The next day.
Quill woke early to wash up. Today was no ordinary day three high-ranking officials were scheduled to come and inspect their work. Quill could not afford even the slightest negligence. He had been preparing for this day for over a week.
Being in charge of the auction house, he naturally had to host a grand auction to properly showcase his achievements.
After finishing his wash, Quill didn't even have time for breakfast and hurried straight to the Human Auction House.
Upon arrival, he found his subordinates already hard at work. He nodded with satisfaction. Having worked with him for so long, their alertness and efficiency far surpassed the mindless thugs he often despised.
Indeed, though Quill himself came from a gang background, he held little regard for the common criminals. Perhaps believing himself aligned with more distinguished masters, he considered himself far above the lower-tier scum he now oversaw.
Inside the auction house, Quill first inspected the items scheduled for auction and reviewed the process. Once he was satisfied, he began checking the layout and arrangements throughout the building. Normally, such meticulousness would be unnecessary the auction house had held many auctions before but today was different. With three important figures arriving, Quill could not risk a single mistake. His meticulous nature was one reason he had earned the position of auction house manager.
As he methodically checked everything, a subordinate hurried over and whispered, "Manager, there's been a problem."
Quill's heart skipped a beat. These were the words he feared most today. He had been careful in every detail, yet somehow trouble had still found him.
Still, his experience kept him calm. He asked in a steady voice, "What happened?"
"It's hard to explain briefly. You should come with me. Captains Katoria and the other two are already waiting in the reception hall," the subordinate said, worry etched on his face.
Quill cast the subordinate a long, measuring glance. If it weren't for the fact that this man had served him faithfully for years, he might have suspected betrayal.
"Lead the way," Quill said, his voice firm.
The subordinate quickly turned and guided Quill to the reception hall. When they entered, three figures were already waiting. Quill recognized them they were captains from the infamous Twelve Pirate Brigade, responsible for capturing civilians worldwide to sell as slaves.
Upon seeing Quill, all three stood and saluted. "Greetings, Manager Quill."
Quill nodded faintly in acknowledgment. The captains showed no irritation. Quill's power and authority were far beyond their reach.
"Speak. What requires my immediate attention?" Quill asked.
The three captains exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, Katoria, the most senior among them, cleared his throat and spoke. "Manager Quill, today we had a prearranged transaction with Master Liu for a batch of goods. We transported the cargo to the designated location, but no matter how long we waited, Master Liu never showed."
Katoria furrowed his brow. "Something felt wrong, so we sent men to check Master Liu's residence. But when they returned, they reported that the place seemed sealed off. They couldn't get in at all."
His voice grew sharper, filled with confusion. "We didn't believe it at first, so we went ourselves. And indeed, we found that Master Liu's residence was as described completely blocked, as if by an invisible wall. We tried everything to break through, but nothing worked. Inside, it was unnaturally quiet. Not a sound, not a single person in sight."
Katoria's tone turned serious. "Realizing something was terribly wrong, we rushed to Madame Kelly's District Three to see if the situation was similar. What we found was exactly the same no entry, complete silence, nothing moving inside."
He drew a deep breath. "That is why we had no choice but to disturb you, Manager Quill. We want to know if you have any information about this, or if you can help us understand what is happening."
Quill's brow tightened. He sensed the abnormal nature of the situation but had no clear answers.
At that moment, the loyal subordinate who had guided him stepped forward. "Manager, could this be connected to the group that caused the massacre at the docks yesterday?"
Quill's eyes narrowed sharply. His expression darkened. "If that's the case, then this is going to be very serious."
The three pirate captains, overhearing the exchange, looked puzzled. They had been out capturing slaves and had no knowledge of yesterday's events.
Katoria asked cautiously, "Manager Quill, what happened yesterday?"
Quill remained silent. At his signal, the subordinate explained the massacre carried out by Eli Winters and his team at the docks.
The moment they heard the name Eli Winters, the captains' faces went pale. They knew of the Sky Master's merciless reputation toward pirates no one was spared.
Regret and fear crept into their hearts. Why had they chosen today for this transaction? It felt like walking into a lion's den.
Before they could fully process the news, the subordinate delivered an even more shocking update: all criminal districts numbered 1 through 29 were now cut off, just like the two underground markets, as if enclosed by an invisible barrier. No one could enter from the outside.
"So it really is Eli Winters. Only he could do something like this. That's audacious. He intends to wipe us all out," Quill muttered, eyes glinting with a cold, dangerous light. His aura radiated sheer anger.
The three captains, feeling the oppressive force of his presence, winced in fear. They could not have imagined that a routine transaction would plunge them into such peril. They envied the comrades who had yet to return.
After a moment, Quill's gaze fell on the three nervous captains. Though he despised them inwardly, he still had a use for them. He spoke in a cold, commanding voice. "As you may know, three high-ranking officials are visiting Sabaody today. I don't want any incidents. I need you to watch over Eli Winters and his team. Do not engage them. Just keep them under surveillance."
The captains hesitated. With their strength, confronting Eli would be like a feast served to him.
"Don't tell me you're unwilling," Quill said, narrowing his eyes.
The captains felt an overwhelming surge of killing intent wash over them. They shivered and quickly replied, "We will arrange for the surveillance immediately."
"You go personally," Quill added, his tone icy.
"Yes, sir," they said reluctantly. There was no other choice. Eli's reputation made refusal unthinkable.
Once they departed, the subordinate commented, "Boss, with just those three, there's no way to stop Eli's group even a little."
Quill's expression turned even colder. "They're meant to die for him."
He sighed and continued, "Since his debut, Eli Winters has acted without restraint, defying authority. This time, I believe his target is the three officials. Using their deaths may persuade the higher-ups to retreat or at least force them to send more reinforcements."
"Brilliant, sir," the subordinate praised, though Quill ignored the flattery.
His gaze turned toward the door, anxiety in his eyes. This would be a difficult day. He knew Eli Winters well arrogant, bold, and unlikely to retreat easily.