[8] Illegal Auction (3)

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When the next auctioned items turned out to be slaves, this was my moment.

I had to buy my sister—and compete with the others.

However, there was one big problem—I was low on money.

Sure, I had taken the wealth from that greedy village chief, and his vault had been filled with gold and jewelry.

But after purchasing Lament, I was left with only 600 gold coins.

A decent sum, but nothing compared to the wealthy bidders here.

'Damn it… Can I even win this auction?'

And as it turned out, the slave auction was far more aggressive than I had anticipated.

The moment the host introduced the first 'item,' the atmosphere instantly shifted.

Unlike the previous auctions—where people calmly raised bids—this time, they fought ruthlessly over the prices, as if they were hunting down rare collectibles.

"300 gold!"

"500!"

"850!"

"1200!"

The bids skyrocketed without hesitation.

I remained silent, watching as these people spoke about human beings as if they were objects.

Some of the participants even chuckled, discussing the 'benefits' of certain slaves—whether as servants, personal attendants, or worse.

I clenched my jaw, suppressing the rage burning inside me.

But I couldn't act recklessly.

My sister hadn't appeared yet, so there was no point in wasting my money.

The auction proceeded quickly, with slaves being brought in one by one, displayed, and ultimately sold to the highest bidder.

Until finally—

The last slave was brought onto the stage.

At first, I wasn't thinking much.

But the moment I saw a small girl with unkempt silver hair, a frail body, and terrified eyes—

My blood ran cold.

'That's her.'

'That's… my sister.'

Without waiting for the host to announce the starting price, I immediately raised my hand.

"600 gold coins!"

Everyone turned to look at me, surprised by my abrupt bid.

Even the auction host hesitated for a moment before smirking slightly.

However, before the hammer could fall—

"1000!"

Someone instantly raised the bid.

I turned, trying to identify my competitor.

In one of the VIP seats, a man in a white suit and an owl mask sat leisurely, one hand holding a glass of wine, while the other casually lifted his card to bid.

My eyes narrowed. My instincts screamed—this man was dangerous.

But I didn't care who he was.

"1200!" I declared firmly.

The Owl-Masked Man tilted his head slightly, as if only noticing me for the first time.

Then, without hesitation—

"2000."

I gritted my teeth.

He was playing with me.

I couldn't bid any higher.

I had lost.

The auction host smiled in satisfaction and struck the hammer down.

"2000 gold coins! Sold to the gentleman in the VIP section!"

I could only sit there, my fists clenched, my body trembling with barely contained fury.

Meanwhile, the Owl-Masked Man simply took a casual sip of his wine, as if this was nothing more than entertainment to him.

The auction ended.

I had won Lament, an extraordinary magic sword.

But in return, I had lost my sister.

'Hah… You bastard.'

I growled under my breath, staring blankly at the floor.

I shouldn't have been tempted by the sword—I should have prioritized my sister.

But well… regretting it now was pointless.

If I couldn't get her through legal means, then there was only one other way—

A little crime.

That night, I changed my clothes, donning an all-black outfit that allowed me to blend into the shadows.

On my back, I carried an old longsword I had taken from the village.

Lament?

I didn't use it.

The sword was too conspicuous, and if anyone recognized it, my identity would be exposed.

And of course, to fully conceal myself…

I wore the deer mask once again.

Standing atop a tall clock tower, I gazed down at the main highway, where luxury carriages with ornate engravings moved at a steady pace.

I watched carefully, scanning the license numbers on the backs of the carriages.

'That man in the VIP seat… I won't forget his masked face.'

The moment my targeted vehicle began moving—

I moved with it.

With swift, precise movements, I leapt across rooftops, silently shadowing the Owl-Masked Man's carriage from above—ensuring I didn't lose sight of him.

Eventually, after some time, the carriage halted in front of a grand residential estate.

The district was different from anywhere else I had seen in this city.

Neat, quiet, and far too clean.

They called this place "The High-Class District"—an area where only the elite could live in comfort.

From afar, I watched as my sister was dragged inside by the Owl-Masked Man's subordinates—straight into a lavish mansion.

At that moment, I knew…

It was time to act.

###

I stood still, my entire body trembling.

This room was too vast, too extravagant, yet I couldn't feel safe inside it.

In front of me, the masked man observed me with satisfaction, while a woman in her mid-thirties, dressed in a black maid uniform with gold accents, stood beside him with a cold expression.

"Miss Andrea… there's a new girl here. Take care of her."

His voice was calm, as if this was nothing significant.

I bit my lip, trying to suppress the fear crawling through my entire body.

"Ah, right…" The man turned to the head maid, his tone now relaxed. "I'm a bit tired today. Once she's ready, send her to my room."

My heartbeat pounded violently.

I wasn't a fool—I knew exactly what that meant.

I wanted to scream, to fight, but my body felt too weak.

Days of imprisonment, barely any food, and now I was in this place—a golden palace for devils.

As I was still frozen in shock, the masked man walked away without a single glance back.

Now, I was left alone with the head maid.

I lifted my face, looking at her with desperate hope—maybe, just maybe, she would help me?

But—

PLAAG!

Her cold hand slapped my cheek, snapping my head to the side.

I stumbled, my eyes wide with pain and shock.

"Don't give me that disgusting look," her voice was sharp, devoid of any sympathy. "Don't expect anyone to save you in this place."

I bit my lip, holding back my tears.

"Come on, don't waste my time."

With a rough yank, she grabbed my arm and dragged me down the long, endless corridors of the mansion.

I didn't have the strength to resist—I could only follow.

Eventually, we arrived at a large room, filled with luxurious mirrors, ornate dressing tables, and rows of elegant dresses hanging neatly along the walls.

Inside, a group of female servants was already waiting.

Their faces were empty, devoid of any emotion.

"Clean her up."

The head maid's voice was indifferent—like she was simply preparing an object for display.

Without another word, she walked out, leaving me in the hands of strangers.

I struggled, but I was too weak.

They poured cold water over me, scrubbing every inch of my skin as if I were nothing more than a doll.

They forcibly applied makeup, dressed me in revealing clothes that I had never seen before.

The dress…

It left my shoulders bare, was short at the hem, and the fabric was so thin it was almost transparent.

I looked at my own reflection in the mirror—

And I felt sick.

I no longer looked like a normal girl.

I had been turned into something else—something meant to be presented to a monster.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.

'Brother Corrin… Please… save me…'