After obtaining the Elemental Crystal and iron ore, Donald stayed in his room for two days without coming out. He even cut back to just one meal a day.
During that time, aside from instructing his butler, Code, to use the money he had left to spend a few Gold Sol on a carriage and two average horses, he did nothing else.
Code had heard some stories about the cultivation habits and eccentricities of mages. He paid no mind to his young master's strange behavior; in fact, he was secretly pleased. His only concern was that his young master might work himself too hard and damage his health. So he spent quite a bit on that one meal, hoping his young master would get more nourishment. At this rate, the three or four Gold Sol he had left would soon dwindle to a single coin and a few Silver Moons.
Code didn't care about any of that. Once his young master finished cultivating, he would be able to earn as many Gold Sol as he wanted.
Another day passed. Donald, who hadn't slept properly in two days, emerged from his room looking refreshed and full of energy.
After spending two level-two cores to summon the Spirit Walker twice, he had successfully completed his meditation and become an Apprentice Mage. He could now make rudimentary use of his mental power to perform simple spells, such as moving a small feather or leaf and making it float in the air, or lighting a candle out of thin air. These spells had no offensive power and were known as level-zero spells, Cantrips, or Apprentice Spells. Once someone's mental power reached a certain level and they learned to use it deftly, they could master these spells naturally.
Meditation allowed him to stay full of energy even after two sleepless days. The process itself could replace some of the benefits of sleep, and the joy of a happy occasion had also left him in high spirits.
After thoroughly enjoying a hearty breakfast, Donald led Code to the empty back courtyard. No one knew what they were doing in there, but soon the young master and his butler emerged, carrying a long bundle wrapped in gray cloth and looking rather mysterious.
After returning to his room to get ready and putting on his newly purchased clothes, Donald climbed into the carriage with Clinton and Code. He ordered George and Bush to serve as coachmen and drive toward Giant Stone City.
On the road to Giant Stone City, Donald and his two companions sat facing each other inside the carriage.
"Code, you remember the plan I told you about, right?"
Code looked both excited and a little uneasy as he glanced at his young master.
"Yes, young master. I remember every word!"
Donald smiled at that.
"Good. When we get there, we'll follow the plan."
Code glanced at his young master as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he held his tongue.
Donald had already closed his eyes and begun studying his newly acquired magical abilities.
Half an hour later, their private carriage—much faster than the cargo wagon Donald had ridden in last time—had brought them into Giant Stone City.
Before long, an unremarkable black carriage stopped in front of the Gold Sol Auction House, the largest and only auction house in Giant Stone City.
Compared with the auction house's lavish, gilded façade, the black carriage and its ordinary horses, each worth fifty Silver Moons, looked small and shabby. Even the few carriages parked outside the auction house were richly decorated. Those of a slightly lower status didn't dare stop at the entrance and had to squeeze into a distant alley instead.
Donald ordered Clinton and George, who was outside, to carry the long gray bundle out of the carriage. Before he had even stepped down, he heard someone outside shout:
"What are you doing? This is the Gold Sol Auction House, not a place for country bumpkins like you! If you want to buy farm goods, go to the market in the commoners' district! A noble lord's carriage will be stopping here soon, so get out of the way! Don't stand around blocking the entrance!"
Two auction-house servants had seen Bush, who wasn't wearing armor, park an ordinary carriage in the conspicuous empty space by the entrance. Another coachman had turned back toward the carriage, apparently to fetch something, and the servants couldn't help yelling at them.
They were outside with the attendant manager, welcoming guests, and hoped to guide some important figure to a parking spot and earn a generous tip!
Yet this shabby carriage had taken the only vacant spot at the entrance. Wasn't that cutting off their livelihood?
So, emboldened by their status as auction-house employees, they shouted abuse at the coachman, who didn't look like anyone important. A carriage like this was used by no more than some country peddler, so they didn't fear offending anyone they shouldn't.
Butler Code, who was about to get out of the carriage, heard their insults and flew into a rage. In the past, he might have swallowed such abuse and let it pass. But they had insulted his young master too, and that was something loyal Code couldn't forgive.
Code pushed past George and the others, who were carrying the bundle, stormed out of the carriage, and began berating the two servants.
When the servants saw a middle-aged man who looked like a manager emerge from the carriage, they grew somewhat uneasy. They were the lowest-ranking employees in the auction house, responsible for hauling goods and handling the dirty work of leading guests' horses and parking their carriages. They ranked below the auction house's guards, and even the attendants who served the lords and ladies spoke to them as if they were beneath them.
The chance to stand by the entrance and guide guests to parking spaces had come only after they bribed a manager with two months' wages.
But the lower a person's station, the more fiercely they clung to their pride. In the presence of powerful people above them, they hid that pride behind a mask of humility. When faced with those of similar or lower status, they were all the more eager to belittle them and make themselves seem important.
So, despite feeling uneasy, they saw Code as a manager from some small shop. Though he might outrank them, this was the biggest commercial power in Giant Stone City, the Gold Sol Auction House! With such a mighty organization behind them, they felt emboldened to act like bullies and sneer at Code.
Code was furious. Ever since House Merlinar fell into decline, he had raised the young master alone and endured many hardships, but he had never let the boy suffer this kind of humiliation.
Yet Code, mindful of his status as a noble's butler, couldn't bring himself to hurl abuse at two servants who were little better than slaves. All he could do was stand there, too angry to speak.
Seeing that he had fallen silent, the two servants assumed he had no reply and laughed at him even louder.
Just then, a manager who had personally escorted two guests to their seats inside the auction house heard the commotion and hurried back outside.
Taking in the scene, the scholarly-looking middle-aged manager frowned.
Unlike the two servants, who judged by appearances, a manager in charge of receiving distinguished guests knew better than to do so. Many powerful Professionals had eccentricities; some had even turned up at the entrance dressed as beggars. He had once heard a tragic story about a manager at a large shop in the Royal Capital who had insulted a great noble traveling incognito in plain clothes and ended up reduced to the lowliest kind of slave.
That story had served as a warning to many merchants' managers, and he was no exception, being one of the managers at Giant Stone City's largest auction house.
But the people being mocked by these two servants didn't look like anyone important. At most, they were small merchants interested in the salon the auction house had recently organized. How could small merchants attend such a gathering? A few words would send them on their way, without harming the auction house's business.
With that, the manager decided how to handle the situation.
"Why are you two making such a racket here? Do you want to lose your jobs?"
When Code saw the manager arrive, his face brightened, and he was about to complain about the servants' rudeness. But before he could say anything, the manager spoke:
"We've had many important guests come to our auction house recently, so we aren't doing small-scale business. I'm afraid you'll have to leave."
The words stopped Code in his tracks. His face flushed, but he couldn't find a reply.
At that moment, Donald stepped out of the carriage and stopped Clinton and the others from preparing to teach the men a lesson. They could easily have beaten the servants half to death, but that would have made things difficult.
Donald hadn't taken the two servants' mockery to heart. As an Apprentice Mage with a secret trump card like the Book of Truth, he would sooner or later become a great figure admired by thousands. Besides, even now, he was a noble in all but name. Though fallen on hard times, he still wasn't someone two servants could compare with. Why get angry with them? It simply wasn't worth it!
But he hadn't expected the situation to reach this point in just a few short exchanges. If they didn't act now, not only would they fail to achieve their purpose here, but his butler would have been insulted for nothing.
Donald, who regarded Code as family, couldn't let that stand. Today, he would have to throw his weight around!
"What, has your auction house become as powerful as the Celt Royal Family? Can even a lowly servant insult a noble's heir and his attendant? If so, I'll have no choice but to take this matter to the Council of Nobles and the Royal Court for justice!"
Donald delivered the words in an even tone, but the two servants, who had been so cocky moments before, fell silent in fear. The manager's expression changed as well.
When the manager saw the young man step out of the carriage, his heart had given a jolt. He knew at once that something had gone wrong.
The handsome young man before him wasn't dressed in finery, but he wore the formal attire of a legitimate male noble. There was no doubt he was either a real nobleman or a noble heir. Even a minor noble was a person of rank, someone commoners like them couldn't afford to provoke.
Insulting a noble while being a commoner was punishable by flogging. His own body wouldn't survive twenty lashes!
And although he hadn't taken part himself and could pin all the blame on the two foolish servants, word of the incident would surely damage the auction house's reputation. Then he might lose his job.
The owner wouldn't offend a noble for the sake of a mere manager, even a penniless and powerless fallen noble. And those three coachmen were clearly strong, attendant-like men. They hardly looked like ordinary coachmen. A noble with attendants like that was likely no pushover.
Fortunately, no one else was around to witness what had happened. If he could win over the young noble and his attendants, it would be easy enough to resolve. At worst, he could let them attend the noble salon being held today. He could seat them in a side room, where few people would notice.
The manager immediately put on a smile and bowed repeatedly.
"My sincerest apologies! Those two servants must have lost their senses to insult you, sir. As a manager of the Gold Sol Auction House, I, Baro, will see that they receive the harshest punishment!"
"Esteemed guest, please come with me to the reception room and rest for a while. Our auction house will be hosting a salon shortly. Perhaps you would be interested!"
With that, he bowed and led Donald inside.
Donald nodded calmly, neither pleased nor angry.
Seeing how a few plain words from his young master had changed the attitude of a manager from Giant Stone City's largest auction house, Code felt both gratified and unable to make sense of his young master anymore. Since he couldn't understand it, he could only attribute it to his young master having become a great mage.
As for Clinton and the others, they didn't give it much thought. In their minds, everything their master did was right.
Little did they know that although Donald had been nothing more than a shut-in in his previous life, his confidence gave him the ability to bluff without showing the slightest crack. Of course, he could only pull it off because he was strong enough not to give himself away. Otherwise, someone as worldly as Manager Baro would easily have seen through him.
With his butler and Clinton beside him and George and the other man carrying the long gray bundle, Donald followed the manager into the auction house with steady steps.
In a private reception room, Baro had an attendant serve Donald exquisite tea and pastries. Then he ordered two auction-house guards to seize the two foolish servants and asked Donald how he wanted them dealt with.
Donald had no interest in such a trivial matter, so he waved his hand and left the decision to Code. In the end, kindhearted and softhearted Code didn't punish them severely. He let the two servants off with a simple dismissal. Otherwise, they would at least have been beaten, and they could even have been killed without anyone stepping forward for two poor servants who had offended a noble.
Now that the unpleasantness was behind them, Donald took an elegant sip of milk tea and smiled at Baro. "I have a business proposal for your auction house. Can you make that decision, Manager Baro?"
Baro looked at the composed young man in surprise. He was so young, yet handled himself so steadily. He must have come from an extraordinary family. Had Baro misjudged him earlier?
He immediately replied, "I can decide on ordinary business matters. From the looks of it, sir, do you have goods to consign to the Gold Sol Auction House? If so, I can offer you a favorable price!"
"Heh. Thank you for the offer, Manager Baro, but what I have is unusual, and I don't intend to sell it outright. I want to put it up for auction. You should take a look before deciding."
Donald gave Code a signal. Code stepped forward and repeated the words his young master had taught him:
"My young master has recently become an Apprentice Mage and needs a great deal of Elemental Crystals for his training. He has no choice but to sell a treasured family heirloom, hoping to find a way to buy it back once he becomes a full-fledged mage."
As he spoke, he pulled the gray cloth from the bundle and set it on the table, finally revealing the object that had been wrapped up all along.
It was a long, slender greatsword, almost twice the length of an ordinary two-handed sword. It lay motionless on the table, with an exquisite crossguard, a dark blade bearing faint runes, and a bright, keen edge.
When the manager first heard that the young man was a mage, he had already been immensely relieved that he had handled the situation properly and avoided offending one of the noblest among nobles. Seeing this beautiful greatsword, which barely looked like a weapon, shook him even more.
Baro stammered out a question:
"T-this is a Knight Greatsword, isn't it?"
"Indeed. Would your auction house be interested in this treasured heirloom of mine?"
Baro came back to his senses and addressed Donald respectfully.
"Sir, this treasure is beyond me to decide on. However, during this period, the Gold Sol Auction House has invited every noble within the boundaries of Giant Stone City to our annual half-month auction salon, where we're presenting rare works of art and magical items for the nobles to bid on. Most of the famous nobles are staying in the city right now. If you can persuade our chief manager, there should be no problem putting this treasure up for auction tonight!"
"Oh? What a coincidence. Then please inform your chief manager, Baro. I must put this treasure up for auction!"
Baro bowed and left the reception room.
Watching Donald sit there as calmly as ever, Code couldn't help asking anxiously:
"Young master, do you think the chief manager will agree to put our Knight Greatsword up for auction? I've also heard that the forces behind this auction house are powerful. Do you think they might have bad intentions?"
Donald reassured his butler.
"Don't worry, Uncle Code. I have plenty of confidence in my abilities. Auction-house managers are usually very discerning. They should be able to see the value of this treasure. If they can't, we'll go to another city. Surely they can't just rob us?"
Code was a plain, honest man. He thought Donald had a point, so he put his worries aside and waited.
Not long after they finished speaking, they heard a knock at the door.
"Come in!"
A round-faced, chubby man who looked like a friendly merchant pushed the door open. He wore a more elaborate robe than Baro. Behind him came Baro and an old man with a long beard.
Once they entered, Baro introduced the newcomers to Donald.
"Sir, this is Bert, the chief manager of the Gold Sol Auction House, and this is Mr. Orchi, our chief appraiser!"
Code, acting in his capacity as butler, stepped forward.
"Chief Manager Bert, Master Orchi, allow me to introduce you to my young master. His ancestors were granted the title of Hereditary Knight of the Kingdom. I am his butler, Code."
Bert and Baro were slightly shaken and quickly bowed.
"Good day, Sir Knight!"
Donald waved a hand.
"I'm not yet of age and haven't passed the Knight's assessment. You can call me that after I formally inherit my family's title."
They hadn't expected the young man to be an Apprentice Mage and the heir to a knightly title as well. If he were a lord with a formal fief, he would be a landed noble on par with most of the nobles in Giant Stone City.
Although many nobles held titles higher than that of Knight, unless they stood in a liege-vassal relationship, local nobles under the same royal house were generally equal in status. Of course, under the four-rank noble hierarchy, a Hereditary Knight usually ranked one level below a Baron and two levels below a Viscount who governed at least an entire city. When they met, the former was expected to bow first, and the latter had to return the courtesy with a half-bow.
Besides, higher-ranking nobles generally held more land and wielded greater power. So when dealing with a more powerful noble, they also had to know when to be humble.
Unlike the two managers, Baro and Bert, the chief appraiser, Orchi, had been captivated by the enormous greatsword on the table the moment he stepped inside. He kept praising it, saying things like, "A masterpiece! It's so beautiful!"
Bert looked a little embarrassed by Orchi's lack of manners and apologized to Donald.
"Please don't take offense, Sir Knight. Mr. Orchi has devoted himself to appraisal for decades, and it's easy to become absorbed in the work. As for the auction of your item, we'll discuss it after Mr. Orchi has finished appraising it."
Donald replied as if he didn't mind.
"That's all right. I understand how it feels to love something and then see a rare treasure of its kind. After all, my ancestral Knight Greatsword, Wind of Glory, is a treasure rarely seen in this world. It's only natural to spend some time admiring it."
Then he began explaining the story behind the family heirloom, a history he had made up on the spot.
Listening respectfully as his young master invented a story to inflate the greatsword's value, Code nearly burst out laughing. He knew it had cost only one Gold Sol's worth of iron ore and had come out of the forge just a few hours ago. There was no way it had been passed down for a thousand years or had seen battle in a holy war!
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