“Here, take this. It’s the list of items for this auction.”
Elizabeth handed over a document filled with various relics and names of elixirs.
As expected of the Frontal family. Given their secret support of the underworld, it seemed they had obtained this information in advance.
“Let’s see. A coral branch staff, among other things.”
“That’s mine.”
“Of course. Would I ask a collaborator to help out empty-handed?”
I skimmed the document from top to bottom.
The Frostroot I was after seemed to have been pushed to the last day as part of inventory clearance.
‘That’s good.’
Now it seemed I could proceed with my plans more relaxed.
“And this is a map of the auction house’s interior. It’s better to understand it beforehand. They blindfold the participants and lead them in.”
“I see.”
To be honest, this information was not particularly meaningful to me.
‘I’ve been in and out of this game so many times.’
I casually glanced over at Perno.
He too seemed uninterested in the map, lounging on the sofa, idly playing with his ear.
“…What’s with that reaction?”
“No, it’s useful information. Definitely.”
But the moment I unfolded the rolled-up map, I had to retract my previous thoughts.
It contained not just the building’s layout.
The scale and arrangement of the private soldiers,
A list of hired mercenaries,
The storage locations of each relic and the positions of the guards………
All these details were included in the map.
“I didn’t expect Georg to be there.”
A familiar name.
A mercenary rumored to have survived against a horde of monsters alone, and considered a top contender in martial contests.
His name was also on this map.
“Since he’s a mercenary, he’s been hired for money. The nobles have high expectations of him.”
With this information, planning an escape route and blocking unexpected variables would be much easier.
“Thank you. This is a big help.”
“Your attitude is quite different from before. Fine. It’s a deal, after all. And for our Frontal family, there are reasons this auction must fail.”
Elizabeth said that the Frontal Count’s family almost monopolizes the northern supply routes, but they are not invulnerable. People’s desire for money always invites challenges to impregnable fortresses. This time was no different. In fact, the main sponsor of this auction was a competing family with its own trade guild, attempting to usurp the Frontal Count’s influence in the black market. She whispered softly with a polite smile, “It would be quite useful if we could deal with competitors using the help of demons and thieves.”
Well, that’s the official stance, anyway. The talk of doing it for the family was just for show.
“You’re not being honest.”
“…About what?”
“Never mind. If you think about it, it’s a fair trade.”
I turned my head away from her cold, piercing gaze.
‘I hit the nail on the head.’
The real reason is probably due to the contract I made with her long before. Elizabeth couldn’t refuse my deal, given the progress of her relationship with Luciana and to keep me in check. She must believe the day of my betrayal will come sooner as my infamy as a ‘demon’ grows.
“Tsk. It would be nice if you got caught by the guards there.”
“Wouldn’t that trouble you too? Our previous contract would be nullified.”
“You never lose in arguments, do you?”
Unfortunately for her, what she wishes for will not happen.
Anyway, the day of action is in three days. We should get more drinks, even though it’s a little unreliable.
***
“Liza, you’re late.”
“Sorry. I had something to take care of.”
The black market was busier than usual. As it was the last day of the auction, when the real prized items appear, many customers had flocked to it.
“Lucy, are you eyeing anything?”
“I don’t know. Not really.”
In fact, Luciana wasn’t there to buy anything. She just followed her father’s wishes as the head of the family.
“They are all nobles.”
Luciana muttered as if sighing. From their walking to the way they held wine glasses, everything was noble-like. It was hard to identify them due to the masks, but they all had blue blood.
“It’s impossible for vagabonds to afford the auction.”
Elizabeth, taking a leisurely observant stance, also picked up a glass filled with a beverage.
The place was terribly uncomfortable, with the ugly stares following her friend’s delicate movements.
– Cling.
The clear sound of glass clinking echoed. But, they had to spend quite a long time there.
“Are you picking a gift for your fiancé?”
“Well, you could say that.”
As she turned her head, her shy demeanor…
Luciana fiddled with her stiffly curled lips.
‘Oh dear. Instead of blessing the engagement of a longtime friend and loyal servant.’
A glance revealed an unknown emotion.
For some reason, a less than pleasant feeling returned.
“Thank you for waiting! Ladies and gentlemen who have graced us with your presence!”
Just then, the auctioneer, breaking through Luciana’s complex thoughts, began his opening remarks, drawing everyone’s attention.
“It’s about to start.”
“I’m tired of waiting.”
The auctioneer smoothly continued, against the backdrop of the nobles’ buzzing chatter, which served as background music.
“The atmosphere is heating up. Now, let me introduce the first auction item!”
If everything went according to the original plan, the least valuable item would be presented first to raise expectations for the more valuable items in the latter half.
Thus, participants expected something like Frostroot or flashy but unsubstantial relics to appear.
“…Hmm? What’s this event about?”
However, Luciana rubbed her eyes in disbelief at the next item brought up.
Inside the transparent box, there was seemingly nothing.
“What’s this? Is the organizer playing a joke?”
“Bring the right item, quickly!”
Despite the audience’s complaints, the auctioneer just smiled calmly.
“Please calm down, ladies and gentlemen, the item is right before you.”
– Boom!
Suddenly, loud explosions erupted throughout the audience area. They were sound grenades with no lethal power, but the noise was enough to instill fear in everyone.
“This is the flamboyant debut of the Sand Mole in the north! No returns!”
The auctioneer’s voice suddenly changed to a husky middle-aged man’s.
Perno, the Sand Mole.
As his infamous name, known throughout the Manhet Empire and beyond the west, was announced, the nobles jumped to their feet.
“The Sand Mole?”
“Why is the monster that even the Duke of Roberck couldn’t catch here?”
Perno, grinning, looked around the noisy stage below.
This was his favorite moment.
The fact that he only stole from noble families after penetrating their heavy security was proof of his skill.
But he was only called a phantom thief because he liked to make a flashy appearance following an explosion.
“Do Westerners have no fear? Does our security look like a joke to you?”
Perno grinned, baring his teeth, now that he had successfully captured everyone’s attention.
“Ah, so you’re that Georg, huh?”
– Click, click, click.
Behind the black-armored mercenary, whom his disciple had previously mentioned, a line of the nobles’ private soldiers formed.
“Huh, you have a good spirit. Relying on numbers, huh?”
As expected of a nobles-led auction, their response was swift.
But,
With just a few tools, such a security force would easily fall into disarray.
“Aaah!”
“Watch out for mines! There are traps everywhere…!”
Sleeping gas, flashbangs, smoke grenades…
The soldiers climbing towards the auction stage fell one by one into the traps that had been set in advance.
Perno whistled proudly.
“How cowardly!”
“I didn’t set any lethal traps, but isn’t it impressive? You made it all the way to where I am.”
Georg, now one of the few remaining including himself, clenched his fist in frustration.
“Be prepared!”
“Hmph. You seem to be mistaken if you think you can defeat a rookie like me.”
– Bang!
Another explosion echoed.
This time,
Fragments flew past people in both the audience and the auction hall.
“Aaah! A bomb exploded right next to us…!”
“Move! Do you know who I am?”
“Why should I care? Just get lost!”
“My lord, where are you?”
The scene was absolute chaos.
The noise from the repeated explosions, along with the sight of soldiers falling like leaves in the wind, sent the nobles into a panic.
“We should probably evacuate.”
Elizabeth grabbed her friend’s arm to pull her away.
However, Luciana remained motionless in her seat, even as everyone else fled from the participant seats.
“…Lucy?”
“This is strange.”
All the auction items have been stolen? That can’t be.
Given their value, auction items are moved under the watchful eyes of many soldiers as a security measure.
But to say that in such a short time all the items were stolen without any soldier noticing?
“It’s a trap.”
Luciana, with her calm demeanor, caught sight of the thief screaming at the top of his lungs.
“Hahaha. Who dares challenge me, the Sand Mole? This so-called mercenary Georg is nowhere near enough!”
A diversion.
An ostentatious ruckus to capture everyone’s attention.
The thief, gathering all the guards in one place, resembled a tactic where one should never chase after the decoy.
“Lucy, the high-nobility evacuation route is this way…?”
“No. I’m going the other way. You go ahead.”
Luciana stood up, taking her sword in hand.
Elizabeth, sweating and trying to dissuade her, but there was no time for that.
Luciana had easily deduced that the real danger now was with the auction items.
‘I refuse to be passive in this situation.’
Although known as a phantom thief, he was essentially a criminal.
There was no reason to leave a potential threat to the safety and peace of her lord’s subjects unchecked.
She, as a duchess and a patron, used the information she received to head towards the auction house’s storeroom.
“Ma’am, this area is off-limits. Please return due to the emergency situation.”
A soldier, his helmet pressed down firmly on his head, was also seen loading various stolen goods onto a wagon.
“Identify yourself.”
“Eek! After hearing the news of the phantom thief’s intrusion, my seniors tasked me with moving the luggage.”
When threatened with a sword, he stammered out his circumstances in a voice full of fear and surprise.
However, Luciana could only snort in response to his reaction. They were indeed audacious.
“How absurd. I won’t ask twice. Reveal your true identity now.”
Considering the auction house was turned upside down by Sand Mole, it’s one thing not to be drafted for that.
But.
The seniors told him to move the luggage? And to just one person?
If the commander had made a rational decision, on what basis would they trust a soldier with stolen goods?
The reliability that he can be trusted with anything? A sense of legality that screams no to wrongdoing?
Well. Without someone watching, there would be no one who would refuse money that falls into their own hands.
That was Luciana’s conclusion after observing people from the underworld for the past week, following her father’s orders.
Therefore, the best strategy as a commander would be to maintain camaraderie and have them watch each other.
But to move these stolen goods alone?
“Sand Mole is often touted in the newspapers for insisting on working alone. Seems that’s not entirely true.”
“……”
“Refusing to answer someone who is practically a commander and a noble is not the Northern soldier’s way. Will you give me your answer?”
Like Hans did, she mocked his opponent beyond tolerance.
At the same time, she listened carefully.
Wondering if there could be any clue to guess his identity.
“Heh, who would have thought I’d be caught.”
A faint laugh leaked from within the helmet.
“You have good insight, Lady.”
As if the previously scared soldier’s voice was a lie, the atmosphere changed.
The man who had stepped back slightly from the pointed sword took off his helmet, revealing a golden mask underneath.
The stranger, who threw off his armor as well, was shrouded in shadows, and his robust male voice turned into an indistinguishable crackling noise.
“You…!”
Luciana had indirectly encountered her opponent before.
About a month ago, in the newspaper that reported the attack on the Count’s house.
“Frost Mane…”
“Oh, it’s an honor that the treasure of the North knows my name.”
Of course, she couldn’t forget someone who had been the subject of conversation with Hans and was secretly mentioned at social gatherings.
“Excuse me, but could you step aside from my path, Lady? I too need to make a living.”
“Hmph. You jest.”
Luciana quietly took her stance.
A clear aura flowed along the sword of her ancestors.
“You and your accomplices will not escape summary execution here today.”
“Huh. Do you think Sand Mole is an easy target?”
“Sorry, but I assure you, someone much stronger than that will overpower you.”
The phantom thief, a malevolent being threatening the nobility’s status and wealth and bringing chaos to the hearts of the lord’s subjects.
She had no intention of watching internal strife with demons and monsters at the forefront.
Neither she nor her father.
The stranger shrugged his shoulders.
“Ahaha. Well, why worry about comrades now? My own life is in immediate danger.”
“Surrender peacefully. Then, perhaps your sentence could be reduced from execution to conscription.”
“My word. Sorry, but I absolutely detest conscription, so I must respectfully decline.”
Then, there was no more room for talk.
Almost simultaneously, without anyone moving first, their swords clashed in the air.
Cliche Novel 