"How does Invidia respond?".


    "He said he will give us two and a half billion gold to get the three items".


    In one of the hotels in the east district. Where the interior was pretty narrow, and there was only one bed that served the room. It became the living ce for Gura and Devi, who chose a deserted ce, for they are currently hiding after the uproar.


    They are currently inside Devi''s room, and both sit on top of the wooden chair while enjoying the meal the hotel provides for them. To be more precise, for Gura, who already emptied the six tes.


    Devi, who saw the pilled te, had a splitting headache as the expense of the food kept rising each time Gura ordered some food to appease his bottomless hunger. She distracts her attention to the tablet in her hands that shows a gold currency that Invidia sent her.


    She knows what she must do, and she would not let her father be disappointed in her again. After the failed task, she presented it to him in the devil''s blood case. Devi is determined to do everything in her hands to obtain the items.


    "Okay then, when will the auction start?".


    "... In two hours".


    "That''s soon, hurry to pack things up".


    Gura, who still has a mountain of food on the table, spread his mouth wide. A cracking sound from his dislocated jaw echoed in the narrow room, his cheeks stretched unnaturally, creating a huge maw that made it easy for him to throw the food into his stomach.


    te after te of food, he threw into the maw, making Devi throw her gaze away, witnessing the gruesome sight. After the te was empty, Gura closed back his mouth and aligned his jaw before standing up.


    "Let''s go. Time is tickling".


    "...Yes, Lord Gura".


    They took their respective masks on their storage, covering their faces before leaving the room.


    ***


    Soma and Hiroshi, who wore a ck suit, standing in front of the hotel stairs. They scan their surroundings, waiting for Malik to pick them up. The two of them had already prepared everything they could, and as for the money, Soma still didn''t exchange the cheque and left it as it was.


    There is a reason for that. He has no intention to disclose his identity yet. At least until he gained the items that he wanted in the auction. As for the amount of gold they had, Soma thought it was already more than enough for him to get the items.


    A ring horn could be heard, waking up the two from their submerged state. A ck Humvee that is built with reinforced monster material stands before them. Its four monstrous wheels show its bold and wild ambiance, also with protruding tires make the car look ferocious. The car opened its front window and revealed Malik, who wore a ck suit inside, holding the steer.


    "Get in, you two".


    Malik waved his left hand. Soma and Hiroshi approached the car and opened the passenger seat. They entered inside the white illumination that came from its ceiling, lightening the wide space. As Soma rested his body, the Sofa was so soft that it embraced him from below. Contrary to its appearance, the car''s interior gives the people insidefort like a luxurious car.


    "You guys are ready?".


    "Yes".


    "We are ready".


    "Okay, buckle up".


    Hearing the reply from Soma and Hiroshi. Malik locked the door and then started to maneuver the car, making it turn a hundred and eighty. He stepped on the gas, making the car gain more speed, and it rode smoothly on the asphalt. Malik, who focused in front, opened his mouth.


    "Kid, how was your gold?".


    "I have plenty in my hand".


    "Do you?".


    "Yes, thanks to someone who helped. I managed to collect many".


    "Okay, then".


    They muted the conversation as the car drove along the highway, leaving the east district, where Soma stayed for a while. As the air was suffocated enough, Hiroshi, who sat behind, started to introduce himself, and Malik responded in kind.


    "Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Akabane Hiroshi. Thank you for your cooperation in the n Soma had".


    "My name is Malik. No problem with that. I already heard the kid''s circumstance, and I want to help him even for a bit, that''s all".


    "Even so, thank you".


    "Like I said, no problem…"


    The two adults in the car start their conversation while Soma, on the side, casts his gaze outside while his mind starts to wander. Sometimes, Soma also joins the conversation to deepen his knowledge and know about how adults think.


    They kept the conversation short, not wasting any words that didn''t have any rtion to the business they had, and also as a person that just met for the first time. The two still keep some vignce toward each other while maintaining a calm expression on their face.


    Soma once again realized that bing an adult is something that is still far away in his grasp.


    After driving for about thirty minutes, the scenery around changed. It changes from rows of line building into a long body of bridge that is wide enough to amodate five cars in a single direction. The car maintained its speed, and not long after that, it entered the central district where it was still bustling with people and many stalls were opened even though the sky had already turned dark.


    The car kept going in a straight way, and then it took a sharp turn to the right. Malik, the one in control of the vehicle, opened his mouth.


    "We are almost there".


    A scene of tall buildings lining up as the eyes could see. Then, the scene changed as they entered a vast space that was filled with many cars and pedestrians.


    Soma opened his eyes wide, seeing the lively atmosphere in the area despite the time.


    He turned his gaze to the front and saw a silhouette of a brilliant light that emanated from a massive building, giving a light in the night.


    "We are here".


    Before he leaves the car, Soma infuses the ne on his neck with mana. Then, his appearance started to morph and turned blurry. Hiroshi, on his side, opened his eyes wide but soon realized Soma had only used an item to change his appearance.


    His new look consists of his short white hair and golden eyes.


    "Soma, why are you picking that shy appearance if you want to hide your identity?".


    "...You are right".


    Soma starts to infuse mana into the ne, imagining the appearance he wants to show. His hair turned ck, the bangs were long enough to cover his eyes, and he exuded a gloomy aura.


    "How about this?".


    "...Just switch to the earlier appearance".


    "Hm? Why?".


    Hiroshi demands Soma once again to change his appearance. Soma once again morphed but tried not to make him too shy. He changed only his ck hair to white, no other change.


    The car stopped in front of the shy building. A hotel employees approached the car as he waited beside the car. The three of them simultaneously open the door, and Malik, who holds the key, gives the key to the guy as they climb the stairs to enter the auction venue.


    "You guys ready?".


    Upon hearing Malik''s warning, he began to lead the group and waited in line. After waiting half a minute, Malik showed his badge to the guards before the door.


    The guard, who saw the highest badge Malik had kept their unperturbed gaze, then gave Malik a key which is a card, with the number neen on it.


    "Enjoy your stay".


    Malik nodded his head and walked inside the building. They were weed by a grand hallway with a high ceiling and a lining up chandelier hung above. After walking for a while, an employee in the building wearing the same uniform as the guard outside greeted them.


    "Wee to Lawrence House. May I help you with something?".