H-hey what’s the deal!?”
“You all stay in this pce, take a step outside and I’ll kill you!”
“Miss, you better stop what you’re doing!”
Two guards came to point at me with spears, look, maybe you’re just doing your job, please just move aside.
“Don’t”
I then headed outside, how am I gonna find everyone now, I don’t have the stupid senses of Maldi or Marisa, still I know of one thing I can do and-
“Hey what did I say about trying to go out! I will remove your head from your shoulders!”
Seriously some people can’t follow orders, do they not know that they’re outmatched?
“Ah, actually, just to be safe!”
Spells! Good thing I listened to Hestia’s insistence on learning complex magic, they have helped me countless times! I remember there was a sleeping spell...
“If memory serves me right, hmm, something like this?”
Well...
More of a passing out spell than a sleeping one, it works though, although I kinda affected a couple of blocks apart from this auction house, well that just makes things easier.
Ok so, mana! Every living creature always leaves traces of them when going around, shame some of them are small, god I hope there wasn’t any dwarf in the auction, they barely have any mana!
Ok, close your eyes and focus Celestial, every second that passes would make it harder to locate them, I’m sure I’ll find everyone involved in the auction eventually...
Ok that’s quite a few people, hmm, what the? That’s way more people than I remember seeing when I entered, hmm...
Well, no point in questioning it, let me bring everyone here, and then determine if they’re sves or evil people, oh how I hate interrogations…
—————————————————————————————————————————
“THIS IS THE PALACE KNIGHTS! IN THE NAME OF THE TOWN LORD, FREEZE IN PLACE!”
“Y-you!”
I couldn’t help but smile, the look of anger from the guy next to me was priceless, it made everything I went through almost worth it. Regardless I went back to a neutral face, I don’t remember being so smug like this, maybe Marisa it’s rubbing off on me or something.
“How dare you!”
“Wow!”
I though weapons weren’t allowed in here, where did he pull a knife?, well it’s no problem at all, I just intercepted the bde with the number paddle, the knife went straight through it, but it got stuck, so I simply rotated my wrist and arm, making him lose the grip of the knife, now in my possession stuck to the paddle, the panic ensued in the auction as the armed knights entered the pce, but seeing the amount of guards in here makes me believe the rest are taking the sves away, this was the priority anyways.
“When lord Gwendal hears about this!”
“Oh don’t worry, the piggy is no longer in charge anyways”
“What!?”
“There’s a new jurisdiction”
I can’t believe I’m gonna say this, but I felt proud of serving the pace knights again, either way I can’t sck here! I got up and helped the knights in subjugating the corrupt nobles in this pce.
It’s a bit hard with one arm and equipped with just a wooden paddle, but the pace knights took care of the rebelling security from the auction house, and the nobles that are resisting arrest have never been in a fight before it seems, so beating them with a wooden paddle wasn’t as hard as you would’ve imagined.
“KNIGHTS! FEEL FREE TO KILL ANYONE WHO IS RESISTING ARREST!”
It’s obvious that the knights were hesitating to kill influential people, but I needed to be firm, this made the knights gain renewed vigor, and the nobles just stopped in their tracks after my words.
We haven’t done this sort of mass arresting and saving before but it was going surprisingly well, the knights are well coordinated and doing their job properly.
“Vice captain Doe!”
“Ah! Captain Heather, good work in there”
“How’s the logistics? Do we have a way to move the arrested nobles?”
“Of course! We have arranged prison carts for the, well, prisoners”
“That’s great news, and the smoke signal?”
“Deployed already and a bit away from this pce to not raise the suspicions of the other auction houses!”
“Wonderful! And what about the sves?”
“We found the cells they were being kept in, a total of around 200 sves are currently awaiting with a portion of the knights! We’ll release them once we get information from them”
“That’s...”
I couldn’t help but worry about them, not only that but, I worry about my sister.
“Let me have a talk with them first”
“Of course captain! Oh before I forget! Here you go captain”
“This is a sword? Why?”
“It’s dangerous to be unarmed, it’s great to have you back captain”
Captain huh...
After pulling the sword from the scabbard with the help of Doe, I couldn’t help but look at my reflection in the edge of the bde...
“Doe! I’m not your captain anymore”
“E-excuse me?”
“I helped out this time for being something extraordinary, also because I was involved personally, but I can’t be the captain of the pace knights, not anymore at least”
“But captain! I don’t think anyone thinks you’re less capable than you were before!”
“Even still, I can’t hinder you guys, so I only have a petition”
“Anything you say captain!”
“I’m telling you I’m not the captain!”
Sigh... he’s so dense, but I can’t feel anything but respect for his sense of duty. Doe was always a great vice captain to the knights, and I doubt the piggy lord or Marisa care too much about the pace knights ranks.
“I leave the knights in your capable hands, captain Doe”
“C-captain!?”
Perhaps I’m overstepping my duties, I’m not even part of the knights anymore, still, it feels like the right thing to do. I just gave him a smile and a pat on the shoulder, and continued my ways to the sves.
...
...
Ah, no good! I can’t see my sister anywhere!
“Is this all of them?”
“Yes ma’am! We closed all possible exits as well, we doubt anyone would have escaped with more victims”
“I see, thank the lord”
“We’re getting the things ready to transport them to the pace as well, in separate carts from the suspects as well”
“Good, we should try to secure their safety before letting them go on their own”
Marisa never said anything about what to do with the sves, just letting them all go in their way seems like a bad idea, at least we should get information from them.
Well, all things considered, it all went retively ok but, I’m still really worried about Ellie, I’m just gonna have to believe in Celestial and Marisa for now...
—————————————————————————————————————————
Ugh, I had to go to different people’s homes and pull people out and bring them to the auction house, honestly, this was a massive pain, but I think I got everyone and then some, there were some sves that definitely didn’t look like they were just bought, but whatever, no one has woken up yet, so I should really get them awake, umm, dispel for the sleeping spell, does it even exist? Ah, dammit.
“Wake up!”
Nope, yelling won’t work, they should all just be asleep, a little life force to everyone and dropping cold water on top of them should do the trick!
...
...
Kinda, almost everyone it’s awake, there’s still a couple of sleeping stragglers.
“Ok everyone, I’m sure you all know who I am”
I really didn’t want to get to this, but I already wasted enough time. I separated the sves from the culprits, mostly, I think, honestly I just separated the fancy dressed people from the ones wearing rags and colrs around their necks.
“All of you who are innocent civilians that doesn’t know what’s happening, please raise your hand”
And like that I let all the people who raised their hands from the poorly dressed group to leave the now open exit.
“Haa!”
“Please don’t try anything stupid”
Well, too te, the guard who attacked me is now a fine paste on the ground, what an unsightly stain, I don’t have time to deal with you guys' antics.
“Hmm, actually, the kids please separate from the rest of the people please”
Seriously? Now isn’t the time to be scared, I’m not scary I don’t think! Sigh, honestly after what they went through I can’t bme them for being paralyzed with fear.
“Sorry, umm, is anyone here Heather’s sister?”
No answer either or-
“I-I am!”
“You’re not the one I’m looking for”
She’s an adult to begin with, I doubt that she is, or maybe she’s not lying, and just meant another person named Heather. I really shouldn’t do this half heartedly, it’s important for Marisa and Heather after all.
Hmm, the smoke signal has all but died down, they must’ve started the raid a while ago.
“You all don’t move”
After freezing everyone’s legs in pce, I quickly flew to the pace and saw the knights getting people down from carts, they seemed to be sves and other people, ok they must be done I guess.
“I’m back”
It took me literally five seconds and they thought they could get away, how naive some people are.
“Ok, I’m taking all of you to the pace, please don’t try anything too crazy”
It might have taken me that much longer thanks to my blunder, but I’d like to believe it worked out in the end, I couldn’t find any corpses either, sure some sves might have been roughed up a little but, it was inevitable even if I didn’t got distracted, couldn’t act until the smoke signal after all, for now let’s head back to the pace, it seems the knight’s sister wasn’t any of the people gathered here today, hopefully Heather or Marisa had better luck than me.
Joanne_carper
