Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Irene's crystal blue eyes gazed at the retreating humans one last time before she shifted her eyes. She gently patted the warhorse beside her and smiled.

"It's alright, showing them your presence is enough to buy us plenty of time. By the time your existence leaks out and powerful humans come flocking inside, the dungeon will become even more stronger. The third Guardian has already started moving, it won't be long before our defences gets even more strengthened".

The Bloodthorn demonic warhorse nodded his head and asked "What about that man?".

Irene knew who he was talking about and explained "That human used Light magic, as a being with strong affiliation to dark attribute, no wonder you were damaged and feel a strong repulsion to it".

                                                                          -----

It wouldn't be long before the news that the Burning Arrows guild was destroyed on the twentieth floor and had to retreat with their tails behind their back, spread everywhere around the tower town and the city of Mountmend.

With few members returning and their guild master and Priest heavily injured, there was no way they could hide the evidence. At the same time, the news that the dungeon was unconquerable even by the number one guild around this part, would travel far and wide, attracting the attention of all the big guilds of this kingdom.

                                                                          -----

Two days had already passed since Adalinda stormed out of his room saying that she would prepare something to capture her disciple. Simon who had nothing to do roamed the capital for the past few days.

During this time, he learned that the Serene Palace Auction was opening soon and that more and more people were flocking into the capital. The capital was bustling with hubbub and activity every day as the day of the competition was approaching closer.

Hearing the commotion outside his window, Simon got out of the inn and walked towards the commercial district of the city. One of the largest and awe-inspiring building, was owned by the Serene palace merchant guild and used for holding auctions.

A huge crowd of people lined up against it trying to get inside. Today was the day when the auction was finally going to open and thanks to the approaching 'battle of the finest' tournament, the things that would be auctioned off was bound to be precious and extraordinary items.

Not only ordinary people, but even those participants, powerful guilds and adventurers were guaranteed to be present. Simon who had nothing to do now that Adalinda went off on her own, decided to attend the auction.

Currently, he had donned a long robe and a hat to cover up his appearance. There were many entrances that one could use to get inside the auction; however, most of them required money or needed a special invitation or token from the merchant guild.

Guards donning the insignia of the Serene palace merchant guild maintained order around the place. Of course, it was not just their presence but their weapons and stern gazes that compelled people to do so.

Simon estimated that all of them were above level 200 with some of them even reaching level 300. A lineup like that was assigned as outer guards, the influence of the merchant guild could be seen just from that.

Their network and wealth were so wide that nobody wanted to offend them. Everyone that went inside the building, did so very calmly and politely. Simon didn't line up where the ordinary people were queuing and instead took a different entrance.

That was because Cynthia had handed him the VIP token of their guild which allowed him to have certain privileges when entering any of their establishments. A guard near the entrance checked the token he passed and immediately double-checked it.

After checking the authenticity of the token, his attitude also became mellow as he respectfully bowed towards him. Simon was taken aback by the attitude shift of the guard.

He looked at the VIP token in his hands, Cynthia did tell him that this was a special token of their Merchant guild given only to a handful few. After the entered the building he was stopped by a pretty lady with a charming smile standing beside the corridor to lead all the guests and see to their convenience.

When he passed her the VIP token he had, her eyes immediately became the size of the saucer. After giving him a polite bow, she led him up the stairs and into a room that had a clear wide view of the hall below where the auction would be taking place.

The hall was very huge being able to accommodate more than ten thousand people with rows of seats and gallery booked for VIPS. At the centre of the hall was an elevated stage and a basement connected to it.

"Esteemed guest, I will be waiting outside. Please call upon me if you need anything" right after saying that, the pretty lady exited the room and closed the door.

Now left all alone inside this room, Simon saw people swarming inside the hall like ants. In a mere hour or so, the huge action hall was filled with black bobbling heads of the crowd and various noises and hubbub started spreading from all directions.

Simon calmly sat in his room and closed his eyes, until every noise was blocked off by him. There was still some time until the auction starts. As people started filling up the seat and the noise was starting to reach its peak, when suddenly everything went silent.

This was because an aura so strong and wild that it intimidated everyone into silence entered the hall. A man wearing clean red robes, haughtily walked towards one of the VIP seating arrangements and flumped himself on the seat.

From his appearance, it seemed like he was around twenty five years old.

"Isn't he the son of the guild master of savannah beast guild, Marcus?"

"He is… it seems like he wants to use this opportunity to buy something that might increase his strength in the tournament".

  Simon opened his eyes and observed the man, from the hubbub around him, he knew that the man was named Marcus. However, what interested his eyes wasn't the man or his powers but the guild he belonged to.

Savannah Beast Guild was one of the top five of this Kingdom much more powerful than any guild in Mountmend.

At this moment, Simon's eyes was jolted to another surprise, a group of men hiding their faces with black robes entered the place and pushed back the wild aura Marcus had released. Leading the group was a tall lanky man with an unhealthy face, he carried an old staff with him and wore a sly smile.

The moment they entered, the crowd started becoming silent as hushed voices could be heard everywhere.

"The Kingdom of Ingolf are also here. It seems that they too are interested in the auction"

"That tall man who is walking forward, he is the crown prince of their Kingdom, Oman Dercis Ingolf".

During the past two days, when Simon was collecting information, he got to know that there had been some changes to the Tournament and that the surrounding Kingdoms were also participating in it.

It didn't come as a surprise to him that they were also participating in this auction. After all, the best items would always end up in the hands of the powerful and wealthy who might also be your opponent in the tournament.

The auction is the best opportunity to know your opponents and bar them from getting any items that might make them more powerful.

With only a few minutes remaining, the VIP rooms were getting filled up one after the other. Among them were some of the familiar faces like Duke Montford and Lucas who he travelled with on the Air Engine.

There was a representative from each of the top five guilds and other various guilds from different regions of the kingdom.

At this moment when the excitement of the auction had reached its peak, a beguiling woman with silky violet hair and wearing graceful purple clothes slowly walked up to one of the VIP rooms. Her beautiful skin and glossy lips mesmerised the crowd and her ample curves took away everyone's attention.

The crowd immediately became silent as if a charm spell had been cast on them. The woman who just showed up, was none other than the mistress of the Serene Palace Merchant Guild and also the princess of this Kingdom.

All of the people seated inside the VIP room greeted her with their gaze or nod. She made herself comfortable in her seat and indicated the auctioneer to start the event.

The old man on the podium bowed his head and enthusiastically started the auction.

"First of all, I thank everyone for attending this auction held by the merchant guild of ours. This old man is called Alfonso, pleased to make your acquaintance".

The old man carried a good-natured smile that could give anyone a good impression of him and had an aura that said that he was a master of his profession. The old man beheld the crowd before clapping his hands once.

At that instant, several pretty girls walked up the stage with silver plates on their arms. In each of the silver plates was an item that was draped over by a red cloth.

The red cloth was made of a material that did not allow the aura from the item inside to leak out nor did it allow any prying attempt from others.

"I know what everyone is eagerly waiting for, so let us start this auction without wasting any more time".