TLWRO 21

chapter 21

A pair of eyes, sharp as blades, stared at me.

I swallowed lightly and met Alter’s ash-gray gaze.

“Um…”

“Speak.”

“Can I… not look forward anymore?”

“…No. Keep looking forward.”

I sighed inwardly, having successfully dodged the conversation, and shifted my body slightly.

Now that the painting auction was over, my attention was entirely on Carlos.

“The auction of rare books and historical documents will now begin. The first item is an autographed copy by a famous fairy tale author.”

No.

Carlos, arms crossed, looked utterly bored.

He crossed and uncrossed his legs, unable to sit still even for a moment. He seemed like someone who wanted this to pass quickly.

“The second item is a cocktail recipe manuscript from a former royal chef, color-illustrated.”

Nope, not this either.

“The third item for auction… is an unpublished work by sociologist August, and…”

This one.

Carlos’s posture changed.

“…his handwritten notes remain in The Interpretation of Power, starting at 200,000 gold.”

“Oh my!”

A shriek-like voice rang out in the otherwise quiet auction hall.

My gaze instinctively drifted toward the buyers’ section.

The woman, having leapt to her feet in surprise, looked very embarrassed as she sat back down.

“I’m sorry…”

I turned my gaze back to Carlos and narrowed my eyes.

‘What… He’s still staring at that woman.’

If it were just a casual glance like mine, his eyes would have returned to the stage. But he continued watching intently.

Not only that—Carlos’s jaw was slightly pulled, and beneath his mask, he was clearly smirking darkly.

Why? Who was this woman wearing the purple hat that he could only see from behind?

And more importantly… The Interpretation of Power?

It felt familiar. Tracing my memory, I took a deep breath.

‘I remember! That book!’

It was a banned book—or rather, a book that would soon be banned.

‘The Interpretation of Power. I remembered it after reading an article that an unpublished work had been designated a banned book. Of course, it’s no longer banned now that it’s at auction, but in exactly one month, it will be banned.’

Why would Carlos flaunt such a book at an auction knowing it would soon be prohibited?

I bit my lip, recalling the consequences for those caught possessing a banned book.

‘If a regular citizen is caught with it, they just pay a fine and have it confiscated.’

But the story changes if the owner is a government official.

‘They could even be dismissed. And the person who was fired for possessing that banned book was…!’

[…Dismissed Imperial Archives Officer Hanna Diego, claiming unfair treatment in an interview…]

Hanna Diego.

The woman in the purple hat was her, and Rozanne wanted her dismissed.

The reason didn’t matter at the moment.

If Rozanne hated that document officer…

‘Then she’s already useful to me just by staying in her position!’

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I watched with wide eyes.

“500,000 gold. 550,000 gold. 600,000 gold. Bidding increases in 100,000-gold increments. 700,000 gold. 800,000 gold…”

The price skyrocketed. It was a two-way battle between Hanna, number 80, and a man, number 81.

Hanna seemed determined to get the book, raising her paddle repeatedly.

‘Rozanne must have predicted that Hanna would want The Interpretation of Power at all costs.’

But number 81 wasn’t an easy opponent either. He raised his paddle every time Hanna did.

Yet something was off about the timing.

‘He doesn’t follow immediately; he waits a bit first. Almost like he’s following someone’s orders.’

The man wore a huge mask, covering even his ears.

I glanced at Carlos again. His body, normally restless, was now composed.

Except for his foot.

Tap. He tapped once with his shoe, and a second later, the man raised his paddle.

Tap, tap. Two taps, and the man hesitated, as if pondering.

‘I see. Number 81 is wearing a magical earpiece! Carlos is sending signals with the transmitter in his shoe!’

“1,300,000 gold. 1,400,000 gold. 1,500,000 gold. 200,000-gold increments. 1,700,000 gold. 1,900,000 gold.”

The auction price shot up, and Carlos’s jaw remained lifted in amusement.

The reason for his smirk was obvious.

‘That bastard! He’s selling the book to get Hanna fired, yet raising the price to maximize profit!’

I had to stop Hanna, who was charging toward her own dismissal like an unbridled horse.

Once an auction is finalized, it cannot be canceled.

Even if collusion is discovered, the transaction continues. Any compensation requires separate legal action.

I needed a way to force Carlos’s team to take the book while still being able to report them, all while keeping myself hidden…

“Excuse me.”

An idea struck.

I tugged on Alter’s arm.

“How much to borrow a guest for an hour?”

“What?”

Alter looked shocked, but I was in a rush.

Even now, the book’s price was skyrocketing.

“You said last time I could hire you, right? So how much for an hour?”

“Well, that… hmm.”

Alter ran a hand through his hair in confusion.

“What is it? You said last time you wouldn’t come. Why do you have to come today?”

“Ugh, no time for back-and-forth. I’ll send the receipt later.”

I leaned close and whispered into his ear.

“See number 81?”

Whether Alter flinched or not, I began explaining rapidly.

From Carlos’s shoe transmitter to the manipulations with number 81.

But a small doubt lingered—would he believe me?

More importantly, would he help?

“I’ll handle the transmitter myself. You just make sure number 81 can’t escape…”

“Why?”

As expected, Alter asked.

Perhaps he wanted to know why he should cooperate.

But his next question was slightly different.

“Even if number 80 buys the book at an inflated price due to collusion, it doesn’t cost you anything. So why stop it?”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“They’re innocent. An innocent person is about to be swindled. I have to help—even if I gain nothing.”

Even if the woman wasn’t Hanna.

Even if the swindler wasn’t Carlos. I would have acted once I witnessed it.

“Okay, but how do we pretend we don’t know?”

I couldn’t pretend, now that I knew.

Alter’s dark eyes narrowed slightly at my firm answer.

‘Is he going to refuse?’

True, he might be a bad person too.

I dug into my bag, ready to act alone if needed.

“Alright. I’ll cooperate.”

Unexpected.

When I turned, Alter added:

“I liked your answer. That’s the only reason. No other intent.”

It made me chuckle—slightly amused that he felt the need to clarify.

“Yes, understood. Ah, it’s already 6,000,000 gold! Let’s go quickly!”

“How do you plan to handle it? There’s no way you can disable his transmitter with your strength alone. You even left your self-defense tools behind.”

“I’ve got it figured out! Just follow me!”

Alter glanced around before moving toward the buyers.

I took a deep breath and searched my bag.

Though I’d left my magical self-defense items, one thing remained.

‘I still have this.’

A glass vial of holy water.

I watched the timing. Hanna, troubled by the high price, took longer to bid.

Just before the auctioneer began the count of three, she raised her paddle.

Instinctively, I knew—this was Hanna’s final bid.

Carlos knew too, smirking. He would signal with his shoe not to bid this time—two taps.

Tap.

And just before the second tap…

Now!

Clinking—

I signaled Alter and smashed the glass vial on the floor.

Then, tap.

“…What?”

Carlos leapt to his feet.

Stepping on the spilled holy water, he saw…

“Going once, going twice—sold!”

“No! That’s wrong!”

Bang, bang, bang.

The Interpretation of Power was awarded to number 81 for 8,500,000 gold.

“Nooo—!”

Number 81 looked bewildered as he accepted the book.

“Excuse me, sir. We have received a report. Could you please stay seated while we verify something?”

Several large guards blocked the front with stern expressions.