Voyage Of The Villainess

The nighttime had finally come. With Malaya's cloak on and an extravagant mask to hide their faces. All the visitors were also wearing masks to hide their faces. Not only that but all of them were wearing extravagant and expensive-looking clothes clearly indicating that they were not just ordinary people either.

Malaya, Hyun Jae, Oliver, and Seth were seated in a V.I.P room on the second floor where they could still see the stage clearly.

"They are really the worst." Hyun Jae clenched her fist. "How can they sell living beings like this?"

"It is nothing strange Hyun Jae," Malaya said. "Didn't you forget that there is even a battle arena for slaves back at Sahaya? They are for the entertainment of any people who have the money."

"I heard such things." Hyun Jae said, her voice sounding glum. "But I haven't seen it yet. And when that slave revolution happened there are discussions to finally abolish slavery."

"You are certainly right about that," Oliver joined their discussion. "The house of nobles who were against slavery gained more power for their movement to abolish slavery. However, it will take some time there."

Malaya was surprised by what she had heard just now and a faint smile escaped her lips. 'So what Iris did back there didn't completely go to waste. However, if she is with us right now. I don't know what trouble she might cause since she was the one who hated the idea of slavery the most.'

"Ladies and Gentlemen." A man cloaked in a glistening red robe. He had long black hair and was wearing a half-white mask with colorful feathers attached to it. Even with his mask on and his build, his low and yet soft voice, one could clearly tell that he had this seductive charm to him. "I, Ga-ul Dal, as the owner of this Moonlit Auction House, welcomes you all! We can now begin the event!"

The whole hall was filled with thunderous applause. And when everyone was quiet down, Ga-ul, Dal continued his words.

"And as per order, let us begin first with the rare items the house has acquired."

{Malaya.}

Malaya was surprised when she heard the voice of the priestess, which she hadn't heard for a long time.

'Priestess?' She replied with her thoughts.

{There is an ornament among the items that will be auctioned today.}

'Ah. I see.' Malaya replied. 'Then I will acquire it as well, priestess.'

{Thank you, Malaya. I apologize if I contact you just now. The eyes of the gods and goddesses are going rampant. When we have more time let's talk again. And congratulations for crossing the Red Current.}

'Thank you, priestess.' Malaya said then she didn't hear anything back from the priestess once again. Malaya returned her gaze back to the stage where the bidding of the first item was now happening.

The first item was a vase with beautiful lotus carvings. It was sold for ten silvers. Then the second, third, and up to the seventh items were all sold once again.

"Now we are at the last item!" 

Malaya could feel the heat from her silver bracelet again. And as expected it was glowing once again. 'Ah, why does it have to be the most expensive item here. I'm already worrying about the cost of all the slaves I will buy. Well, I guess this can't be helped.'

"This very beautiful blue pearl is called the Mermaid Tears! It was believed to be the tears of the delicate mermaid. And it said that if you have this you will be able to stock items here."  Ga-ul Dal gestured and one of his servants brought a cart out to the stage. When Ga-ul Dal removed the cloth covering the item, everyone was mesmerized by the beautiful blue pearl.

"It's beautiful." Hyun Jae said in awe. 

"Right." Malaya smiled. "Though, I wanted to give it to you, will it be alright, if I bought it for myself this time?"

Hyun Jae smiled at her. "Of course! I didn't say it was beautiful because I wanted it. But it reminds me of your eyes, Malaya. I think that will be perfect for you."

Malaya smiled with her words. "I see. I'm glad to hear that."

'And he said that this will make one able to stock items? Is this really akin to space magic? This ornament is quite interesting this time.' Malaya maintained her calm upfront although her insides were tingling with excitement. It was the space storage she dreamt to have no matter what! And now something like that appeared here!

"You are going to buy that pearl?" Oliver asked.

"Yes. It might be helpful to someone without magic like me." A grin escaped Malaya's lips. 

'She has no magic?' Seth, who was listening, the entire time to them looked at Malaya.

"The outside of the Red Current is truly fascinating is it?" Malaya said as she sipped the tea prepared for them. "There was no space magic even on the continent back then. For such items like this to exist."

"Certainly." Oliver also looked with interest at the item. "That is quite a convenient item to have. If I have brought money with me, I might also buy it no matter how much the price."

"We will start the bidding for fifty silver!" Ga-ul Dal announced.

"Sixty Silvers!

"Eighty Silvers!"

"Two-hundred silvers!"

"Why are you not bidding yet?" Hyun Jae said as the price continued to increase. "But it is alright, Malaya if you don't obtain that item. Even without magic, you are already pretty strong. And I'll just carry your items for you."

'Hyun Jae, you came from Earth, like me. You of all people must understand the value of a space item!'

"It's alright, Hyun Jae. With that, we will be able to hide all our valuable things and not just in some random secret room filled with skeletons that were guarded by a dog."

Seth's face scowled hearing her words. But before he could retort, Malaya spoke once again.

"I don't mean to be rude by that. But I'm stating the facts."

"Seven-hundred silvers!" 

"Seven-hundred-fifty silvers!"

"Are you able to fulfill your promise?" Seth asked with worry this time. "The price was still getting higher and still didn't show any sign of stopping. How...": He was startled when it was now the range of gold.

"Ten golds!" The screams were now getting less.

"Twenty golds!"

"Since you didn't accept my pearls back then I still have more money to waste," Malaya said, she was still calm which was making Hyun Jae and Seth even more scared now. While Oliver just shook his head.

"One hundred golds!"

There were only two people screaming.

"One-hundred-fifty golds!"

"One thousand golds!" From this, the entire hall became quiet now.

'Ho,' Malaya's grin became wider. The last call came from the right room next to them.

"Will there be no one who will bid more than One thousand golds! Calling once! Calling Twice! Then Mermaid's Tears will be sold now..."

"Ten thousand golds!" Malaya yelled which shocked the entire audience in the room. Even the one next room was surprised to hear a ridiculous claim just now.

Who couldn't be shocked? Ten thousand golds were already worth an entire city's treasury! Well, not only the audience was surprised to hear Malaya's call.

Even the people she was with almost coughed up blood. Even though Oliver was already expecting something like this, well it was still a ridiculous amount. 'Does she have that much money?' He was really becoming more worried now. 

"Will there be no one who will bid more than Ten thousand golds! Calling once! Calling Twice! Then Mermaid's Tears will be sold now to customer 81!" Ga-ul Dal's ecstatic voice was very noticeable. Well, who wouldn't he certainly earn more than he had earned in this auction house?

"Are you certain you can pay for that item, Malaya?" Hyun Jae asked with worry. "It-it is ten thousand gold..."

"Well, let's just enjoy the show for now." Malaya laughed. "That is only the teaser of our agenda."

"Now, everyone! For the main event of the night! I have brought these ten amazing slaves for everyone to have! For our first item, he was one of the proud elven races!"

A huge cart containing a huge cell was pulled out from the stage. The one inside the cage was indeed an elf. With handcuffs on his arms. Chains in his neck and feet and there were some bruises visible on his body due to severe lashings if one would take a closer look. If this was already his appearance, how much more the other slaves would be next to him.

"Next will be the main dish now." Malaya's heart became cold. 'Usually, I don't really concern myself in these situations. But I wonder, when did I grow this soft. Is it because it reminds me of Iris?'

"Don't worry Seth, I have enough to buy them all."

Seth was going to open his mouth to voice out his worry but he immediately closed it when she saw the cold expression of Malaya.. Hyun Jae was also angry and he could see how she was holding herself.