Brother Grelan, must you really go this far?" Leoric and the others couldn't help but feel a headache brewing as they tried to mediate the situation. Their only goal was to form a mutually beneficial alliance, yet Grelan's aggressive stance and inflammatory words had complicated matters unnecessarily.
If they chose to side with Kaito, Grelan would undoubtedly feel slighted and humiliated. But if they chose Grelan, then Kaito would likely leave in silent anger, feeling betrayed and dismissed. On one hand stood a member of a first-rate guild; on the other, a lone independent player. The situation left them all torn and uneasy.
"What are you all hesitating for? Is this really such a difficult decision?" Grelan scoffed, his tone laced with arrogance. "I have Bloodthirsty Drake backing me. The information and resources at my disposal are far beyond anything you can imagine. If you don't wish to cooperate with me, I'll simply look for other guilds. But one thing is clear—I refuse to be in any alliance that includes some random independent player."
Kaito watched Grelan's absurd display, the man acting as if the entire world revolved around him alone. Not only was he being needlessly arrogant, but he even tried to leverage his guild's influence to push Kaito out of the group. Although Leoric Stayn and the others had initially approached Kaito with goodwill, their current hesitation revealed their wavering stance.
Seeing this, Kaito let out a faint sneer.
"Since I'm just an independent player, I won't trouble you any longer," he said flatly. "Brother Leoric, people who walk different paths cannot make plans together. Let's go our separate ways from here on."
With that, Kaito turned and walked toward the entrance of the auction house without sparing them another glance. Leoric and the others remained silent, watching his retreating figure. As much as they admired his strength, Kaito was ultimately still an independent player. He lacked the backing to offer long-term benefits—and in the world of Glory, influence often trumped skill.
"Hmph. A mere solo player thinking he can stand shoulder to shoulder with us? Keep dreaming," Grelan scoffed with disdain.
Not long after, the gates of the auction house slowly opened, and the crowd began filing in. Grelan confidently strode forward with his group, only to be halted at the entrance.
"I'm sorry, sir," a knight in silver armor said firmly, blocking their path. "You are not permitted to enter."
"But Lord Knight," Leoric interjected, holding up his pass. "We all possess valid black market passes."
The knight gave a brief glance, then shook his head. "Today's event is a VIP Auction. Standard passes do not grant entry. The regular auction will be held next week. Kindly return at that time."
Grelan's face darkened. He quickly pointed toward the figure already stepping through the entrance.
"Then what about him?" he barked, glaring at Kaito's back. "That guy doesn't even have a black market pass. Letting someone like him in… is that really fair?"
The knight's expression immediately darkened at Grelan's aggressive tone. Although he maintained his professional stance, a clear note of displeasure echoed in his voice as he turned to look in the direction Grelan had pointed.
Upon seeing the figure entering the building, the knight's eyes widened slightly in recognition.
"Lord Baron Raen," he muttered under his breath. Straightening his posture, he turned back toward Grelan and the others, his gaze now frosted with scorn.
"You commoners dare to question the eligibility of a noble?" he snapped. "Be smart and back off. Do you truly think the likes of you deserve the same treatment as a titled Lord? If you continue causing a scene, I'll have you all thrown out—or worse, arrested."
The knight's voice rang loud and sharp, immediately silencing the group.
Grelan froze on the spot, thunderstruck. Baron? That independent player... was a noble?
He tried to process the knight's rebuke, only to realize—word for word—it mirrored the very insults he himself had just hurled at Kaito minutes earlier.
If a hole had opened beneath his feet right then, Grelan wouldn't have hesitated to dive in. The humiliation was unbearable.
Meanwhile, Leoric and the others stood dumbfounded. Not only had they misjudged Kaito's strength, but they had also overlooked his status. A Baron in the game's nobility system? That wasn't just rare—it was extraordinary. Their expressions twisted with regret as they watched Kaito disappear inside, untouchable.
They had gone through so much trouble to prepare for this auction—gathering rare coins, digging through rumors, even paying exorbitant fees to gain entry. And yet, despite all their efforts… they couldn't even make it past the front gate.
Seeing the knight's respectful attitude toward Kaito, the group instantly realized that the title of Baron must carry significant weight in the Black Market hierarchy. Only now did it hit them—Kaito likely had the authority to bring in additional people with him.
They had just thrown away their golden ticket.
He could've brought them inside.
But instead… they had chosen to forsake him.
And now, they were stuck outside, watching the doors close on the rarest auction they had ever managed to gain access to.
Regret burned deep in their hearts, so fierce it was nearly suffocating. It was like watching a treasure slip through their fingers after foolishly casting it aside. They couldn't stop asking themselves the same question over and over again: Why? Why did they let Kaito go?
Their gazes gradually shifted toward the one person responsible.
If it hadn't been for Grelan's arrogance…
If it hadn't been for his constant provocations…
None of this would have happened.
And now, thanks to him, all their efforts had gone to waste.
As realization dawned, the group's collective anger and frustration turned toward Grelan. Every face twisted with bitterness, their eyes filled with blame and hostility. Grelan, sensing the change in atmosphere, instinctively stepped back—but it was far too late.
He had become the villain of the moment. And not even his guild's reputation could shield him from the storm of resentment now gathering around him.
...…..
Inside the Auction House—
"Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guests, this way please. Kindly step onto the floating platform and proceed to the 66th floor. An attendant will be waiting to receive you," said a silver-haired beauty standing beside the massive circular platform, her voice gentle yet refined with practiced hospitality.
The floating platform of the Black Market Auction House was an awe-inspiring construct—broad enough to carry more than a hundred people at once. It had been forged from Ecliptite Core Crystals, materials renowned for their extraordinary magical conductivity. Arcane runes shimmered faintly across its crystalline surface, allowing it to levitate effortlessly and glide smoothly through the air like a divine artifact.
Such a platform was not something money alone could buy. Even if the entirety of South Glade Town were sold off, its total worth still wouldn't suffice to construct a floating platform of this scale. It was a symbol of power, wealth, and the unfathomable resources backing the Black Market Auction House.
And even, In the entire Solaris Kingdom, only two places were known to possess floating platforms—the Auction House in Solaris City, the kingdom's capital, and the Royal Palace itself. Even then, the floating platforms at those two prestigious locations were noticeably smaller and less refined than the one in the Black Market Auction House.
This stark contrast was a testament to the staggering wealth and technological superiority held by the Black Market. For an underground organization to possess such infrastructure, surpassing even the capital and royal authority, was enough to leave any onlooker speechless.
To say the least, the Black Market Auction House was colossal in scale, its structure meticulously divided into three primary sections: the Common Section, the VIP Section, and the Luxury Section.
The Common Section spanned from the 4th to the 36th floor. As long as one possessed a Black Market Pass, they were eligible to participate in this auction. However, the items available here were relatively standard—rare items appeared only occasionally, and the majority were of lower to mid-grade quality.
The VIP Section, reserved for individuals with recognized status or noble titles, occupied the 50th to the 100th floors. Here, rare items were the foundation of every auction, and every now and then, even truly precious treasures would be featured—making it a coveted ground for elite adventurers and influential players.
Lastly, the Luxury Section—from the 150th to the 180th floor—was a realm few could dream of entering. Access was granted only to those with transcendental strength or unrivaled status, such as guild leaders and vice-leaders of first-rate guilds, or tier-5 job class experts. In Kaito's previous life, even after reaching the pinnacle and earning a respectable noble title, he had only managed to step into the VIP Section. As for the Luxury Section, it remained completely shrouded in mystery. The items auctioned there were secrets held tightly by the most powerful forces in Glory—the true overlords of kingdoms.