章 26: Chapter 26: Auction House

They entered a room filled with various measuring device and training facilities.

There, she measured his level and tested his skills for the documentation.

Ethan revealed what was is only necessary while hiding other abilities after learning the requirement list. That way he could be safe more. The previous incidents reminded him to be cautious, never to do anything reckless again.

After an hour's of gruelling process, Finally Ethan got his E-Rank hunter license, and headed out from the Guild.

"Ethan, you're here. Thank goodness!" A crisp female voice called out to him.

Ethan turned to see Lenora Emberion, the girl in fiery red from the tavern. Her sudden appearance surprised him, especially since she finally used his real name for the first time ever.

"Why are you here, Lenora?" He asked, knowing full well the answer. He realized he missed her invitation to the dungeon raid due to being at the prison at that time.

Lenora's face turned into a slight pout. "What do you mean by 'Why am I here'? You missed our appointment for the dungeon raid! Why didn't you show up?" Her tone was like that of an annoyed kitten.

"Uh..." Feeling a twinge of guilt, he said, "I'm sorry, Lenora. I was caught up in an unfortunate accident, so I wasn't able to join you guys."

Lenora's expression softened a bit.

"O-Okay, if you say so. I accept your apology. Now, let's go somewhere to talk in detail," she said, pointing towards a luxury looking tavern.

Ethan, sensing Lenora's discomfort, agreed.

"Sure. Let's go."

They went to a beautifully decorated tavern with a serene atmosphere. The place was luxurious, with ornate decorations and a royal aristocratic vibe. The sweet smell of incense filled the air, creating a perfect setting for their conversation.

Although Ethan was unsure about spending time here with someone three years younger than him to be exact, Lenora seemed to enjoy the place, so he went along. The dishes were expensive, costing as much as an average family's monthly expenditure. However, recalling his ability to earn money easily, he decided to splurge a bit.

As they ordered a variety of expensive dishes, they resumed their conversation.

"Ethan, the rest of my party members are really mad at you now. They started cleaning out the dungeon on their own. What are you going to do?"

Ethan chuckled softly, imagining their reaction amusing and troubling. He could imagine how they would react when he met them again. While he wasn't sure if he needed a party, considering he could handle things solo, he didn't want to be alone and lonely like his previous life.

He wanted to change and find joy. Despite the cruel people in this world, there were good ones too, like Aria, Aunt Greta, and perhaps this girl in front of him. Her character still needed to be evaluated further.

"I'll apologize to them when we meet, Lenora. That day was really hectic for me," Ethan replied softly, not going into details.

Lenora smiled lightly, satisfied with Ethan's response. Their lunch continued with occasional talk, laughter, and chuckles. They planned to set another raid together with her party two days later. She told him that she would try to convince them again.

Afterwards, Ethan went to the hunter's market to buy materials for upgrading his sword. Although his D-Rank sentient sword was powerful, he wanted to upgrade it further for added assurance.

Thereafter, he learned that a nearby Auction House would feature valuable materials. However, he needed more money than he had—about 500-700 gold coins, according to the market.

So, once again he discreetly gathered more funds by selling a few sentient weapons once again. After a while, he amassed a total of 500 gold coins—in bank notes this time. Otherwise, who would carry this much money.

He put the bank notes in his pocket and left for Auction House with quick steps.

Unbeknownst to him, a small boy of 10 began to follow him in secret, his actions finally catching someone's attention.

At the Heavenly Florence auction house, Ethan registered as a participant. The staff were taken aback by the amount of wealth as he displayed the banknotes before them. It's not like they haven't seen that much money on others, but considering his background and age, it was a bit surprising.

"Alright, Sir, your procedure is complete. You can proceed to the venue," the staff said with a smile. They didn't forget to take the entrance fee at all.

Ethan nodded and made his way to his seat in the large auction hall.

The auction hall was a circular building with a small stage in the center. Ordinary people sat on designated seats surrounding the stage, while VIPs occupied the rooms above.

Ethan surveyed the grand venue filled with guests, wondering if they were all there to bid or simply to watch the spectacle. The thrill of witnessing others spend money with reckless abandon seemed to be part of the excitement for many. It was as if the act of spending, more than the actual purchase, held a certain allure in this gathering.

As the grand venue continued to fill up, a young man beside Ethan leaned in and whispered, "Hey, dude, are you here for bid as well? Or, are you also here for watching others throw their money around, like me?"

Ethan turned to see a skinny young man with loose brown hair, his clothes a bit rumpled, suggesting he was likely a commoner as well. The young man's curious eyes hinted at a mix of eagerness and uncertainty.

"I'm here to buy something," Ethan replied calmly, his tone measured. "What's it to you?"

"Nothing, dude. Just asking casually," the young man responded, trying to sound nonchalant. "So, what are you planning to bid on?"

Ethan found the young man's curiosity meddlesome. Rather than indulging him, he simply turned his gaze back to the stage, choosing to ignore the question entirely. The less attention he drew to himself, the better. In a place like this, keeping one's intentions under wraps was a matter of survival.

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