Chapter 14: The auction

South-west of the kingdom sits a large building, owned by an influential company within the kingdom, they run an auction were the people are free to bid on anything thats being sold, but they also have the option of giving in items to sell for a profit. Rare and valuable items go up for sale, some of them having been from world raids or dungeons, both are naturally occurring phenomena, inside contain treasures and dangerous creatures, which is why only adventures are the only ones that brave them, but world raids are rare occurrences. There subdued when the “boss” is defeated, when they do happen its near or in a Kingdom, resulting in casualties and the destruction of the Kingdom, with the last known one having wiped the Eclipse kingdom along with all records of it, nobody knows what occurred. The last known world raid was five years ago, the First king had been deemed a world threat and was fortunately outside any kingdoms jurisdiction. The auction also accepts crafted weapons, although the only forged weapons worth buying come from one person, a renowned blacksmith sought out by many people but rarely ever accepts commissions, he brings three types of weapons to the auction, all of them rivaling high grade dungeon weapons, people referred to him as the “ God of Smithing” although very few people have met him. Inside the house was packed with people, all waiting for the auction to being. They were chatting with the people around them. I can feel the gaze of almost everyone here as they gossip, to the people Im temporary king but also next in line to be king and they don’t know I’d rather not, and it should stay that way. I take my place near an empty table, I place the invite on the table. Not everyone gets one but certain people are invited personally by the owner, I received the invite months before I decided to go after Onyx and I planned on not going at first, glad I decided to keep it. " Hows the raid goin?” called an unfamiliar voice, someone who looks to be an adventure joins me at my table, he was from royal Adventurer, the group that works for the kingdoms government, I can tell by his armour, it was the one issued to those who join them. The only difference from the royal adventures, normal adventures and the kingdom army was simple, royal adventurers worked directly for the council while normal adventurers had more freedom when it came to doing things, and the kingdoms army was for those not blessed with magi. " nothing has changed with what I said about taking down Onyx, to be honest Im looking into an organization that worships the darkness, I have reasons to believe there here in secret,” I confessed, after talking with him for a bit I take my leave. I had only just met him but there was a strange sense of familiarity with him, like I had seen him before. However nothing comes to mind so I just ignore it for now, I make my way to where the items are being held, I only told him so that he’d report this back and investigate it himself, this time I wont take action alone. Using the invite I was able to get an audience with the owner and auction master to show them the item I’ll be selling. “ I’m glad you could make it tonight. My name is Astar, the Owner of the C.S company, and this here is the Auction master,” She says, she was tall, black dress pants and dress shirt, a maroon coat on top, her dark colored hair parted evenly to each side. Her eyes had a strange pattern, dark red lines in the shape of a plus but they don’t intersect in the middle, cut off mid way. The auction master however, was close to her height, shorter than her though. He too wore a coat, black in color, a black top hat with a red ribbon lining the base sat on his head, his eyes covered by round shades, not sure what but something felt off with him, for now I’d have to ignore the feeling. The auction master had given me a quick run down of how things would work and when the items given to house would be bidded on, I hand them the spear and make my way back to my table, the auction would begin soon. " We didn’t get to properly meet, Im Jo,” he says, “ theres a file on this cult you mentioned before, we were given word by the Treasure kingdom Queen that there after something and it could be found here, I spotted a few people who could be members. Oh and theres a message from the queen to you, it uh, says “you idiot”, nothing more,” Jo relays. I had forgotten about Aurum calling and the thing she wanted me to do, oh well. She had also already sent a report in about the cult, she must’ve been worried I’d try and handle things on my own again. The auction had began with an introduction from Astar and the auction master began the bidding, the items started selling, nothing I’d need. The blacksmiths items were two daggers and a broadsword, compared to his past entries these weren’t as note worthy, "I heard the Blacksmith was working on something big, which is why he had no time for side projects like making something for the auction,” Jo mentioned “ The ones submitted were old projects that had been lying around,” he says leaning on the table, those weapons were still high quality for them having just been lying around. Weapons, Armour, and other items were all that went up for auction but not the spear, meaning someone from the house was working with the cult and stole the spear, or the owner herself is a member. Everyone was heading out as the auction was ending. “ It seems we couldn’t get any leads on the cult having a branch here, “ Jo says letting out a sigh, walking over to the side he reluctantly follows, " I gave the auction an item that the cult has tried getting before, that said item wasn’t put up for bidding, meaning someone stole it or the house has been infiltrated,” I explained to him, Cloaking was apparently one ability that came with this dark affinity. I was able to sneak into the back where the items were held with Jo, but the more I moved in the stronger the impulse of darkness I could feel, as if something is amplifying the signal, " You can… wield the dark energy?” Jo whispers, he was the only other person to know of this, aside from the Aurum and the Minister, and I assume the council knows but im not too sure about that. " It’s different from what the cult does, I never asked for this affinity it just kinda happened,” I tell him as we move further in. We eventually reach the end, or not. I run my hand along the brick wall, slowly trickling energy into it, hoping to trigger some kind of reaction like back at the cafe, and to my surprise, the shifting of stone quietly echoed through the backstage to reveal the passage downward. I let the veil concealing us go when we were deep enough down, the passage lead to a hall way with doors lining either end, six on each side that lead who knows where, most of them were labeled, the second door on the left had two disciples, both had no time to react to our arrival. There was a large monitor mounted to the wall that was displaying the camera system, a desk off to the side with papers scattered across it, nothing of note. " The Disciples of the Celestial Eater, we found our proof that they are here,” Jo says, he had headed for the computer, which was now displaying plans and other files that documented each branch, everything they’ve done up until this point had their own files but plans that were to happen needed a higher authority. But one file in particular was open that would bring this whole organization down. Astar, the owner of the Celeste star company was the Paragon, the founder of the Disciples.