His laugh was truly loud and annoying, but I wasnāt going to complain about noise pollution and whatnot. After all, he was in his own little dark castle.
I continued to look at him indifferently while he laughed like there was anything funny, like I had come all this way to entertain him.
Behind me, I could feel Sergeant Kaelās glare drilling into the back of my skull.
āI didnāt ask you to bring me here. Stop looking at me like Iām the problem.ā
I inhaled and exhaled. Doing that made it easier to tolerate very annoying people. It was a method I had perfected over many, many annoying encounters.
"Ah, I underestimated you greatly. I suppose that has to do with how young you are. I had no doubt that you lacked experience, and I needed to see if you were a fluke." His laughter settled, and his expression became something more considered. "As far as the sorry attempt went, I did enter your head though. I felt your fear..."
I glared at him.
"And you also know itās not about you. Not even in the slightest."
The man was silent for a moment. Perhaps because I had been right in a way and he knew it. He gathered a handful of his sleeve and held it to his chest, the gesture almost contemplative.
"You are very weird... but I acknowledge your strength... and I would be direct about this. I would like to extend a privileged invitation to you."
I raised my head.
"Oh? You didnāt say..."
My scowl had turned into a smile.
āLook at my problems solving themselves.ā
"I will offer you the position of a Captain... and all the privileges that come with it, if you decide to join the Night Guard today."
Behind me, even Sergeant Kael flinched, a sharp gasp escaping her before she immediately swallowed it. She said nothing, but the silence that followed was louder than any complaint she could have voiced.
āI guess this is the preferential treatment that comes with being strong, uhn...ā
This was a big issue. I felt like I couldnāt just go ahead and make this decision on my own, especially since Kassie had been searching for an opportunity to command a bunch of people. I had to be very careful with how I handled this.
āHm! I need to seek Kassieās advice!ā
I didnāt reach out yet. Before I did, there was something I wanted to confirm.
"The privileges that come with being a captain, does it involve being able to participate in the auction?"
The man raised his thick dark brows.
"You want to participate in the auction?"
I shot him a guarded look.
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"No, not at all." He leaned back slightly, regarding me with renewed curiosity. "I didnāt take you for one with deep pockets, considering that youāre here working a job that might very well take your life for meager coin." He looked beyond me, at Sergeant Kael. "How much do they offer them these days?"
"I think between fifty and a hundred silver talents, sir."
He nodded and chuckled.
"Such a paltry fee to waste away oneās life, defending people who donāt even care about it and yet have the power to end this petulant battle with barely any effort."
He caught himself derailing and fixed his focus back on me, gesturing slightly forward, his wide sleeves flowing with the motion.
"I am not looking to buy anything. Thatās not to deny the allegations of having deep pockets. Even you would be surprised how rich I am." I kept my expression neutral but internally, my ears perked. "But I have some things Iād like to sell. Iām very interested in getting stinking rich, you see."
The man wore no expression for a second, just looking at me with blank surprise.
Then the surprise settled into a small smile.
"Now, thatās even more surprising... the items that are usually sold are commissioned by House Valuation themselves. They also do the hunting. If there are third parties that register their items, Iāve never heard of such." He tilted his head. "Did you come all the way here for that? Even accepting to fight this gruesome battle?"
āHe doesnāt need to know about me being stranded...ā
I folded my hands and nodded. "Yes. I heard about the auction from a trusted friend, and since what I want to do was quite unique, I had to take this chance."
The man continued looking at me for more than a moment, his blank, shocked gaze sitting on me and becoming uncomfortable. I stole some glances back at him, but his silence and that look on his face was becoming kind of creepy.
"Hm. The golden youth." His voice had softened. "I miss the days where I used to take terrible risks for my goals. Now so many shackles and laws bind me down, even though Iām so much stronger than I ever was... I still consider those days my prime."
I gave him a blank stare. It was, honestly, none of my business.
"Donāt mind me. I just forgot that people still do these things." He waved a hand, as if clearing the air of his own nostalgia. "For a moment I thought it was about the money. You reminded me that for many like you, it usually isnāt. Some are, after all, not scared to throw their lives away for a moment of attaining glory, or insurmountable wealth."
He came closer to me, and the difference in our height became painfully apparent. He stood so much taller that I only reached his torso. Then he placed a hand on my shoulder and said:
"I admire your youthful confidence and the spirit of selflessness in pursuit of your goals. But youāre not going to find that here. There are very important people here that you cannot see..."
He stopped halfway and looked beyond me.
"Sergeant..."
Sergeant Kael looked confused for a moment. Then I hinted her.
"There seems to be a little commotion outside. I think you might want to check it out."
The man looked at me. I couldnāt read his expression, but it couldnāt have been favorable, given the fact that I did what he shouldāve done properly from the beginning.
Sergeant Kael hurried to the door, and in that moment, she staggered back because someone entered without an announcement, barging their way through.
The man flinched and frowned the moment this person stepped inside. He bowed slightly and cupped his hands together, lowering himself towards them.
"Lady Fintan of the White Tail Clan. For your sake, you shouldnāt be here."
I turned to the person he was greeting.
Lo and behold.
A bright smile broke across my face. Light emanated from my eyes. Everything suddenly felt right in the world. It felt like the universe really was on my side.
The lady, with her white hair drifting subtly in the still air of the room, stood there in all her towering glory. Her massive chest sprouted before her like a declaration of war against fabric, barely being contained by her apparel. Even her nipples seemed to be almost tearing through the cloth.
She was gigantic and of a comparable height to the man.
Immediately she saw me, she ignored him completely, turned to me with a polite tone and a friendly smile, all traces of whatever anger she had carried in from outside now gone.
"Wise one, we meet again... that too, at a place like this."
My internal grin stretched ear to ear.
āFox lady... we meet again... hehehehee...ā