Ruvian had long stopped trying to understand how he ended up in this world.
There had been no sign, no clue, nothing he could follow. Because of that, he chose to set the question aside and focus first on preparing himself to survive in this cruel world.
Still... there was one thought he could not completely ignore.
At one point, he had wondered if a divine power was involved.
He knew that the people of this world worshipped Althea. They believed she was a benevolent Goddess who had protected humanity for thousands upon thousands of years.
And now... perhaps, the very sa Goddess might also be the reason for his transmigration into here.
’...’
Of course, this was only his speculation.
But it was also not impossible.
Ruvian slightly shook his head.
’No... calm down. Now isn’t the ti to think about this. I have to focus on this event first.’
No matter how deeply he pondered, speculation alone would never lead him to the truth.
As the three of them walked closer to the statue, a voice ca from it.
"Mrs. Venomous. Mr Phantom and Mrs. Petals."
"Clearance confird..."
Without further gesture, the floor behind her rippled open, revealing the pathway.
As they entered the pathway, they soon erged into a vast hollow space; an inverted cathedral carved into the bones of the earth, veiled in layers of muted lanternlight and drifting mist.
And... hundreds of people, cloaked and masked, moving in silence across elevated walkways and velvet-lined staircases. Almost a third of the grand amphitheater was already filled.
’Great. Nothing like a cheerful, casual gathering of suspiciously wealthy people underground.’
People sat in balconies arranged in many levels. Each level was higher than the one below, and the seats curved around the stage.
Below them, the main stage was still covered by thin curtains of flowing mana. A few shadows could be seen moving behind the curtains, preparing for sothing that had not started yet.
A mont later, a robed attendant appeared from nowhere, wearing a half-mask.
He bowed with fluid grace.
"Mrs. Venomous, Mr. Phantom and Mrs. Petals."
"Your presence has been logged. Please, follow ."
He turned without waiting for confirmation, gliding ahead through the corridor. Ruvian followed silently. His eyes took in everything, scanning the grand halls.
Shortly after, Silvena leaned close to both of them as they walked. Ruvian and Irene slightly lowered their heads to her level.
"The auction hasn’t begun yet, but preliminary exchanges are already happening in the lower halls. We’ll head to the private tier first. From there, we can observe freely."
She said in a low voice.
Both Ruvian and Irene simply nodded.
"Understood."
*****
As they approached the upper tier, the crowd thinned. The corridor leading toward the private lounges was narrower, flanked by arched fras of enchanted glass.
Ruvian walked just a step behind Silvena, his hands tucked behind his back.
It was then, he saw two mysterious figures walking towards him from the opposite direction.
One male and one female.
Both were wearing masks.
The man wore a dark coat with silver lining, shoulders squared with a martial build. A smooth, featureless mask covered his face, and his white hair rested neatly behind it.
Beside him, the woman wore the sa style of clothing. A thin braid of crimson hair fell over one shoulder.
They walked by without looking at him.
But as they passed, the man suddenly stopped and slowly turned around.
Then, with a deep, imposing voice, he spoke.
"Stop right there."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ruvian suddenly felt an intense, heavy pressure descend upon him.
’This...’
The faint scent of iron lingered in the air, sharp and oppressive. However, the mont the pressure touched him, it vanished imdiately.
His blessing had already nullified it.
Even so, Ruvian imdiately understood what it was.
It was a killing intent.
Cold, direct, and without restraint, it flowed from the man behind him, like a hidden blade pressing against his back.
’Who is this guy? And what did he want with ?’
Ruvian wondered.
Silvena and Irene both paused slightly when the pressure appeared. Their instincts answered the danger before their minds could grasp it.
Even the masked attendant guiding them trembled, his legs weakening as he nearly fell to his feet under the sudden weight.
But Ruvian simply lifted his hand, telling them not to interfere yet.
It was only a fleeting mont, but it was enough to show the difference in power.
Though, Ruvian was not affected at all.
He calmly turned around, his expression unchanged, his gaze steady and indifferent as he t the man’s eyes.
"What business do you have with ?"
Ruvian asked coldly.
"Remove the mask," he said, his tone firm.
Ruvian did not flinch. Instead, he only frowned slightly, clearly baffled, confused, and a little irritated.
’What? Is this guy a fool?’
To demand soone remove their mask in this underground auction was nothing but a crude violation of the rules, a reckless act that went against the very order that kept this place standing.
"And who exactly do you think you are, to command such a thing of ?" Ruvian said, finally turning to face the man.
The woman beside the man imdiately flinched.
She quickly grabbed the man’s arm, her fingers tightening as if afraid he might do sothing reckless.
"Dumbass, what are you doing? Are you a fool? Ugh. Anyway, be quiet and co here," she said in a low voice, barely holding back her irritation.
"But—but..." the man tried to argue back, but the firmness in his voice was gone.
"I said... shut your ass mouth and co here!"
’...’
Ruvian simply watched them.
Instantly, the man’s face seed to sink. Even behind the mask, the defeated air around him was obvious, like a scolded puppy forced to lower its head.
Then, the woman turned toward Ruvian. Though her mask concealed her face, the slight curve of her eyes suggested a polite, artificial smile.
"Please, forgive us. My companion has behaved inappropriately. I hope this situation has not troubled you."
Her tone sounded courteous and calm, but there was a faint urgency hidden underneath, as though she wished to conclude the matter imdiately.
"Sure. Whatever."
Ruvian calmly replied.
"Thank you. We will excuse ourselves now."
The woman let out a slight smirk.
Soon, the two figures turned and walked away.
Silvena was the first to break the silence.
"Huh? What is wrong with them?"
anwhile, Ruvian was quietly scrutinizing their appearance, observing the details of their posture, clothing, and movents carefully.
Then, sothing caught his eye.
Both of them were wearing a matching bracelet of dark silver tal, simple in design with a thin engraved line that ford a subtle crest along the surface.
It was not flashy, but for so reason... he recognized it all too well.
And how could he not?
After all, he was the one who had designed those bracelet features.
The faint curve of the engraving, the balance between simplicity and dignity, even the precise thickness of the band — every detail matched perfectly with the design he once created.
Ruvian slowly turned his head away and continued walking forward.
"Don’t bother with them. Let’s go," he said calmly.
Then he glanced at the attendant.
"Can you still walk?"
The man, who had still been shaken from earlier, startled slightly before quickly nodding.
"Yes... yes, I can."
He straightened his posture and continued guiding them through the corridor.
’What a surprise to see so scholars from the Wellencrest Academy here.’
Ruvian lightly mused.
His gaze briefly lowered, recalling the detail of the bracelet once more.
Because those bracelets were a special insignia the academy gave to mark and identify their students, a simple mark that showed their affiliation without openly revealing their identity.
Unknowing to him, the crimson-haired woman also slightly turned her head looking back at him.
"Hmm... I guess I’m about to find out soon." she said quietly to herself.
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[Chapter 149: The Ashway Bazaar (3)]
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