Chapter 14: Flick (2)

It was a sunny afternoon.

With all events at the Bayern Academy indefinitely postponed due to the terrorism incident during the entrance exam, Carl set foot into the empire’s underworld Flick.

“There is such a large city underground.”

Beyond his mask, Carl cast a curious glance.

True to being a symbol of the empire’s shadows, Flick was located underground.

Of course, underground facilities in the Central Plains weren’t unheard of.

Killing Veil even had an underground training ground and major factions like Gupa and Sega Alliance, Martial Alliance or Heavenly Demon Sect likely had similar facilities.

But it seemed this was the first place to take the full form of an actual city like this.

Located underground, the city had an overall dark and damp feel, but that atmosphere seemed to suit it even more.

‘I assume the empire is aware of Flick’s existence.’

It surely was more than mere awareness.

Perhaps the empire was significantly involved.

After all, bugs were easier to manage when collected in a jar.

He heard that the power holders in Flick and the empire’s nobles often joined hands to coexist.

Indeed, if you wanted to entrust shady business, there would be no better place than here.

“Master, this is your first time here, right?”

“In the capital, most of the schedule was social gatherings or meetings.”

He usually accompanied his older brothers, so he seldom had time on his own.

Today, he had wanted to experience Flick firsthand for the sake of experience.

Queen, who was in charge of escorting, walked side by side with Carl with a slight smile.

Wearing a mask to hide her face just like him, Queen was dressed in a neat suit.

With every movement, an air of dignity emanated from her behavior.

She had just complimented how well the suit fit her, so her steps were light as ever.

“This way.”

There were over a hundred passages leading into Flick.

Each passage connected to a different sector of Flick, and because each sector was governed by a different organization, the entry conditions had to be checked in advance.

Click.

The gatekeeper standing at the end of the corridor blocked their way.

Queen discreetly showed something from her bosom, and the gatekeeper nodded and stepped aside.

“Come on in, please take a look around!”

“Jade stones imported from the Kingdom of Berraham! Top‑grade goods you can’t get via normal routes…!”

The entrance to Flick was filled with heat.

Even in the shadow world, because it formed a city in structure, active solicitation was happening.

Since the major organizations maintained the streets, bloody fights were rare and a certain underworld code was maintained.

“My dear sir, take a look at this. How about this one?”

“Brother, I’ll give it to you at half price. You won’t find something like this elsewhere.”

Of course, occasionally merchants clinging to passersby and forcibly selling things was commonly seen.

But no one approached Carl and Queen.

The reason was the blue pins on their chest.

“The name of the organization that rules this area is Eos, right?”

“Yes. If you pay a certain amount of money, you can receive this pin, which is a VIP badge. Then you get free pass even to the auction hall.”

Queen pointed to the pin on her chest.

At least within this street, they were under Eos’s protection.

“We have about an hour until the auction starts. What would you like to do?”

“I’ll kill time by looking around. This place alone is probably bigger than most Leipzig towns.”

“Understood. Then I’ll guide you to suitable places.”

As if she had already plotted a route, Queen led the way escorting Carl.

From shops handling rare or high‑quality products to restaurants offering local specialties from various regions.

For her, it was an utterly joyful time.

An hour later.

They arrived at the auction hall.

Unlike the general streetscape, the interior exuded a luxurious atmosphere.

Depending on participant rank, different auction halls were accessible, but as VIPs, Carl and Queen were allowed entrance even to the highest‑tier auction room.

Seeing several people who appeared to be nobles seated here and there, it seemed the auction hall’s standard was rather high given the size of the streets.

-Master must be receiving quite a lot of attention. They keep glancing over here.

Queen nonchalantly sent a private message.

Indeed, the moment Carl appeared in the VIP seating, many turned their gaze toward him.

-Most VIPs know each other, so that’s natural. It’s my first appearance today on my side. The identity has been firmly set, right?

-Yes. It was arranged that you are from the Madeira Trading House in another country. We’ll use that as our banner when we advance into the capital.

Nox’s Black Label.

Carlos Leipzig of Leipzig.

And Galak, the third heir of the Madeira Trading House.

Thus, Carl’s identity had become threefold.

Not particularly many.

When operating in the Central Plains under Unkillable, he once moved with over twenty identities at the same time.

‘As expected, forming the organization was a good move.’

Since he recruited capable talent, even without stepping forward himself, they handled the minor matters well on their own.

Leaning on the armrest and resting his chin, as he savored that composure, someone wearing a wolf mask ascended the stage of the auction hall.

“Today, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the honored guests who visited this auction hall. We have prepared excellent items so as not to disappoint, so please enjoy to the fullest.”

With a polite greeting, the first auction began immediately.

Since it was an auction held in the shadows, many of the items were stolen goods or things not easily obtainable.

Carl, expecting the same, looked down at the stage and the wolf‑masked host swept aside a tent covering an item.

“This is a ring called Scarlet. It belonged to a princess of a kingdom that was destroyed hundreds of years ago.”

On the surface, it looked like an ordinary piece of jewelry.

But had it ended there, it wouldn’t have reached the auction.

“But this ring carries a dreadful curse. Whoever wears it will die within twenty‑four hours, without exception. As far as I know, no method of breaking the curse has been discovered.”

“Oh.”

A ring that causes death within twenty‑four hours.

It seemed like a perfect assassination tool.

He was rather intrigued, but that was not his goal today.

He had no particular desire to buy it, so he dismissed it lightly.

The second, third, and even the sixth auction items were likewise ignored.

“…This is the seventh auction item.”

The host carefully brought out a dagger.

“It is a dagger called Ibleheim. It is enchanted with a spell that grants fire attribute energy during the day, and ice attribute energy at night.”

It was a magical weapon with elemental enchantments.

It was quite a unique class, as the ability that could be used changed depending on the time.

Glancing to the side, Carl saw Queen gazing at the stage with sparkling eyes.

‘Come to think of it, she favored using daggers.’

Queen had learned the assassin’s martial art from Carl.

Although her main weapon was the sword, she often used short blades like daggers or stilettos.

In this world, there might not be peerless daggers like Yemyang‑bi or Surabi, but if it was enchanted, it could still serve a purpose.

Beep.

Carl pressed a button.

“2,000 gold. Is there anyone who wishes to bid higher?”

Queen, having confirmed the light ahead, sent Carl a private message while looking at him.

-Will you buy it?

-……It wouldn’t hurt to have one. You can’t always carry a sword inside the academy.

-I see. That is a reasonable point.

Carl casually said it was for a gift later, and she nodded in agreement.

Fortunately, it seemed they had not been caught.

“2,100 gold.”

“2,200 gold.”

“2,500 gold has been reached.”

“3,000 gold. ……Is there no more?”

Carl was able to win the auction for Ibleheim without difficulty.

The other bidders apparently didn’t wish to spend more than 1,000 gold since many items remained.

‘Actually, this is a bargain.’

A magically enchanted weapon would easily be worth over 5,000 gold even with a rough estimate.

But being sold at auction meant it was certainly obtained illicitly or someone was chasing after it.

Of course, that was no concern for Carl.

It was destined for use only in the underworld anyway.

“Now then…….”

The auction items passed by in an instant.

There were a total of 21 items for today.

The item Carl desired appeared as the nineteenth.

“The nineteenth auction item. It is a crystal of frost extracted from the frozen northern continent. It contains pure mana and emits a chilling cold merely by carrying it. Depending on how it is used, it can produce limitless capabilities.”

In Central Plains terms, it could be likened to a treasure of the Northern Sea Ice Palace: the Ice Crystal (빙정).

“Starting bid: 10,000 gold.”

Many who were targeting the frost crystal rapidly drove the price upward like bamboo shoots after rain.

Within less than a minute, it surpassed 20,000 gold and the fervor remained undiminished.

“…….”

Carl crossed his arms and watched the overheated atmosphere.

Frost crystals were famous as luxury goods for nobles or research materials for mages.

Since they seldom circulated on the market, some attendees were likely there solely for the purpose of obtaining the crystal.

“40,000 gold. Now increasing in increments of 5,000 gold. 45,000 gold. 50,000 gold……”

‑Master.

At Queen’s call, Carl briefly nodded and pressed a button.

Not the normal bid button but the “buy now” button.

“……Oh.”

In the heated atmosphere, the host who had been smiling froze in his motion.

Participants repeatedly pressed buttons urging his response, but the host hesitated after checking the amount on screen before speaking.

“100,000 gold—this is the immediate purchase price. According to auction rules, you must pay 10% above that price, meaning 110,000 gold, to participate in the auction.”

“…….”

A hush fell instantly.

The proper price for a frost crystal usually ranged between 60,000 and 70,000 gold.

But the sudden leap in price made many bidders hesitate.

‘The value of an item depends on necessity.’

Carl gave a slight smile as he looked up at the stage.

It might be burdensome to spend 100,000 gold on a simple luxury or research material.

But Carl was more than willing to pay that amount.

‘It is an opportunity to strengthen the Primordial Unity Divine Art.’

Inside the auction hall, there was a brief commotion to identify who had bid 100,000 gold.

But the host, seemingly determined to leave no room for interruption, spoke firmly.

“I will count to three. One, two, three.”

Bang bang bang!

Immediately, the frost crystal was sold.

Queen looked at him with a slight smile, congratulating him.

‘This is precisely why I earned that money.’

Overpowering the opponent with money.

Among Carl’s many talents, this was one special skill he had carefully honed.

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