Chapter 1137: Showdown (8)
[Humans began to be traded as ‘goods’ in Torquepaz a very long time ago.]
Despite Pandemonium’s terror attack, Torquepaz’s downtown entertainment district regained its vibrancy within days.
Flashy sports cars lined the roads, and people in luxurious attire stepped out everywhere.
Innumerable electronic billboards illuminated the night sky. Lavish buildings designed to resemble slot machines or advertising balloons.
Strange-looking trees, like palms, stood at various points throughout the streets.
[As a city known for gambling and entertainment, many people here squandered all their assets and went bankrupt.]
[It was only natural for those with nothing left to put up as collateral to be sold as commodities in an auction house.]
Listening to Hylaea’s briefing, I walked towards the entrance of a splendid theater.
Couples lined up everywhere, along with hawkers trying to attract customers.
I handed a card to the security guard blocking the door, and the sunglasses-wearing guard slightly lowered his lenses.
The guard, looking down at the name on the card with sunken eyes, nodded and stepped aside.
“This way.”
Creak!
The door, adorned with luxurious leather, opened, revealing a wide, open hall.
Dazzling lights poured down from a dizzyingly high ceiling.
Splendid glass display cases lined both sides of the hall.
Hundreds of display cases held all sorts of ornate and grotesque stolen goods.
[Human Skin Mask of the Badanoa Tribe]
[Cursed Crown of the Destroyed Youssef Dynasty]
[Fission Heart of the Synthetic Magical Beast, Trionion]
A grotesque, ash-gray mask large enough to cover the entire face.
A beautiful, seamless crown, as if carved from transparent crystal.
Even heart-shaped mechanical equipment pulsed, emitting hot smoke from inside the display case.
Rare collectibles and valuables from across the continent flowed in, becoming commodities and collateral here.
A massive pawn shop and auction house, prepared for those obsessed with gambling and entertainment.
But what captivated Victor’s interest wasn’t just these rare and bizarre stolen goods.
“Interesting.”
[Victor?]
“There’s not just one or two items here that could kill everyone gathered. And they’re displayed so openly in an auction house like this.”
Lennok smiled coldly.
“Are they confident in their handling of stolen goods, or do they simply not care if their customers die?”
[….]
A mask that steals human skin. A crown that devours souls. A magical beast’s heart that is a nuclear bomb in itself.
Most of the items collected in this exhibition would cause immense disaster if released to the public.
Even with a little carelessness in handling, it wouldn’t be strange for damage comparable to the terror Lennok caused to occur.
“Syndicate, was it? Either way, it’s a very amusing organization.”
The measure of displaying inhuman stolen goods like cheap jewels, and the indifferent response that doesn’t care about the safety of the surroundings.
But Lennok soon realized that this was the true face of the city of Torquepaz.
A pleasure that not only gambles with money or chips but also treats human lives as commodities.
The true face of the entertainment city where the most liquid assets are exchanged in the Western Continent.
Is this Torquepaz’s auction house, selling everything in the world as collateral?
[Victor. I’m sorry, but we don’t have time to be distracted.]
Hylaea said.
[The agreed meeting place is further inside. And probably, inside there… you’ll find more things to your liking.]
Thick blackout curtains divided the splendid glass display cases.
The moment he passed the two security guards blocking the curtain’s entrance and stepped inside.
Lennok stopped, facing a boy’s head placed in a display case.
A grotesque sight: just a head fixed to a stand, with wide-open eyes as if still alive.
“…”
Around it, withered hands, organs, or entire right and lower halves of bodies were also displayed.
The atmosphere was utterly opposite to the stolen goods exhibition he had just passed, feeling gloomy and even ominous.
It seemed a human auction house wasn’t a place that only dealt in living humans as commodities.
Lennok, about to walk past the display case with the boy’s head, suddenly stopped as he gazed into its eyes.
“…This is.”
Because the radiance emanating from the dead boy’s eyes felt strangely familiar to Lennok as well.
Lennok finally understood the reason after reading the description below the display case.
[Three Primary Colors’ Mystic Eye. Unextracted. Head included. First-grade preservation.]
“…”
The name or epithet was slightly different, but there was no doubt.
The radiance felt somewhat similar to the Mystic Eye possessed by Olivera Ron Maize.
What this boy possessed was, in fact, a Mystic Eye close to an inferior version of the Seven Debts Jewels.
As Lennok silently gazed into the Mystic Eye, a polite voice spoke from behind him.
“It seems you’re interested in the Three Primary Colors’ Mystic Eye.”
A young gentleman, who had approached by his side, smiled at Lennok.
“Among the items that entered the auction house this month, it is by far the highest-grade item. You have excellent taste.”
“…”
“Although it’s displayed first, right at the entrance of the auction house, surprisingly few people recognize its true value.”
The young man appeared to be of a similar age to Lennok. Yet, his movements exuded a peculiar elegance and restraint.
“As you know, among Mystic Eyes, those containing two or more colors receive special treatment. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, they are clear proof that different unique abilities coexist within a single eye.”
The young man spoke with a strangely proud voice.
“But this Mystic Eye is composed of no less than three primary colors. The very foundation of foundations. Its value cannot be measured in money; it is a treasure whose price can only be paid through exchange.”
“…I see.”
“Mystic Eye collectors are eagerly awaiting this item to go up for auction, but the organizers will try to show it to as many guests as possible to fetch the highest price.”
The young man said, adjusting the brim of his hat.
“Well, if you’re from Pandemonium, it might not catch your eye.”
“…”
Lennok finally turned his gaze towards the young man upon hearing those words.
The perception distortion barrier was still active.
No one in this auction house had perceived Lennok’s appearance normally.
Yet, the reason this young man approached Lennok and so kindly explained and guided him about the Mystic Eye.
It must be because this young man possessed powerful perceptive abilities, strong enough to penetrate Lennok’s perception distortion magic and recognize him.
“Oh, I apologize if I’ve been presumptuous. As a frequent patron of this auction house myself, it’s been a long time since I met someone who truly recognized an item of this caliber.”
The young man took off his hat and bowed politely.
“My name is Aoshu Spero.”
“…Spero?”
At that moment, Lennok unconsciously echoed the name.
“Aoshu Spero?”
He had definitely heard that name before, with its somewhat unique sound.
The young man, perhaps sensing Lennok’s reaction, gave a peculiar smile.
“Oh, have we met somewhere before?”
“…”
“That can’t be. There’s no way I wouldn’t remember a spellcaster as unique as you. This is a first.”
“I see.”
That tone. That demeanor. Lennok, recognizing the other’s identity, adjusted his mask.
“Why is a superhuman from Machina… here?”
After the decisive battle against Hermes Orokhnier in the machine city of Machina.
Lennok had met a major figure from Machina’s underworld during the aftermath.
The Level 8 mental psychic, Aoshu Spero.
A psychometric and mind-controller, known as the Mastermind.
The one who called Maiya Lonsdale, a former Enforcer of the Machine City, his ‘Elder Sister’, and thus showed favor to Lennok.
He had even helped Lennok search for traces of Kaiser but was also a psychic who spoke insane words like wanting to extract Lennok’s brain fluid.
“Ah, come to think of it, if you’re from Pandemonium…”
At that moment, the young man smiled softly.
“Did you perhaps hear about me from my Elder Sister Maiya? I can’t think of anything else.”
“…”
“Would you mind telling me what she said about me?”
“I haven’t heard about you from Maiya Lonsdale.”
Lennok tilted his head.
“However, I had heard that name outside Machina. They said he was an extremely rare mental psychic across the entire continent.”
“Ah.”
The young man drooped his shoulders, looking dejected.
“I see. That’s a shame. I was hoping to find out if my Elder Sister was doing well.”
“…”
Even when Lennok met Aoshu Spero as Adamant Thunder in Machina, he had mentioned Maiya and expressed gratitude.
It was certain that the Mastermind had once worked alongside Maiya Lonsdale for the machine city a long time ago.
However, Lennok had no idea how Maiya remembered Aoshu Spero.
After all, that Enforcer wasn’t the type to open up about herself, and Lennok wasn’t particularly interested in her past either.
“I don’t know why a superhuman from Machina is here. Have you allied with the Syndicate?”
Even when Lennok first met Aoshu Spero, he was a monster who manipulated dozens of humans without revealing his own presence.
He was a strong individual, whom even the Second Apostle, encountered at the Duris Workshop, considered a strong individual to be wary of, even mentioning him alongside a superhuman named Chungnyeong.
Why had this monster, whom Lennok thought was holed up in Machina’s underworld, appeared in Torquepaz?
“I’m simply a patron of this auction house.”
Aoshu Spero said, slowly turning around.
“Many brains of powerful or unique ability users are brought here. I regularly participate in auctions to consume them.”
“…Consume?”
“The reason mental psychics are rare. You just said it yourself.”
Spero chuckled, averting his gaze.
“That’s just how it is.”
“…”
He did not bother to add reasons or explanations for what he did.
He neither made excuses nor sought justification, nor did he express any emotions about it.
Was Lennok mistaken to feel that his calm and unreserved attitude made him seem even more dangerous?
“If you want to meet the Syndicate, go further inside.”
The young man smiled, pointing towards the darkness deeper within the auction house.
He waved his hand and slowly disappeared past Lennok.
“If fate allows, I’ll see you next time, Pandemonium.”
“…”
The Mastermind was a psychic skilled in manipulating and controlling human minds.
Perhaps the young man Lennok had just met wasn’t his true body.
Realizing there was no further point in conversation, Lennok silently turned and walked away.
He passed the display cases exhibiting human heads and body parts, heading deeper into the auction house.
A long corridor swallowed by darkness. Figures blurred in the dim light, barely visible to the naked eye.
But Lennok could still feel that he was walking between display cases where something was exhibited.
Even the fact that something ‘alive’ was exhibited within those cases, watching him.
“…”
The moment he faintly activated his mana detection, just enough not to be discovered, he knew.
Bird-people with skin as beautiful as jewels, unlike humans.
Mutant test subjects with grotesque eyeballs embedded all over their bodies.
Famous politicians or singers, whom he seemed to have seen on TV.
Direct descendants of powerful superhumans, long thought to be dead.
Men and women with purely dazzling and exquisite beauty.
And various other humans with diverse ‘uses’ were being sold as commodities in this auction house.
Customers wearing masks wandered between the darkened auction stalls.
Only then did Lennok understand why the Torquepaz Mayor could conduct human trafficking in the middle of the Alcantara Hotel.
A scene similar to the human trafficking the Mayor attempted was openly taking place right here, in the basement of the entertainment district next to the hotel.
Whoosh!
At that moment, Lennok witnessed a shimmering heat haze in the darkness and moved forward.
The instant he took a step, an illusion arose, flipping the entire landscape where he stood.
Flash!
Suddenly, Lennok was standing in a very spacious room overlooking the entire auction house.
A dignified space, tastefully designed like an office.
Inside the room, adorned neither too lavishly nor too austerely, sat a man with a magnificently groomed mustache.
“Welcome, Pandemonium’s Manipulation Spellcaster.”
A light shirt and shoes, a cane in hand, and a monocle on his eye.
A dignified, middle-aged man with an air of nobility was looking at Lennok.
The man, leaning on his cane with both hands, slowly shook his head as he regarded Lennok.
“Since Torquepaz settled in the Western Continent, it has been a very long time since such chaos spread throughout the entire city.”
“…”
The man, calmly caressing his cane, spoke.
“That’s why I wanted to meet you face-to-face. I was curious to know what kind of person a Manipulation Spellcaster who can contend with an Apostle of the cult is.”
“You have a long tongue.”
Lennok’s eyes glowed red through his mask.
“I heard the Clown is at this auction house. Guide me to him.”
“There’s no need to rush. We will escort the Clown safely to you.”
The man turned around, limping, leaving Lennok in silence.
“But the preparations aren’t finished yet. Until then, why don’t we just talk for a moment?”
“What preparations are you speaking of?”
No particular malice or hostility was felt from the man welcoming Lennok.
Meaning this situation itself was not a trap or an encirclement targeting Lennok.
Nevertheless, Lennok did not lower his guard, watching the limping man leaning on his cane.
Kugugugu…!!!
An unknown, intangible pressure emanated from the dignified-looking man.
A powerful, crushing sensation, as if his consciousness was being suppressed the moment he faced him.
A peculiar sense of incongruity, as if the man’s spirit itself was endlessly heavy and sinking, subsiding.
He was clearly a formidable individual who had reached a transcendent realm, not one to ostentatiously display his power.
Considering his uniquely powerful mental waves, his ability among innate powers was the most versatile—
Thud!!
At that moment, the office where Lennok and the man stood facing each other slowly began to move.
A vast office overlooking the entire auction house, moving mysteriously without any power or mechanism.
A psychokinetic superhuman relying purely on mental power, without using any mana or spellcraft.
The moment Lennok confirmed this and faintly raised his mana.
“Even if he’s weakened, there’s no way we could forcibly detain such an illusionist here.”
The man, standing at the end of the moving office, pointed below the glass window.
“He was staying here purely of the Clown’s own will.”
“…What?”
Kugugugung…!!!
The office moved past the auction house into a secret room where several complex rooms were intertwined.
Below the transparent glass window, a huge operating room with white walls was visible.
All sorts of equipment were laid out between the operating tables, and at its center, an operating chair was placed at an angle.
“Ouch, ouch!”
On that chair, the Clown sat, torn to pieces all over his body, screaming.
“Ow! No, seriously, I feel like I’m really going to die.”
The Clown, yelping every time a blade moved across his skin, rolled his eyes around.
“You said you were a very famous surgeon. Can’t you be a little gentler?”
“You were the one who said anesthetics and hallucinogens wouldn’t work on you.”
At that moment, the man cutting with a scalpel in front of the operating table spoke.
“Do you think I enjoy performing surgery on a patient who’s fully conscious?”
“No, I mean, the reason I entrusted you with the surgery—”
“Silence.”
The Conjunction Spell Master, having removed their surgical cap, looked down at the Clown with an indifferent gaze.
“This is my first time performing surgery ‘in this body,’ so bear with me. Sit still and enjoy the pain.”