Helkrim Auction House (Part 2)
The next day, Logan pulled up in his luxury oversized sedan to pick us up.
"Since we've formally agreed to sponsor you, I figured I'd treat you to something nice at least."
Logan continued, legs crossed elegantly across from me. It was just him crossing his legs, but it somehow exuded a noble air.
"I have a hobby of collecting gear, so I visit certain places often. I think you'll like this one quite a bit."
"Where are you thinking of taking us?"
I figured Logan would know some top-notch shops. If gear collecting was his hobby, he'd have the lay of the land.
But I was curious too. Just how good a place was he planning to show us?
"Big commercial districts are fine, but the real standout pieces always trade hands discreetly."
Logan covered his mouth with one hand as he spoke.
Discreetly? Was he talking about the black market?
"Averium's black market shut down a while back, and now there's one running in Helkrim."
"Helkrim, huh..."
So it was the black market. Made sense—gear obsessives didn't collect your run-of-the-mill stuff. They went for the weird, the unique. Perfect for a black market.
The car sped on without stopping. About three hours in, we rolled into Helkrim.
They said there was a rune engraver here somewhere.
Teison's words came back to me as we arrived. A rune engraver had shown up in this city. I didn't know the exact spot, but it was someone I'd need to track down eventually.
No time to hunt right now, though. Executioner requests came first. Later it was.
"This way, please."
Logan led us after we got out. Everywhere, shirtless muscle-bound guys with massive two-handed axes in hand—the Helkrim Titan Guards.
Barbarians, right? That's their whole deal.
Helkrim was a city packed with savage warriors. Barbarian central, basically. The architecture matched—no skyscrapers, just mostly wooden buildings. Gave off orc tribe village vibes.
"Uwaaaah! Anyone else wanna throw down?!"
"I'll take you on!"
Street corner strength contests in full swing. Right in the middle of the city, no less. That was Helkrim for you.
...Anyway.
Black markets usually had secret entrances, but Logan headed straight for the central plaza. No way the door was there.
"...We going in through the front like this?"
Even Kethar sounded doubtful. We'd never entered one this way.
"Right here."
Logan pointed to a plain old tavern. An entrance here? He wasn't the type to mess around, though.
Eh, might as well follow.
Screeech.
"Kuhahaha! This time I'll chug a whole barrel!"
"Then I'll down two at once!"
"Innkeep! Gimme a whole basilisk haunch!"
The tavern inside was pure chaos. No need for cups or plates—just rowdy dudes pounding away. Total macho hangout.
"Huh? A w-woman!"
"We got a chick in here!"
"And she's hot!"
They spotted April, eyes glazing over.
"Wh-what? Why're all these guys staring just at me...?"
April looked flustered. Probably her first time getting this kind of intense attention.
"What brings you here?"
The innkeep cut in, drawing the warriors' gazes away.
"You don't look like the type to pack it away..."
He pulled a sour face. Dealing with these bruisers all day, normal builds like ours probably grated on him.
"Got caught in the rain—need a place to change."
What? Logan said something weird.
"...Ah! Shoulda said so sooner! This way!"
The innkeep's attitude flipped. Was that some black market passphrase?
Didn't match what I knew at all.
We followed the bowing giant down a hall lined with doors. He opened a middle one, revealing a purple portal.
Black market entrance. But this route?
Helkrim's black market wasn't supposed to go through here...
"Have a great time! VVIP customer!"
Ah, got it. Logan was a VVIP. Separate entrance made sense.
In the game, I'd only heard about this stuff in lore—never experienced it.
Certain NPCs got VIP treatment. Either world-shaking powerhouses or loaded. Guess even a small-time prez was still a prez.
Shhh.
Shhh.
We slipped into the black market behind Logan. VVIP perks showed right away—Titan Guards flanking the entrance.
Not illegal here, huh.
Averium's was straight-up illicit, but Helkrim's? Run by the Titan Guards themselves.
VVIP Logan breezed past the guards into the auction house.
"Smells like quality gear in here. Don't you think?"
Logan inhaled deeply, looking satisfied. Item smell? He wasn't just collecting—he was deep into it. Kinda creepy...
"...Never thought I'd see Helkrim's black market."
Kethar took in the sights. If Averium's felt like back alleys, this was a desert city straight out of Arabian Nights.
More stable vibe too.
Titan Guards patrolled everywhere, merchants hawked freely. No Averium-style "anything could explode" tension.
But...
"Heh heh heh. Hey, got time? Check out this bod! Bet rolling around with me'd be fun, huh?"
"G-get lost!"
"Pfft, chickenshit... Ptoo! Any other chicks around?"
One guy stood out, harassing hard. Looked Helkrim local...
Doesn't act like one, though.
Helkrim warriors loved showing off strength, not this sleazy crap. They'd flex like, "Wanna feel my power? I'm a beast!"
That's modern street rat shit.
Hyenas prowling for women at night. Nailed it.
"...That guy. Isn't he Ekra?"
Kethar clocked him.
Ekra? The playable barbarian starting near Helkrim.
"Now that you mention it..."
Mohawk-ish short black hair. Blue tattoos covering his face, minimal cloth on key spots. Massive double-bladed axe on his back, flashy belt. Pure barbarian gear.
"Looks like him."
"...So a user?"
Possible. His antics screamed modern, accent too.
He swaggered by us then.
"Huh?"
He stopped first, eyeing me.
"H-hold up... You're Damian, right?"
"..."
"Holy shit, it is! Damian! Wait— you're Kethar? The tattoo shaman?!"
His eyes widened, flicking between us. He'd figured us out.
But... bad vibes. Keep distance.
"Hey! Spill it! You guys are like me... from there, right?!"
Definitely a user. Why so casual, though? Kethar was a mess at first. I had passives, but this guy acted native.
"Problem?"
Logan turned at the noise.
"Uh, hold on. This guy's familiar too? Who was it... fuck, can't remember..."
"...You know me? Never seen your type before."
"Shut it a sec. You remember, right?"
He gripped his axe handle, threatening after starting the convo.
...Total thug.
"Who're you? Looks like you know my bros. Pretty rough type. Didn't peg you guys for hanging with his kind... Kinda surprising."
"Aigoo, what? This babe's with you? Heh heh heh. Jackpot combo!"
His eyes lit up at April.
Time to probe. User confirmed.
We ducked into an alley with the wild-eyed thug. Logan and April wouldn't follow our convo now.
Kethar took point; I stuck to the Damian act.
"...You a user?"
"Duh, fuck yeah. Can't you tell?"
"...Figured."
"But why you talkin' all fancy?"
He smirked at Kethar, then eyed me.
"This ain't Damian? What's he doin' here?"
"...I rescued him."
"No shit? For real? Game lets you do that? I was too busy chasin' tail!"
Level 10. Easy early-game starter from a remote spot. But still 10 meant...
Barely hunted.
Real issue now: I planned to gather users like us. He was one, sure.
But not like me or Kethar.
Adapted weirdly. And I can guess his old life.
Esperro made bank IRL, so gangbanger types showed up in news. This guy fit.
"Anyway, good to meetcha. Been solo, bored as hell. Lemme join your party. That chick was fine as fuck, yeah?"
"..."
"Fuck, why no answer? You hate it?"
Decision time. Take the thug 'cause he's a user? Ditch him?
Can't just leave him, though.
He knew our secret. Even uninvolved now, he'd cause trouble later.
Thud. Thud.
I eyed the patrolling Titan Guards.
Guards it was.
I nodded quietly to Kethar.
"...We'll go together."
"Hell yeah, fuuuuck! Party with a hottie!"
He whooped. Observe first, then hand to guards or keep? TBD.
He stuck with us after that. Told Logan and April he was an acquaintance.
"Your catalog."
We entered the auction house. VVIP perks: book with item details. Prime seats, obviously.
"Damn, rich guy's different. Game or real life, money rules. Right, babe?"
"...Uh, yeah."
April shut it down quick.
....You really hate him, huh.
"Take a look. Today's auction items are all here."
Logan handed us the book. Thug whined for his, got shot down.
"You said he's Kethar's friend, but this is for our company affiliates. Mind your place."
"F...fuck. Fine, whatever. I'll sit quiet. Hey, hook me up later, yeah?"
"..."
He sulked. Probably scheming to snag one of ours.
Whatever.
Forget the rest—find gear with attributes first.
Sponsor meant cash. Mine was peanuts for enchanted stuff. Millions base, billions for top-tier.
Scanning the list...
It's here?
Item so good, felt bad asking Logan. I glanced silently.
He caught it, spoke carefully.
"Why... is it?"
"How far were you willing to go?"
I double-checked.