The so-called "auction" turned out to be little more than a crowded clearing near the slums, piled high with furniture and daily necessities confiscated from various noble households. The bidding involved no grand displays, just a few ordinary people haggling beside each item. It certainly wasn't what Leone had expected—but it was still a novel experience.
Like Leone, many visitors wandered about without actually buying anything. Most simply hadn't found anything appealing yet. Leone, however, had a different issue—she was broke.
Absolutely penniless. All her old savings had been confiscated, and household supplies were now delivered by special personnel. Thus, she only had the meager allowance Lancer had left her. Everything she wanted, she couldn't afford; everything affordable, she didn't want.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted nearby, prompting her to squeeze through the crowd out of sheer curiosity.
A small raised platform hosted a slightly more formal auction, and a sleek-looking announcer was fervently pitching an item.
"Ladies and gentlemen, look closely! Judging by its unique patterns, this ornamental belt dates back to the Empire's founding. It was discovered hidden away in the vaults of House Stuart—truly an extraordinary piece!"
Despite his enthusiasm, the crowd seemed unimpressed. The item—a leather and iron buckle—was neither precious metal nor gem-encrusted. Its weight made it impractical for daily wear, leaving it useful only as an oddity in a collection. An unknown piece like this didn't inspire much excitement.
But Leone's eyes lit up the instant she saw it. She was certain she'd never seen the ornamental belt before, yet a strange sensation overcame her—as if something deep inside called out, urging her to claim it. One glance at her coin pouch quickly deflated her enthusiasm. Not even close.
As Leone stood there, wrestling with indecision, a voice suddenly spoke beside her.
"Excuse me, Miss. Are you interested in that belt?"
Startled, Leone took an instinctive step backward, eyeing the well-dressed young man warily. She'd never been approached like this before, but she knew the nobles' usual tricks—preying on girls who didn't know better.
Seeing Leone's reaction, the man smiled wryly and raised his hands to show his sincerity.
"I think you've misunderstood. Allow me to introduce myself—I'm Kesser, one of the organizers of this auction. I approached you because I wanted to let you know we offer loans. As long as you can show you have the means to repay it, you can sign a note and purchase the item directly."
Leone stared blankly. She'd never heard of such a thing. Noting her confusion, Kesser quickly explained further.
"Though this auction's total value isn't incredibly high, there's an unusually large number of items aimed at ordinary citizens who may lack immediate funds. That's why we set up this service."
Seeing Leone's lingering suspicion, he sighed helplessly and leaned in to whisper softly.
"I had the pleasure of seeing you stroll the streets with General Lancer, so…"
Leone's expression instantly brightened with understanding. Kesser's eloquent explanation hadn't swayed her one bit, but the moment Lancer's name came up, everything clicked.
Though Lancer deliberately avoided contact with nobles, it didn't stop them from actively seeking his favor. Lancer never accepted outright bribes, only modest gifts, always returning the gesture appropriately. This made him incredibly difficult to influence.
Guess they're shifting their focus to me instead.
She'd never experienced noble politics directly, but she'd seen enough of the slum's underworld to know how "courting favor" worked.
"I'll do it—but only under my own name," she replied firmly.
"Of course," Kesser smiled agreeably.
Finally, Leone secured the loan, successfully claiming the otherwise unwanted belt. Watching her leave happily, Kesser breathed a sigh of relief. But just then, a man in coarse clothes quietly stepped beside him.
"Did it work?"
"It did, but… I still can't figure it out. What's so special about that belt?"
"Who cares? Our job's just to secretly protect her. Head back and let Number Four relieve you."
"Got it."
The two men parted ways after their brief exchange. But just as the informant slipped into a secluded alley, a sudden gust of wind whipped toward him from behind.
"Who's there—?!"
Thud!
...
Even after the purchase, Leone still found it hard to believe she'd spent so lavishly. While not exactly extravagant, the ornamental belt cost more than she'd ever saved in her entire life. It'd take a long while before she could pay it back. Still, she trusted her instincts. The only time they'd ever truly misled her was when she'd attacked Lancer. But looking back, maybe even that hadn't ended so badly.
Yet, when Leone opened the door to her home, an entirely unexpected figure awaited her.
"Esdeath?"
The woman sitting comfortably in the living room was indeed Esdeath, a frequent guest who typically made herself obnoxiously at home. Leone was surprised, but not overly concerned.
"Come with me," Esdeath said abruptly.
Leone frowned slightly, sensing something unusual about Esdeath's demeanor.
"What's the matter?"
"I'm planning to pay Lancer a visit."
Leone relaxed immediately. So it's just another challenge.
"Lancer's at the Northern Fortress. He'll be back soon enough. Just wait a bit longer."
"The Northern Fortress? No, no…" Esdeath smiled strangely. "I think I'll wait for him in the South."
Before Leone could react, Esdeath lunged forward aggressively.
Crash!
The serving tray Leone had just grabbed shattered beneath Esdeath's swift strike. Leone barely dodged, confusion written plainly on her face. She couldn't fathom why Esdeath would suddenly attack her. Esdeath herself appeared momentarily surprised at missing, but the shock quickly twisted into a sinister grin.
"Not bad! You've improved—but not nearly enough!"
BOOM!
Leone ducked a second strike aimed at her head, only to meet Esdeath's vicious left uppercut. The powerful blow slammed into Leone's abdomen, launching her into a nearby cabinet. Her neat and tidy home instantly descended into chaos.
---
T/N: GODDAMNIT ESDEATH WHY DID YOU JOIN HONESTTTTTT, also huh who be giving her the belt... ehr teigu... ALSO MEOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW~!
T/N2: JOIN THE DISCORD SERVER :3c COBBLEMON MODPACK FIOR THIS MONTH oh and ya theres a tournament at the end with prizes
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and so on :3
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