Meanwhile..

 "What a beauty you have here, huh Henry," said the chubby old man, with big rosy cheeks.

 "We are always striving to surpass ourselves, esteemed Sir August," replied Henry, In an unusual flattering tone of voice.

 As a high-status man in the inner city, August was Henry's guest of honor at that moment. The rotund old man was twice the size of Henry and, despite his caricatured and silly figure, exuded an oppressive aura.

 This was not the first nor would it be the last high-status guest that Henry invited to showcase his new high-quality products, of course, all to warm up and create expectations among potential buyers.

 Having said that there would be 3 high-quality products, each special guest was presented with just one of them, leaving them in anticipation of what they would be like, thus generating gossip among the different guests that soon inflamed the local high society.

In front of Henry and August, now stood Lanuzel, the elf previously seen by Alex.

 Henry had researched each of the special guests very well and showed them what they might covet the most.

 "After this auction, I believe you will have enough credits to enter and start trading within the inner city, finally leaving this dreadful dump that is the outer city," said the fat nobleman, resting his arms on his protruding belly amid a dry laugh.

 Henry's eyes sparkled with the idea of finally being able to be an authorized slave trader within the inner city of Grey Castle. He, as an acolyte, was already qualified to enter and be an inner resident, but he lacked the strength and fame necessary to be a slave trader.

 With the death of the former head of the slave market in the inner city of Grey Castle, a level one mage, his son, an acolyte and scholar, preferred to liquidate his rich business and move to a more qualified place for study, hoping to become a mage.

 This vacant space as head of the slave domain in the city was completing a year and the high society was already fed up with finding someone suitable.

 Of course, some might think of taking it for themselves, but knowing that there is only one chair, no other established power would stand still seeing some power taking possession of two territories, so, with no inner city competition, a silent war in the outer city had already reached its climax. Amid assassinations, blackmail, favors, and a lot of boot licking, Henry emerged victorious among the other slave chiefs of the huge outer city, so his next auction, with high-quality products with high family backgrounds, would serve to solidify his forces with the inner city powers.

 "I would like to point out that, despite the stunning beauty of this elf, as a high-quality product, she has been taught, but remains untouched down there," said Henry, stirring the lust of the fat man beside him.

 "Immaculate?!" *Glup* The plump man swallowed dryly, as he looked at the beauty with empty eyes.

 As if realizing that he had let his lust show, the man composed himself and with a fake cough, affirmed with a smile: "Just thinking that you have 2 more products of such good quality, I really get excited. It's not every day that I can have the opportunity to see and… have, such a submissive elf princess."

 At that moment, interrupting the conversation that was unfolding, two rhythmic knocks could be heard at the door of the room.

"Yes, Adam?" said Henry, knowing who it was by the knocks.

"About the new product, Sir."

 Hearing the response and knowing that Adam wouldn't waste his time, Henry called for Adam to come in.

 "Mr. Henry, the product has been properly trained and is ready to be auctioned," Adam said, without ceremony.

 "Great!" Exclaimed Henry, happy that the new product was ready. Even he had to admire the bastard's resilience, he didn't think Alex would last that long in the hands of that mad dog.

 Having then confirmation of the new product, Henry took the opportunity and, turning to the fat man who now had a confused expression, said: "I hadn't informed before because I didn't know if there would be time, but it seems that everything went well, Sir August, I can tell you firsthand that there won't be 3 high-quality products at the next auction."

 With Henry's dramatic pause, August showed a frustrated expression, saying interrogatively: "Was there a problem with some of the products, Henry?"

 "On the contrary, Sir August, I tell you firsthand that in fact, there will be 4 high-quality products at the next auction, all from privileged backgrounds!" Exclaimed Henry, with a playful smile.

 "Hahaha, wonderful! You really know how to keep an old man in suspense!" Said the plump old man, leaning back and laughing.

 Henry and Adam exchanged satisfied looks, before Adam bowed 90 degrees to both, leaving the room.

 Amid the joy of the two men, a beautiful elf, very well dressed, could be seen sitting in a Victorian wooden chair, around her, a square glass cage was placed, of course, not to prevent them from escaping, but to avoid the need to scold the important guests for touching the products.

 Amid the voices and laughter, the elf remained silent and motionless, with dull eyes, but, amid the expensive and well-sewn cloths of the dress she wore, in one of her hands, which was covered in beautiful voluminous fabrics, the small fingers of her hand pressed hard on a thin silk cloth.

~~~

 Far from there, in a luxurious room not inferior to Henry's office, amid the veil of darkness that the thick curtains provided, an extremely muscular man was sitting in his white leather armchair, one hand covering his eyes, as if seriously contemplating something, the other, extended on the armrest, firmly held the armchair. Even under the dim lighting, it was possible to see the bulging veins of the hand, his fingers digging hard into the armchair, thus ruining the expensive white leather.

 "Sir, we lost a lot to Henry in the competition, we can't afford to let this other individual act as he pleases, we have to retaliate strongly." said the slim silhouette in front of the armchair, with his hoarse and scratched voice.

"…".

 The two men, obscured by the darkness of the environment, remained silent for some time, before a deep voice, with an irritated tone, broke the silence: "There's nothing to be done, Henry is a peak acolyte, his machinations also surpassed mine. I don't have the power or the status to surpass him now, so he is untouchable… at least to us." … "The auction is coming up, you understand where I'm getting at?"

 "I'll make the preparations, sir," said the thin man, quickly retreating from the dark room.Alone, the muscular man relaxes in his chair, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulder.

Sighing, the man looks up and mutters, "I lost, at least let me use your hand, bastard."

 Stretching his neck to relieve the accumulated tension, the man gets up from his armchair. As if the darkness didn't bother him, he walks towards a dresser, with a metal box on top. Opening it, the man takes out a delicate reliquary necklace, observing the image inside.

 Like magic, the pendant emitted its own glow, with a beautiful girl being portrayed inside, blinking and smiling, as if she were alive. Now, with the lighting coming from the pendant, an eye shining with sadness could be seen on the muscular man's face, a contrasting trait with its roughness.

 "I miss you. If only you were here, Mary Jane…" The deep voice, previously irritated, sounded melancholic as it addressed the smiling girl in the pendant.

 In the solitary dark room, a man observed the animated photo of a glowing reliquary necklace. Only faint bird sounds coming from outside could be heard, creating a melancholic melody that embraced the moment.