“So, we’ve roughly got a plan now.”
“Don’t be late. Stop by the bookstore on your way too.”
“Do you suddenly feel like you’ve become a nanny or something?”
Observing Lennok’s departing form, Jenny saw him nod in disbelief before exiting the establishment. She calmly took a seat at the bar and lit a cigarette.
Letting out a soft sigh after attending to her persistently ringing cellphone and addressing pressing issues, she exhaled a stream of smoke.
“Whew…”
Even from their initial encounter, she had assumed he was a wandering individual arriving from unknown origins to engage in independent work, yet her judgment had been entirely off.
Within a single year, he transformed into a figure familiar to every resident of District 49.
If their collaboration persisted, he had the potential to achieve prominence not only within the district but also across the outskirts of Vulcan.
Jenny could easily envision such a future.
The lone uncertainty was whether she would be a part of it or not.
“Will you be okay?”
“With what?”
Jenny responded dryly to Jordan’s casual inquiry.
“If it’s Teyna Auction House, that guy might still be there. Weren’t you deliberately avoiding showing your face?”
“I don’t care.”
She withdrew the cigarette from her lips and lightly tapped it, causing ethereal smoke to ascend and disperse into the atmosphere.
“I can’t be tied to Kaiser forever, you know.”
Jordan sealed his lips upon hearing her mention that name so nonchalantly.
Those familiar with him and with her disliked it when she referred to that name with such ease.
She had once deliberately disregarded this, vexed by the divide, but it took no more than a week to realize that whether an entity was foe or friend, discrimination should not hold sway if it serves a purpose.
“It’s time to stop hearing that I’m a coward who trades on other people’s names.”
Jenny exhaled a plume of smoke and grinned with an air of menace.
She maintained some restraint in Lennok’s presence, yet she was an ardent smoker, much to the extent that Jordan would be taken aback.
Enshrouding a valued client’s visage with smoke would be unwise, hence she had been restraining herself.
“It’s time to decide a sure path. I’ve placed my bets on a wizard named Van. Jordan, what will you do?”
“Are you still clinging to that foolish promise and hoping for what comes next?”
“Don’t be mistaken, Jenny.”
Jordan gently shook his head.
“Kaiser is over. The term ‘next’ doesn’t suit anyone.”
“……”
“I’ve just found a place where I can stop.”
Jenny chuckled as she extinguished the cigarette and rose from her perch.
“I’m going down to the warehouse. Prepare the key.”
***
Late evening– The hour when individuals concluded their day’s toil and retreated to their abodes to unwind, Lennok found himself spending this twilight hour in the company of another, a rarity for him.
“…It doesn’t seem to fit well.”
Seated in the passenger seat, Lennok awkwardly adjusted the inflexible mask that pressed against his face.
Not every one of his deeds has been noble, necessitating this concealed guise to navigate openly, yet hitherto, he has adeptly concealed his identity with a veneer of masking magic.
This marks the first instance of his presence outside being concealed by a mask that wholly obscures his upper visage.
Furthermore, an impeccably tailored monochrome suit to conform to the stipulated dress code.
Shirts and coats have been frequent choices, but donning something so formfitting presents an unfamiliarity in his movements.
Jenny, seated adjacent to him, murmured in a hushed tone,
‘You’ll have to get used to it. My waist is also tight because I brought an old dress from the warehouse.’
Jenny nonchalantly murmured to her companion, her hand sweeping from her forehead, brushing the air, and resettling over her shoulders.
She guided the vehicle, clad in a dress that harmonized with her hair’s hue.
‘We’re almost there. It’s best to get off around here. The streets near the auction house will be too crowded.’
Exiting Jenny’s vibrant red sports car, the duo located a fitting parking space and embarked on a leisurely stroll.
The lanes encircling the auction house were meticulously organized, and the nearby estates exhibited considerable effort in their presentation.
This neighborhood didn’t resemble one inhabited by ordinary citizens.
Walking upon streets bathed in the golden glow of subdued streetlights, the ambiance felt akin to being within an art gallery or concert, rather than an auction house.
The attire of those ambling in the same direction as Lennok and Jenny bore a resemblance to theirs.
Much like attendees at a social soiree rather than an auction house, each individual adhered to the dress code, accompanied by their partners.
Amid the conversing throng, Lennok whispered to Jenny,
‘I thought it would be a bit more casual since it’s an underground auction. This is surprising.’
‘The Teyna Auction House we’re going to is like this. It’s uncomfortable for me too, but it’s better to blend in.’
Teyna Auction House.
Diverging from conventional auction houses, its primary focus lies in auctioning and showcasing renowned artworks, artistic creations, and ancient artifacts.
According to Jenny, as the auction house’s scale expands, it inevitably becomes influenced by the proclivities of the larger organizations that sponsor it—both positive and negative.
This factor contributes to Teyna Auction House’s distinctive ambiance.
Even the capability to obscure one’s countenance or identity forms part of these inclinations.
‘It’s really complicated… Are other auction houses like this too?’
‘Most are probably different from what you’re thinking… We’re almost there. Walk in sync from now on.’
Jenny decelerated her pace, revealing a three-story structure with an elegant architecture resembling an antiquated theater.
Lennok couldn’t help but marvel at how she strode gracefully, ensuring her dress remained unwavering.
‘You seem used to this.’
‘I had some experience when I was young. Let’s go.’
Navigating through the bustling assembly and presenting their tickets to the sentinels stationed at the entrance, an escort swiftly emerged to lead them inward.
“VIP guests are guided directly to the top floor on the third floor. Please follow me…”
“Um, we want to look around the items displayed on the first floor. We also want to check items not listed in the catalog.”
“Ah, understood.”
Upon Jenny’s resolute statement, the escort nodded awkwardly and withdrew, prompting the pair to alter their course promptly.
“It’s surprising that a ticket to meet Yakson [a high-level wizard] is not even listed in the auction house’s catalog…”
“Items deemed of low value are quickly decided and disposed of through closed bidding. It’s essentially a benefit for us.”
“No, that’s not what I mean.”
Lennok gazed downward at Jenny.
“It doesn’t make sense for the auction house to treat an opportunity to meet a secretive high-level wizard like this. Don’t the others know that the amulet is something that allows you to meet Yakson?”
“……”
“And the fact that you, Jenny, found out about it means…”
It would necessitate some form of connection with Yaksun.
Jenny, hitherto silent, offered an awkward chuckle.
“I thought I would get caught, but you found out too quickly. Are you too perceptive?”
“……”
“Well, it’s not wrong. A long time ago, I saw him briefly because of a family issue. I don’t know if Yakson remembers me, but that’s why I recognized the amulet.”
Lennok’s mind conjured a name upon hearing her words.
Kaiser. Among the prominent figures frequenting her establishment, scarcely anyone refrained from mentioning that name.
Such a phenomenon suggested that the name Kaiser, intertwined with her identity, still yielded substantial influence within this locale.
A confirmation of this notion arose through an incident unfolding on the auction hall’s ground level, as Jenny exchanged pleasantries with an individual.
Seated within a corner of the auction hall was an elderly man who leaned upon a cane.
Draped in a frayed suit, Jenny approached him with graceful movements and addressed him in a hushed tone.
“Liam.”
The elderly man, referred to as Liam, abruptly raised his gaze and regarded her with an incredulous visage.
“That voice… Jenny? You can’t be Jenny, can you?”
“Have you been well?”
“Oh, how could this… How did you get here?”
Liam, the elderly figure, swiftly scanned the surroundings before ushering them to an inconspicuous niche on the ground floor.
A space shrewdly veiled from the resplendent staircase and luminous illumination leading to the upper level.
Lennok discreetly invoked a sound-muffling enchantment and awaited the forthcoming dialogue.
“I was worried after hearing news about Kaiser. I heard you’ve been working as a broker, but you look much better.”
“I had no significant attachment to that life. I must be faithful to what I have to do going forward.”
It felt peculiar observing Jenny address someone with deference, yet Liam’s response carried an air of authenticity.
They expeditiously exchanged a medley of pleasantries prior to delving into the crux.
“So what is it you need from me? Given your personality, you wouldn’t have come without reason.”
“You know me too well, Liam.”
Jenny mustered an awkward smile before articulating her intention.
“Please let me know the bid for one of the items being auctioned on this floor.”
Liam promptly grasped her intent and nodded.
“It seems you’re interested in a product that’s under private auction.”
“Yes. I think it’s unlikely to be snatched away, but I want to eliminate any possible variables.”
“If it’s a favor for you, I must listen. Anything else you want?”
Jenny momentarily hesitated at Liam’s amiable words before offering a smile.
“Please also visit my bar sometimes. It’s in a good location at the intersection of District 49.”
“You’ve grown up, knowing how to make empty promises!”
Liam emitted a hearty laugh, then cast a gaze upward at Lennok.
“Take good care of Jenny. It’s impossible for someone to always look out for themselves. There are times when we have to help each other.”
“I’ll remember that.”
Subsequent to Liam’s departure, Lennok promptly inquired,
“He seems trustworthy, but isn’t it too risky to ask a favor from someone working in an auction house?”
“He’s not an employee. He’s the owner of this building.”
“……”
“He’s also an investor who owns a certain percentage of this area.”
” … He must be incredibly wealthy.”
Jenny clarified that Liam was a long-established acquaintance who relished observing individuals at the auction hall. She assured Lennok that Liam would swiftly furnish details concerning the private auction’s valuation.
“I never knew you had connections even in a place like this.”
“Well… the assets I had when I started this job were just that. So, I decided to never let go of that.”
Lennok sensed the necessity of delving deeper into the character of Kaiser, a man seemingly more influential than his initial assumptions indicated.
Should he amass additional intelligence independently?
Or might it prove expedient to directly query her and glean insights regarding their association?
Considerable time had transpired since Lennok commenced collaboration with Jenny, yet he still found himself grappling with the challenge of gauging the space between them.
While she could effortlessly engage with individuals like Ryan, recently acquainted, she personified the sort who understood how to create a divide just as intimacy appeared to foster.
Lennok hadn’t been particularly preoccupied with her comportment up to this point, but inevitably, their concealed truths would require disclosure and decisions to be made.
If Jenny were to align with Lennok’s underlying objective, possibly entailing the setting of a snare, he’d be incapable of receiving targeted assistance without unveiling facets of his own enigma.
Would they cultivate a more profound rapport, evolving into unequivocal allies? Or would they retain their relationship confined to employer and employee, concentrated on freelancing?
Ultimately, the choice resided within Lennok’s jurisdiction.
Lost in contemplation, Jenny tugged at Lennok’s arm.
“There’s still time before the auction starts on the third floor, so let’s go and look at the items displayed on the first floor.”
“If what you’re saying is true, wouldn’t there be only worthless items left here?”
“Well, there are still many items that are good enough to be displayed in a building’s lobby like this one. Besides, it’s not strange that items whose value couldn’t be measured in the auction are left here, right?”
Incapable of negating her reasoning, Lennok acquiescently accompanied Jenny in exploring the ground floor.
Given many attendees arrived as couples, the capacious expanse of the initial-floor hall remained in perpetual bustle.
Lennok was perspiring modestly; it had been quite a while since he’d found himself amidst such a throng.
Though masked, his discomposure wasn’t entirely concealed from Jenny’s observation.
“Are you okay?”
“….It’s fine. Keep walking.”
Lennok wielded mana to invigorate the ambient atmosphere, expanding the scope of his shielding to engender some personal space amidst the crowd—yielding a modicum of relief.
They traversed the premises, inspecting the assortment of articles exhibited on the first floor.
Adhering to the auction house’s appellation, the showcased items were variegated and vibrant.
Bound swathes, a dagger, a gilded mask, a gleaming belt. Even fractured mobile phones and automobile keys were obtainable, while the sheer multitude precluded easy access to renowned canvases and sculptures due to the burgeoning multitude.
“How does the silent auction work?”
“Under each displayed item, you’ll see a space to write a number. You write the number assigned to you upon entry, then submit your bid in private. Depending on the auction results, you can buy the item.”
“….”
Although within this auction house these artifacts might be deemed trifling, paradoxically, articles devoid of mana were a rarity.
An assortment of mana forms clashed, emitting wavelengths that mildly agitated even Lennok.
While perusing, Lennok swiveled his head toward an anomaly emanating peculiar magical resonance in proximity.
