Chapter 649
Chapter 649
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 649
Chapter Title: Arcana Town (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1.
There are things called social conventions in the world.
Rules that everyone tacitly agrees to without needing to spell them out explicitly.
For example, pitching in on work even when a senior tells you to rest if you're tired.
For example, not picking Häagen-Dazs when following a friend to the convenience store after drinks because they said they'd buy you ice cream.
These unspoken rules lubricate human relationships and society at large.
In that sense, Si-woo's request was excessive.
He snatched up the most expensive item in the shop the moment he heard about a gift.
Moreover, Rinne wasn't a friend or a kindly senior,
and the item Si-woo had chosen wasn't something on the level of Häagen-Dazs.
Of course, he knew it was an unreasonable demand.
Yet he pushed forward for two reasons.
This might be a chance that wouldn't come again, and to escape Hexennacht, he needed at least one ally secured.
"Why?"
Rinne's piercing gaze stabbed at his chest.
She seemed not to notice anything, but her insight cut through quite a lot, so he weighed various factors.
Alice's price had skyrocketed with repeated bids, now surpassing the cost of a fifth-generation multipurpose stealth fighter.
More important than explaining the reason was lowering the psychological barrier to such massive spending.
"Of course, I know it's an unreasonable request. But I'm not asking you to give it to me."
"Then what?"
"The owner can be you, Master. I'm fine just borrowing it."
With no guarantee of time, he quickly added an explanation.
"With so many witches wanting her this badly, you could sell her later at this price or even with a premium."
"......"
"If need be, you could sell the Red Branch to make up the difference."
Only then did Rinne's eyes widen slightly in surprise.
It was only natural—he was offering to sell off Ye-jang, her main weapon.
But there were two layers of collateral here.
One was that he planned to research dimensional transfer spells anyway.
Si-woo had already succeeded in summoning the Red Branch from Gehenna to Akula.
He was confident he could do it again with a little more time.
But that was secondary. The real collateral was Rinne's own pride.
After all, she had promised a gift and investment with her own words.
She wouldn't want to lose face by selling off Si-woo's item to cover the funds.
Witches all prized their pride and appearances, after all.
"Hmm."
Her gaze appraised him like a raw gem.
Time ticked away relentlessly, and an awkward silence rolled over the taut tension.
Damn it.
This really wasn't his style.
A battle of wits with a cunning fox aged a hundred years? He wanted no part of it.
"You still haven't answered my question. Why do you want that witch?"
Si-woo inwardly cheered at her tone, laced with subtle pressure.
This cleared the first hurdle.
All that remained was dispelling Rinne's suspicions.
"Ah.... Well.... Do I have to tell you?"
"Personal interest."
If the interrogation continued, his true purpose might slip.
So Si-woo chose a response that lowered the odds of both approval and suspicion.
"She's my type. Truth is, I tried hitting on her back when you were with her, Master, but got shot down."
Rinne's face stiffened crisply.
She looked faintly baffled by the utterly unexpected answer.
"......"
"It's a rare chance to buy a slave. If you grant this request, I'll never forget the favor."
This was Si-woo's second strategy.
Overwhelm with an absurd excuse that screamed ulterior motives.
A two-birds-one-stone tactic so ridiculous it didn't even register as an excuse.
From a normal perspective, it just looked like a tall, handsome guy shamelessly chasing a crush.
But Si-woo understood how he appeared to other witches.
Witches typically lived a hundred to two hundred years, sometimes centuries.
To them, Si-woo—a two-year witch veteran—was little more than a toddling baby.
Would they suspect schemes from a kid throwing a tantrum?
"Disgusting."
Rinne sighed, her interest and expectations draining rapidly.
"Desire is an excellent motivator."
Si-woo parried coolly, not yielding an inch.
Riding the tiger's back, he was just blurting whatever came to mind—honestly, he barely knew what he was saying.
"A promise is a promise."
Fortunately, Rinne didn't lecture about proper male-female relations or the need for restraint to grow strong.
She simply rang the bell to summon an attendant and instructed them to keep bidding until the win.
"Thank you so much."
Si-woo bowed deeply before the reluctant-looking Rinne.
2.
Countless witches coveted the unharmed Great Witch of the 20th Hierarchy.
Some had liquidated assets in advance to raise the funds, while others pooled money in groups of a dozen or so to share ownership.
But Rinne was the backer of a Yakuza organization dominating East Asia.
Not some street thug, but a syndicate deeply entwined with politics, entertainment, and construction.
Her frugal nature meant her tribute cash—stashed in bundles—was beyond imagination.
She bid a head-spinning sum without blinking and won the Witch of Mercury.
The pair followed the attendant to a reception room behind the auction hall.
With such big money involved, they handled the contract and payment on the spot.
"Wait here."
"How long?"
"About thirty minutes."
Even for a tycoon like Rinne, gathering that much cash took time, leaving Si-woo alone in the room.
Fortunately, no other witches around.
Made sense after such a transaction—VVIP treatment.
The reception room, laid out like an awards ceremony with a plush red carpet, was impressive.
It felt like the Gemernai manor parlor. Guess the rich all had similar tastes.
"Craving a smoke."
The thought hit as he sat on the sofa, eyeing the ashtray on the table.
Enduring a daily grind that'd swiss-cheese an Emmental without cigarettes was too much.
Then.
"Wanna smoke?"
A hand shot out abruptly.
A cigarette smoldered faintly between gloved fingers, scattering pale smoke.
The round lipstick mark on the filter was oddly seductive... not the point.
"If not, whatever."
Whipping around, he saw a beaming blonde witch.
Even her eyes gleamed golden.
Her bob suited her perfectly, and the dress exposing from shoulders to upper chest was striking.
The "Witch of Gold Coins," who had hosted today's auction, withdrew her elbow from the sofa back and stood.
"Nice to meet you. Lydia Magnus. No need to look so scared—I'm not gonna eat you."
"......"
"Really not smoking? It's good stuff."
Her friendly tone and offering a cig from her case didn't fool him.
Bianca looked prim too.
No way he'd judge by looks alone—a Great Witch casually trafficking humans.
"I'll take one."
But he'd gotten a rough read.
Even public enemies were witches—people.
That was Si-woo's impression of the city.
Very few public enemies started chaos without considering the aftermath.
"Public enemy?"
"Was with Clifort at one point."
"Gonna buy and sell me too?"
"Tempting."
Their first exchange was cozy: 'Criminal?' 'Yup.' 'Gonna kidnap?' 'Thinking about it.'
Already drained from clashing invisibly with Rinne, he had no energy left.
Lydia quirked her fingers into a monocle and spoke.
"How much would you go for? Play it right, could buy a country."
"Get to the point?"
"Gutsy. I like it."
Her laugh rang like jingling gold coins.
Yet her poise exuded elegance and the leisure of the strong.
"Heard the finicky Sword Witch had a guy—wondered what the deal was. Turns out you're a fun one. Does Rinne like this type?"
"Of course. She even took me as her disciple."
"......"
Her laughter cut off like a radio unplugging.
Her expression shifted rapidly.
Not particularly surprising words, yet she pondered deeply.
"Heard Tiferet Duke's nominally your master?"
"Old news. Does it matter?"
He replied with deliberate cockiness.
This was the wilds.
Easy prey got axes buried in them, so better to seem aloof.
Luckily, he had plenty of references.
He'd met no shortage of extraordinary witches.
Even he admired his own acting—it rang true.
This should paint him as a smug, worldly-naive young witch riding high.
"Fun. No idea what you're thinking. But fun."
The Witch of Gold Coins muttered cryptically despite his bluntness.
Another head game? Pass.
He'd used up his brainpower for the day. Time to shake her off.
Uncomfortable alone with her, but being Rinne's disciple helped here.
"These spots make me uneasy, honestly? Thanks for the smoke. But I'm a customer—make it comfy."
"Wasn't trying to bother you. Male witch? Novel. Just sightseeing. Double surprise—you're not what I pictured. Thought you'd be meeker, slimier."
The Witch of Gold Coins smirked, stubbed her cig in Si-woo's ashtray after hopping the sofa.
"You entertained me, so here's a hint."
"Hint?"
Lydia dropped another bombshell out of nowhere.
"You're not the only one scheming."
"Meaning?"
"Everyone's weighing options in this chaos. Turmoil, right?"
"So what does that...?"
"Rinne's simpler than she seems. Or is that obvious?"
Warning? Who knew.
Why say it? No clue.
But meaningful enough to ring alarm bells in his instincts.
"Swing by when you got time. Lots more to chat about. Our interests might align. Rinne stays in the dark, of course."
With those loaded words, Lydia placed a business card instead of an explanation and turned away.