"…Who the hell is this?"

Aiden Schwarzhand turned around and asked his servant.

"I-I don't know, sir."

The servant answered with a stutter.

"Then find out! I don't believe that he isn't part of some clan here. A solo criminal wouldn't dare to bid against me."

Aiden said with a growl, and then he raised his bidding paddle.

"17,500!"

"20,000!"

Aren shouted with a cold look in his eyes.

Saying that number out loud was actually really hurting him, like someone was pushing a knife into his heart.

That wasn't a small amount of money and was actually insane, but it was something that he desperately needed.

He wouldn't have to worry about Leaders anymore. There was Leader among the Society of Knowers as well, and he had to be so careful around him to not accidentally lie.

With that amethyst pendulum necklace, he wouldn't have to worry about that anymore, and his mind would be protected.

The young lord Aiden's teeth gritted.

He didn't originally come here for this pendulum necklace, and the item that was rumored to be here hadn't come yet.

That item was the sole reason that he had come here, and it would really pain him if he failed to acquire that.

'…That bastard is bidding so nonchalantly as if he has more money to burn. Does he even have the money to purchase this necklace? He looks like some street thug!'

With a pissed-off expression, Aiden lowered his bidding paddle and officially forfeited the bidding war.

Five seconds passed, and no one was going against Aren. It was so quiet in the auction house that you could hear a pin drop.

"Going once…"

The auctioneer looked around the auction house. It was quiet.

"Going twice…"

It still stayed quiet, and then the auctioneer lifted his gavel and banged it against the wooden podium.

"Sold to the gentleman at the back!"

The crowd gasped and looked at the thug-looking man. It amazed them the amount of balls this guy had to go against the Schwarzhand family!

"…He actually won!"

"I think he is a dead man unless he has the backing of the clan."

"I don't recognize him, and I've lived in the Black Market all my life ever since I was given birth by my prostitute mother!"

With a calm look, Aren stood up, and while the item was being rolled off the stage, he was taken to the back by a servant of the auction.

They had to make sure that he was going to actually pay, so as soon as the auction for the item ended, he had to go pay for it.

When Aren arrived at the back, the item was there waiting on a table. It was inside a glass case.

"You've bought my item…"

A voice came from behind them. A veiled woman came over. She came here to get the money that she was owed.

She was going to get about eighty percent of the total sum, while the rest of the twenty percent went to the auction house.

It was still a lot of money that she was going to get. More than she initially expected.

'…She isn't Miss Angelica.'

Aren thought at first, and as he turned to look at the veiled woman, his intimidating appearance clearly fazed her as she seemed to take a step back.

"This is the money."

He handed the money to the servant, who went to count it, and then split the money so that the veiled woman got eighty percent of it, and the auction house got twenty.

The servant handed her the money. He then went and opened the glass case. With careful hands, he handed the amethyst pendulum necklace to Aren.

It was something that women would wear, and it was clearly designated for them, but Aren didn't care about the fashion aspect of it.

"I must warn you… Be careful to whom you'll show this necklace. I also have to warn you that necklace attracts evil spirits."

The veiled woman said. She was clearly kind, as she had no need to warn him about such matters.

"…I appreciate it."

Aren said, and then he put the necklace on. It felt cool against his skin.

With a nod, the veiled woman rushed off. It didn't seem like she wanted to stay in the Black Market any longer than necessary.

'…I am done here as well. It was definitely worth it to go here.'

Aren said, left the back, and walked up the steps of the auction house to head to the exit. He had no need to stay here anymore.

Not to mention the ugly looks that he was receiving from the young lord of the Schwarzhand family.

"We have now a very special item. It's one-of-a-kind, and it's the first time in this Great Auction's history that we have something this rare and valuable!"

The auctioneer said with a grin, and the crowd looked quite interested.

In that moment, a cage was rolled to the stage. It was covered in a long blanket that was covering whatever was inside.

'…Another slave? Not interested.'

Aren headed to the door.

Then, the long blanket was pulled off. The auction house turned instantly loud with excited looks flashing in the faces of the crowd.

In the cage, there was a girl, hugging her legs, with long white hair, pale skin like snow, and eyes as dark as the night.

She had an angry look on her face. A look so angry that it was clear that she wished everyone here to die a very painful death.

"It's Rav'akari!"

"Unbelievable… A young Rav'akari too. Where in the world did they get their hands on this one? Young Rav'akari are usually staying in the Realm Between until they are of age!"

"Amazing!"

The crowd exclaimed, and then some of them started throwing their drinks and food at her. It made her get dirtier than she already was.

"Fucking Rav'akari!"

"You monster!"

"You better hope that I don't win the auction, or I'll make you suffer!"

At the top, Aren looked at the white-haired Rav'akari, and his eyes trembled, as this was something that he didn't expect.

This also brought smiles to the faces of the ones staying in the balcony rooms. Several of them stood up just for this.

This was indeed a very rare treat. A female Rav'akari. It was the rarest kind of slave that one could get their hands on.