FVN Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Chapter 72
"This is the final item of the day! The one all of our esteemed guests have been eagerly awaiting!" Noor announced as the auction reached its climax.
"Our star of the show is an elf who was captured near the great southern forest!" Noor's voice boomed as an elf was dragged onto the stage.
Her pointed ears, peeking through her long hair, made it clear what she was. Unlike the other slaves who had been presented earlier, she was thoroughly restrained. She had a gag in her mouth to prevent her from taking her own life, and a blindfold covered her eyes to ensure she couldn't see anything.
"So it was true!" someone exclaimed.
"I'm bidding on her, so the rest of you had better back off!" another person called out.
The auction hall, which had been relatively calm until now, buzzed with raised voices as excitement filled the room.
Noor smiled, clearly pleased with the rising tension as he said, "Elves receive basic training. In the process of capturing her, we severed the tendons in her limbs to make sure she wouldn't resist. We ask for your understanding regarding that. Now, let's start the bidding at a hundred thousand gold."
The auction began with a price that would rival the yearly budget of a small barony. For commoners, it was an unimaginable sum.
"110,000!" a person said.
"120,000!" someone else called out.
"150,000!" another person yelled out.
But to the so-called nobles in this room, it didn't seem to matter. The price skyrocketed within seconds.
Cobler, who was watching the auction unfold beside Caron, leaned in and asked quietly, "You're not planning to participate in the auction, are you, Young Master?"
"How much do you think she'll go for?" Caron asked.
"It's hard to say. The last elf we captured sold for 300,000 gold, but this one's in much better condition. The last one had already lost a hand... If I had to guess, maybe around 500,000 gold?"
It was a ludicrous sum, but Caron knew all too well that there were plenty of people in this world with money to burn.
"500,000 gold... I suppose that's a tolerable price for high-ranking nobles who own multiple thriving businesses," Caron said.
"There's also that absurd superstition that sleeping with an elf grants immortality. The crazier perverts will throw themselves at the chance. And the higher up the nobles are, the more they believe in that nonsense," Cobler explained.
Caron noticed a flicker of disdain in Cobler's tone, as if to convey insult toward the nobility. Cobler seemed to realize his slip-up and quickly slammed his forehead onto the ground.
"I-I misspoke..." Cobler stuttered.
But Caron merely chuckled and nodded, then said, "True enough. Plenty of fools believe in those stupid myths. I've even met some who believe in devils."
He drained the rest of the liquor from his glass in one gulp. For some reason, the drink tasted unbearably bitter.
"300,000!" someone called out.
The bidding for the elf had reached 300,000 gold. Unlike the frenzy at the beginning, only two or three bidders remained in the race.
"Cobler," Caron said as he cut through the noise.
Cobler looked at Caron and replied, "Y-Yes, Young Master?"
"You said your specialty was kidnapping slaves from other traders, right?" Caron asked.
"That's correct," Cobler answered.
"Then, can you do the same for the slaves being sold here at this auction?" Caron asked.
When Cobler heard the question, his ugly face turned deathly pale. He slowly answered, "I-It would be difficult."
"Why?" Caron asked.
"The clients who use this auction are all from prestigious families. After the auction ends, the organizers assign mercenaries to escort the buyers and their goods to their desired destinations. There's no way a group of slave traders could hope to take them on... They're far too well-guarded," Cobler explained.
"Cash is always preferred," Noor replied smoothly.
"But then the flow of funds can be traced," Caron pointed out, casually yet sharply.
It was a natural concern for nobles, especially when dealing with such an enormous sum as 500,000 gold. If too much money was moved at once, someone could take notice and start digging.
He's young and inexperienced, Noor thought as observed the young man. Despite his wealth, the young man seemed to be a fresh face in high society, possibly still learning the ways of the world.
Noor softened his tone and offered a reassuring explanation. "There's no need to worry. What you're purchasing here isn't technically the elf, but rather gemstones equivalent to 500,000 gold. This auction house operates as a gemstone dealership during the day."
"...So you're laundering the money," Caron said flatly.
Noor gave a humble nod, a small smile still on his lips, then said, "We simply do everything we can to ensure that none of our esteemed clients face any undue trouble."
After that, he took another sip of tea and quietly studied Caron. There was no doubt this young man could pay. After all, that Black Card wasn't just for show. It was issued by the Imperial Bank and reserved only for the true elite, the wealthiest and most powerful in the empire. Just having such a card was a testament to both immense authority and financial might.
I've already confirmed the card's authenticity, Noor thought to himself, recalling the extra precautions he had taken. Despite what that vile slave trader, Cobler, had said, Noor had verified the card through the branch manager of the Imperial Bank in Reben; someone who, conveniently, was also a frequent guest of the auction house. And since the manager was attending the auction this very day, the process had gone smoothly.
There was no need to worry about whether Caron could pay. The only question was how he would do it. But then, Caron's next words wiped the smile from Noor's face.
"Then I'll pay later," Caron said calmly.
"...Excuse me?"
"I've got a private stash in the vaults at Thebe. Since you're already offering an escort to wherever I need to go, how about you take me to Thebe, and I'll pay you there?" Caron's unexpected proposal hung in the air.
He was suggesting that he would pay a fee of 500,000 gold after the fact.
Noor quickly regained his composure, masking his surprise as he said, "Our policy strictly requires upfront payment, Young Master. I'm afraid we can't let you take the elf without settling the transaction first. Perhaps you could send someone to fetch the funds and bring them here?"
It was a compromise that adhered to the unspoken rule of the slave market: Money first, always. Without that guarantee, there could be no trust, especially in such illegal dealings.
"Or, you could use your Imperial Bank payment card. That would allow us to complete the transaction right away," Noor offered smoothly.
Caron's face twisted in irritation as he said, "That would leave a trail proving I was here, you idiot."
Though the young man's vulgarity was clear, Noor was unfazed. He continued, "If you wish, we could assist you in withdrawing from another branch. However, you'd have to stay in Reben until then."
"I don't want to spend a single extra day in this filthy place," Caron growled.
"Isn't it too much to ask for payment after the fact when we don't even know each other? I believe you're well aware that money is the only thing we can trust," Noor pressed cautiously.
Nobles who frequented the slave market typically preferred discreet, clean transactions. No one with any sense would risk exposing their identity to commit such a heinous act.
He'll have no choice but to comply, Noor thought confidently.
However, his expectation completely missed the mark. The young man in front of him spoke up right away, as if he had been waiting for it.
"So if I reveal my identity, you'll let me pay after?" Caron asked.
"Not exactly..." Noor said.
"Good," Caron interrupted. "I was getting tired of wearing this mask anyway."
With a swift motion, he removed the steel mask from his face, revealing his features to the room: Golden hair, gleaming with health and vitality, and striking blue eyes that seemed to pierce through Noor. It was a face that would cause anyone to pause in admiration.
Is he out of his mind? Noor wondered. Even with such a handsome face, he couldn't recognize who this young man was.
"Isn't it about time your boss showed up personally?" Caron said.
"I'm the one in charge here, and even though you've shown me your face, I still don't—" Noor's words faltered as something in Caron's eyes changed. The young man's gaze suddenly turned cold and menacing.
At some point, Noor realized that his leg was trembling. Moreover, even when he tried to move his hand, it didn't budge at all. No, to be more precise, it wasn't just his hand. He felt paralyzed.
"Go and tell your boss," Caron said as he got up from his chair and slowly approached Noor. Then, after placing a hand on Noor's shoulder, he continued, "Caron Leston wants to see you."