Chapter 310 – Dark Sales (1)
Nagrok, Deputy Tower Master of the Ivory Tower.
Azolett, the Spider Queen, a mber of the Black Stars.
The mont I identified the two suspicious individuals, the events of today started to make sense.
“So that’s why the attack was so brazen.”
Richard may have acted as the blade aid at Lily, but there were other forces moving behind him.
Demtor’s Ivory Tower.
Pri Root’s Black Stars.
Lord Azonne of Aintrier and Special Captain Richard of the Cleaners.
It seed the core powers of Hell Gri had reached a tacit agreent before this began.
Having ford an alliance, they likely believed they could handle any fallout even if variables arose.
After all, the World Tree Union was a newly born faction just starting to stretch its limbs.
They’re not exactly tightly united.
For those groups to truly unite, the World Tree Union would have to be strong enough to consu all of Hell Gri.
Right now, we’re not a major threat to them. Just a growing concern.
More than targeting us, they probably acted to check other forces.
And this ti, the faction they were trying to contain by observing our response…
Was it the Cleaners?
Given the earlier attempt to provoke a confrontation, it seed like a move to weaken the Cleaners’ forces.
Had Richard succeeded in abducting Lily as planned, they likely would’ve leaked that information directly to us.
That would’ve guaranteed conflict between the Cleaners and the World Tree Union.
Using Zarakan’s death like this… That fox really is a fox.
Looking at the setup, it was clear that Azonne orchestrated the whole thing.
To tie this many threads together required a very sharp mind.
“Looks like he was testing us before negotiating over the Leaf Monopoly.”
Just earlier, he had shown naked greed for the Leaf right in front of .
He had even offered control of Ship Gridnt and ownership of the southern dock—but didn’t reject it outright.
That ant he was still clinging to the idea of monopolizing the Leaf.
If I had looked weak in front of Richard, Azonne would’ve been next.
They would’ve used blatant force to take what they wanted. That applied to Demtor and Pri Root as well.
In this place, if you look weak, you’ll be devoured.
You can’t afford to be underestimated.
Now, we’d have to wait and see what role Azonne would play going forward.
I scanned the surroundings to check for anything else.
No more traces of divine auras remained.
Everyone had dispersed.
Once the area was completely cleared, I’d need to pay a visit to Nagrok.
I’d seen hesitation in his eyes when he looked at .
He might offer useful information.
After sorting my thoughts, I returned to the party hall.
Under the brilliant lights, the party was still ongoing in a festive mood.
“…Huh?”
As I arrived in the garden, I heard a commotion coming from the center.
Amidst the gathered crowd, I spotted Karl and Lochter.
I had clearly told them to return to the inn before I left, hadn’t I?
Judging by their expressions, the matter seed serious.
I moved through the crowd and approached them.
“What’s going on?”
Pushing through the crowd to the center, I saw Azonne standing there.
He was staring down at a bloodied man with a sharp gaze and giving a signal.
“Execute the man who sold his soul for pocket change, imdiately!”
As Azonne raised his arm, a sharp gust of wind sliced through the air, and the man’s head flew up.
A brutal scene. Low cries of shock spread among the crowd.
The severed head rolled to a stop at my feet.
A face twisted in agony. I didn’t recognize him, but the mask on the ground gave it away.
He was one of the Golden Masks that served Azonne.
From what I heard, this was the Golden Mask who had lured Lily into a trap and placed her in danger.
For that cri, he had just been publicly executed.
To , it looked like a swift resolution that didn’t even allow room for an excuse.
“Alex.”
Having spotted , Azonne pushed through the VIPs and bowed slightly in front of .
“One of my subordinates was bribed and endangered your comrade. The fault lies with for failing to manage him. I offer my apologies.”
Azonne had officially apologized to in front of everyone.
He pinned the entire incident with Lily on the now-dead Golden Mask.
Unbelievable bastard.
He moved Richard behind the scenes to try to kill us all, and now here he was bowing and offering a hand.
With so many eyes watching and having cut ties so cleanly, it was hard to either take his hand or reject it.
He’s not soone to take lightly.
You don’t beco a Lord without sharp instincts and a sharp mind.
“Where is Richard?”
“For causing such chaos right before Dark Sales, he has been exiled beyond the city walls. He won’t be allowed to step foot in Aintrier for the next few years.”
Already, we were seeing the result of forcing Richard to retreat.
Azonne was now tacitly extending an olive branch.
Hoping to repair relations and receive a favorable answer regarding the Leaf Monopoly.
Even as he moved to kill us at the first opportunity, he still couldn’t let go of that monopoly.
I looked into Richard’s eyes.
He was smiling.
So I smiled too.
With Dark Sales about to begin, we couldn’t afford to beco enemies now.
Azonne seed satisfied with my response and continued.
“By the way, is there anything more you’d like done in terms of punishnt for the Cleaners?”
“Of course—mmph!”
As Karl nodded vigorously and stepped forward, Lochter quickly clamped a hand over his mouth and pulled him back.
I nodded at Lochter.
Then, smiling, I turned back to Azonne.
“I believe it was all a misunderstanding. I have no ill will toward the Cleaners. If any punishnt is warranted, it should be directed at you, Lord Azonne, who handled it ‘personally’. What further punishnt do you plan to impose on them?”
“Hahaha… such generosity. Then I’ll take care of it myself.”
I had ntioned the Cleaners.
Had I asked for harsher punishnt, it would’ve solidified them as official enemies of the World Tree Union.
And technically, they are enemies.
But just like Richard said, I had no intention of acting like a hunting dog.
Depending on the situation, we might use each other.
Declaring them as official enemies would make future dealings far more difficult.
Which is why maintaining a certain distance—just like Azonne—was necessary.
I had carefully steered the conversation away from a conflict between the World Tree Union and the Cleaners, and instead made it seem like a conflict between Aintrier and the Cleaners. Azonne quickly caught on and changed the subject.
“If there’s anything you wish for as an apology, please speak. If it’s within my power, I will gladly oblige.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I can’t bear to see my guests hard at an event I hosted. In Aintrier, reputation is everything.”
At those words, the guests around us nodded and praised Azonne.
It was clear he wanted to solidify his reputation ahead of Dark Sales.
Without hesitation, I stated my price.
“Grant rchant negotiation rights.”
“rchant negotiation rights?”
rchant negotiation rights gave holders the ability to negotiate directly between rchant guilds within Aintrier.
It also ca with exemption from the infamously annoying city gate tolls.
To conduct major business without conflict in Azonne’s territory, this was an essential credential. So I asked for it.
I had been wondering how to get it anyway, and it looked like I might acquire it easier than expected.
“Do you plan to purchase sothing large in Aintrier? I can personally introduce you.”
“No. I just need the negotiation rights. Can you grant them?”
Azonne hesitated briefly.
He was probably calculating whether this request could result in any loss.
But there was no obvious downside. On the contrary, it ant another large rchant was forming under his territory.
There was no reason to refuse.
“I’ll grant it imdiately.”
I responded with a smile and expressed my thanks.
A mont later, Azonne looked around and waved his hand widely.
The Silver Masks appeared and stood politely before the VIP guests.
In their hands were thin booklets, and the guests eagerly began reading them.
It was as if the public execution monts ago had been completely forgotten.
Karl extended his hand too, but the Silver Mask bowed slightly and walked past him.
Karl scoffed and pointed.
“What the hell? Why didn’t I get one?”
“You need credentials.”
“Credentials?”
I extended my hand in front of the Silver Mask.
The sa one who ignored Karl now bowed to and handed a booklet. Karl exploded.
I handed it to Karl.
Since I had already reviewed the entire catalog with Azonne earlier, it wasn’t of much use to .
“Dark Sales product list? What is this?”
Just then—
DENG—!
A bell rang through the garden.
A deep chi echoed out from the castle, spreading rapidly across Aintrier.
Midnight had passed.
Dark Sales had begun.
The once vibrant party grew silent and cold the mont it was announced.
The VIP guests tucked the booklet under their arms and quietly dispersed. The party, full of incidents, ca to a subdued close.
We followed the dispersing crowd back to our lodgings.
Karl looked around with a baffled expression.
“Wait, this is the big Dark Sales event, right? The bell just rang loud and clear. Isn’t this Aintrier’s biggest festival?”
“Yes.”
“Then why is everyone rushing off as soon as they get a booklet? What kind of festival is this?”
“It’s because of the way Dark Sales operates.”
“The way it operates?”
I held the booklet up to Karl and explained.
“Dark Sales is a festival for VIPs. Rich people bring absurd amounts of money, and even those below them benefit from the spillover. For the rich, it’s just spare change—but for the lower levels, it can be life-changing.”
“How much money are we talking…”
I flipped to one page and showed Karl.
“Dark Sales runs on a simple bidding system. The person who writes the highest offer on the listed item gets priority negotiation rights. They can then haggle with the item’s owner over the price.”
“Priority negotiation? So it’s not a direct purchase?”
“There are instant purchases too. If there’s a price listed next to the item, that ans it can be bought imdiately at that amount.”
I pointed to one such price. Karl’s jaw dropped slightly.
[12,000,000G]
“…What the hell, how many zeros is that?”
I smirked and looked at the item listed for 12 million gold.
[Fist of the Cursed Giant Tribe]
“Good thing it’s available for instant purchase.”
Its true na was ‘Iron Fist of Parthe’.
An essential item for unlocking my third trait—Steel.
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