Golden Anchor Auction House.
"Are you sure that the person you saw before was him?"
In the corridor, the Haiya Gang's Mark was staring at the two apprentices in front of him and asked in a low voice.
He was holding a portrait that Blumer, the Deacon of the Haiya Gang, had given him.
On it was clearly Colin's face.
"Yes, sir," confirmed the two apprentices from the Haiya Gang, after examining the portrait once more with care.
"Hmm," Mark, with a calm expression, put away the portrait and walked towards Hart, a member of the Law Enforcement Team.
He had come with Hart.
Or rather, he was the officer specially assigned by the Haiya Gang to accompany Hart to the Golden Anchor Auction House's monthly grand auction.
His mission was simple—
To fulfill the proper tribute to the Haiya Gang from Hart's Law Enforcement Squad for the month.
Such as bidding on some auction items to give to Hart.
Having completed all this, he was supposed to leave.
But he never expected to see a familiar silhouette on his way out.
"Lord Hart," he approached and, nodding to Hart, said:
"I've confirmed with those two gang members sitting next to him.
According to them, the wizard's appearance is exactly the same as the new portrait Deacon Blumer gave me yesterday."
"It seems I indeed did not see wrongly, that shadow was definitely the target the Haiya Chamber of Commerce is currently searching for."
"Since he looks like the portrait Blumer gave you, there can be no mistake," Hart replied with a smile.
He stepped aside to let a blonde waiter wearing the Golden Anchor Auction House's formal black robe pass in the corridor.
Clearly, Mark had requested the use of a Retrospection Crystal from Blumer.
Judging from this newly confirmed portrait, as long as the target wasn't an Official Wizard, there could be no mistake.
"Let's go inside and wait for a while. I just asked the Golden Anchor Auction House for assistance in the name of the Law Enforcement Team; it shouldn't take too long to bring him back."
As he walked into the nearby office, he turned back with a smile and said:
"After all, on Bananka Island, no one dares to disregard the Law Enforcement Team's presence.
So... don't feel troubled. This is just a minor matter."
"The Haiya Chamber of Commerce has made no small contribution to the development of the island and has always cooperated actively with the work of the Law Enforcement Team.
We should naturally help with such small matters."
His tone was gentle, with not the slightest air of superiority, despite Mark being a mere officer sent to pay tribute from the Haiya Gang and himself being a member of the Law Enforcement Team.
The friendly attitude doesn't cost any Magic Stones but can bring unexpected gains.
"Thank you, sir," Mark nodded and walked into the office.
The next second, faint noise came from around the corridor's corner.
His steps faltered slightly, and he instinctively looked over but noticed nothing.
Shaking his head, he continued walking into the office.
Around the corner of the corridor.
Colin, in the Golden Anchor Auction House's standard black robe, leaned down.
While helping a black-robed waiter pick up his dropped documents, he cautiously kept an eye on the corner from whence he'd come.
Moments later, seeing no one approaching, his heart finally eased.
Standing upright, he handed the documents to the black-robed waiter.
"Thank you," the waiter said, taking the documents with a puzzled look on his face.
This ordinary-looking waiter in front of him... he couldn't seem to remember at all.
"Don't mention it," Colin replied with a polite smile on his face.
The waiter's doubts gradually dissipated.
Everything seemed normal... except for the fact that he didn't understand why this man kept staring at him...
Feeling Colin's gaze, the waiter felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Forcing out a friendly smile, he then moved forward, continuing his walk.
With such a vast system at Golden Anchor Auction House and numerous personnel, it was normal for him, a mere black-robed waiter, not to recognize everyone.
Behind him, Colin calmly watched the black-robed waiter walk away,
After the waiter from the Golden Anchor Auction House had approached him, he had managed to bluff his way through.
But afterward, he always felt anxious.
He couldn't remain in the dark any longer.
Caution and a lack of a sense of security led him to a new decision.
He removed the waiter's standard black robe and quietly changed his face, intending to blend into the Golden Anchor Auction House to check out the situation.
To avoid being in some dangerous situation without his knowledge.
After watching the shadow of the black robe recede, Colin stopped and didn't continue forward.
Based on what the black-robed waiter had said earlier, he had found the place where the member of the Law Enforcement Team was waiting for him—
The same corridor he had just come from.
After pondering for a moment, Colin exhaled slightly and stepped out from around the corner.
As an Ultimate Knight, he had the ability to alter his appearance, although only slightly.
In fact, he only needed to adjust the features a little and change his height and build somewhat.
With new clothing and hairstyle, it was enough to make a person look completely different from before.
Returning to the corridor, the two ordinary members of the Haiya Gang had already left.
Another higher-ranking member of the Haiya Gang and someone from the Law Enforcement Team walked into an office not far away.
Taking a few steps forward, Colin listened in with his powerful hearing, and the sound of conversation reached his ears.
"Ali, long time no see. You don't mind if we come in and sit for a while, do you?" That was the voice of someone from the Law Enforcement Team.
"Of course, my friend."
Was that the voice of the white-robed auctioneer from the auction earlier?
Colin slightly furrowed his brows, pretending to ponder something and slowed his pace to maximize the time he could remain in the corridor.
This was a short corridor, visible at a glance.
Obviously, he couldn't stay long; otherwise, it would be easy to arouse suspicion.
Inside the office.
The white-robed auctioneer, Ali, rose to his feet and approached with a smile.
He knew Hart, who, although fundamentally cold, miserly, and greedy for wealth, was good at superficial pleasantries, leaving no room for criticism and suitable for acquaintanceship.
Moreover, they were both Peak Wizard Apprentices.
In terms of identity, one was a Golden Anchor Auction House's Official Auctioneer responsible for collecting treasures for Bananka Wizards; the other, an Official member of the Law Enforcement Team.
Interacting with each other had no downsides.
Hart brought Mark to the visitor area next to the office, where they sat down on one of the four sofas.
Ali also came over, and behind him, unbeknownst to them, followed a maid holding a tray with tea.
"Have some tea." Ali smiled as he sat down, signaling the maid to place the tea down.
Hart picked up the exquisitely designed white gold-rimmed teacup, gently sniffed it, and revealed a smile, saying,
"The nai tree tea leaves here are truly top-grade; their fragrance is much richer than in other places."
Ali smiled slightly, also lifting his teacup, and said,
"If you like it, I'll give you some when you leave."
"That's a deal then," Hart said cheerfully, then added, "Just yesterday, I found a batch of beautiful shells at the port. I'll have someone send you some later."
Ali smiled and did not refuse.
Favors should be reciprocated.
The two chatted for a short while longer.
Hart suddenly changed the subject and, turning to the neglected Mark, initiated a conversation,
"By the way, I remember you saying that our target is good at disguises, so why did he reveal his true face at the auction house?"
Mark lifted the teacup, concealing his nervousness. He frowned and said,
"Perhaps he was careless, believing that he wouldn't encounter us in the auction house?"
"Perhaps that's the case..." Hart watched him and nodded in agreement, then turned to Ali across from him and said,
"We're talking about a target recently wanted by the Haiya Chamber of Commerce. You definitely won't believe it; he actually attended the auction just now."
"Oh, really? What a coincidence." Ali raised his eyebrows.
"Yes," Hart chuckled again and turned his head, saying,
"Mark, why don't you show the portrait to Ali? He might remember something, too."
"Alright." Mark agreed, taking out the portrait from his chest and handing it to the white-robed auctioneer Ali.
Ali took it, unfolding the portrait with a slight frown.
After a moment, he relaxed his frown and said,
"...I remember now. It was that particularly handsome young Wizard."
"Indeed handsome, and Mark said he's skilled at disguises," Hart speculated. "Maybe he underwent some life modification in this area."
"I think so too." Ali nodded in agreement and then said, "Come to think of it, I've met him before."
"Oh?" Hart voiced his curiosity timely.
Mark watched them silently, unable to join the conversation. He was once again left out of the loop.
Despite Hart being an auctioneer and Ali being from the Law Enforcement Team,
in reality, they both belonged to the Bananka School, which in terms of status and identity, was a world apart from him, a gang-affiliated Wizard.
Even though he was also a Peak Wizard Apprentice, if it weren't for Hart bringing him along, he would never be able to strike up a conversation with the white-robed auctioneer.
"Just some time ago, this Wizard came to the auction house to commission the sale of a Magic Potion—apparently, the Golden Four-leaf Clover that was sold today..." Ali continued.
Hart, leaning against the sofa, slightly raised his eyebrows upon hearing the words "Golden Four-leaf Clover."
The next second, he thought he caught something out of the corner of his eye and subconsciously looked up slightly.
At the office window, a black-robed servant was slowly passing by.
Hart didn't think much of it; such scenes were all too common.
"So, it seems the reason he didn't disguise himself at the auction today might be because he also didn't disguise himself when he came to the auction house before!"
Mark suddenly interjected.
"Thus, to attend the auction normally and to get the Magic Stone, our target had to reveal his true face."
After speaking, Mark took a sip of tea, catching his breath slightly.
He was afraid he would be interrupted again and unable to rejoin the conversation.
"A reasonable theory." Ali was stunned for a moment but quickly smiled at him in praise.
And Hart next to him collected his thoughts and continued the conversation,
"Yes, that must be the case."
The three continued chatting, waiting for the target to be brought back.