"Oh John, it's you! Good to see you after so long! I heard that you have become a captain recently, from the boss... Are these your men?"
"Captain Donn, likewise it's good to see you ey! No, they are my soldiers."
"Well John, give this to your grandfather, the best kind of drink if you know what I mean, hehe! Straight from Flowing Rivers." Captain Donn remarked and took out a bottle.
While taking it out of his coat, Fallace noticed him being strapped with firearms. Knowing what they look like as he had been chased by a Justizia captain in the past, holding one. Luckily, Fallace was never fired towards...
The group then sat down after going through chairs and waited for the first item to be revealed. A man of round stature went up on the stage with an item possessing some kind of round bulging tip that increased the sound of his speech. The bidding started with monster organs as announced by the man on the stage.
Melian told everyone that creating powerful potions that give resistance or immunity to the elements was possible with dragon organs. Dragons are also extremely rare in this realm since their native realm is Nebisa, the world above. Furthermore, killing a dragon is even rarer.
The richest alchemists were on the scene, bidding increasingly larger numbers.
"Do I hear 10000, no 15000 gold krists? What was that, 20000?" The auctioneer exclaimed to the public.
"I bid 100000 gold krists!" An elvish man clothed in red exclaimed, making the public gasp.
"You lot will not get ahold of this exquisitely charming missing peace of my collection! Soon, I'm will have all the great dragon hearts in my collection!" The elvish man claimed waving around his robes.
Surrounded by halfling slaves with coin bags, he stood proud as he bidded an egregious sum for the Black Dragon heart.
The crowd erupted into extreme chatter. John Jester told the group about this infamous figure in the world of rare artifacts and items. He is called Neir Kollekh, known as the Collector of Hearts. He had apparently collected 5 hearts out of the 7 great dragon species and even more of other monsters. The origin of his obsession with hearts is unknown.
"Sold!" Those words echoed each time until all the organic monster parts ran out.
However, nothing seemed quite to intrigue Fallace. He didn't want anything to do with organs.
"I now present to you 9 sealing urns used at the end of the warring dukedoms period over 1500 years ago. They were used to seal the most powerful spirits in the world and were recently rediscovered in an ancient dungeon. Although very..." The auctioneer got interrupted in the middle of his speech as two men clad in nothing but 2 figleaves covering their crothes and bums.
"The Fellowship of Eden bidds 5 000 000 Gold krists for those urns!" The blonde and blue eyed chiseled specimen of a man exclaimed.
"Sold... I guess..." The auctioneer muttered as the public was struck.
Fallace looked in horror as he was trembling in fear. Having heard of the organization containing some of the most powerful and dangerous criminals in the world.
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John snapped back his head forward after he saw that all of the mafiosos had disappeared, even good old captain Donn. They had somehow gotten rid of them all... could they perhaps have killed them all? John had heard from his grandfather that no one in Justizia should ever pick a fight with the Fellowship of Eden if they value their life.
"Everyone, no rash movements, please keep calm." John whispered to the group.
"We stand no chance in a fight against these monsters. Hell, their power is at the lowest of the pinnacle of city grade. We can only hope for their mercy." John was unsure if even the boss, his own grandfather, would be able to contend with them.
The Fellowship's 2 members who had just appeared moments ago were leaving just as suddenly. One of the members who had blonde hair and a charming face released a quickly morphing clay like substance forming into an angel. Jumping on its shoulder the members then sat down as the angel flapped its wings and flew away.
Leaving only behind what the other member, who looked like a childlike boy, described to the public as a gift for the auctions' cooperation. A glass vial of purple Abisvera poison. John left his seat, telling the adventurers that he was going to talk with the other gangsters who also sat in the public.
Sometime after the interruption, John went up with a couple of soldiers and talked with the auctioneer. He then stepped up to announce the situation.
"Sorry for the interruption. However, since the crowd was spared from any violence, the auction will go on as planned, and the next item will be the Abisvera poison! It is by many experts considered to be the most effective paralyzer. One drop could incapacitate a great giant. The creator of this poison is unknown and is therefore constantly in high demand, folks!"
Fallace decided that he was going to get that poison. Melian was also on board as she was eager to study the sample. The starting bid was 1000 gold krists, and with some resistance from alchemist scholars, the poison was sold to Fallace.
John then returned, saying that he was going to pay up and leave. Because of this incident, he had to urgently contact his grandfather about what transpired at the auction. There was also the matter of continuing the search for the kidnapper. After telling the group they had potential and saying bye John left.
The last item sold on the auction was an Anthomarine 2 petal flower. It was a blue crystal flower made of extremely rare materials with only 3 other flowers existing in the world the auctioneer explained. It was successfully bought with heavy competition by a noble from Aldervinter named Robin Shuckledorf.
After the auction, the group, alongside Soshi, returned to the inn to prepare for the continuation of their journey to Stendvor, the village of the Rock gnomes. While packing up at the wagon, the entire crew was in one place, and Fallace asked Soshi.
"Soshi, do you want to join our party?"
Soshi was surprised, having completely forgotten that she planned to return home.
"Ye..."
Bright flashes of crushed skulls and herself being tortured in agony echoed through her head. Her mouth started watering as she got violent urges to puke, and she almost fell, losing balance.
"I am sorry, Fallace, but I can't forget what happened that day. I don't think I'll ever be able to adventure ever again!" Soshi exclaimed in a broken down manner.
"Soshi, you have to face your fears! You'll never be able to forget that carnage! I was never able to forget the first time I came back to my ravaged village. It was destroyed, and most of the people enslaved. Desperate to see them one last time. I came back some days after the attack to a burnt down wasteland. Seeing the bones that once were the bodies of my parents almost destroyed my mind. I lost the will to live."
"Fallace! I... really want to go with you guys. But I am scared, not of my own death, but seeing anyone die ever again. I will only drag you down... One day, I promise that I will avenge my friends and be useful enough to join you!" Soshi shouted before standing up, hugging Fallace and running away.
"No!" Fallace leaped forward, but Melian stopped him.
"Fallace, let her rest. We can't guarantee her safety, and if she can't even muster up the courage to leave the city, it won't be worth it."
"I agree with Melian regarding Soshi. She is physically strong, but without her mental strength, she risks being killed." Konstantin said.
"Fallace, don't cry. Let's all get stronger so that we, one day, can help Soshi together!" Audrey added.
On that note, the adventurers left Leionholm through the south gate, 4 days into their journey.
- - -
"Roberto, did you hear what happened at the auction yester... Ah!" Delues screamed as he stumbled upon a terrible sight.
"What's going on, Delues?" Roberto asked after running into the alleyway.
"Ah!" Roberto screamed in terror before getting closer. To the source of the horror.
"Roberto, isn't that... your sister..." Delues said, looking paler than snow.
A dead girl with rotten skin laid on trash bags, having some text etched into the skin of her arm. A bloody text that read:
"End your search for the kidnapper. Otherwise, girls like these will rain on the streets, and every member of Justizia will come to meet certain death."
"Delues you idiot, find a priest... someone who can heal her. My precious sister Carla, this can't be, it can't! I swear I will find you scum and avenge her, hear me!" Roberto screamed wrathfully.
Delues ran away, not saying a word to his broken comrade. Suddenly, the arms of Carlas corpse moved at a great speed and started choking Roberto with an iron grip.
"I am sorry, brother... I failed to be a proper vessel."
That day, Roberto was forced to make a choice no brother should have to make. Blood ran down the skewered corpse. She was in pain, controlled by a despicable force. However, her body wouldn't stop despite the wounds.
"Brother, agree to his demands. Otherwise, I'll be forced to kill you. Please, it's me." The true eyes of his sister's soul spoke to him, and Roberto gave in.
"Carla, don't give up, I will fin..." Roberto muttered as he got interrupted by an explosion.
Carlas body exploded in Roberto's arms, sending him flying towards the wall. He was dying in both body and soul. All he could do was look in despair as he saw burned pieces of her body turn into ash on the muddy ground.
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