For Ash, these two days passed in nothing but relentless spying and gathering information from every corner of the 4th layer.
The place was massive beyond comprehension, stretching in every direction with layers of streets, buildings, and hidden alleys, and it was impossible to uncover everything.
Still, he managed to learn as much as he could about the upcoming Auction.
The Black Market of the Neutral Continent held two types of auctions. One occurred every few months, offering rare items and useful treasures, while the other, held once every three years, was far more significant.
The three-year auction gathered the best and most valuable goods that the Black Market had collected over the years, making it the pinnacle of opportunity.
This time, many items immediately caught Ash’s attention, promising possibilities too tempting to ignore.
In addition to studying the auction schedules, Ash infiltrated the Auction House itself, a task that demanded extreme care.
Every hallway, every doorway, and every corner had someone watching, their eyes scanning for any irregularity.
He had to move silently and cautiously, using the last of his precious Invisibility potions, which were rare and difficult to find.
Despite the challenge, he discovered important details.
The auctioned items were nowhere in the building; the warehouse was empty. This confirmed his earlier suspicion: the most valuable goods were likely stored in the elusive 5th layer, or they had not yet been transported to the venue.
The Auction House was enormous, more than just a single hall. Several smaller halls served minor transactions, but the central Grand Auction hall dominated the structure. It was vast, with high ceilings and polished floors, designed for large gatherings of elite buyers and powerful figures.
The building also contained a transaction vault and a treasure chamber.
The treasure chamber was empty, except for a large runic teleportation array etched into the floor.
No guards were present, leaving the space unprotected. With no one watching, Ash moved freely.
No one wasted effort guarding an empty vault after all, which further confirmed his suspicions about the fifth layer.
He took his time studying the runic array, analyzing its intricate nodes while remaining concealed.
He knew there could be surveillance, so he stayed hidden and silent, observing the array from afar.
The array’s complexity was greater than the previous one, but after six hours of meticulous work, he finally cracked it.
If he was not hiding, the task would have taken far less time.
Though he did not activate the array immediately.
Doing so now could alert others, and that would ruin his plan.
Ash intended to attend the auction first, observe how the goods were transported, and only then make his move.
Also, during his exploration, he stumbled upon a secret area used for illegal activities, including slave trading and other dark dealings.
The area was dangerous and complex, and Ash could not investigate it thoroughly because of even higher security and surveillance.
Other than these things, Ash found nothing. But, he was not foolish enough to assume such a large place would lack hidden rooms or secret passages, yet luck was not on his side this time, and he found none.
Right now, Ash was standing outside the Auction House, dressed in a long black coat whose fabric was heavy yet flowed smoothly with each subtle movement. The coat was embroidered with delicate golden patterns along the sleeves and inner lining, catching the light in soft, shifting gleams.
It hung open to reveal a high-collared black shirt that clung to his muscular frame, layered with thin golden chains resting lightly against his chest. His trousers were sleek and dark, fitted cleanly to his legs, with small leather straps and clasps accenting his knees and ankles, adding subtle structure to his outfit.
Polished black boots completed the ensemble, with thin strips of orange cloth tied along the edges, a sharp yet intentional contrast.
Black gloves covered his hands, giving him a composed, purposeful look, and the entire outfit radiated a mixture of quiet elegance and underlying danger.
The half-black cat mask covering part of his face, combined with his dyed black hair, gave him an almost fantastical appearance, the kind of presence one would expect from a storybook hero or a legendary figure.
With no Absolute Concealment active, his natural charisma seemed to spill outward, impossible to ignore.
Every movement he made carried a sense of effortless grace. Confidence flowed from him, not forced, not heavy, but calm and smooth, as if he belonged to a higher plane than those around him.
There was a magnetic quality in the calmness of his expression, a quiet strength that made people look twice.
His aura exuded a mixture of mystery and authority, drawing eyes naturally, making him feel untouchable simply by existing.
Many people paused to look as he entered the Auction House. Their attention lingered for a heartbeat before they returned to their tasks, though not without stealing occasional glances.
Women’s eyes followed him with curiosity, while men muttered curses, irritated by the effortless grace he commanded.
One of those men was Max.
The son of the leader of the [Black Serpents], a notorious criminal organization famous all over the world.
Max carried himself like someone used to having everything handed to him. Even on the Neutral Continent, backed by his father’s influence and wealth, he lived as a spoiled, confident figure.
Despite his arrogance, he was a skilled fighter, already holding the rank of Master at 22—a mark of undeniable talent.
His main flaw was his lust for women and his domineering tendencies.
Max’s golden hair and dark eyes, along with a well-maintained physique, made him undeniably handsome, and even the mask covering part of his face could not hide it.
He had arrived with a woman he had taken an interest in, hoping to display his wealth and power.
Yet she ignored him entirely, her attention captivated by Ash as he entered.
From the glimpses of Ash’s exposed skin, the intensity of his eyes, the subtle curve of his lips, and the deliberate grace of his movements, it was clear that his charm and presence outshone Max completely.
Even partially masked, he dominated the room like a candle burning steadily against a storm, making everything else seem secondary by comparison.
That bastard thinks he can steal my spotlight...? He’ll regret daring to shine brighter than me.
He was burning with rage inside, but he held it back. If there had been any other woman with him at this moment, he would have killed her on the spot for daring to look at another man while standing next to him.
But the woman walking with him now, the one he wanted to win over, was the daughter of the well-known organization [Crimson Vultures].
Since their fathers were good friends, both of them were strolling around the Auction House together while the elders enjoyed their reunion.
His cold gaze followed the man as he walked to the reception desk and handed the woman there a letter. To Max’s annoyance, she blushed while working, her hands moving nervously.
Then, as she read the letter, her expression changed completely. Her eyes widened in shock, and her voice stumbled as she spoke before finally handing over a black token.
Ash took it without a word and started walking toward the stairs.
So, that bastard came to the auction too...? Max’s lips curled into a grin, his tongue brushing across them without him realizing.
In his mind, he already imagined the perfect way to strip Ash of his dignity and pride before every single pair of eyes present here. Though he was also curious about the contents of the letter for that lady to react like that.
Meanwhile, the woman next to Max continued looking at Ash as he started climbing stairs, her presence quiet yet striking.
Her smooth black hair framed her face, and her bright orange eyes glimmered like embers from behind her mask.
Combined with the deep red outfit she wore, it created a sharp and beautiful contrast that drew the eye.
And then, just faintly, she smiled.
***
Ash stared down at the token in his hand. Its surface was pitch black, and on it gleamed the golden number "1." It was clear that this token granted him the first VIP suite in the entire Auction House.
The receptionist’s surprised reaction earlier still lingered in his mind. It was not because of his charm. She had reacted that way the moment she read the name on the letter. Her shock had been too genuine to mistake.
Looks like I messed up big time...
The person he had killed, Adam Hart... could it be that he was someone important? Ash had no answer, but his instincts told him that much was true. Even so, he remained calm.
If things took a bad turn, he could simply escape, and there was nothing here that could stop him. At most, it would be a little troublesome if the auction itself ended up ruined.
Step by step, he climbed the stairs, his pace steady and unhurried. The silence of the place was almost comforting. A guide had been assigned to him, but he had refused. He wanted peace, and more importantly, he did not want anyone close enough to recognize him. After all, if Adam really was famous, then even a small slip could expose him.
Thankfully, he had dyed his white hair black before coming here. Without that, his appearance would have already given him away instantly.
After climbing several flights of stairs and walking along the quiet corridors, Ash finally reached his private suite. Using the token like a key, he placed it on the slot, and the door opened with a soft sound.
He stepped inside, closing it behind him, and for the first time since entering the Auction House, he allowed himself to breathe in peace.
***