(One month later…)

(Caprice La Veure auction house, Battingham Kingdom)

“I… Can’t believe that we are actually here in an auction house. Don’t you think it’s too sudden, Sire?” Miyu pouted as she tilted her head to the side to look at Kazal who was standing beside her. Because of his breed, Kazal is a bit shorter than an average demi human male. All of his vassals, except for Miyu and Rein who are a cait sith, are taller than him. Despite having great skills, Kazal couldn’t really change his height all he wanted, that is probably among one of his weaknesses too.

Kazal chuckled. “What is too fast, Miyu? We are just here to transport the sapphire, not to also join the bid.” He then motioned Miyu to follow him to the storage room.

“Besides,” Kazal added, gaining Miyu’s attention as they walked. “I will need at least one of my vassals to accompany me in transporting the jewels. Who know what can happen in tonight’s auction? It’s the Fragment of the Night sapphire we are talking about.”

“Well, I guess so. Still, to think I am the only one accepted. Are the other vassals too busy or something?”   

The corner of Kazal’s mouth curled up a bit. “Rein is busy with his informant guild, Vera with his blacksmith company, Regis with his magic tower, Roxy with his hospitals, and Tybur with his transportation company. There is no one else I could ask for a company from except you.”

“I-I too am a busy person, okay? I have my hands full on handling the adventurer’s guild.” Miyu pouted.

Kazal let out a giggle. The two paused their conversation as they watched the casket containing the sapphire being securely placed among the auctioned goods.

“So…” Suddenly he spoke. “Has there been any news regarding the sapphire?”

Miyu shot her gaze up. When it comes to that question, she knew he wanted to listen to only one thing.

“The thiefs have all been apprehended. Althought we have caught the majority of them, there is still a small portion that we are working hard to trace.” She informed.

“Good.” Kazal wagged his gold glisten caramel tail a bit and heaved a sharp sigh. The two then went still while they witnessed the transporting work.

“…The whole continent is in an uproar when you announced the sapphire’s enchantment properties.” Miyu started. “In just two weeks after the announcement, crime rates regarding theft has skyrocketed at 200%. We even have to recruit experienced adventurer to guard the outer layer of the containment room.”

Kazal cracked an apologetic smile. “Must have been a hectic two weeks, huh? Kinda makes me feel guilty for inviting you.”

“It’s okay.” Miyu shook her head. “Though, I still can’t believe my ears when I heard about the enchantments. I’m not one to involve myself with artifacts and stuffs, but I can say the enchantments are something else.”

Kazal dithered for a bit. “Ability to bring prosperity, contains a huge amount of Mana, and…” He found himself halting again. “…Immunity.”

Immunity, an ability that renders the wielder to be able to withstand any attacks be it externally or internally. Kazal still had a hard time believing that fact even though he was the one who tested it’s usage.

After claiming it’s ability a month ago, him and everyone present inside the tent teleported back to Battingham soon after that. After showing his face in the company and receiving a pretty grand welcoming party, he then set to register the jewel and test it’s effect.

Just like he claimed, the immunity effect is indeed true. He was even attacked by a 9^th circle magic wizard from the magic tower, which is Regis himself, and assaulted by three national level adventurers to test it’s powers. All of them did nothing when Kazal was in hold of the sapphire.

Remembering all those moments starting from the registration to the chaos when the news was spread throughout the entire continent made Kazal swallow nervously. If the jewel’s worth were to be seriously considered, then it won’t be just 3 billion gold. Kazal secretly harbored anticipation to see the amount bid on this sapphire.

“Sire, let’s go to the auction hall.” Miyu snapped him out from his pondering.

Kazal shifted his gaze to the female cait sith briefly before passing them to the workers who were leaving the storeroom.

“You go on first. I’ll take one last look around and then I’ll follow you.”

Miyu nodded. She then waved at him before exiting the storeroom, leaving Kazal alone.

After making sure that everyone had left, Kazal looked around the room. First, he stepped at the middle of the room and checked all the magic devices installed on each corner of the room. Those magic devices serve as a means of protection from theft and was created by Regis himself, which means that unless there is a magic that was able to surpass Regis’ 9^th circled magic, the magic device’s level of protection is basically astronimical.

After checking the device’s function, Kazal then eyed all the auctioned items one by one. They are all separated into several types, from magic items to legendary artifacts, all of them gathered in one place and filled the room.

After that, Kazal stepped near the Fragment of the Night sapphire casket. He took out a monocle from inside the pocket of his dark blue outer robe, wanting to appraise the sapphire for one last time before it got sold.

“…Hm.” Kazal scrunched his nuzzle a bit and leaned back after appraising it. The sapphire seemed to still hold the same enchantment, proving that what Kazal have appraised before is true.

Putting the monocle back inside his robe, he muttered to the sapphire. “It seems that you will be sold tonight to someone.”

Kazal gazed at the sapphire. Despite the room being dimly lit, the sapphire is glowing. To add, the glowing of the sapphire is flickering occasionaally, as if it’s pulsating.

For an unknown reason, Kazal felt like the sapphire is alive. He felt like it could hear and understand what he said.

“I must have gone crazy.” He mumbled to himself. Despite in a slight denial, Kazal crouched down in front of the casket.

“Based on your worth, you should not be sold to anywhere else and should be stored inside the Kingdom’s treasury. But it was stated in the continential law that artifacts and jewels that originates from the dungeon isn’t actually a definite property of a person unless auctioned, so to make sure that you are owned by someone, that’s why you’re here.” Kazal whispered.

Another pang hit his conscience, telling him that he is doing something ridiculous.

Kazal snickered and gradually stood up. “What am I doing, talking to a jewel? I must have been tired.”

Kazal rubbed his head. He was about to turn around when suddenly, he saw a bright glint coming from the sapphire. This time, the glint was so bright, Kazal literally had to shield his eyes from it.

“Wha-!” He stammered in shock.

The very next moment, the glint disappeared, leaving Kazal stunned.

“What was that?” He monologued and looked around. There was no one inside the room except for him so he couldn’t ask for a confirmation. He then landed his eyes to the sapphire again.

It was probably a trick of his mind, he thought, since the longer he stared at the sapphire, he saw the sapphire now glowed differently from before. If the glowing which comes from it’s edges were originally white, it now turned faint gold.

Kazal dithered a bit to assess the situation.

This kind of phenomenon was the first one he had ever encountered before in his life. He had never seen a jewel glowing so brightly, plus the ability to change the hue of the glow. Kazal felt a sense of impending doom just from what happened to him this past few minutes, he felt like this sapphire shouldn’t have been found by anybody.

Kazal habitually took out his monocle again to appraise the jewel, thinking that it’s property might have changed. However, before he even took it out, he stopped halfway.

“…This ain’t it.” He withdrew his hand from his robe. “[Appraisal].”

In an instant, a status window popped out in front of him. [Appraisal] is one of his skills that was bestowed upon him, but Kazal rarely used them and is more comfortable in using his naked eyes to carefully appraise an item. He felt like it would be a waste of his ability that he have learned from his teacher, a wandering merchant who took him in when he lost his family a couple of decades ago. Even though it’s been a few years since his teacher passed away, Kazal still uses his skills.

Yet, because of the sapphire’s ability, Kazal had no choice but to resort to the last method. His [Appraisal] skill is able to determine the safety of the item, whether it is a dangerous item or not, or even whether it is a demonic artifact or a pure artifact.

NAME: FRAGMENT OF THE NIGHT

CLASS: MYTHICAL

ENCHANTMENTS: IMMUNITY(EX), PROSPERITY(S), MANA(EX), ADONIS

OWNER: KAZAL(BOUND)

“…What?” Kazal widened his eyes in disbelief. “I… The owner is me?”

The dog merchant started to panic. First of all, he was glad that this sapphire is not that of a demonic artifact, but now that he became it’s owner, even bound by it, how should he do about it?

Kazal caned his nuzzle. He was deeply contemplating that it was a wrong decision for him to take a second look at the sapphire. It was as if the sapphire was calling him since the first time they met.

Kazal gazed at the sapphire again. In his eyes, the sapphire glinted an orange hue for the third time. That occurrence was enough to spark a question inside his mind.

Still looking at the sapphire, Kazal muttered, “What do you want me to do actually?”