Chapter 21

I took a deep breath, regaining my composure. As my laughter subsided, I dusted off my clothes and straightened myself, turning to face the confused expressions of my friends and Victor.

Noticing their bewilderment, I offered a small chuckle and waved a dismissive hand. “It’s just an inside joke between me and Aldric Valefang. If I started explaining, we’d be here all night.”

They seemed to accept my explanation, albeit with lingering curiosity, but I chose not to elaborate further.

We chatted for a few more minutes, exchanging pleasantries and discussing minor details. But before I could take my leave, there was something important I needed to address.

I turned to Victor Dainhart, leveling him with a serious gaze. “Mr. Victor Dainhart, before I go, I have a proposition for you. Would you be willing to sign a special contract with me?”

Victor, ever the businessman, perked up at the mention of a deal. “Of course, My Lord. Just name the type of slaves you require, and I shall see to it.”

I met his gaze and spoke clearly. “I will pay you thirty Royal Marks for every Sacrificial Treasure you bring me, whether they are children or adults.”

At my words, Victor’s confident expression faltered slightly. He hesitated before responding, clearly taken aback. “My Lord, these cursed girls are quite rare and difficult to find. However, it is not impossible. But may I ask ... why children? The egg never appears before the girl reaches twenty-four summers.”

I smirked but gave no real explanation. “You wouldn’t understand, my friend. Do we have a deal?”

Victor studied me for a moment, then exhaled deeply before nodding. “Yes, My Lord. We have a deal.”

Satisfied, I extended my hand, and he shook it firmly, sealing our arrangement.

With our business concluded, I took my leave. Stepping outside the auction house, I was met with the sight of a royal chariot waiting for me, accompanied by a full company of royal cavalry stationed at the gate. Their polished armor gleamed under the light, their disciplined stance a testament to their rigorous training.

The commander of the cavalry stepped forward and offered a respectful nod. I returned the gesture, acknowledging his presence before stepping into the chariot. My companions followed suit, settling into their seats as the horses whinnied in anticipation.

With a final glance at the grand auction house, I leaned back against the plush cushions and allowed myself a small smile.

As the chariot rolled forward, heading toward home, I closed my eyes and pondered the next steps in my ever-growing web of plans.

On the way back, we made a brief stop to drop off Gauriash. We exchanged a few pleasantries, promising to return as soon as possible. After a short conversation, we bid farewell, and the chariot resumed its journey.

As soon as we were on the move again, Aldric Valefang turned to me, his sharp gaze filled with suspicion.

“Now spill the beans,” he demanded, arms crossed.

At his words, I burst into laughter again, struggling to contain my amusement.

“What exactly do you want to know?” I asked, my voice shaking with barely suppressed mirth.

“How many secrets are you hiding from the auction house?”

I held up two fingers. “Two secrets.”

His eyes narrowed. “Then tell me both.”

I smirked. “Which one first—the obvious one or the bigger one?”

“Bigger one first,” he said without hesitation.

I leaned back and grinned. “Okay, do you remember the pirate girl?”

Aldric nodded. “Yes. What about her?”

“She’s carrying a seed of a child of Eterna.”

The moment the words left my mouth, the entire chariot fell into stunned silence. Then, as realization set in, gasps echoed through the cabin. But soon enough, when they fully grasped the magnitude of my fortune and the misfortune of others, they erupted into laughter along with me.

Aldric wiped a tear from his eye. “And the obvious one?”

I grinned mischievously. “Who are you? What is your profession?”

He gave me an incredulous look. “I’m a beast tamer. Why?”

“I can assure you that you own a magical beast that can access any dimensional storage.”

His brow furrowed in confusion. “No, I do not have any such beast.”

I smirked. “Wanna bet?”

Aldric opened his mouth to agree, then suddenly stopped himself, his instincts warning him. He exhaled sharply. “No, I do not want to bet with you.”

I chuckled. “Smart choice. But let’s assume you do have one. Then what?”

Aldric’s eyes narrowed, already sensing I was leading him into a trap. “You remember our earlier bet, don’t you?”

Realization struck him like a bolt of lightning, and he cursed under his breath. “You cunning bastard. I already know I lost that bet. And if you find that beast, you’ll take it for yourself. But what will you do with it? What’s the big secret? Just tell me!”

I leaned forward, my grin widening. “Oh, I will definitely take that beast. But more than that—I will put my claim on the entire species. If you can’t identify its worth, then it means it was never truly yours to begin with. And that means I can have all of them for myself. Plus ... I now have an unlimited supply of magical beast eggs. My menagerie will be the greatest in the entire kingdom—better than even yours.”

Aldric’s confusion deepened, his mind racing to connect the pieces. When he still looked uncertain, I gave him one last push.

“Think about it—when I combine a Spatial Robber with a Sacrificial Treasure, what happens?”

It took only a moment before the light of realization dawned in his eyes. Then, he exploded into a fit of curses.

His furious reaction only made the others laugh harder, and soon the entire chariot was filled with uproarious laughter.

That was how we finally arrived at the castle. Upon reaching our destination, we parted ways, each heading off in our own direction.

I made my way straight to my private chambers, where I collapsed onto my bed. The moment my head hit the pillow, exhaustion overtook me.

I slept like a man who had just changed the fate of the kingdom.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by a loud, insistent banging on my door. Groaning, I shifted slightly, trying to ignore the noise, but the pounding continued relentlessly. Before I could react, the door creaked open, and a girl cautiously poked her head inside.