Gray followed Maelis toward the entrance, the stone floor shaking lightly under the weight of the people gathered there.

Everyone around them kept their faces hidden behind masks, but their aura leaked despite their efforts.

'...All of them are above the Grandmaster stage.'

Maelis giggled softly beside him, completely unbothered. She reached into her small silk purse and pulled out something thin and black.

A token.

It shone with a faint red glow and had a small rune carved into it.

A VIP Token.

The guards at the door stiffened instantly.

"O–One of the honored guests… please, this way."

Their heads lowered deeply, and the crowd shifted away without resistance.

Maelis smiled proudly, looping her arm tighter around Gray's.

"Let's not sit with the common crowd, big brother~," she whispered, tilting her head as she guided him into a private corridor.

Inside, the air felt different and scented lightly with cold incense.

A maid in a fox mask bowed.

"Welcome. Your private booth has already been prepared."

The door slid open smoothly, revealing a spacious VIP room with wide seats, a faintly glowing barrier, and a perfect view of the auction stage below.

From above, Gray could see even more masked figures seated in similar rooms. Their auras clashed silently, making the air feel thick and dangerous.

'…As expected of the black market,' Gray thought.

'Every single one of them could kill a whole group alone.'

Maelis placed her hand on her cheek and smiled sweetly.

"Quite fun, right~?"

Gray didn't answer as his eyes were on the stage.

The lights dimmed.

Tap… tap…

A pair of soft footsteps echoed.

A woman walked onto the stage, the sound of her high heels clicking lightly against the wooden floor.

She wore a tight cheongsam, black silk with red floral lines that hugged her curves in a dangerously elegant way.

Her long hair was tied high, swaying like a dark ribbon with each step.

Her lips curved into a faint, seductive smile.

"Welcome, honored guests… to the Black Market's Midnight Auction."

Her voice was soft but carried perfectly through the hall, almost like she was whispering personally to each person.

'A charm technique... huh?'

The woman placed a hand on her chest and bowed lightly.

"I am your auctioneer for tonight. Please enjoy yourselves… and may your wallets bleed generously."

A wave of laughter instantly rolled through the hall at her sharp words.

Then, the woman straightened, her eyes glowing faintly under the lights.

Clang!

The auction began with a loud clang as the woman tapped her fan against the podium. Then exploded with noise the moment the first item floated up inside a glowing glass orb.

"First item—Azure Bone Powder, good for refining bones and raising physical strength!"

Instantly, voices burst out from every corner.

"I'll take it! 300 gold!"

"300? Are you blind? That trash powder sells for 500 outside—600!"

"You pig-head, that's before taxes! 550!"

They didn't even wait for the auctioneer.

Their auras flared, slamming into each other like angry beasts. The glass barriers between rooms shook.

Maelis leaned her cheek on her hand, smiling sweetly as she raised her token.

"800."

Everyone went silent for a moment.

"Tch… some noble kid is wasting money again."

"Let her waste it. Those types always lose steam later."

Maelis giggled.

"Big brother," she whispered, nudging him with her shoulder, "don't you think their angry voices are cute?"

"Sure..."

He promptly watched the room with cold eyes.

More items came out, each one more chaotic than the last.

A rare beast egg.

A poisoned dagger.

A golden pill.

A glowing white spirit stone.

Every time something appeared, at least three masked men would start cursing each other.

"Old dog! You want to fight me for this again?!"

"You shameless bastard, you bid on everything!"

"Shut up! At least I can afford it!"

BOOOM!

The two auras between the masked men clashed violently, causing the barrier around the VIP to quiver intensely.

But just at that moment...

Swish!

The auras dissipated away.

"Please restrain yourselves," the auctioneer said with a soft smile that did not look worried in the slightest.

"Anyone who breaks a booth will be sold as a test subject."

Everyone shut up instantly.

Maelis laughed quietly beside Gray and lifted her token again.

"I'll take the white spirit stone. 1,200."

A few men cursed.

One slammed his fist on the railing.

"Who keeps buying all the rare stuff!? Show yourself!"

"Must be some spoiled brat trying to impress their father!"

Maelis just stuck out her tongue playfully.

Gray sighed lightly through his nose.

Besides the Azure Bone Powder, she had already bought a small alchemy cauldron.

A flame crystal.

And finally, a rare gravity-enhancing necklace that was actually useful for her.

Every time she won, she would look at Gray and grin.

"Hehe~ Big brother, look! Isn't this perfect for me?"

"…I guess."

"Oh? You guess? Hmph. Maybe I should buy more until you say it properly."

She pressed her shoulder against his arm again, far too soft, far too close. She even leaned a little too far forward once, dangerously making her dress stretch.

Gray simply looked away.

'…She really is trying to seduce me. How stupid.'

Below, another item arrived.

A black coffin.

Inside it was a skeleton wrapped in cursed chains.

"Next," the auctioneer said with an excited purr, "a Bone Mage's Remains, found in the Western Abyss."

Instantly, the crowd roared!

"Holy—! 10,000!"

"You rat! 11,000!"

"Move aside! I want it! 15,000!"

"Fifteen thousand?! Are you insane?!"

The air grew heavy as several powerful auras clashed, pressing down on the entire hall.

Maelis rested her chin on Gray's shoulder.

"Does any of this interest you, big brother~?"

"No."

"Not even a little?"

"No."

Her fingers traced circles on his arm.

"Then why don't you pick something? I'll buy it for you~"

"I don't need anything."

"Hmm… maybe I should buy something for you then," she whispered sweetly.

Gray looked at her with a flat stare.

Her smile simply widened.

But then, as the next item came, Gray's reaction finally changed.

The cheongsam-clad woman lifted a small glass case, her fingers moving with a calm, practiced grace.

Inside it, a faint light pulsed gently, like a slow heartbeat.

"This is a Soul Warming Bead! A treasure that can slowly heal a damaged soul… and even help the soul grow stronger. This item is rare, very rare! Many people spend their whole lives without ever seeing one."

A light murmur swept through the crowd. Even though everyone hid behind masks, their auras stirred the air as if warning the others that they wanted this bead.

'...Tsk, there's no way I can get this item for myself.'

Gray frowned lightly, and Maelis instantly noticed this.

She leaned her whole head onto his arm again, pressing herself closer. Her soft lamb mask brushed his shoulder, and her warm breath touched his skin.

"Oh?" she whispered, her voice low and playful. "Big brother… You stared for quite a while just now."

This time, Maelis got his attention as he looked at her.

Seeing his pitch-black eyes, she smiled faintly, a little too pleased.

"You want it, don't you?" she asked again, tilting her head against him, rubbing slowly like a spoiled kitten.

"I can buy it for you… if you ask nicely."

Several strong auras around the VIP seats suddenly twitched, as if they were listening in. Gray ignored all of them.

Maelis giggled softly, her fingers brushing his sleeve, climbing up, tracing his arm in small circles.

"You could owe me one," she whispered.

"I don't mind at all."

Tack, tack...

The auctioneer tapped the side of the glass.

"The Soul Warming Bead starts at ten thousand gold coins."

A moment of silence, until the chaos finally erupted.

"I bid fifteen thousand."

"Twenty thousand!"

"Twenty-two!"

"Twenty-five!"

Voices shot out one after another, cold, sharp, angry, impatient. The atmosphere heated up fast. People hid their faces, but not their tempers.

"You dare bid against me, dog?!"

"Shut up. You don't own the auction."

"You want to die?!"

"You first."

A heavy, crushing aura erupted on the left side of the hall. Several weaker people coughed up blood on the spot.

Maelis rolled her eyes.

"Tsk. Animals."

Then she tightened her hold on Gray's arm, hugging it close, pushing her chest softly against it.

"You know… this bead would help you a lot," she whispered against his ear, her tone almost seductive.

"Wouldn't it be better if I bought it for you? That way… you'd need my help again later."

Gray decided to ignore her for now, but unfortunately for him, the price range had easily passed the amount of money he possessed.

The bids continued on.

"Thirty thousand!"

"Thirty-five!"

"Forty!"

"Forty-two!"

"Forty-five thousand!"

The cheongsam woman smiled sweetly as the tension rose. Her red lips curved like she enjoyed watching the crowd rip itself apart.

Gray looked at Maelis from the corner of his eye. She seemed almost excited by the chaos, her grip on him soft but firm, her breathing a little quicker.

"So, big brother…" she brushed his arm lightly.

"Will you let me treat you… Or do you want to fight them all alone?"

Gray finally gave it a little thought, and because this bead was pretty useful for him, he decided to accept her proposal.

Rustle...

He grabbed her waist lightly before settling her down on his lap, his arms wrapping around her softly, before he leaned close to her ear.

"Buy it for me."

He whispered softly, causing her whole body to shiver, and at the same time, she raised her token as if she was scared that she wouldn't be able to buy the bead.

"Sixty thousand!"

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