Chapter 77: Master Ryan |
As the auction came to an end, the truly powerful individuals and major factions began to leave one after another.
Most of the rare and valuable items had already been auctioned off on the first day. Over the next four days, the value of the items would drop significantly.
This was also because most powerful individuals valued their time greatly and had no interest in staying in one place for long—hence this rule was specifically designed.
Especially the dozen or so “special guests” Kyle had invited—even if they wanted to stay longer in Coral Thorn City, Kyle wouldn’t dare keep them.
Who knew whether these people might suddenly act on a whim and cause trouble?
During the second auction, a dark mage had secretly left behind something that attracted a large number of unsuspecting adventurers, nearly resulting in all of them being blood-sacrificed.
Fortunately, Kyle discovered it in time and interrupted the ritual. Otherwise, Coral Thorn City’s reputation for safety would have been completely ruined.
He had been so furious that he hunted that dark mage for over three months, crossing two continents before finally tearing that bastard’s head off!
It was also in that mage’s lair that he discovered Montoya, a Blood Mist Demon, secretly imprisoned and raised.
Kyle personally escorted these “special guests” one by one to the ultra-long-distance teleportation array they had arrived through.
“Ms. Vivian, I look forward to our next cooperation.”
Controlling Alvaro, Kyle gave an elegant bow to the devil lady, whose expression was still rather unpleasant.
Vivian’s face remained cold. She said nothing, only cast a deep glance at Alvaro, seemingly certain that this “scheme” had something to do with Kyle, before stepping into the teleportation array glowing with red and white light.
After sending off the last troublesome guest, Kyle carefully inspected the residual fluctuations of the array. He even used his ability to observe causal lines, repeatedly confirming that no hidden dangers or tracking marks had been left behind. Only then did he truly relax.
“Finally sent off this bunch of ancestors…”
His gaze passed through layers of formations as he looked at the golden light of dawn appearing on the horizon. Then he issued a command to Alvaro:
“Alright, you can now send the dragon blood back to the ancestral land. Deliver it directly to Irlton Aiven—he knows how to use it.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Alvaro bowed to receive the order. Spatial fluctuations shimmered across his metallic body, and in the next moment, he vanished from the spot.
Kyle’s consciousness also returned to the ancestral land—he still had to process the chaotic information in his mind.
Only Isos’s “thin” shadow was left behind, swaying blankly in place.
“Uh… what am I supposed to do?”
“Almost forgot—Isos, go to the Umbral Canyon and bring back Selena and the others. They’ve been on vacation long enough; time to get back to work.”
Kyle’s consciousness suddenly appeared, dropped the instruction, and vanished again.
Isos: “……”
***
Meanwhile, at the ordinary exit of the Star-Moon Auction House, O’Brien and Dean followed the crowd as they slowly walked out.
The slightly chilly morning air rushed toward them, dispelling the lingering luxury and clamor of the auction hall.
Unlike those wealthy guests who hurried away, O’Brien walked steadily, leading Dean into a different street from the one they had come from.
“Teacher, aren’t we going back? Where are we going?”
Dean jogged to keep up, looking around curiously.
Although it was still early, Coral Thorn City remained bustling and lively.
Large-scale auctions were the grandest festivals here, lasting an entire month in a state of constant celebration.
“To the Artisans’ Association.”
O’Brien answered concisely, even quickening his pace.
That not-so-pleasant exchange earlier—although it ended with him getting beaten up—had indeed made him realize some things.
According to Kyle’s ideas, it might improve the living conditions of lower-class civilians in the short term, but it wasn’t a long-term solution.
That’s right—he had ultimately agreed to part of Kyle’s plan.
Kyle could allow dark creatures with normal thinking and communication abilities to serve as pilot cases.
He would personally supervise them. If the results were acceptable, they would gradually expand it.
But he still didn’t trust the group known as dark creatures. He needed to give civilians a chance to become self-reliant, rather than remain dependent on some external force.
I had to speed things up!
“Teacher, are you joining the Artisans’ Association now?”
“Yes.”
Dean hurried to match O’Brien’s increasingly rapid pace and couldn’t help asking:
“Don’t we need to prepare anything?”
“No need.”
O’Brien raised his hand and waved a dark silver badge that had somehow appeared in his grasp, engraved with crossed hammers and flame patterns.
“With this—and the proof from the auction just now—that’s enough.”
He no longer had time to wait until after the auction for Mills Horne to continue promoting him. Two months of publicity were already sufficient.
Dean nodded, half-understanding, as he struggled to keep up with O’Brien’s almost teleport-like strides.
***
About half an hour later, Dean, panting heavily, followed O’Brien across half the city and finally arrived at the tall yet plain headquarters of the Artisans’ Association in the northern district.
“Your stamina is still lacking—you need to increase your training intensity.”
O’Brien raised his hand and patted Dean on the back. A warm, gentle force quickly relieved his fatigue, and strength returned to his sore legs.
“Yes, Teacher!”
Dean wiped the sweat from his face and followed O’Brien into the spacious and brightly lit main hall of the Artisans’ Association.
Though it was early morning, the hall was extremely busy.
A massive bulletin board was densely covered with various commission postings, with staff constantly updating their statuses.
Craftsmen, adventurers, and merchants from all over moved about incessantly. Conversations, bargaining, and the clanging of tools blended into a market-like шум.
The air was filled with the scent of metal, leather, oil, and faint wood shavings.
Having just left the luxurious and fantastical auction hall, Dean felt a strange sense of dissonance—as if he had fallen from a magical future back into the real world.
A young attendant noticed O’Brien and Dean entering—especially O’Brien’s extraordinary bearing—and immediately approached with a professional smile:
“Hello, esteemed sir. Are you here to post a commission or inquire about services?”
O’Brien said nothing and directly placed the dark silver Forgemaster badge on the wooden counter.
The attendant’s gaze fell on the badge, and he froze.
He recognized it as the badge of a high-level profession, but he didn’t understand the meaning of the symbol on it.
After all, he had never encountered such badges before and lacked the ability to verify their authenticity.
However, he did recognize the universal certification rune of the Adventurers’ Guild engraved on it.
“P-please wait a moment. Sir, you and this young gentleman may rest in the reception room over here. I—I need to report this to my supervisor immediately!”
His tone became extremely respectful, even tinged with nervousness.
Almost bowing, he led O’Brien and Dean to a refined small reception room at the side of the hall, swiftly serving them two cups of steaming tea.
Then he carefully asked, “Esteemed sir, how should I address you? So I can inform my supervisor.”
O’Brien picked up the teacup, took a sip, and calmly uttered two words:
“Ryan.”
The attendant froze for a moment, then his eyes widened abruptly as he cried out in shock:
“R-Ryan… Master Ryan?!”
Could this be the Grandmaster Forgemaster whose fame had recently spread far and wide?
“Master, please wait a moment! I’ll immediately go invite Supervisor Fuke!”
With that, he turned and hurried off toward his superior’s office.