Chapter 38 City of Gold

"1 gold for 1 horse per night." says by an old man while carrying a stack of hay.

The raven colored hair woman with an eye patch just nods and took out 3 gold from her spatial ring.

The old man get the horses from her and one by one he put them in the stable. Years of experience can be seen from the old mam on how the way he handle the horses.

"We might stay longer than 1 night in this city." says by the raven colored hair woman.

"Don't worry that's the case for most of our customers anyway. We will just charge you the fee before you leave." answered by the old man.

Upon hearing his answer the woman nods before heading outside the stable where she is greeted by a pair of red heads.

"Its just as I thought the cost of service in this city is absurd." complained by the raven colored hair woman.

"We can spare some gold. Roark was a generous man after all." says by one of the red head jokingly. "Hey Valerie, is there a shop here that we can buy armors that have slots?" he added.

"Slotted Armors? Those are rare since most of them can only be dropped by an elite monsters." answered by Valerie. "How about trying the auction house?" she added.

"I already browse the auction from the system and all of the armors doesn't have one." says by Cleo.

"No, I mean an actual auction house in this city." replied by Valerie.

"Why would they risk building an auction house here if they can freely use the one from the system?" asked by Cleo with a confuse expression.

"It is owned by the most powerful guild in Zirracania. They are confident enough to not rely in the system for protection." replied by Valerie.

Cleo ponders before making a decision. They can't afford to attract too much attention to themselves just in case Camilla's unhinge behavior took turn for the worse.

He knew she can't openly attack them herself however the same cannot be said to Assassins desperate enough to take a bounty that's currently in this city.

Venundarr the City of Gold is one of the most popular city in Zirracania region. Unlike most city in Zirracania, humans are allowed to visit and do business here. Staying true to its name the only thing that matters here is if you have gold or not.

In exchange of the warm hospitality, laws are much stricter here. Murder is strictly prohibited with or without justifiable cause. Hollows Guild believes that death is a sweet escape so the punishment for taking a life is excruciating torture instead of death.

"Is there a way we can participate anonymously?" asked by Cleo.

"As far as I know Hollows Auction House requires every participant to reveal their name and race directly from the system." replied by Valerie.

"When is the next auction?" asked by Cleo.

"It is being held once every week. If its still the same the last time I was here it'll be four days from now." replied by Valerie. "Do you plan on participating?" she added once she realized Cleo's hesitation despite knowing Venundarr's reputation.

"I'm not sure yet but I have a plan." says by Cleo.

The trio cut their conversion and proceed to find an Inn where they can stay while waiting for the auction.

They found an average looking inn and rent two rooms. Cleo handed one of the room key to Valerie before heading to their respective room.

After settling in Valerie heads out to find an information broker. Their primary goal here in this city is to find information about her friend.

Cleo and Leah slump sown in the bed together. They savior the feeling of the soft and warm bed which they can't experience while travelling for days.

"Leah I need to go back alone to Lion's Mouth hideout tomorrow morning." says by Cleo while caressing her hair.

"W-what? W-why?" asked by Leah while biting her nail.

'Is there a woman? No that can't be, Cleo will not stoop down to those savage's level. Valerie! Yes, yes she must be it. She's beautiful even without an one eye.' Leah thought inwardly.

"Don't overthink Leah and stop biting your nail." says by Cleo as if reading her mind.

"Let me finish, its not what you think. Remember the auction?" Cleo asked while Leah nods.

"I plan to use some of those bandits as my proxy in the upcoming auction." he added.

"T-take me with you. Even though they look like scared on the outside they are still bandits." says by Leah with a panicking tone.

"I would however you are the only one I can trust in this world." answered by Cleo while still caressing her long beautiful red hair.

'Only me?' says by Leah inwardly. Her cheeks turned to beet red.

"I need you to watch Valerie's every move as much as possible. Its not that she have ill intent against us but we can't be so sure." explained by Cleo. "Venundarr punished murder harshly here but in the off chance you feel you're in danger, run."

"When will you come back?" asked by Leah.

"A day at most. I need to check those bandits and how much we can utilize them to our advantage." replied by Cleo.

"You still remember what I promised to you after we got here?" he added.

"That we will live a peaceful life together in the future." answered by Leah.

"The nature of this world prevents that from happening however I will do whatever I can to fulfill that promise. I think we both suffer enough in the previous world." says by Cleo in a solemn tone.

"As long as were together that's enough for me. Don't push yourself too hard." says by Leah while burying her face on Cleo's chest.

"Its not the same for me. I want us to live without any worry or whatsoever." says by Cleo. 'We're both victims by our own circumstances I won't let you suffer the same experience in this world.' he added inwardly.