Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Volume 40: Ars Magna (2)
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"...It's not free, you know?"
"You brat! Do you have any idea how valuable that is? You think I'm just going to hand it over?"
Siegfried couldn't argue back since it was a fair point.
What on earth was he trying to acquire that he still had to pay even after bringing a Shadow Sheep's heart?
Jamie knew the value of a Shadow Sheep as well.
Shadow Sheep had existed even back when he was Diablo Volpir. It was surprising that the creature still existed after 60,000 years, but then again, humans, elves, orcs, dragons, and Valkyries were still around too.
In any case, Shadow Sheep were spirit-type beasts that dwelled solely in shadows, emerging only on nights of the full moon. They had no fixed habitat.
Since all shadows were connected, they simply emerged from whatever convenient spot caught their eye.
This meant there were no set regions where they appeared, making their value sky-high. In particular, their hearts were priceless.
The reason was that a Shadow Sheep's heart was a key material for opening a gate to the Shadow World.
'For Siegfried to value whatever he's after more than a Shadow Sheep's heart...'
Kiriel showed no intention of just handing it over, even if she might haggle the price down a bit.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Jamie asked her.
"What is the 7th Elder trying to buy?"
"The moon's..."
"Ah! Don't tell him!"
Siegfried hurriedly stopped Kiriel from answering.
Kiriel burst into hearty laughter, looking at him like a mischievous grandson.
"Hahaha. You're something else, you know that."
Siegfried and Kiriel got along like a house on fire.
Jamie pouted with the sulky expression unique to children.
"Don't you know adults just want to tease you more when you make that face?"
All he got in return was mockery.
"Anyway. Just bring me the item. I'll let it go cheap, for real."
"Ugh. But is it definitely up for auction?"
"Probably."
"Probably?!"
"If it's not, I'll hand it over at market price, so don't worry. And it will be. My informant is reliable. If he's lying, I'll cut his head off myself."
Kiriel spat out the vicious words casually.
Siegfried smacked his lips and accepted the deal.
"Fine, I'm the one who's shortchanged here, so no choice. You'll give us tickets to the secret auction, right? You're not expecting me to procure those too?"
"I have enough conscience for that, so relax. I'll send plenty of money along with them, so you can buy it with that."
"Then why aren't you going yourself?"
"You don't need to know that. Now get out. I'll send the money and tickets to wherever you're staying."
"We haven't even found a place yet..."
Jamie spoke up, and Kiriel chuckled.
"This whole place is my turf, so don't worry about it, little Welton."
What an annoying old coot.
One who was tens of thousands of years younger than him, age-wise.
Of course, here and now, Jamie was just an eight-year-old kid.
"If we're done, get out. I'm a busy man."
"Then we'll see you the day after tomorrow."
"If you don't bring it, don't bother showing up!"
Jamie and Siegfried were all but chased out of Ars Magna.
"Man, she's really tough to deal with."
Siegfried shook his head with a weary face, looking defeated. He was bold even in front of Count Welton, but totally different around Kiriel.
Jamie glanced at Ars Magna's half-detached sign and asked him.
"What exactly is that old lady?"
"As you saw, the owner of this place."
"Liar. No one would buy that she's just a normal granny."
"She's not normal, that's for sure. Want to talk while we walk?"
They needed lodging first, so they decided to chat on the way.
Siegfried retied his hair tightly and said.
"Lady Kiriel is an alchemist."
"An alchemist?"
Alchemist.
Those who once sought to turn base metals into gold.
Since gold was the perfect substance, it was nearly impossible, so now they focused on advancing their craft.
Artifact creation was a prime example of alchemy in action.
"But she has a title before that."
Siegfried held up a finger.
"The Greatest Alchemist."
At least among humans, no alchemist could match her.
That's what Siegfried was saying.
"Impressive."
"And a brilliant businesswoman too. You saw how she negotiated with me earlier?"
"That was the 7th Elder who..."
"Ahem! Anyway, she has branches all over the world thanks to her business savvy. And all branches are connected by warp tunnels."
Jamie's eyes widened at that.
He was a bit surprised she was the Greatest Alchemist, but having warp tunnels across the world was even more shocking.
"She made them all by hand, apparently. Well, as an 8th Class Archmage, that's not impossible."
8th Class?
Selddam Kingdom officially had only two 8th Class Archmages. Unofficially, there was Count Simon, making three.
Senderman wasn't some backwater, but another 8th Class Archmage here?
As Jamie looked stunned, Siegfried realized and explained.
"Ah, there might be a misunderstanding. Lady Kiriel isn't a citizen of Selddam Kingdom."
"Oh, she's a foreigner."
"Not exactly from another country either."
Jamie shot him a look like 'what nonsense is that?', and Siegfried elaborated.
"She doesn't belong to any nation. But she can exist in all of them."
"How's that possible?"
"When you have that kind of power, it just is."
No great power dared treat her poorly.
Not because of her personal strength, but because everything she possessed held immense value.
"I don't know the details, so ask her yourself next time, Young Master."
Siegfried turned his gaze forward, as if that was all he had to say.
'I didn't realize she was that big a deal.'
The world truly was vast.
And different from the past.
Back then, everything was ruled by raw power. But now?
Power still ruled, but it didn't have to be physical.
Any ability that earned recognition became a formidable force, no matter the form.
'A world that's evolved in a different direction from my era.'
Jamie didn't think it was a bad world.
As long as the 12 Gods weren't in it.
"The secret auction is tomorrow."
In the dank darkness, four presences sat in a circle.
"Where?"
"Ridum Museum basement."
"Hah. What idiots. Holding a secret auction under a museum?"
Even if it's dark under the lamp, doing something shady like a secret auction in a museum of all places.
"Can't deal with those guys."
"We'll have to after tomorrow, so hold it in. Anyway, is that item definitely showing up?"
The first one to speak answered.
"I got info that it was submitted. Can't be 100% sure, though."
"Figures. Secret auction items are handled with utmost secrecy."
Since they dealt in illegal goods, their security was ruthless.
Just getting the info was impressive.
"If we get that, we can awaken it, right?"
"Who'd have thought that tattered old book would lead us here. Must be the gods' will."
They spoke with excitement, buzzing with anticipation.
Then, the man who had been silent until now spoke up.
"If we successfully steal it."
The mood chilled instantly.
Ignoring it, the man continued.
"We have to get it, even if it costs our lives. It's essential for our plan."
"Obviously."
"Boss is too worried. We've got the skills."
They knew secret auction security was no joke, but it wasn't impenetrable.
They'd pulled off similar jobs plenty of times.
"You two rest up until tomorrow. Alex, keep gathering intel."
"Don't worry, Boss."
The one called Boss nodded and vanished into the darkness.
The others melted into the shadows as well.
Late at night, Jamie slipped out of the inn.
Since he'd booked a separate room from Siegfried, there was no need to worry about being spotted.
'Good thing I didn't bring any servants.'
His mother Sears had insisted on servants when he left home, but they would've just been a hindrance.
Jamie entered a dark alley and opened a small Gremia.
"Hua!"
Poof! A pink squirrel popped out.
It was Vena.
She sighed with a tired face, then reverted to her original form and looked at Jamie exhaustedly.
"I thought I was gonna die, Master."
"You're alive, aren't you?"
"So mean."
Vena stood and stretched lightly.
Seemed her body was stiff from being cooped up so long.
"I thought a mana stone city meant the whole city was made of mana stones. Guess not."
"...Common sense says a whole city can't be mana stones."
"Hey, you never know."
You never know, my foot.
If the entire city was mana stones, how much would that even cost?
Even at the lowest grade, it'd cover a decent kingdom's operating budget for years.
"Anyway, you'll be in Gremia a while longer, so breathe deep now."
"Eek... Back in there again?"
"Siegfried's no pushover."
There were mages stronger than Siegfried, but he gave off a fundamentally different vibe.
It might be an illusion, but his vast experience told him it wasn't.
"Your existence getting found out wouldn't be the end of the world, but better to hide if we can."
In this modern age, almost no one knew about Valkyries. At most, the 'Frontier' or similar groups.
Siegfried didn't seem the type to make an issue of it based on what Jamie had seen, but since 'what ifs' existed, caution was wise.
"Once we're done here, it'll be fine."
He planned to push for the magic world right after finishing business in Senderman.
"Until then, stay put in the room."
"Yesss."
Vena replied listlessly. She understood, so no more complaints. She knew it too.
"What about Philion?"
"Same as always."
[Same as always?! I'm dying of boredom here!]
That didn't reach Jamie. Vena had censored it sharply.
"Says it's nice to be out."
[You damn squirrel!]
"He's thrilled."
"Good to hear."
[No, you idiots!!!]
Ignoring Philion's racket, Vena wandered Senderman's streets with Jamie.
The mana stone market fully opened tomorrow, so even late night, people bustled preparing.
Thus, the streets were lit up and not too dark.
"Ooh, so flashy."
Mana stones for tomorrow's display were being carried into shops.
Just a glimpse of their sparkle captivated Vena.
"Those are low-grade ones."
"How do you know? You can't tell mana stones by looks."
"They wouldn't move high-grade ones so openly."
Vena nodded, convinced.
B-rank and above, especially A-rank and higher, fetched whatever price asked.
"True. Back at Gav Academy, we weren't allowed near B-ranks or higher."
"Not for rookies."
"Rookies?!"
Vena puffed her cheeks.
Ridiculous to Jamie. He poked one, and it deflated with a 'pffft', air leaking out.
That was when it happened.
"...!"
The bracelet on his left hand, 'Perfect Cell', began to vibrate.