"Next, we have a legendary battle energy manual known to all. Of course, whether it's authentic or not remains unclear after our authentication. After all, battle energy requires long-term practice and evaluation. Short-term examination cannot reveal authenticity.
However, through our assessment of the book's materials, we can confirm that the fabric recording this manual is over one hundred years old!"
The auctioneer chuckled twice, seeing that he had stirred the atmosphere as all eyes focused on him.
Only then did he slowly continue.
"This manual is called the Shadow Force Technique."
Two dwarfs slowly carried up a brass tray, swaying as they mounted the stage.
On the tray lay a book bound in black fabric.
"This Shadow Force Technique has thirty-two levels total. According to the records, advancing each level allows one refinement of the body.
This copy contains the first through fifth levels."
"*Boos and hissing*... so it's incomplete," someone immediately commented below.
"Battle energy is already difficult to cultivate—an ethereal thing. And this is incomplete too. Who would dare practice it? If someone has tampered with it, practicing would be suicide!"
Someone sneered sarcastically.
"Then you don't have to buy it," another voice mocked in return.
"Please, everyone, quiet down." The auctioneer pressed his hands downward with a smile.
"This Shadow Force Technique is actually consigned by a client to our auction house. As for authenticity, that client has provided us with partial verification.
Nothing else aside, the first three levels are definitely practicable."
When he said this, he expected it to cause a sensation, but the crowd below remained unmoved.
Napoleon shook his head slightly, understanding the reason.
Marcus looked puzzled.
"Brother Napoleon, what's going on? This reaction isn't right."
"It's not wrong—this is very normal," Napoleon said calmly.
"Battle energy manuals require years of practice time. It's far too long. Regardless of whether someone demonstrates, no one dares gamble on the possibility of failure.
Moreover, I heard Captain Garrett mention that battle energy isn't as powerful as legends claim. Unless practiced to the pinnacle, battle energy's might sometimes can't match a combat expert's full strike."
"Why is this so?"
Marcus became more puzzled.
"The young master might not know this aspect." A guard captain who had been standing behind them now spoke up.
This man was named Viktor Ironwood, one of the two most capable guard captains in the Goldwin family. This Underground Market trip was too important, so he had been sent along to protect the two young masters.
Like Captain Garrett, he was also a unified force realm combat practitioner within the city.
Viktor glanced at Napoleon and continued:
"Internal and external cultivation both train strength.
External cultivation uses muscles, through external striking training and such, forcibly stimulating bodily strength growth. This certainly harms the body but increases power extremely quickly.
Internal cultivation works through internal organs, conditioning and training the organs, nourishing vital energy and blood. This is much slower and power increases slowly, but it doesn't harm the body and extends lifespan.
The difference between internal and external is this distinction.
Actually, pinnacle external combat experts are no worse than internal ones.
The truly most powerful are those who cultivate both internal and external..."
"I see..." Marcus understood.
Napoleon also nodded.
"I've heard Captain Garrett say the same thing."
"Then why are people still so enthusiastic about battle energy? Strength growth isn't much anyway," Marcus questioned again.
"Longevity... External combat experts are strong, but they start declining after thirty. But once you have battle energy, your peak condition can even extend to fifty or sixty years old. There's no comparison," Viktor said with feeling.
Napoleon now focused his attention on the manual on stage—bidding was about to begin.
The auctioneer pointed at the black fabric manual in the tray.
"Bidding starts now. Opening price: one hundred silver crowns!"
"One hundred thirty silver crowns."
"One hundred fifty!"
"Two hundred!"
"Three hundred!"
"Three hundred thirty silver crowns!"
Prices rapidly climbed upward.
Among them, even the person who had mocked earlier was now bidding.
This showed that although everyone wasn't confident about the manual, they still trusted the Underground Market's authentication standards and reputation.
"Someone's deliberately driving up prices," the fat man muttered quietly.
Napoleon squinted at the stage.
"Five hundred silver crowns!"
He raised his hand and called out loudly.
Adding one hundred silver crowns at once made the entire venue quiet momentarily.
In this era, five hundred silver crowns had purchasing power equivalent to fifty thousand dollars.
All for a manual of unknown authenticity and possible errors.
"Five hundred fifty silver crowns."
Another voice rang out.
Napoleon looked over to see a yellow-skinned man with downward-slanting eye corners.
His face, covered by a black mask, appeared gaunt, seemingly lacking flesh. His eyes held a somewhat vicious look—clearly not a good character.
Napoleon had anticipated this situation—how could there be no competition for battle energy manuals?
He paid it no mind and continued raising his hand.
"Six hundred silver crowns."
"Seven hundred silver crowns!"
That same man again. As soon as Napoleon bid, he immediately followed up.
"Eight hundred silver crowns!" Napoleon said calmly. His father Lord Marcus had given him two thousand silver crowns monthly allowance. Even if he spent it all, he had to acquire this manual.
Anyway, he had the modifier. As long as there was even slight possibility of entry-level practice, he could find the martial art's name on the modifier and directly enhance it to the maximum.
"Nine hundred silver crowns!"
The man's vicious gaze looked toward Napoleon.
"One thousand silver crowns," Napoleon said calmly.
"...One thousand one hundred silver crowns!" The opponent's voice became somewhat strained. "Friend, I'm from House Whitmore of Purple Flower City. Please show some respect."
House Whitmore?
Napoleon's expression shifted.
This Whitmore family wasn't from Oxenfurt, but the premier household of nearby Purple Flower City—the family of Purple Flower City's Magistrate Solomon Whitmore.
"House Whitmore, actually coming to our Oxenfurt to shop for goods..." Marcus showed surprise beside him.
His Goldwin family handled the Underground Market, only responsible for auctioning. They didn't care where clients came from.
"One thousand two hundred silver crowns!"
Napoleon raised his hand again.
The Whitmore man's eyes immediately flared with anger. In the vicinity of Oxenfurt and Purple Flower City, he had never seen anyone so disrespectful to House Whitmore.
House Whitmore didn't just have Magistrate Solomon Whitmore. Their pride also included another person—Purple Flower City's foremost battle master, Sebastian Whitmore.
Having influence in both legitimate and criminal circles was their greatest reliance for external dominance.
"Ignore him. In Underground Market auctions, highest bidder wins. Even House Whitmore wouldn't dare easily break the rules. Otherwise, who would cooperate with their jade business?"
Marcus said with schadenfreude.
The Whitmore man was named Jasper Whitmore, specifically sent to collect any battle energy manuals appearing in Oxenfurt.
All battle energy manuals on the market actually had their people watching. Before being put up for auction, they would be intercepted in advance.
Oxenfurt only had this one that slipped through the net. It was brought by a sudden client who consigned it to the Underground Market without going through proper channels, thus avoiding interception.
"One thousand three hundred silver crowns!" Jasper gritted his teeth and raised his hand again.
"One thousand four hundred!" Napoleon showed no retreat.
Now only the two were competing, with everyone else unwilling to interfere.
"One thousand five hundred silver crowns!" Jasper stared fixedly at Napoleon. "Friend, when traveling abroad, more friends mean more paths. If you yield this manual to me today, House Whitmore will remember your favor."
Napoleon's expression remained unchanged.
"One thousand six hundred silver crowns."
He raised his hand to bid again.
Jasper was thoroughly enraged. He had originally come specifically for this Shadow Force Technique, expecting to acquire it for one thousand silver crowns with leftover money for his own pocket. He hadn't expected this stranger to appear and compete with him so inconsiderately until now.
"One thousand seven hundred fifty silver crowns!" He suddenly stood up, putting all his money on the line in one go.
"One thousand eight hundred!"
Napoleon remained expressionless.
Jasper whipped around, staring fixedly at Napoleon.
"Good! Very good!"
He said nothing more, scrutinizing Napoleon carefully as if to memorize him completely from head to toe.
With a crash, Jasper rose angrily and stormed out.
"Congratulations, sir." The auctioneer beamed on stage. A battle energy manual selling for this high price despite uncertain authenticity and possible errors meant his commission would be several times normal.
Obtaining the manual and paying with bank notes.
Napoleon didn't look at the final item, said farewell to Marcus, and left first.
Having gotten what he came for, he was nearly out of money.
Viktor had been following him with two guards for protection, fearing something might happen.
Retracing their original route out of the cavern, Napoleon looked at the outside sky—it was already deep night.
The Goldwin family carriage was already waiting outside.
Viktor couldn't go far, so he had several guards accompany Napoleon while he returned to continue protecting young master Marcus.
With three guards together, Napoleon emerged from the stone house and prepared to board the carriage.
Whoosh.
Suddenly wind sounds came from around the village.
A guard became alert, looking around but finding nothing wrong.
Swish!
With subtle friction sounds, a black shadow suddenly skirted around the guards.
Piercing straight through the encirclement toward Napoleon in the center.
The shadow moved extremely fast. The guards couldn't react at all before their formation was breached.
Clang clang clang!
Three crisp sounds in succession as the shadow's short blade slashed each guard's hand at extreme speed.
All three grunted and quickly retreated, clutching their wrists.
They were just hired guards for the Goldwin family, not death-sworn retainers, so naturally wouldn't fight to the death for the Goldwins.
Seeing this unstoppable shadow, they simply dodged aside. Their wrist injuries at least gave them an excuse.
With this thought, their formation immediately scattered, completely exposing Napoleon inside.
"To Die!"
A low voice emerged from the shadow.
He raised his short blade to hack viciously at Napoleon's chest.
Although his strength and speed had declined considerably after consecutively injuring three people, dealing with an ordinary wealthy young master was still easy for him.
Besides, even if the opponent was a martial artist, he didn't care. In Oxenfurt, except for a few select people, everyone else was no match for him.
Jasper had carefully identified beforehand that his opponent wasn't among those few.
Though intercepted at the auction, he was from House Whitmore but also had another identity.
He was a major leader among the infamous Blackthorn Brotherhood outside Purple Flower City.
Since the manual auction had failed, he'd simply steal by force. It wasn't his first time doing this, and the Underground Market provided no safety guarantees for bidders.
Afterward, killing and robbing would save him over a thousand silver crowns for personal use. Why not?