His laugh was truly loud and annoying, but I wasn’t going to complain about noise pollution and whatnot. After all, he was in his own little dark castle.
I continued to look at him indifferently while he laughed like there was anything funny, like I had co all this way to entertain him.
Behind , I could feel Sergeant Kael’s glare drilling into the back of my skull.
’I didn’t ask you to bring here. Stop looking at like I’m the problem.’
I inhaled and exhaled. Doing that made it easier to tolerate very annoying people. It was a thod I had perfected over many, many annoying encounters.
"Ah, I underestimated you greatly. I suppose that has to do with how young you are. I had no doubt that you lacked experience, and I needed to see if you were a fluke." His laughter settled, and his expression beca sothing more considered. "As far as the sorry attempt went, I did enter your head though. I felt your fear..."
I glared at him.
"And you also know it’s not about you. Not even in the slightest."
The man was silent for a mont. Perhaps because I had been right in a way and he knew it. He gathered a handful of his sleeve and held it to his chest, the gesture almost contemplative.
"You are very weird... but I acknowledge your strength... and I would be direct about this. I would like to extend a privileged invitation to you."
I raised my head.
"Oh? You didn’t say..."
My scowl had turned into a smile.
’Look at my problems solving themselves.’
"I will offer you the position of a Captain... and all the privileges that co with it, if you decide to join the Night Guard today."
Behind , even Sergeant Kael flinched, a sharp gasp escaping her before she imdiately swallowed it. She said nothing, but the silence that followed was louder than any complaint she could have voiced.
’I guess this is the preferential treatnt that cos with being strong, uhn...’
This was a big issue. I felt like I couldn’t just go ahead and make this decision on my own, especially since Kassie had been searching for an opportunity to command a bunch of people. I had to be very careful with how I handled this.
’Hm! I need to seek Kassie’s advice!’
I didn’t reach out yet. Before I did, there was sothing I wanted to confirm.
"The privileges that co with being a captain, does it involve being able to participate in the auction?"
The man raised his thick dark brows.
"You want to participate in the auction?"
I shot him a guarded look.
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"No, not at all." He leaned back slightly, regarding with renewed curiosity. "I didn’t take you for one with deep pockets, considering that you’re here working a job that might very well take your life for ager coin." He looked beyond , at Sergeant Kael. "How much do they offer them these days?"
"I think between fifty and a hundred silver talents, sir."
He nodded and chuckled.
"Such a paltry fee to waste away one’s life, defending people who don’t even care about it and yet have the power to end this petulant battle with barely any effort."
He caught himself derailing and fixed his focus back on , gesturing slightly forward, his wide sleeves flowing with the motion.
"I am not looking to buy anything. That’s not to deny the allegations of having deep pockets. Even you would be surprised how rich I am." I kept my expression neutral but internally, my ears perked. "But I have so things I’d like to sell. I’m very interested in getting stinking rich, you see."
The man wore no expression for a second, just looking at with blank surprise.
Then the surprise settled into a small smile.
"Now, that’s even more surprising... the items that are usually sold are commissioned by House Valuation themselves. They also do the hunting. If there are third parties that register their items, I’ve never heard of such." He tilted his head. "Did you co all the way here for that? Even accepting to fight this grueso battle?"
’He doesn’t need to know about being stranded...’
I folded my hands and nodded. "Yes. I heard about the auction from a trusted friend, and since what I want to do was quite unique, I had to take this chance."
The man continued looking at for more than a mont, his blank, shocked gaze sitting on and becoming uncomfortable. I stole so glances back at him, but his silence and that look on his face was becoming kind of creepy.
"Hm. The golden youth." His voice had softened. "I miss the days where I used to take terrible risks for my goals. Now so many shackles and laws bind down, even though I’m so much stronger than I ever was... I still consider those days my pri."
I gave him a blank stare. It was, honestly, none of my business.
"Don’t mind . I just forgot that people still do these things." He waved a hand, as if clearing the air of his own nostalgia. "For a mont I thought it was about the money. You reminded that for many like you, it usually isn’t. So are, after all, not scared to throw their lives away for a mont of attaining glory, or insurmountable wealth."
He ca closer to , and the difference in our height beca painfully apparent. He stood so much taller that I only reached his torso. Then he placed a hand on my shoulder and said:
"I admire your youthful confidence and the spirit of selflessness in pursuit of your goals. But you’re not going to find that here. There are very important people here that you cannot see..."
He stopped halfway and looked beyond .
"Sergeant..."
Sergeant Kael looked confused for a mont. Then I hinted her.
"There seems to be a little commotion outside. I think you might want to check it out."
The man looked at . I couldn’t read his expression, but it couldn’t have been favorable, given the fact that I did what he should’ve done properly from the beginning.
Sergeant Kael hurried to the door, and in that mont, she staggered back because soone entered without an announcent, barging their way through.
The man flinched and frowned the mont this person stepped inside. He bowed slightly and cupped his hands together, lowering himself towards them.
"Lady Fintan of the White Tail Clan. For your sake, you shouldn’t be here."
I turned to the person he was greeting.
Lo and behold.
A bright smile broke across my face. Light emanated from my eyes. Everything suddenly felt right in the world. It felt like the universe really was on my side.
The lady, with her white hair drifting subtly in the still air of the room, stood there in all her towering glory. Her massive chest sprouted before her like a declaration of war against fabric, barely being contained by her apparel. Even her nipples seed to be almost tearing through the cloth.
She was gigantic and of a comparable height to the man.
Imdiately she saw , she ignored him completely, turned to with a polite tone and a friendly smile, all traces of whatever anger she had carried in from outside now gone.
"Wise one, we et again... that too, at a place like this."
My internal grin stretched ear to ear.
’Fox lady... we et again... hehehehee...’
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