Two black sedans sped one after the other down a secluded road toward an 'unknown' location, while Juuzou Suzuya, lying in the car, emitted a faint snoring sound.
Akira Mado, who was also sitting in the back, felt extremely helpless about this.
Although she also fully trusted Lancer, trust is trust. Is it really okay to just sleep like this?
"Lancer, where are we now?"
"Hmm... judging by the map, we should be on the outskirts of the 3rd Ward. What's wrong?"
"No, nothing."
Although Akira Mado said nothing, Lancer expression also became serious after revealing a confident smile.
"Don't worry. As long as I'm alive, nothing will happen to the two of you."
Although it was a simple sentence, it gradually calmed the somewhat nervous Akira Mado. One must know that infiltrating a ghoul auction without carrying any weapons is not something ordinary people would dare to do.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"Oh~! Leave it to me!"
––––––
Lancer could probably be considered quite experienced in the aspect of 'human trafficking'. Of course, Lancer did not want this experience.
Standing on the high platform, his expression showed no change as he looked at the masked ghouls below. In his view, these guys all belonged to the 'Quinque reserve', and there was nothing to worry about. He only looked seriously at the 'cage' in the center of the stage.
He watched one item after another being brought up and then led away without making any move. After all, according to his understanding, the auction was only the beginning. After the bid, the seller, or rather the auction house, would meet privately with the buyer. Then, after the payment was settled, the 'auction item' would be handed over to the buyer.
It could be said that before the transaction was officially completed, the auction items were incredibly safe.
And what Lancer needed to do now was to serve as the last line of insurance. Besides that, all he had to do was wait.
Wait for the CCG's main force to completely surround the place.
And at this moment, after a faded actor was bought for 20 million yen, the host wearing a strange mask appeared again.
Lancer didn't know if it was his illusion, but he always felt that the other party looked somewhat familiar, but after thinking about it carefully, none of the ghouls he knew seemed to be of that size? But it didn't matter. He would naturally know after catching the other party later.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the next item we will be auctioning is the most special item in this auction –––––– a white dove from the CCG!!"
The host's words just finished, and the entire venue immediately stirred up.
Undoubtedly, none of the ghouls who had the money to participate in the auction were simple, and for them, CCG investigators were not a rarity.
However, the host only revealed a mysterious smile.
"Of course, ordinary investigators would certainly not be brought to the auction. This time, our auction item is a First Class Investigator affiliated with the CCG –––––– Akira Mado!"
As the other party's voice fell, the black curtain outside the cage was drawn open, and Akira Mado, wearing a formal dress, walked out.
Undoubtedly, the aesthetic sense of ghouls is not much different from that of humans. A beauty like Akira Mado naturally caused a stir, but at this moment ––––––
"I remember now! She is the daughter of Kureo Mado, the Branch Chief of the CCG's 20th Ward Branch! She is the one that 'Death Throes'is looking for!!"
Kureo Mado and 'Death Bird'.
These two investigators were quite famous among ghouls, and one became famous more than ten years ago, while the other only recently became famous.
Both were notoriously hostile to ghouls. Kureo Mado, with his own strength and merit, was qualified to be promoted to Special Class Investigator, but he remained a First Class Investigator until he was promoted to Associate Special Class more than two years ago. The number of ghouls he personally led teams to exterminate during this period can be said to be among the best in the entire CCG. Furthermore, unlike others, he had a mad obsession with ghouls. He would never let go once he set his sights on an opponent, regardless of their strength. Basically, ghouls aged 20 or older had acquaintances or friends who died at his hands or the hands of his subordinates.
As for Lancer? Naturally, no need to elaborate. He had recently caused a stir throughout Tokyo, and many ghouls had become quite low-key, and even many former ghoul hunting grounds were abandoned.
And hearing the discussion from the people below, the host also smiled, because he knew that he didn't need to say anything more next.
"Although a First Class Investigator is not special, her looks and identity add a lot of points. The starting price is 20 million yen!"
"50 million yen!"
Almost as soon as the host's words fell, a gasping male voice came from the crowd.
"That damned Death Bird ruined my organization! I'm going to play with his woman and eat her, and then send him the video!!"
As soon as the man finished speaking, he immediately felt strange glances cast towards him, and he involuntarily shivered, but he didn't pay too much attention due to his excitement.
"60 million yen!"
"70 million yen!"
...
Unlike before, the speed of the price increase this time was astonishing. The price rose to 200 million yen in just a moment, and it seemed to continue rising, but at this moment ––––––
"500 million yen!"
A slightly low voice suddenly rang out, and only then did the crowd realize that the man wearing a strange clown mask at the very back raised the sign in his hand.
"The gentleman at number 267 bidding 500 million yen is truly a surprising number, but according to our statistics before the auction began, gentleman number 267 only has a deposit of 20 million yen, so..."
"It's fine. I can show proof right now..."
Just as everyone focused their attention on Lancer ––––––
"Slap~!!"
The auction hall door was directly knocked open, and then a person covered in blood rushed in.
"White... white dove!!"
He only managed to shout out this sentence before collapsing directly. It was only then that the crowd noticed a Quinque stuck in the person's back.
But before they could finish their surprise, they saw a dark red long spear shoot from the audience seats downwards.
"Puchi~!"
The auctioneer was instantly pierced through the body before he could say anything.
The crowd stirred into chaos after freezing for a second, and Lancer, wearing the 'Mask of Resolve', also leaped down from the back and jumped directly onto the main stage.
"This spear of mine is an antique from thousands of years ago. 500 million yen is cheap, isn't it?"
But then Lancer did something no one expected. He did not directly pull out the long spear but held it with both hands and stabbed it fiercely downwards!
Although he didn't know why the ghoul, who was pierced through the heart, wasn't dead yet, Lancer had the 'System'. When he killed a target, he would receive points. This time, there was no change at all. The only explanation was that the other party was not dead.
As expected, just as he made his move, the strange ghoul, who was originally 'dead', immediately grabbed the shaft of the spear to stop his continued attack.
"How did you know I wasn't dead?"
"..."
Lancer response was very simple: silence, and his slightly bulging arms instantly increased their strength.
"Puchi~!!"