Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Tail Chase (4)
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There were two key warnings you heard when buying entry to the black market.
First, there were only a handful of items up for auction, and no guarantee any of them would catch your eye.
Second, freak accidents caused by outside factors could halt the auction, and they wouldn't offer any special compensation if that happened.
It was about as unfair as terms could get, but surprisingly, the guests accepted it without a peep.
Why would anyone show up to buy stolen goods and complain about the lack of legitimacy? Shady dealings always came with some risk.
Above all, hardly anyone took those two warnings seriously anyway.
Not many people expected to sweep up everything they wanted at the auction in the first place.
With security so tight that even participants didn't know the venue until the last minute, what were the odds of some freak accident?
But then it actually happened.
"Ugh..."
"W-what the hell is this?!"
The auction cut off abruptly in the middle of proceedings.
Those who'd already snagged items stayed relatively calm, but the ones who'd come up empty vented their rage.
Not at the black market executive who'd fled, but at the culprits still on site who'd caused the mess.
The guy who'd barged in through the door and the girl who'd scurried after him were huddled together whispering—who wouldn't think they were in on it together?
"You brats conspire to sabotage us?!"
A masked man whose voice pegged him as middle-aged bellowed.
Galen ignored him, still murmuring with Lilia.
"Five items sold so far."
"Remember who bought them?"
"Of course!"
"Good job."
"They took the items from that box over there."
"Not a huge selection, huh? The box isn't that big."
"Looking at the prices, more would've been a disaster. They went for a fortune."
"And yet they ditched it all without hesitation to bolt. Definitely no ordinary crook."
"Y-you bastards! Are you deaf?!"
The middle-aged man roared louder. Only then did Galen glance his way.
"Ah, could you repeat that?"
"You little—! I asked if you brats conspired to pull this off!"
"Obviously we did. It's plain as day from the situation."
"W-what?!"
The brazenly nonchalant reply left the man speechless for a moment. Galen waved him off irritably.
"No need to repeat yourselves. Everyone out—quickly. Buyers, hang back a sec."
"Who the hell are you to order us around?!"
"The saboteurs acting all high and mighty!"
A few in the same boat backed the middle-aged man.
The hottest-headed one among them drew his sword.
"Insolent fool! Time for a taste of blood to knock some sense into you!"
"Don't kill him."
"Got it!"
Judging by his tone, he was a bodyguard who'd come with his master.
Galen snorted at the man's overconfident swagger, as if victory was already his.
Whoosh!
The bodyguard lunged, closing the distance in a flash.
Of course, "flash" was relative.
Thanks to Acceleration, the bodyguard's movements looked like slow motion. Galen sized him up, clocked him as a Silver-rank warrior, and pondered his approach.
Then Lilia stepped forward, so Galen decided to watch.
She didn't even draw her sword.
Even with Blessing and Radiance sealed, Miracle of Fortification alone put her nearly on par with a Gold-rank warrior. A Silver was child's play.
Before the bodyguard, now in striking range, could fully swing, she twisted her waist and snapped a kick upward.
Though her leg started later than his arm, it arrived first. Her instep nailed his sword hand dead-on.
Crack!
A sound no hand should make echoed out.
"Gaaah!"
The bodyguard, mid-swing with such momentum, clutched his shattered hand and howled before completing even half his arc.
Luckily, Lilia held back on follow-ups, letting him stagger back a few desperate steps amid the agony.
"...!"
It was a brief clash, but the warriors in the room caught it—the vast gap between bodyguard and Lilia.
Unless someone had a death wish, they'd watch their mouths around a clear superior.
With most participants around the same skill level, the room fell silent naturally.
"You're all here for stolen goods—why act so righteous? Thief or buyer, you're both in the wrong."
Galen smirked.
"Be grateful we're letting it slide—we're busy. Want us to unmask you for the trip home?"
"A-hem..."
"No repeats. Auction's over—head out. Buyers stay."
This time, no complaints.
Of the eleven teams excluding Lilia's, six slunk out sheepishly—including the man with the broken hand.
The rest asked cautiously.
"Uh, why are we...?"
"Nothing major. Just a quick check on what you bought."
Black market auctions took instant payment and handover, so everyone had their goods on them.
Lilia had eyes on everything from the start—no hiding. They reluctantly pulled out their purchases.
Nothing struck Galen as suspicious.
Insanely pricey, sure. Exquisitely crafted gold and jewels worthy of artwork.
Lilia, inspecting each meticulously, seemed to agree. She whispered to Galen.
"All clear. Nothing here."
Galen nodded slightly and addressed the five teams.
"You're good. Feel free to go."
"C-can we just leave?"
Galen waved them off instead of answering.
Those leaving empty-handed had wasted their entry fee, but chalk it up to bad luck—no biggie.
Snatch their goods, though, and they'd lose entry plus purchase price—hundreds of gold coins down the drain. Backlash guaranteed.
Priority was the magic soldier lead. Everything else on hold.
"Out, now."
Lilia urged curtly.
She knew blocking stolen goods trade or returning them to owners was unrealistic.
But her kind, upright nature made ignoring it gnaw at her. Her tone turned brusque inevitably.
The five teams scurried off, chastened. Galen gave a wry smile and patted Lilia.
"Can't be helped. World's like that. Cheer up."
"Yeah..."
Lilia replied glumly, shaking her head before steeling herself.
The two rummaged the box, checking remaining loot.
The five sold items, the unsold ones—
No magic soldier.
Lilia's Ultra Sense, hands-on confirmation? Ironclad.
"Shane said they wouldn't sell it openly here anyway. Would've been shocked if it was."
"Guess we ask directly. They didn't punch through the blocked passage and escape, did they?"
"If they could, they wouldn't have run. Time to give up and come back soon."
Luckily, no descent required.
Soon, the four who'd fled returned.
Bodyguards first, then the masked woman clambering up grunting, masked man last with a light leap.
"Y-you bastards...!"
The masked woman trembled at the pair lounging casually in chairs.
The masked man tapped her shoulder to quell her outburst and spoke.
"So that's why you took it easy. Finding the passage was surprise enough—when'd you collapse it?"
"Who knows."
"I came through that passage. You sealed it perfectly in under an hour?"
"Does it matter? You couldn't escape and came back—that's what counts."
Galen skipped irrelevant details smoothly.
Not wrong. Curious about the method, sure—but only if they got out first.
The man paused, then spoke slowly.
"What's the goal of all this effort? Capturing me?"
"Yep."
"Black market won't vanish if you nab me."
"I know. It's you, not the market."
Subtle nuance shift. The man caught it.
"Once you get what you need from me?"
"If it satisfies, no need to kill."
A guy who'd bolted like lightning at the first whiff of danger? Guarantee his life, he'd cooperate.
"No lies?"
"Would've killed you on sight if I wanted. Before opening the passage."
"...Fine. I'll cooperate."
Not a fool—he didn't fully buy it, but his only lifeline.
Galen questioned the now-meek man.
"Your exact position? Black market owner?"
"No owner. Can't be owned. I'm the manager."
"Manager?"
"Prep venues and timing, manage auction loot, divvy profits. That sort of oversight."
"Her?"
"Auctioneer, assisting me."
"Those two, and the mansion staff—bodyguards?"
"Yes."
"Other execs besides you?"
"Suppliers gather and deliver loot from everywhere."
"Suppliers are execs?"
"Entrust pricey stolen goods to just anyone?"
Galen played dumb, but that was his real angle.
Unlike desk-bound manager, suppliers roamed like merchants hauling loot.
Prime suspect for delivering magic soldier to pirate boss: one of them.
Too sensitive to probe yet.
"Anyway, sounds like you're top dog, owner or not."
"...Won't deny."
"Good. Let's relocate for a private chat."
"...What?"
The man flinched. Galen grinned.
"Not ideal for secrets here—too many ears. Need one-on-one. Come quietly."
"That's kidnapping!"
The masked woman erupted, her temper barely contained till now. Galen glanced her way.
"Cooperate properly, all released safe. Or kill those three to ensure silence and chat solo?"
"...No. Fine, I'll go. Leave them be."
"Heard that? Prep the carriage you used to bring guests. Ropes, cuffs too."
"Y-you..."
"Do it."
The man ordered flatly. Galen held the blade—they had no choice.
Soon, all was ready.
Lilia bound the masked man expertly with ropes—a prisoner transport knot that tightened on struggle.
Silver-plus warriors could force it with reinforcement, but it'd buy time.
"I'll ride along."
"Please do."
Someone to watch meant instant takedown if he tried anything.
Plus, Lilia gripped his throat.
Bloodflow cut, he slumped in seconds.
"Urk...!"
The masked woman gnashed her teeth watching Lilia hoist him like luggage onto the carriage.
Galen climbed to the driver's seat.
"We see great in the dark. Try tracking, won't end well."
"We won't! Promise!"
"Handle cleanup and wait—no trouble."
Galen waved and snapped the reins.
The woman and guards watched the carriage vanish, dazed.
'Why do I feel more like the villain here?'
Chucking, Galen drove toward Kallia Merchant Company's decoy mansion.
Gliding slowly through quiet night streets for a bit.
Passing a dim alley, a shadow blocked the path.
"Hey, move aside!"
Galen slowed, but the figure didn't budge.
Couldn't just plow through—Galen frowned and halted.
Then—
"Lord Galen."
A familiar man's voice from the blocker.
He raised his oil lamp to his face and spoke stiffly.
"What are you doing here?"
Veron's eyes gleamed coldly in the flickering light.