Jack and his companions stepped into the dimly lit backstage area, leaving the auction's fervent chaos behind.
Here, the air carried a different kind of tension—the weight of whispered deals and silent negotiations. As their footsteps echoed on the polished stone floor, the auctioneer erged from the shadows, his golden garnt glinting under the sparse light.
His sharp eyes twinkled as they fixed on Jack.
"Ah, young master!" the auctioneer greeted with a wide smile, spreading his arms as if welcoming an old friend.
"What a performance! We could use more exceptional rchants like you in our establishnt. But judging from your deanor, you're not from around here—a pity." Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire
Jack's expression remained unreadable, his tone cutting through the pleasantries.
"I'm not interested in any of that. Where are the rewards?"
Behind his calm façade, Jack's mind was racing.
'Once we get the Never Map, there's still the noble demon to deal with. Gale might be able to handle him if it cos to that, but ti isn't on our side. The longer we linger, the greater the risk.'
The auctioneer hesitated briefly, his practiced smile faltering before he regained composure.
"Of course, young master. Efficiency is a virtue." He turned and disappeared into a side room, leaving Jack and his group to wait.
Alisha broke the silence, her voice a low whisper. "You're really cutting it close. That guy from the VIP section won't just let this go. You think he's done with us?"
Jack didn't look at her. "If he's smart, he'll stay out of my way."
Monts later, the auctioneer returned, holding a heavy pouch that jingled faintly with the distinct sound of moonlight stones. His mischievous glint returned as he handed the pouch to Jack.
"Here you are. No need to count it—our reputation would be in shambles if we skimd even a pebble from our rchants. Your item was truly priceless, and to ensure a fruitful partnership, we've included a bonus for your exceptional service."
Jack accepted the pouch but didn't bother inspecting it. "Where are the items I purchased?" His tone was sharp, almost dismissive.
The auctioneer's smile didn't waver. "Right this way, sir."
He led them to a reinforced chest resting on a pedestal. With a flourish, he unlocked it and retrieved two items. The first was a rolled parchnt with faint, shimring patterns on its surface.
"The Never Map," the auctioneer declared, placing it gently into Jack's hands.
Next, he retrieved a small vial filled with a viscous liquid that glowed faintly even in the dim light.
"And the Mana Dew Potion. A rare and powerful artifact."
Jack wasted no ti. As soon as the items were in his possession, he turned sharply and began walking away. His companions followed without question, understanding the urgency. The auctioneer bowed deeply, his voice echoing faintly behind them. "We hope to see you again, young master."
Once outside the auction house, Jack led the group along a winding route through the darkened streets and into the vast expanse of the desert. The golden sands stretched endlessly, the silence broken only by the sound of their boots crunching against the grains.
"We've got the items," Alisha began, her voice cutting through the stillness. "So, what's the plan? How do we use the Never Map to find the Chapters of Ti?"
The group turned their expectant gazes toward Jack. He was silent for a mont, his grip tightening on the map before he spoke.
"At this stage, the map can't lead us directly to the Chapters. It's designed to guide us to clues—fragnts that will eventually lead us to them."
Gale nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. That explains why the demons weren't too eager to fight over it."
Jack's lips twitched into a faint sneer. "Demons are shortsighted. Most of them wouldn't know how to use sothing like this even if it was handed to them."
Alisha smirked. "And you do? Our resident genius?"
Jack shot her a glare but didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he stopped abruptly and knelt on the sand, unrolling the map. The intricate patterns on its surface shimred and danced, as though alive. He stared at it for a mont, his expression unreadable.
His thoughts were less composed. How could I forget this? The map appeared in the novel. I rember that much. But how did they activate it?
Alisha's voice interrupted his frantic train of thought, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "What's the matter? Lost your way already, or are you just admiring the sand?"
Her words struck a chord, and Jack's mory clicked. He straightened, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "You wish," he retorted, scooping up a handful of sand.
"Sand?" Alisha repeated, her skepticism evident. Even Gale furrowed his brows but remained silent.
Ignoring their doubts, Jack let the fine grains trickle onto the surface of the map. The shimring patterns reacted instantly, converging toward the center. The map's glow intensified, casting an ethereal light across their faces.
"Moonlight stones," Jack said abruptly, holding out his hand to Alisha.
Without hesitation, she retrieved a handful of stones from the pouch and placed them in his palm. Jack turned to Nephris, his gaze steady.
"This is where you co in," he said.
Nephris blinked, surprised. She was often the quietest of the group, rarely called upon. "? What do you need?"
"Channel the mana from these stones into the map. You're a Guardian—you're built for this."
Realization dawned on her, and she nodded. Holding the stones, she closed her eyes, her hands glowing faintly as she drew out their latent energy. The mana flowed into the map, rging with the sand in a srizing display.
Jack lifted the map, his grip firm. He focused on a single thought: Chapters of Ti.
The map responded, its patterns shifting rapidly before settling into a clear, glowing path. Jack studied it intently, his heart pounding as the path solidified.
"Now we follow the trail," he declared. "It will lead us to the first clue."
Before they could take another step, a voice rang out, cold and mocking.
"Well, well. That's quite the show. Teaching how to use the map and doing all the hard work? You're too kind."
The group spun around, weapons half-drawn. Standing atop a nearby dune, silhouetted against the twin moons, was the noble demon from the auction. His grin was wide and predatory, his crimson eyes gleaming with malice.
"Now," he continued, his voice dripping with nace, "hand over the map. Do that, and I might reconsider killing you. Though... I'm not making any promises."
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[A/N: Hey, Lautrim..I don't know how to thank you enough for your support, Buh I'm really grateful. The increase in the privilege prices was a mistake, not sothing I can explain, but sure, next month it won't happen again. I'm really sorry for that.]
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