"My lord, these are the proceeds from the auction. After deducting the ten percent commission and the price of the demi-human slave you purchased earlier, the total comes to 5,420 gold coins." Backstage at the auction house, Gert smiled as he gestured toward a burlap sack on the floor that weighed roughly as much as two or three people, and toward Raphael, the demi-human girl beside it, whose wrists, ankles, and snow-white neck were bound in chains. Bowing slightly, he offered a golden card with both hands.
"If you produce another Magic Automaton, please be sure to contact the Drel Auction House. This is our VIP gold card. If you're willing to work with us, we can lower our commission to just five percent."
Gert understood the commercial value of the Magic Automaton. A new magical creation like this, capable of operating indefinitely as long as its Od was replenished, was nothing short of revolutionary. Unless someone could unravel its workings and produce a similar creation, Paracelsus held a complete monopoly on this otherworld version of the Magic Automaton.
That was why the auction house's senior management had specifically instructed Gert to establish a good relationship with him. Securing a share of the supply would be an invaluable commercial asset for the Leno Auction House's future. With Magic Automatons as its draw, nobles and wealthy buyers would flock to its doors. It would attract crowds, spread the Leno Auction House's name, and turn a profit all at once-a win-win proposition for the auction house.
Rather than refusing outright, the black-robed man accepted Gert's VIP card and said in a low voice, "Mm, don't worry. We'll consider it."
Seeing him accept the gold card, Gert inwardly sighed with relief and asked politely, "You have my deepest thanks. Those two nobles have stationed their men outside. Would you like me to handle that trouble for you? If the auction house intervenes, they should show us some respect."
The black-robed man declined with a soft chuckle. "No need. I may not look it, but dealing with a few third-rate lackeys is well within my abilities."
"Very well. I'll take my leave, then. Please make yourself comfortable."
Gert had hoped to do him a favor, but since his offer had been declined, he let the matter drop. After a brief hesitation, he nodded and left, leaving the black-robed man alone backstage with Raphael.
The black-robed man approached the frightened, helpless Raphael. He watched her silently, then slowly reached out.
Tears filled Raphael's eyes. She squeezed them shut and sobbed in an almost pleading voice, "Please don't come any closer!"
Crack-
The chains around her wrists and ankles, along with the collar around her snow-white neck, shattered. The pain she had imagined never came. Raphael opened her eyes and looked at him, tense and confused.
He pulled back his hood, letting pale purple hair fall loosely across his eyes. Opening his light blue eyes, as flawless as jade, Gin Ichimaru gave her a teasing smile and reached out to ruffle her long black hair. "Little girl, that attitude won't do. Is that any way to treat the man who saved your life?"
Raphael watched Gin Ichimaru warily and asked in a small voice, "Aren't you a bad person?"
Gin Ichimaru first gave a rather self-mocking smile, then asked, "A good person... Sorry, little girl, but I'm a villain through and through. By the way, where's your home? Would you like me to take you back?"
"Home..."
"Raphael doesn't have a home anymore. Daddy and Mommy were both killed. Raphael is all alone now." Her pretty face fell, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she spoke through sobs, a sight that stirred pity.
After a long silence, Gin Ichimaru narrowed his slender eyes and put on his signature foxlike smile. "Then... would you like to follow me? Since I'm a villain, I have no use for weak, helpless subordinates. So if you don't get stronger, I might harden my heart and abandon you."
"Get stronger?"
"Yes. If you don't get stronger, all you can do is quietly accept being trampled by the strong. If you don't want to be sold off again, you'll have to work hard to become stronger. Only then can you have the freedom to live your own life."
After wrestling with herself for a while, Raphael looked at Gin Ichimaru and clenched her soft, pale little hands into fists. Though she still looked timid, she spoke with resolve. "Raphael... wants to get stronger!"
"Very good. My name is Gin Ichimaru. Let's get along from now on!"
Gin Ichimaru's smile deepened as he ruffled Raphael's silky hair. Her little face bore a slight resemblance to Rangiku Matsumoto's. Just as fragile as a fledgling, yet stubbornly putting on a brave front-she really was just as amusing.
A little nervous, Raphael stammered, "M-my name is... Raphael. Please take care of me."
"Now, Raphael, to see whether you're truly determined to get stronger, I'll take you through a little test in a moment. I hope you won't disappoint me."
"A test to get stronger? I won't disappoint you, Lord Gin Ichimaru!" Though she had no idea what he meant by a "test," Raphael immediately answered with a serious expression.
"Mm, I'm not used to being called 'my lord.' Just call me Gin Ichimaru."
"Yes, Lord Gin Ichimaru."
"Never mind. Call me whatever you like."
Gin Ichimaru smiled helplessly, took Raphael's little hand, and walked out of the auction house. He sensed quite a few people nearby watching him with ill intent.
A middle-aged man dressed like a butler approached with four or five burly men behind him. After glancing at Raphael beside Gin Ichimaru, he said haughtily, "Come with us, please. My master wishes to see you."
Gin Ichimaru smiled faintly without a word and nodded for the man to lead the way.
In a secluded alley.
"You finally decided to come out. If you had the nerve to leave, I suppose you're ready to die." At the sight of Gin Ichimaru's arrival, the tall, thin noble sneered. More than a dozen imposing, vicious-looking guards stood behind him, glaring at the fool who dared oppose their lord.
Hiding behind Gin Ichimaru, Raphael clutched the hem of his clothes and stared fearfully at the people around them, frightened and worried.
"Get out of the way, you useless fool. I'll deal with this one. Just stay off to the side where you belong." The dark-faced noble, who had also been waiting for some time, barked orders at the tall, thin noble.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed, you dark-faced freak?!"
"What did you say?!" The tall, thin noble's words struck a nerve. The dark-faced noble shouted furiously, "What right does an ugly beanpole like you have to say that about me?!"
And so the two began arguing again. Their guards and butlers, long accustomed to this, simply waited quietly for their masters to finish.