Overwhelming Suppression and Auction Shadows
All eyes were on them as Zien and Yume's spar finally began.
"Let's see that fancy skill of yours, then."
Yume flashed a confident grin, baring her pearly whites. She thrust her rapier forward with nimble grace, her violet hair—reminiscent of a pansy—whipping back behind her.
Clang!
But to Zien, it was far too slow.
'Slow doesn't even cover it—it's sloppy.'
Yume's skill was a notch below even Lake or Daven. In a flash, Zien seized her arm and spun his body around.
"Huh?"
Yume's eyes widened as she lost her balance. But that was just the beginning.
Thud!
Zien swept her legs out from under her at the same time. With a splat, Yume hit the floor on her back, and Zien planted his sword right beside her face.
Crack.
A faint crack spiderwebbed across the building's floor.
Zien stared down at her with cold eyes. In the heavy silence, their brief eye contact stretched on. Yume let out a weird squeak at the chill touch of metal against her skin.
"......Eek!"
A perfect domination born of overwhelming skill gap.
Regardless of the spar's details, Jin Yura and Vermouth looked like they were about to burst into tears.
"We're screwed."
"We're totally screwed."
Jin Yura muttered weakly, already thinking about the apology letter she'd have to write.
"Should I write that she got slammed face-first into the floor, or that she got stabbed down?"
"Slammed might be better, don't you think? Looks less painful."
Resigned to reality, Jin Yura and Vermouth exchanged words while Yume glared at Zien, her face flushed red with humiliation, biting her lip.
Meanwhile, the gate was chaos, but the broadcast station was a outright festival. Caston beamed at the skyrocketing ratings.
"PD-nim! Viewers are loving this!"
"Caston, all we do is monitor. Go grab some popcorn."
Brodo couldn't care less about the quest. Broadcasting was his expertise. Zien's crisp handling had him clapping in delight.
"This is the best gate broadcast of my life. It's straight-up drama material."
"Heh~ Check this out!"
The two checked viewer reactions across multiple monitors.
Every move Zien made inside the gate was turning into merchandise for G Channel. The same went for the colorful characters popping up.
The viewers' hot reactions and soaring ratings were through the roof. Gate broadcasts, unlike tournaments, had super long clear times too.
"At least two or three days, right? If the ratings hold..."
"This is jackpot of jackpots. Where we vacationing? Ragna Beach?"
Brodo and Caston had completely forgotten the humiliating contract with Amy.
"Ragna Beach sounds perfect!"
"Right? Weather's getting cold soon—now's the time..."
Just as Brodo and Caston drowned in bliss, someone opened the door.
"You two!"
The stern-faced station chief strode in, arms wide.
"I knew you'd nail it again!"
"Ch-Chief!"
"What brings you here?!"
Caston shot to his feet in surprise, and as Brodo gawked, the chief shook his head.
"What more needs saying? Another massive hit! You're G Channel's heroes! Get in here!"
The three men hugged it out. The chief gazed at Zien on the monitor, moved.
"My idea, but how about making that kid our exclusive model?"
Beaming, he patted Brodo's back.
"I'll cut you a check now—convince him good. And expect fat bonuses!"
Caston was genuinely touched this time.
"Chief!"
"Hahaha, keep this pace, and other stations'll be twiddling thumbs for three days straight. Good luck again!"
The chief left with a spring in his step. Brodo turned to Caston, serious once more.
"What're you standing around for? Gate's on autopilot. Pop that popcorn in the microwave~"
"Yessir~"
Sky Town's private quarters.
After glaring at Zien from the floor for a good while, Yume's first words were unexpected.
"A-again! Do it again!"
'Huh? Thought she'd flip out in a rage.'
Jin Yura cautiously asked Yume, who was brushing off her clothes.
"A-again?"
"Yeah! Again! I was too careless."
"But you could get hurt..."
"You doubting my skill now? I said I was careless."
Her glossy long hair was a mess now. Her neat outfit was long ruined. As she pointed her rapier at Zien again, vowing revenge.
"I'm fine with that."
Zien assumed his stance too.
In the next ten minutes, they sparred ten times—none lasting even a full minute. Final score: 10-0, Zien's complete victory.
"Want to go again?"
Perfect momentum control.
As Zien asked the slumped Yume, she shook her head feebly.
"No more. I'm done... Done, I said."
Vermouth whispered to Jin Yura in surprise at her reaction.
"You tamed the wildcat?"
"Yeah? Thought she'd throw a fit."
"No apology letter needed, then."
"Maybe~ They just click?"
Jin Yura chuckled unwittingly while whispering to Vermouth.
"Hey, what's so funny?"
Yume shot her a fierce, feral glare.
"Nothing. Just, your skill's proven at this point."
"Yeah, skill check passed."
Yume's fire was notably dimmed now.
She waved her pale hand dismissively in the air.
"You're hired. Go explain tomorrow's schedule."
"Yes."
With Jin Yura's reply, Zien and the security team left Yume's room. The moment the door shut, she asked Zien.
"Whoa, that was insane. How'd you do it?"
Vermouth was equally baffled, chuckling dryly at the closed door.
"Yeah, first time seeing that girl back down."
With no answer from Zien, Red scooted right up beside him.
"Our team leader's a pro at handling people too, huh?"
"Right! Especially that lightning-fast sword even the eye can't track! Hehe, total respect, Team Leader!"
Sin Ha-seong tsked at Franklin's flattery, but even he acknowledged Zien's prowess.
'4th rank? No, 5th? Can't even guess.'
After Vermouth left for his mission, the team entered the security room with Jin Yura. A flashy building appeared on the screen.
"Everyone knows this, right? Christie Auction House. Playground for the rich where astronomical sums fly daily."
Kumo shot his hand up at Jin Yura's explanation.
"Client's attending tomorrow? We guard 'em! Right? ...Oh, not?"
"Quick on the uptake. Our missy's got a foul temper but loads of cash. Or wait—is it the cash making her temper foul?"
Jin Yura rubbed her chin and continued.
"So lots of scum target her. And this auction's got nasty rumors."
"Nasty rumors? Christie's security is top-notch."
Sin Ha-seong narrowed his eyes while polishing his blade. Jin Yura yawned sleepily.
"Dunno~ All I know is the auction item's an artifact, and a rare one. Don't overthink. You guys have one job."
Zien recalled the quest at her words.
'Guard the client, unlock the next quest.'
The gate's goal. Zien was closing in on the story's end.
Tap. Tap-tap-tap.
True to its name, Rain City poured rain from the sky, washing the asphalt streets. At the heart of the perpetually rainy Rain City stood a massive building.
Christie Auction House
A modern design etched in silver, like a work of art. Gazing at the stunning auction house, a man spoke.
"Tomorrow it is."
He was a nameless hunter.
A man who'd lived solely by the moniker Jeokhyeol. Leader of Rebellion, a fearsome 5th-rank hunter. Flanking him were two men.
"Debut time."
"I'm itching to death here. Jane doing okay? Can't read her at all."
"She's the mysterious type."
"Mysterious my ass."
Iruka with his squinty eyes, and the muscled Bruno. Both 5th-rank hunters like Jeokhyeol. Three hunters of Rebellion. Besides lacking licenses, they shared another trait: attire. Black suits evoking funerals, black ties.
"Jane's intel: tomorrow, that guy's daughter heads here."
Bruno cracked his knuckles with a pop.
"Oh, payback time on that bastard finally?"
"Buyer's saying the Blood Jade's arrived too."
Iruka smiled at Bruno, eyes still slits. Jeokhyeol gazed impassively at the auction house amid the pitch-black rainy sky. No umbrella, he murmured low as rain soaked him.
"Perfect timing."
In the end, Zien, Amy, and Rebellion all headed to the mighty Christie Auction House. But the cast didn't end there.
My Previous Life was the Strongest Sword God