Enigma of Sin

"Congratulations on your purchases today Mister...?" The auctioneer himself asked in greetings to Kayn after the room's door was opened. It looked like he was probably the highest authority that was at the auction personally, the ones who made all of the money behind the scenes probably never actually showed up.

"You may call me Hasan." Kayn responded, replying with the name he was given beforehand by the group. While his fake name didn't really matter, they needed some kind of entertainment to keep their minds calm, and choosing Kayn's fake name was one way.

"Very well Mr. Hasan. I am the current manager in charge and as you saw also the auctioneer. I go by the name Denji. As I said, congratulations on your purchases. The total for the day comes to 67 platinum coins as that is what you offered during bidding. If you're actually paying in gold, a nominal fee will be included raising the prices to 7000 coins total. You are only required to pay 34 platinum coins at this time as a deposit." Denji spoke up once more and also gave his name as this was a potential VVIP guest.

"Here is the full payment up front Mr. Denji." Kayn handed over 67 platinum coins by placing them directly onto a tray in neat stacks from his dimensional ring. "I'm not one to waste time you see."

Denji's eyes and mouth visibly turned up into large smiles as he greedily stared at all of the money in front of him. His speculation was right, this Hasan was going to make him a good profit this auction! The auction may be held in the outer ring, but only those who could pay were allowed inside anyway, and the VIPs were mostly people from the upper middle and inner rings.

"Thank you Mr. Hasan. As you don't like your time wasted, I've come here at your request to discuss the possible purchase of a slave or two, is that correct?" Denji got straight to the point as he didn't want to ruin the good impression the auction house had made on their guest so far.

"That is correct, the elf over there stated that she had a younger sister, I would like to see if I can get her for my room as well. Better yet, I would love to purchase them both permanently as a pair." Kayn answered, now the real haggling would begin.

"Hmmm, that is difficult Mr. Hasan. They are both premium products. While it would appear that one is no longer pure, that was already paid for by your esteemed self. We can sell her to you for 5 platinum coins as that is the expected profit from use and sale.

"The sister on the other hand…hmmm. She was supposed to be put up for auction tomorrow. She is 12 years old, a pure-blooded elf, pure, shrine maiden in the Great Forest, and will definitely grow up to be a beauty. We expect the bids to be quite high for her alone, in the tens of platinum or thousands of gold." Denji spoke with a sorrowful look on his face, trying to convince Kayn that he was truly sad he couldn't sell her to him outright.

"How about 25 platinum for the pair? I would also appreciate if you threw in the blond over there too. I'm aware that humans go for far lesser than elves or beastkin, so you probably wouldn't make much on her after this. I am also aware that previously a young female half-elf sold for around 10 platinum, so I believe my offer is fair." Kayn spoke with some haughtiness behind his voice, trying to sound more authoritative.

Inwardly though, he was shuddering. After he learned the information about how much even a half elf could go for, he thanked all of his lucky stars that he was able to save Kinzie in time.

Not to mention, he found it odd that the small-time leader of that particular group was going to ruin his profits astronomically. Kayn could only guess that whoever he sold his prisoners to would pay a lump sum for the lot and he never knew how much the people he was capturing were actually worth.

Kayn glanced over to the bed to see Repha sitting up with a horrified expression on her face. Not only was her sister going to be sold, the man in front of her was trying to purchase both of them! This wasn't how she imagined things would go.

"Hmmm, that is indeed a fair price, but I can't say for sure how much she would actually go for tomorrow. I'm willing to sell you both of your current selections for 6 platinum total. As for the sister…"

Denji was trying to show his reluctance to sell her, even though inwardly 25 platinum was more than they had estimated to make from the pair of sisters. He was just trying to milk Kayn for more money.

Lo and behold, his plan worked as just a second later Kayn impatiently increased his offer, "30 for the three of them then. I know you wouldn't make what I'm offering, I'll even throw in an extra coin that you can keep for yourself, off the books. Do we have a deal?" Kayn stated with much more seriousness in his voice this time.

"I believe I can make that work Mr. Hasan. We will deliver the sister along with the three control beacons shortly." Denji spoke as Kayn waved and placed another 30 platinum coins onto the tray, as well as an extra coin into his hand which he gave directly to Denji while shaking hands for a successful transaction.

"I look forward to working with you further Mr. Denji." Kayn spoke as he backed away and sat back onto one of the comfortable chairs in the room.

With that, Denji and the butler exited the room and left Kayn alone with the two women that he had just purchased.

"Jack, if you mess up and Mr. Hasan becomes unsatisfied with our provisions and his experience, you know what will happen." Denji sternly spoke to the young butler before separating to go set things in motion and to get the sister delivered to Kayn's room as soon as possible.

In truth, the sister was expected to go for around 10 to 15 platinum. So, the profit margin he had just successfully negotiated was off the charts! He would be able to retire after the auction at this rate as his commissions were going to be massive compared to any he received before.

Back in the room, Repha had stood up from the bed and was walking over to Kayn with an infuriated expression on her face. "You said that you weren't going to harm me! I even told you about my sister! You just wanted both of us, didn't you!?"

Kayn was astonished at how she was speaking to him. If he was anyone else at this auction, she most likely would have been punished severely for speaking out against him. She was quite bold, but Kayn didn't mind it. She needed this kind of personality to make it through the trials she was currently experiencing.

"Slow down, Repha. If you didn't hear what that man just said, she was going to be sold tomorrow. I got her before anyone else could lay their eyes on her and now you two will be together. I still have no intentions to do anything to you. Continue going along with what I say and do, and you three will all be out of here and back to your homes before you know it. So, calm down, okay?" 

"If this is all an act and you're not actually a bad person, show me your face!" Repha demanded, and Kayn could only sigh at this point. Now she was becoming a bit too much for him. He was just trying to help them out, not be the brunt of their anger and resentment.

"No." Kayn replied curtly. "I'm helping you, that's all you need to know. If you don't want to accept my goodwill, then so be it. It won't change the outcome, just make our next two and a half days together far more unpleasant."

Repha grit her teeth but remained quiet. She then took a seat on one of the chairs anxiously awaiting her sisters arrival.

…

A short time later, Denji knocked on the door once again and entered with a young-looking teenage elf. She looked frightened out of her wits and was clearly shaking from head to toe. She was so fearful that she didn't even notice her sister staring at her from the side of the room.

"This is the sister, as you requested Mr. Hasan. And these," a tray was quickly brought forward by the young butler, "are the three control beacons and paperwork for the full transfer to you. Just sign your name at the bottom and the transaction will be complete."

Kayn walked forward with calm steps and signed the paperwork before throwing all three control beacons into his ring. Denji and the butler then stepped back out of the room, leaving the young elf staring into Kayn's pitch-black hood.

He could tell that she was too scared to realize her situation and his appearance probably didn't do much to ease the situation. Nothing he could say would help her at this point, so he merely stepped to the side and pointed to a certain part of the room.

When the young girl followed where the finger was pointing to, she immediately started sprinting over there with the other side sprinting towards her. The sister duo collided in the middle, embracing each other with tears running down their faces.

Kayn couldn't help smiling at this heartwarming scene. The only problem was how famished the two women and one girl looked. While the two were getting reunited, Kayn waved his hand to put up a veil of darkness around the side of the room with the bed and the three women. He then rang a small bell that was given to him when he arrived.

Not long after, the young butler arrived in the room. "What can I do for you, Sir?"

"I would like a random assortment of food trays. The chef's best dishes preferably. Also, some desserts as well. Thank you."

"Right away, you can expect your food shortly." The young butler spoke. He noticed that half of the room was darkened, and he couldn't see what was happening with the three ladies, but that was none of his business.

His job was to serve to the best of his abilities and report anything suspicious. Even if he felt bad for the three women, he was in a similar situation and there was just nothing they could do to oppose the people who held their reins.