I wasn’t too sure why, but the bearded Fishman was absolutely furious with me for buying the two elven maids.
Something about their owner being someone important. I didn’t pay much attention to what he was saying because I simply didn’t care. Whoever was their owner wouldn’t do anything against me. Well, he could potentially do something but it wouldn’t achieve anything.
I am Caedrel Stuart, not some random person who you can bully easily.
“Yes, you’re supposed to care! Do you know who you just offended?” The bearded Fishman said as he looked behind him toward a weird-looking masked man.
For some reason, he seemed to be scared of him, which wasn’t something I had anticipated. After all, I thought of the fishman as one of the most respected people in this place. However, if he was scared of this masked man. Then, it meant there was a good chance that he was extremely strong, and more importantly, he was bound to have a lot of connections.
‘Maybe that guy knows about the demons still being in activity?’ I thought in the back of my mind.
Still, I quickly shook my head when I noticed that the three of them were looking in my direction with quite a serious look.
“Instead of looking at me like some sort of mad lad, can’t you just tell me who I offended?”
I could feel the maids who were standing behind me getting nervous as they tapped on the ground with their feet.
“Look, I didn’t do anything wrong. They told me their price, and I told them that I would pay for it. If I did something wrong, then just tell me, and I’ll solve it.”
As I said that I looked in the direction of the masked man who simply waved his hand without a single worry in the world.
“Don’t worry about it. You can have them. Consider it a gift from me; no need to pay.”
I frowned at hearing that. I didn’t want any freebies.
“They’re yours? No, no. I insist I’ll pay for them.”
The masked man sighed. “Whatever, let’s talk about it later. The auction is about to start.”
The maids instantly became a lot more calm as they looked in my direction with bright smiles, making me quite nervous because of how pretty they were. After all, it was the first time I had experienced something like this. During the war, I had never paid attention to females at all.
And I won’t lie. It was an experience that I would never forget.
Still, I had no choice but to give my full attention back onto the stage as I was quite interested in the items that would be sold in this auction. I was quite interested in the person who was currently caged as there was no way that I would let her be bought by one of the perverts currently present in this place.
I would buy her. I promised myself. I would free her from this cruel place.
“We are starting things slowly!” The beautiful girl on the stage said as an item suddenly appeared right beside her. “This is the legendary sword known as the Excalibur. It is one of the strongest swords in the entire world. The starting bid is 100,000 Coins!”
I frowned when I heard the ridiculous price coming out of her mouth. ‘100 000 Coins? And that’s starting slowly. I really am in a place with only big shots.’
Instantly, hands were raised in the room. And that’s when I noticed something about this place. Something that must have slipped past me.
Elves. I couldn’t see them anywhere. Actually, that was a lie. The only elves I could see at the moment were those who were employees or, rather, slaves. There was something strange going on, and I needed to know more.
“Zeph, are you interested in the sword?” The bearded fishman asked with a smirk.
“That cheap-looking sword? Nah…not interested.”
“What about you, Caedrel? Interested?”
“Swords? Nah, I don’t use those.” I shook my head. “Though, I do have a question for you boys.”
The bearded Fishman looked at me with a frown instantly. However, he still welcomed the question.
“Could you tell me why all the employees of this place are elves?”
“Ah. That. Don’t worry about it, it’s complicated.”
“I don’t think you understand,” I said, my tone suddenly changing. “I want to know why there are only elves as slaves in this place.”
I was tired of hearing answers that didn’t mean anything. I had tried the easy going approach, but it seemed like it wouldn’t work. Controlling my emotions was always something I had struggled with in the past, and it was once more showing as I could feel some of aura leaking from my body, spreading through the room.
The first one to notice it was definitely Zephyr, as he immediately looked at me as if ready to fight.
“Look, man, no need to get mad. We’ll tell you. It’s not like it’s a big secret or anything,” Zephyr said, trying to calm the situation down.
However, before Zephyr could open his mouth again, the masked man answered.
“No. No one will tell this man anything.”
“Do you have a problem with me?” I said with a smile as I looked over in his direction.
“No, I just don’t know you, and I don’t trust you.”
This man…there was something different about him, and I needed to find out what it was.
“You,” I said as I pointed in his direction. “Who are you?”
“HAHAHA!” He laughed like a crazy man. “Do you have hearing problems?”
He stopped laughing suddenly, and the atmosphere suddenly became heavy.
For the first time in a very long time, I felt in danger.
The person behind that mask was no ordinary man. I could feel it; that man had the strength to potentially fight on even grounds with me, and the amount of people who could do such a thing was less than ten.
I needed to be careful of the power I showed around him, or else he might become extremely wary of me. The aura I accidentally slipped most likely made him react in such a way.
“Why are you suddenly so quiet?” The masked man suddenly asked me.
