Heromaker - IV

It didn't take long for the crowd of merchants and adventurers to filter into the emptied-out auction house. Owen threw money whenever apt, allowing everything to flow.

To increase the security around Aventine, Owen even supplemented his knight squad with a few local guards. Although they were not as well-equipped, their hardened expressions and fierce looks contributed to the oppressive aura of the rich noble that Aventine desired.

The scale was quite surprising.

Looking at the people who filled the auction house's seats, Aventine chuckled. His senses were already screaming at him.

Malice from hidden assassins.

Avarice from the desperate.

Two powerful intentions were like blazing bonfires in his eyes. However, he felt like letting things play out. He found a few familiar faces among the assassins.

Warriors from the <Skulls > eager to avenge their fallen comrades.

A few battle-hardened assassins were here to accompany them.

[Absolute Awareness].

"Ah, people from the capital." Aventine mused.

It wasn't a bother, as Aventine had discovered their intentions early on. There were people in the capital who had hired the famous fighters known as the <Skulls > to attack their caravan, as well as assassins from the <Thieves Guild> to pick off any notable names. Although crude, they were quite the complex bunch.

Aventine couldn't simply label them as <Those Hungry for Power>, however, it was a good enough explanation. They were rich, and influential. They were nobles. However, what was most dangerous was that they were both wise and reckless.

Wise enough to use their own wide foresight, yet reckless in thinking that their judgements were flawless.

"I'm not in conflict with them... yet they want me dead simply because?" Aventine shook his head. "How unnecessary."

The reason Aventine didn't car about these assassination attempts was because...

In the end, there would be a clash.

In the end, there would be death.

— And with death came wealth.

***

Stepping into the auction house, Afla felt the thick, pungent atmosphere filled to the brim with vices. For a demon fox like her, it was like wading into a refreshing hot spring. A temptress was at her best in the midst of strong emotion.

She was in her element. However, at the same time, she was not.

A gaze she could not identify had fallen upon her. Already sensitive to the eyes of both men and women who desired her, this gaze was more than obvious. Spanning across the entire venue, like an eye that could see through all things.

Shivers.

Afla felt herself trembling, terrified of the implications of her identity leaking out.

But that was impossible.

No one should be able to see through her.

No one.

No one...

"?"

Someone smiled at her. Standing in the middle of the stage, with spotlights directed unto him. The rich noble from the capital.

Aventine.

"You there," His voice boomed throughout the hall, amplified by the magic circles scattered throughout. "You have something interesting."

"I—" Afla choked.

She hadn't even taken a seat. What was this? How was she already singled out? What did this mean?

"Three platinum coins." A whisper in her ears. The shadows seemed to have shifted, carrying his voice. It was like the whisper of death... giving her life.

Thirty million dollars.

Afla couldn't help but offer up the treasure in her hands. 3 platinum coins? Who would be crazy enough to deny such a price? She even doubted that this treasure was even worth that much.

After all, it wasn't a weapon, nor was it an enchanted piece of jewelry. It didn't even seem that powerful, judging from the aura that it radiated.

Running down the hall, Afla handed the man the treasure with a face filled with confused excitement. All she wanted to do right now was escape. People would surely chase after her if they knew she had 3 platinum coins in her hands.

She just needed to change her face once again.

With her new identity and such a large amount of money, she could enter the next phase of her plans a little earlier than scheduled.

However... As she approached the man, a deep darkness surrounded her. The shadows that whispered turned into a curtain against all prying eyes.

To deal with large amounts of wealth required secrecy.

Such was the <Power of Death>.

"Here!" 

She said, holding an ancient-looking wooden box with both of her hands as she bowed. Afla realized that this person in front of her was much stronger than the aura he was exuding.

Luckily, she had no conflicts with him.

The clinking of three heavy platinum coins replaced the weight of the artifact she had offered up. They completed the trade in but a blink of an eye, leaving the crowd questioning what had happened.

"Well done." Aventine nodded at her, then turned to his people. "Owen, have your guards escort her out of the venue! She's a valued acquaintance. Keep her safe until she no longer needs you."

Hearing these words, Afla bowed further, seemingly in gratitude. She kept Aventine's face in her mind.

...Perhaps they could meet in the future. Under different circumstances. When she used her original appearance.

"Hehe~"

Afla couldn't help but lick her lips. Her eyes gleamed with excitement.

How much could she suck out of such a rich young man?

***

If Afla's smile hid a devious plot behind its veil, Aventine's grin did not fall short. In fact, it was worse.

'Oh, sweet little fox~'

However, it disappeared in a mere instant as Afla completed her bow, returning to Aventine's perfectly practiced smile. The darkness that shielded their trade receded, and the noise of the hall returned.

A lot of eyes had fallen onto them. However, now there was a certain hesitation.

Aventine could hear their thoughts.

"What was that darkness?"

The fear of the unknown. The aversion to death.

With such aspects present in any mortal being, it wasn't hard to discern the discomfort they now had, sitting before a character who could control just that.

It was time to start the reverse auction in earnest.