Chapter 108

Chapter 108
## Chapter 108: The Seat of Radiance

I calmly delivered my final word on the matter.

“I haven’t a clue what you’ve been rambling about this whole time. If your plan is to keep venting this gibberish, then save your breath and don’t address me again.”

Regardless of whether his claims held weight, I knew I couldn’t afford to give him a reaction.

Immediately following my statement, I snapped the connection of the Golden Rule.

When you find yourself in a long-winded debate with someone who clearly holds the information advantage, you’re essentially just handing them a map to all your vulnerabilities.

Besides, this was my debut attempt at communicating through the ‘Line of the Golden Rule.’

The smartest play available to me was a clean retreat.

As I severed the link, Number 1 merely gave a noncommittal shrug of his shoulders.

‘A lethal individual.’

He was a complete enigma.

The only certainty I had was that intertwining my fate with his would lead to nothing but trouble.

Consequently, I cut him off entirely.

For the moment, the proceedings of the auction demanded my full attention.

“Our following lot is a treasure of Mythic proportions! A unique piece personally submitted by our distinguished Number 3, the ‘Celestial Jade Porcelain’! This work of art possesses such radiant splendor it could virtually blind the unprepared observer! The opening bid is set at 10 billion gold!”

The Lady of Dersian, identified as Number 3, had indeed presented a rare marvel.

However, the valuation was preposterous.

10 billion gold.

As expected, not a single person was in a position to place a bid.

Yet, that was precisely the outcome the Lady of Dersian intended.

Pure bravado.

By attaching a price tag that was functionally untouchable, she was effectively ‘flaunting’ her status.

Look upon this, for the House of Dersian holds treasures of this caliber!

“Incredible.”

“So that’s the legendary Celestial Jade Porcelain?”

“I had no idea the Dersian family was in possession of such a masterpiece.”

“Its beauty truly lives up to the reputation.”

A chorus of genuine gasps erupted from the imperial aristocrats.

Simultaneously, the Lady of Dersian’s pride swelled, her head held high in triumph.

Naturally, the bidding phase ended in silence.

“Since there are no offers, we shall proceed to our next lot. However, stay sharp! The coming item possesses a beauty that eclipses even this! You are in for a true revelation!”

“More stunning than the Celestial Jade Porcelain?”

“Is such a thing even possible in this world?”

The porcelain in question was famous for revealing a thousand different facets of beauty depending on how the light caught it.

Could there really be an object more exquisite than what was universally regarded as the world’s finest ceramic?

Before long, the auctioneer made the announcement with a wide grin.

“The next item up for bid is nothing less than a Unique-grade treasure! I can scarcely wrap my own mind around it. Everyone, focus your attention! Our guest who ascended to the Number 2 rank today has submitted the ‘Throne of Light’!! The starting bid: 100 billion gold! My… this is likely a prize that only a single individual on this planet could hope to acquire.”

“—?”

“!!!”

Every head in the auction hall whipped around in utter disbelief, their eyes searching for the source.

Seconds later, the chair composed of pure radiance manifested before them.

“……Unique-grade?”

Among the shocked crowd, Number 1 was, of course, watching closely.

For now, focusing on the auction was the priority.

But you’ll find you have no choice but to focus on this, too.

The capital available for bidding was strictly limited to funds that had been verified beforehand.

Since no attendee had registered a sum of 10 billion gold—let alone 100 billion—it was a mathematical certainty that no one could bid.

In fact, beyond the imperial bloodline itself, no entity held that level of liquid prosperity.

It was an object that, by definition, only the emperor could realistically purchase.

“That object……”

“Its beauty is beyond comprehension.”

The room fell into a trance-like silence as they stared at the Throne of Light.

Achieving this effect was the exact reason I had listed it at such a staggering price.

Even the Empire lacked such an artifact, yet I held it in my hands.

“The appraisal… it’s failing.”

“I can’t even get a read on it with my skills……”

In the background, the professional appraisers were voicing their intense irritation.

The nature of Unique-grade items meant their specifics remained shrouded to everyone except their rightful owner.

“How can we be certain this throne truly belongs to the Unique-grade?”

“Our honored guests should remain at ease. We conducted a verification process just moments ago, and we fully vouch for its classification.”

They had verified it.

The grade, and nothing more.

Following the auctioneer’s assurance, a spark of avarice ignited in the eyes of the onlookers.

But it stayed just a spark.

No one had the means to produce 100 billion gold.

Instead, the collective gaze shifted toward myself and Hudson.

Number 3, the Lady of Dersian, was staring with wide, trembling eyes, her focus darting back and forth between the throne and us.

A heavy silence lingered.

“As there are no bids, we shall move on to the next item.”

When an item fails to sell, it returns to the possession of the submitter.

It then becomes the owner’s choice whether to adjust the price or relist it.

However, this move served as a massive, public provocation.

Not merely to the Darkan Barony, but to the entire Empire.

‘This is the most efficient path to locating the Baal Armor.’

There was no better strategy for flushing out the Baal Armor hidden within the Empire’s borders.

Given the risk that the Four Evils Baal had migrated to Earth, I needed to track it down with extreme haste.

“Hold on.”

“……N-Number 1?”

Just as the transition to the next lot was beginning.

The representative for Number 1 lifted his hand, sending the auctioneer into a state of near-frenzy.

This was his first expression of interest since the event had commenced.

The Baal Armor.

The auctioneer’s visible panic.

And the subservient demeanor of the imperial nobility.

They were acting as if they were in the presence of an overwhelmingly powerful superior.

They avoided direct eye contact, bowing their heads to acknowledge their lesser standing.

Yet, this was the Darkan Barony.

A house of legendary swordsmanship and a pillar of the nobility.

For the head of such a house to accept second place, and for this individual to act with such impunity in a ‘special-grade’ auction……

‘The Imperial Family.’

Regardless of how I analyzed it, the only logical conclusion was that he was royalty.

Yet, if he were royalty, the pieces didn’t fit.

Players were strictly forbidden from being part of the imperial line.

Their xenophobia was absolute.

The idea of a player living among them while concealing their nature was an impossibility.

The man who was Number 1 spoke in a low, measured tone.

“Auctioneer. The rules state that only funds registered in advance can be used for bidding, is that correct?”

“That is correct, those are the established regulations of this house, honored Number 1 guest.”

Actual physical currency, verified prior to the start.

One could only bid up to the amount they had proven they possessed.

Number 1’s representative slowly rubbed his chin.

Obviously, he hadn’t produced 100 billion gold for verification.

Yet, his composed demeanor was deeply unsettling.

‘Someone capable of moving 100 billion gold.’

Even within the imperial structure, the list of people who could command such a sum was incredibly short.

As the auctioneer hinted, perhaps only the sovereign.

If he was an imperial power player, he could simply mandate a change to the rules.

If not, there was the slim chance he was plotting to label Hudson and me as ‘players’ to justify seizing the treasure.

That would risk the wrath of the White King, but the ‘Throne of Light’ was a prize worth such a gamble.

If he truly understood its worth, he might take that risk.

“If those are the rules, then so be it. One must respect the regulations.”

……I felt a quiet wave of relief wash over me.

I hadn’t truly expected a madman to try and bid on a 100 billion gold item.

That sum was enough to purchase an entire sovereign state.

I assumed even an emperor wouldn’t part with that much wealth on a whim.

‘I was being too arrogant.’

I had to recalibrate my view of the Empire’s resources.

I had assumed an empire that hadn’t even finished reclaiming its ancestral lands would find 100 billion gold to be an impossible burden.

I was complacent. But I wouldn’t let that happen again.

Most importantly, Number 1 had stated he valued the ‘rules.’

That wasn’t a message for the auctioneer—it was directed at me.

He had the power to break the system, but he chose not to.

……Who on earth is this person?

A man claiming to be royalty while also calling himself ‘MintChocoDelicious.’

Two identities that should be mutually exclusive.

There was another factor preventing me from pinning down his identity.

【Lv. ??】

His level was obscured.

Until now, I had only encountered level question marks on two other occasions.

‘The Earth Dragon Riley and the Four Evils Baal.’

Only those two had hidden levels.

The previous instances were massive entities whose levels were difficult to define by standard means.

But this person was clearly a human.

Or…… was he?

I was no longer certain of his humanity.

He was undeniably above level 10.

‘There must be a specific threshold for a level to show as a question mark.’

I simply hadn’t discovered the pattern yet.

What was the link between the three of them?

The Earth Dragon, the Four Evils, and Number 1.

Was it sheer power?

I dismissed that thought.

‘I could see the level of the White King. Raw strength isn’t the trigger.’

The insight granted by my hidden trait, ‘Great Sage,’ was vast.

The White King, a level 15 titan, was perfectly visible to me.

Even if we aren’t talking about the Four Evils, the Earth Dragon Riley alone wasn’t more powerful than the White King.

Perhaps after the fusion with the Sword Saint, but as a standalone dragon, certainly not.

It wasn’t power—it was something else entirely.

An effect from a hidden trait that countered the ‘Great Sage’……

‘Only a hidden trait can truly obstruct another.’

Of course, hidden traits weren’t flawless.

For instance, a ‘Giant’s Magic Resistance’ could be bypassed by ‘Magic Penetration.’

However, no ability could totally nullify a hidden trait. There is no such thing as a 100% bypass.

Similarly, only gear or abilities with ‘Observation Interference’ or ‘Observation Defense’ could cloud the ‘Great Sage’s’ vision to a degree.

But to shut it out completely? That was unheard of.

Only a rival hidden trait could produce a total ‘question mark.’

‘Most likely…… the Iron-Blooded Lord’s Heart. Or the Great Sage.’

The Earth Dragon and Baal probably possessed hidden traits of their own.

Riley was a Sword Saint gifted with endless talent, further enhanced by dragon traits to a level beyond imagination.

And the Four Evils Baal?

A creature that locked away its experience to master the ‘realm’ of all things. It would be shocking if he didn’t have hidden traits.

He likely didn’t have 14 like I did, but there could be similarities.

Perhaps he had the Iron-Blooded Lord’s Heart or Great Sage.

While Iron-Blooded Lord could become Eternal Lord, Great Sage remained constant.

It was highly probable Number 1 had one or both. Given his alias as MintChocoDelicious, it was a logical theory.

The imperial family would be aware of hidden traits as well, so it couldn’t be ruled out.

‘Who exactly are you?’

He was the first human to ever leave me this baffled.

I had tried to keep my distance, but my curiosity was starting to win.

I wanted to know the face behind the mask.

His real name.

“Did you find today’s proceedings satisfactory?”

In a grand, private suite within the fortress, the Lord of Darkan spoke.

Number 1, still masked and watching the scenery through the window, gave a slight shrug.

“It was quite entertaining.”

Truly.

After a long stretch of monotony, feeling this level of intrigue was a rare pleasure.

“Did the ‘Throne of Light’ capture your interest, after all?”

“Hm. It is indeed a magnificent piece.”

“……I must apologize. We directed every one of our observers at it, but beyond identifying its Unique grade, we couldn’t uncover a single detail about the ‘Throne of Light’.”

“Do not worry. I couldn’t either.”

Number 1 gave a slow nod.

It was common knowledge that only an owner could fully see the stats of a Unique-grade item.

But with his unique gifts, he had managed to grasp the essence of it.

“However…… it is rumored to be the seat once occupied by the deity who held the sun aloft in the age of myth. By rights, it should belong to me, shouldn’t it?”

Just one detail.

That was the solitary piece of information he had managed to extract.

But it was more than enough.

The Lord of Darkan’s eyes went wide.

“You were able to see even that. As expected……!”

“Quiet.”

Number 1 placed a single finger over his mask’s mouth.

A command for silence.

At the gesture, the Lord of Darkan visibly shivered.

“Ah……”

“There is to be no discussion regarding my nature. That is the law of the Empire.”

“Please, forgive me, Number 1.”

The Lord of Darkan bowed his head in a state of panic.

Number 1 was a force of nature that the Lord of Darkan was utterly incapable of managing.

If he truly desired it, the Darkan Barony would be wiped from the map until not even an insect remained.

The masked man smiled at the terrified noble.

“Rules are established for a reason. The auction is subject to them as well.”

“Is the auction even necessary? You could simply negotiate a private trade with him.”

“No, he came here specifically for the auction. It is only fitting that the item is acquired through the auction, then.”

“But…… Hudson is a man of reason. He hails from the labyrinth, but he is human. It’s likely the Throne of Light was retrieved from those depths as well.”

Hudson was known as a middleman for the labyrinth.

He had a history of selling treasures from the old kingdom in the trade city of Arcana.

Every artifact originated from the labyrinth.

It stood to reason the Throne of Light was discovered there too.

Surely, a sufficient pile of gold would make a private deal possible.

“Hudson? Oh, he isn’t the one I’m referring to.”

Not Hudson?

Wasn’t Hudson the one managing the auction as the labyrinth’s representative?

“Then, you mean the barbarian standing behind him?”

“Indeed. He is the one who has left such a profound mark on me. He is the source of my amusement.”

His grin widened.

Hudson was merely a puppet on a string.

The Lord of Darkan was stunned by the admission.

For this man to show such intense fascination with another, using words like ‘mark’ and ‘amusement,’ was unprecedented.

This man knew everything.

Because of that, he usually viewed others with a sense of bored, hollow indifference.

‘I can’t see through him. He has a hidden trait.’

It was fascinating.

Someone that even his own hidden trait couldn’t unmask.

He likely possessed the same ‘Observation Interference’ hidden trait that he himself used.

So, he had assumed the man was a player and put him to the test.

But there had been no slip-up.

He had brought up Number 68—a name and number any player would instantly recognize—yet the man hadn’t even blinked.