READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 372: The Auction
In the instructors' lounge of the Vermilion Royal Academy, a dimly lit room remained untouched by the sun's full warmth.
Though the sun was still up and the entire capital was submerged in its warm embrace, this particular room was dark, with faint rays of light slipping through the gaps in the window blinds.
Standing beside the window, with the silver strands of sunlight shining on his face, was a tall man with a pair of differently colored eyes—one red and the other sapphire.
Naturally, this person was Amon, the powerful Level 100 Demon who had traveled all the way from the Demonic Empire to the human domain in search of one person: his liege, the Hound of the Flash Hope Church.
Amon glanced at his wrist, his gaze settling on the low-level bracelet securely wrapped there, and his eyes flashed strangely.
Although this item was only basic and very cheap to come by, it was the only reason he had been able to keep his identity a secret for all these years.
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Item: Concealment Bracelet (Basic Tier)
Description: Allows the user to suppress their true aura and blend seamlessly among humans. Effective only against individuals below Level 110.
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Dismissing the holographic screen, Amon sighed, a hint of melancholy shining within his eyes. Enrolling in an academy as prestigious as the Vermilion Kingdom's with a fake identity hadn't been easy, and Amon had witnessed just how difficult it was firsthand.
To become an instructor in the Vermilion Kingdom, one needed to pass two types of tests: theory and practical. The theory test was a written exam, while the practical test involved combat.
The theory test had been where he struggled, as it mostly contained questions about the history of the Vermilion Kingdom and the right approach to teaching.
Because the Demon Continent didn't follow the concept of schools, as their hierarchy was more strength-based, for someone like Amon, it had been very tough, and he had done poorly.
However, the combat test had been where he excelled. He already had prior knowledge of fighting and a vast number of techniques. Bridget and the other board members of the Academy had been very impressed. Therefore, they overlooked his results in the theory test and made him the instructor of both the Special Class and the Alpha Class.
One might wonder: why did Amon choose to enroll in the Academy of all places? It was rather simple. He joined for two main reasons.
The first was that it allowed him to blend in with the rest of the citizens in the Vermilion Kingdom. The second was because of the connections and respect being an instructor of the Academy brought.
Before coming here, Amon's informants had told him that the citizens of the Vermilion Kingdom and the entire human domain deeply respected instructors of the Academy. With this influence, it should have been much easier to search for the Hound.
However...
"How long...how long will I have to search for you, my liege?" Amon sighed. "Sometimes I feel I acted in too much of a hurry. I greatly underestimated the size and population of the human domain...what made me even think I'd easily find the Hound if I came here?"
Knock Knock
Amon was snapped out of his thoughts by a knock on his door. Opening it, he found a parchment right outside. He didn't immediately pick it up but first looked down both sides of the long corridor. Yet, he didn't find whoever had knocked.
"Strange," Amon muttered as he picked up the parchment. Up close, he realized it was actually an invitation. He quickly removed the black crown seal on the letter and began reading.
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"The Black Market Auction cordially invites you, Amon Zaerus, to participate in our prestigious event, which will take place tonight."
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Amon stroked his chin as he mumbled to himself in a low voice, "Hmm, I guess since I have nothing to do, I might as well attend this auction."
Amon had been staying in the capital for a while now and had a few contacts here and there. As such, he knew about the Black Market Auction.
The Black Market Auction was known for sending invitations to powerful individuals across the capital whenever they were about to host an event. Amon suspected that the other instructors had also received invitations.
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Currently, Nox and Wendy were inside a carriage heading downtown. The ride was silent, mostly because the two didn't really have anything to talk about. Soon enough, they arrived at a two-story luxurious tavern located in the central hub of the royal capital.
Nox and Wendy stepped out of the carriage, and Nox swept his gaze around the district they had arrived in. What met his eyes were dozens of towering European-styled buildings. Merchants stood beside their carts and stalls, shouting at the top of their voices.
"Fresh fruits, straight from the orchards of the Eastern Plains! Sweet as honey and twice as juicy!"
"Steel that never dulls! Swords, daggers, and spears—crafted by the finest blacksmiths in the kingdom!"
"Potions for every need! Healing elixirs, stamina boosters, and antidotes! Don't fight your next battle unprepared!"
"Man power! Makes you last longer in bed!"
Nox and Wendy ignored the shouting merchants and followed Wendy's lead. Meanwhile, Nox took note of his surroundings. The cobblestone ground was well-maintained.
The towering European-styled buildings surrounding the square gleamed under the sun. Flags bearing the Vermilion Kingdom's crest fluttered from balconies, and armored guards patrolled the streets, their polished helmets glinting.
The security here is tight, Nox noted, slightly impressed by how orderly everything was. Despite this being a marketplace, everyone seemed well-organized.
Moments later, Nox and Wendy stepped inside the tavern. The interior was well-furnished, with polished wooden tables, a fireplace, and chandeliers that cast a golden glow over the room. The scent of roasted meat and alcohol filled the air.
Wendy stepped forward and looked around. She seemed to be searching for someone. After a moment, her gaze settled on a woman seated alone at a corner table.
"There she is," Wendy said softly, with relief and anticipation. "She's the one who will take us to the auction."