The night spent in the hotel reserved by the auction team for their special guests was far from the dusty turmoil of the rest of Plain City. But with the first lights of morning, the activity echoing in the corridors made the weight of the approaching event felt. Mais, after fixing his long black hair, placed his mask on his face. Together with Hideo, he carefully painted the ends of his Bo staff. This way, the staff's striking colors would not be apparent. Then, they stepped out into the corridor.
Every time he struck his Bo staff on the ground while following their guide, a dull and resolute sound echoed on the stone floor. It was striking. Even if it wasn't Mais's intention, every strike seemed to say 'look at me.' Hideo was accompanying him a step behind with a tense expression. The reason was clear. As a Core Expert, he was respected in Yellow City, and even here he saw some respect. Yet, there were many Core Experts in Plain City, and especially because of the auction, there were multiple Lords here. More Sages too. Being in a private cabin as just a Core Expert made him nervous.
Even though he knew all of this stemmed entirely from the small child in front of him. On the way to the building's true heart, the massive amphitheater where the auction would be held, their guide was talking incessantly. Hideo scanned the surroundings while listening to the man explain the power balances in the Gold State and why this auction created such a great resonance. Indeed, he saw some familiar faces, and this surprised him. Yet, before Mais had informed him, he was not aware of the existence of such a famous auction at all.
Despite the aridity outside, the city seemed to have poured all its wealth inside this building. The corridors were overflowing with nobles and high-level merchants from all over the state, each chasing their own ambition. As Mais passed through this crowd, the heavy and sage aura he emitted caused the whispers around to suddenly stop for a moment and then flare up again more enthusiastically a short while later. A black-haired, masked Sage using the staff in his hand like a navigation tool and walking with such dignity was enough for every eye in the vicinity to lock onto him for a moment.
When they reached the private passage leading to the boxes, the gazes following Mais became even sharper. Was it because of the staff striking the ground? Or was it the powerful Sage aura surrounding him? People also wondered why this Sage, who looked like he was in his thirties, was wearing a mask.
"Is this not very arrogant?" spoke one of the Plain City nobles near Young Master Bekko, who was surrounded by a group of merchants and nobles in a corner. Bekko slowed his steps as Mais passed a few meters by him and watched this mysterious figure carefully, as if wanting to solve the secret within. Those around him took on a more hostile expression, but Bekko did not try to correct them. He only felt a sense of curiosity toward this mysterious figure, but apparently, this curiosity would not be solved immediately.
Just ahead, the heir of the Navan family, Luka Navan, appeared together with the old Origin Heart Lord who was the owner of this giant organization. The old lord had been living for a very long time even among Origin Heart Lords and had been traveling between countries and opening auctions since his youth. Hoping that among these there would be opportunities that could lead him to the Ascended Realm. Still, this old man realized it was already too late. He gave Mais a momentary look; in this brief glance, there was both an appreciation and an assessment.
"The person wearing the mask does not look simple," said Luka Navan. He was Yahut Navan's eldest brother and the heir of the Gold State Lord. He had curled mustaches and blue eyes. He had combed his black hair to the right and looked like he was in his early thirties, but he was actually much older than he appeared. He had come here to represent his family. Auction Master Regal was a wealthy merchant famous in the surrounding Kingdoms, and the respect shown to him could certainly not be compared to an ordinary Lord. Therefore, they had to show him the necessary reverence.
"What identity that hides is simple?" said the Old Lord while stroking his beard. He watched the young men walking away with a smile on his face.
The auction area was carved gradually toward the depths of the earth, as if mimicking Plain City's own structure. While the seats on the lowest floors were filled with thousands of people waiting for the bidding to start, five private cabins were located at the top, looking down on this sea of people. These cabins were arranged like a power map of the state and its surroundings. At the very beginning stood Luka Navan's magnificent box. Inside were the auction's owner, Old Lord Regal, and a few servants Luka Navan had brought with him. Right next to it, Plain City Lord Uzai had settled into the second cabin with a motionless and icy demeanor like a statue. Gray strands were visible among his short black hair. Just like in his beard. He was not young. Although he hadn't been City Lord for very long, he had been in the army for a long period. It was as if there was still a layer of armor under his clothes. He hadn't been able to separate the army from himself. He had a very serious expression and specifically did not emit the kind of aura that could belong to a cultivator. There was no lack of aura emanating from him, but he was not trying to reveal his own cultivation like Mais. Instead, the sound of several hearts beating rhythmically could be heard in his body, and along with these beats, energy waves containing traces of different Taos spread around. It was a known fact that City Lord Uzai was an Origin Heart Lord.
Bekko, who had scanned Mais in the corridor, moved to the third cabin, while Mais and Hideo moved to their places in the fourth cabin. In the fifth and final cabin, the giant merchant Samuel, known for his fortune, was examining the auction list in his hand. Today, many of his products would also be on sale.
Luka Navan, settling into his box and listening to the roar below, involuntarily turned his gaze toward his rivals in the side cabins. His eyes were especially caught by the youth in the third cabin, Bekko. Even though the inside of the other cabins was not visible from his own, Luka seemed to have no problem with seeing. Leaning toward the old Origin Heart Lord next to him, he asked, "That young man... do you know who he is? I understand he is a noble, but I couldn't quite place his identity."
The Old Lord began to explain in a low voice without taking his eyes off the sealed boxes on the stage. "His name is Bekko, Lord Luka. Perhaps you met him before when he was younger. A noble fugitive coming from the neighboring state, Bosua. Actually, his situation is much more tragic than it seems. On the day his brother took the head of the clan, he saw Bekko as a rival and gave the execution order. The boy took refuge in our state to save his life. I heard these days he is wandering among noble families like a fugitive. He aims to achieve a shocking success in the State Elections and come under the protection of the royal family, the great clans, or the state lords. Even getting under the protection of a powerful Ascended could save him. Otherwise, we both know what will happen to him." No matter how much he ran, he could not run from a State Lord forever.
Luka took on a thoughtful expression. He knew that the Lord of the Bosua State had passed away recently. Suiren Bosua... Luka had always tried to explain to his own brothers how cunning he was, but they always acted naive about it. Even Suiren's brothers hadn't realized the situation. Apparently, the heir brother had taken the throne, dropped all that well-intentioned facade, and shown his true face. It wasn't hard to guess what happened to the other brothers. Even Bekko's escape was considered impressive. "If he proves to be talented enough, I might ask my father to take him under protection."
Bosua State was once a kingdom. The Forgotten Kingdom had subjugated them in its bright periods and even married them to ordinary people to weaken their powerful bloodlines. Still, only a few thousand years ago, this family was a royal family and there were experts of immense power in their bloodlines. Reviving this bloodline with another powerful bloodline was not that impossible. With his own family's bloodline. Luka's grandmother was the current king's sister. This showed that Luka and his brothers carried the blood of the Virgo dynasty. A few powerful generations and their family could become capable of clashing with the great families of the capital. But this was also a threat to the Virgo Dynasty and Luka knew this could cause great dangers in the future. Still, this was the business of hundreds of years later. Power always came with its dangers. What a great coincidence that Luka had a very talented daughter. Bekko could be very suitable to marry into the family. But the young man had to prove it.
After listening to Bekko's cornered state, Luka turned his eyes to the second cabin. Although this boy had caught his interest, the young man's success in escaping his brother's hand did not mean he possessed impressive cultivation talents. The figure in the second cabin was someone who required more attention than a simple youth. City Lord Uzai sat with a great lack of reaction, as if he were not in the middle of thousands of people but on top of a lonely mountain. He seemed to feel nothing, and it was hard to read his thoughts. But Luka knew he was important. The control of Plain City was entirely connected to this man. And Plain City was one of the largest cities of the Gold State. When Luka asked the old lord's opinion about this man, the old man warned him by nodding slightly.
"From the outside, he may look very cool-headed and controlled. However, if you ask me, he is not as controlled as he seems. I would say he is more arrogant. The way he disposed of the previous City Lord and made himself the city lord was impressive. Do not see him only as an Origin Heart Lord. The City Lord may look ordinary from afar, but the moment he shows signs of ambition along with the power of Plain City, a troubled future will await you."
"Did you make this deduction since you came here?"
"My acquaintance with City Lord Uzai goes back a bit further."
Luka Navan, after carefully noting this analysis in his mind, turned his gaze to the fourth cabin, in the direction where that masked boy was. Apparently, he could not see behind his mask. A vigorous-looking Sage at the end of the Sage Realm. He had guesses, but confirming them did not seem possible.
A great noise prevailed in the hall until a scrawny, middle-aged-looking man came out to the auction hall and struck his gavel in the center. In the next moment, all attention turned to the stage.