Posters.

…Wanted posters covered the floor and were plastered along the walls as well. Kassal picked one up from the ground and read it.

"They're really paying a lot!"

he exclaimed in astonishment.

Miguel replied with a smile, raising his hands as if answering an obvious question.

"That's why they have a route leading to the Bounty Hall."

Kassal asked incredulously, as if he did not believe him,

"They really do?!"

Miguel did not hide it.

"Well, I saw a sign with that name back there if you want to go check."

Footsteps echoed through the corridor leading to the sub auction hall. Cyn and his group were masked. Three men appeared in their line of sight, looking gloomy and irritated, muttering things like,

"Damn it, the money wasn't enough!"

"Lord Zagrid will be furious when he hears about this…"

They passed by them. Cyn chuckled lightly and mocked them,

"Looks like someone had bad luck today."

The three stopped. Cyn's group stopped as well. A subtle pressure hung in the air. One of the three scrutinized them before asking,

"Now that I look closely… I don't think I've seen you around here before."

Cyn sneered.

"Heh… and how would you know that? Our faces are covered, aren't they?"

The man's lips formed an "O."

"Ahhh, you're right! I forgot!"

His companion immediately insulted him,

"You idiot—!"

They turned to leave, but Cyn spoke again, stopping them once more. His voice carried a strange, teasing undertone.

"Who knows… maybe staying a little longer might earn you something for free."

Cyn and his group moved forward. As for the three men, they were left confused, unable to grasp what he meant.

Coincidentally, Kassal was just as confused. He whispered anxiously,

"Listen, don't do anything crazy. We can't afford to make enemies among high-ranking people—not in our current state, and not in a place like this."

Cyn merely smiled.

Loud voices reached their ears, coming from a brightly lit exit, as though it led to an open space. As they approached, a vast scene unfolded before them.

A circular auction hall.

Cyn walked up to an iron railing and looked down at the circular stands below. There was no VIP room of any sort. The place resembled a football stadium, with the auction host standing at the center, presenting the goods. Heavy security surrounded him.

The stands were partially filled, though not packed.

Miguel leaned against the railing and asked,

"So? What do we do now?"

Cyn stared at a certain spot before replying,

"Do you see that man in the southern stand?"

Miguel turned his head to look. One person stood out clearly—surrounded by several half-naked girls, behaving however he pleased.

"What about him?" Miguel asked.

Cyn answered simply as he stepped forward,

"We're going to him. That's all."

Miguel pursed his lips as if to say, Just like that?

Cyn headed down the stairs leading to the southern stand. Their movement drew attention, especially their coats and the fact that they were masked.

Kassal felt pressure mounting as eyes turned toward them. He followed Cyn without knowing where this would lead, but in the end, he would follow him no matter what—he had no other choice.

Once they reached the southern stand, the gazes stopped following them. Simply because there was no one else there besides the man in front of them and the people surrounding him—girls and guards.

He sat on a luxurious red chair, hair slicked back. A large, muscular build. Glasses. A white formal outfit combining robe and wool. Pink hair. He looked to be in his early forties.

And there was something else worth mentioning—the oppressive pressure he exerted on Cyn and the others.

Miguel stared at him in shock. One word echoed in his mind:

Monster.

The guards did not try to stop them, even after they entered the man's territory. As rumored, there was no fighting allowed here, and no mercy for those who broke the rules. Most likely, others simply avoided trouble. Regardless of the rules, once you stepped outside, they no longer applied.

And of course, who would want to cause trouble with someone like this present?

Even though Cyn did not know who he was.

Cyn removed his mask with a smile and said plainly,

"You look like you own the place."

The response was unexpected.

"Huh… I didn't hear you. Did you say something?"

Cyn merely smiled. The moment Miguel heard that, he knew dealing with this man would be difficult. He had clearly heard him and simply chose not to respond.

Cyn stepped closer, still smiling casually, and spoke clearly and mockingly,

"I said… you look like you own the place."

With a strange expression, as if he had not processed the words properly, the man replied in the same tone,

"Huh? Did you say something?"

As if testing Cyn's patience.

But Cyn was completely unfazed. The foolish smile on his face remained as he leaned closer and spoke directly into the man's ear. Miguel and the others tried to stop him.

"I SAID! YOU LOOK LIKE YOU OWN THE PLACE!"

The man chuckled internally and pushed Cyn back by the shoulder.

"Hahaha… step back, you lunatic. I heard you just fine. You almost burst my eardrum. So, who are you, handsome boy? And what do you want?"

Cyn did not like that tone. It felt like harassment. When he glanced at the people surrounding the man, he understood—but it was still irritating.

The smile vanished from his face. His reply was cold.

"I have a problem. As you may know, there's a group calling themselves the Raging Floods. I heard one of them is here right now. If possible, could you point him out among this crowd?"

The man smiled sarcastically.

"Out of everyone here, you chose to ask me that? What do I look like to you—a beginner's guide? Someone who hands out information and answers questions? My grandmother has been asking me who broke her precious vase twenty years ago, and I still haven't given her a straight answer. And here you are, thinking the world is that simple. What are you offering to pay?"

He leaned back in his chair. Two half-naked girls stood before him.

Spank! Pakh! Spank!

He slapped their backsides with both hands while staring at Cyn with a leering smile.

One of them approached Cyn naturally, smiling, swaying her hips. As she drew close, she reached out and touched his neck.

But a single downward glance from Cyn—a dark, pitch-black look—froze her. Pain and shattering force struck before she even understood what happened.

BAAANG!

A swift, brutal blow with the back of his fist. Teeth flew. Blood sprayed. Even the girl herself was sent flying backward.

Miguel froze.

Did she just try something with him? Is this a signal to start fighting here?

Kassal watched with stiff eyes.

Damn it… why—can't you just wait a little?

It's always the damn violence!

They all waited for the man's reaction—the only one with the right to respond.

But he did nothing.

Cyn spoke calmly, leaving everyone behind him stunned and confused,

"Sorry. I'm not into ladyboys."

What was that supposed to mean? Couldn't you just refuse? And what even is a ladyboy?

Questions flooded Kassal's mind.

The man pursed his lips.

"Hmm… okay. But you didn't have to be so rough. You shouldn't be harsh to a girl who wants to be gentle with you."

Cyn looked at him. As for the "girl" he had mentioned—who was in fact a man—he was crawling on the floor, groaning in pain. His face was a grotesque mix of blood and smeared makeup.

He crawled between the man's legs, clutching his knees.

"S–Sir! I—"

The man interrupted him gently, holding his face between his hands.

"Shhh, my dear. Don't talk."

He paused, examining his features closely.

"Oh my… you look terribly ugly now. Some rest and heavy makeup should bring that pretty face back. Don't worry—just go and rest."

He gestured to his guards. Even after Cyn had struck one of their own, they had not moved or shown hostility. They stood there indifferently, waiting for orders.

The order now was simply to carry him out for treatment.

The man looked back at Cyn, exhaled, and smiled.

"You really did me a favor. Now I can get rid of him without hurting his feelings. I was getting bored of him lately anyway."

"Well then, I won't let your favor go to waste. I'll reward you. I'll answer one of your questions."

Kassal, Quides, Javrot, and even Miguel were stunned.

What was happening? How did this even happen?

Cyn simply smiled.

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