"Hello," Circlet—a pure white figure with flowing, ethereal hair—said within his own realm. "What do you want, Azerion? Get out of my realm," Circlet added, his voice dripping with annoyance.
"Is that how you were taught to treat a guest?" Azerion asked. He vanished instantly, reappearing directly in front of the throne where Circlet lay. "You aren't a very kind crown, are you?" Azerion teased, his voice laced with mockery.
"Shut up and get out of here!" Circlet snapped back.
"Oh, but I'm here to talk about Helios," Azerion said, nonchalantly picking Circlet up and seating himself on the throne. "And how you haven't told him that having a realm isn't the peak of a Seeker's power."
"He doesn't need to know that! Put me down!" Circlet demanded, his voice blurring with rage while Azerion spun him around like a toy.
"Why aren't you going to tell him?" Azerion asked, his voice turning low and coarse.
"I don't want your plan to be successful," Circlet replied in a stinging, mocking tone.
"My plan? What plan are you talking about?" Azerion asked, tilting his head innocently.
"Don't think I don't know that you are forcefully awakening all his abilities so he can become a vessel for you," Circlet said, his voice thick with arrogance.
"You sound like you know everything, but you're afraid of telling Helios about artefact fusion," Azerion said. He vanished into thin air, leaving Circlet to stumble and fall back onto the throne.
"That bastard... I hope his soul gets destroyed," Circlet hissed, his voice contorted into an angry scowl.
"You look pale, like you're sick," Nova said, still maintaining his female form.
"Shut up and tell me where we are going," Helios barked at Nova, his brow furrowed with irritation.
"Before we start the mission, you need to know one thing," Nova said as they began walking, his expression turning serious.
"What?" Helios asked, glancing warily at Nova.
"Two things. The first thing is that my name isn't Nova anymore. It's Grace until the mission is over," Nova explained. "And the second thing is: you should wear this." Nova reached into a purse and pulled out a crimson mask adorned with intricate gold patterns.
"I have a question," Helios said, staring sceptically at the mask.
"What?" Nova asked, his voice sparking with interest.
"Why are we in Area 4?" Helios asked, gesturing toward the crumbling, broken-down houses surrounding them.
"Black market auctions are always held in Area 4 because the Royal Family never pays much attention to the things happening here," Nova explained. They reached a pub with its lights flickering, a sign above reading Black Jack. Nova reached for the handle, but Helios swiftly grabbed his hand, stopping him.
"Why are you in a female form? That's my last question," Helios demanded.
"Because it's the only identity I have that isn't being used," Nova replied, shrugging off Helios's grip and opening the door.
Inside, the pub was thick with the sound of low chatter and clinking glasses. The owner looked up as they approached the bar. "What would my two guests want?" he asked with a calculating gaze.
"Blood wine," Nova replied coolly.
"A Night Walker, I see," the owner muttered.
"A noble one, to be specific," Nova said with a sharp smile. He handed over the invitation. The owner's eyes brightened, and he led them to a secret door.
"Have a nice day, Miss Grace, and to your partner as well," the owner said as Helios and Nova stepped through. The door clicked shut behind them.
The secret room was bathed in dim, amber light. Masked figures sat in silence throughout the chamber. Helios and Nova took their seats at the very top.
"Grace, why does it feel like we are at a funeral?" Helios whispered.
"You remembered my fake name. Good," Nova replied, his green eyes scanning the stage below with predatory focus. "And I don't know—black market organizations just like making everything dark."
"What are they even putting on auction?" Helios asked in a hushed, coarse voice.
"Nothing illegal. The Royal Police almost caught one of the organizations selling illegal goods, so they are stopping for now," Nova replied, tapping his fingers impatiently on the armrest.
"Then how are we going to find the information we need? It's not like they are going to put it on auction," Helios said, his voice rising in frustration.
"We're stealing it, of course. Do you think the Royal Family wouldn't have bought the information themselves if it was being auctioned?" Nova said. Just then, a spotlight hit the stage, illuminating a man.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for coming to our auction. We promise it is going to be interesting," the man announced, his voice booming through the hall. "And for your safety and mine, we have guards at every corner." He pointed toward the doors, where armed guards were stepping into the light.
"So, are we going to change our plans? Just stealing?" Helios asked with a sarcastic smirk, looking around the room.
"No need for the sarcasm. I was never told I had to fight!" Nova hissed, clenching his hair in frustration.
"Don't worry, dear guests, your safety is our top priority!" the man on stage shouted.
"Leader, you're the one with combat-based abilities. Why don't you fight the guards?" Nova whispered, looking at Helios like he was a ray of hope.
"I can't use my abilities right now," Helios said in a deadpan, calm voice.
"Why can't you?!" Nova's voice sharpened with annoyance.
"Keep your voice down. Don't forget Seekers have heightened senses," Helios whispered sternly.
"We have kept you waiting long enough! Let us start the auction!" the announcer cried. "Our first item is the Lilac Gem, a jewel used by the First Princess of our kingdom. Starting bid at two hundred pounds!" He gestured to a glimmering, violet stone.
"Moon might like that," Helios noted, eyeing the gem curiously.
"Leader, we don't have any money. The Royal Family only gave us funds for the invitation card," Nova whispered dejectedly.
"You don't have money, but I do," Helios said with a mocking grin.
A man in the crowd shouted, "Three hundred pounds!"
"Eight hundred pounds," Helios said, his voice cutting through the room with calm authority.
"Anyone going to increase the bid?" the man on stage asked, looking around. "Eight hundred pounds going once... eight hundred pounds going twice... sold to seat number eighty-six!"
"Don't be disheartened, we have many more things to go!" the man shouted.
Two hours passed.
"As we all know, none of our other items were enough to pique your interest. But this item..." the man said, his voice trembling with excitement. "A man who invented everything in our era of technology across every continent! A man who started the movement for equal rights! Agrise's dairy!"
Agrise... isn't he the other time traveller? Helios thought, his heart skipping a beat.