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Chapter 28
“The surroundings?”
“Judging by the lack of reports, it seems they haven’t made it inside the building yet.”
“Keep a close watch. Those bastards are out for our blood. They’ll make a move no matter what.”
To be honest, it wasn’t beneficial to turn against Raymond. He was one of the most powerful men in Proud, and behind him stood Kazliden.
Even Belgot, the leader of Black Cat, knew that crossing them could end with him losing everything—including his life.
Still, the reason he could brazenly push forward was thanks to the backing of the Imperial Palace and the Mage Tower.
Without their full support, their organization would’ve never grown so quickly.
For someone who had been pulled from the gutter, loyalty to his benefactors was only natural.
So no matter what, tonight’s auction had to succeed.
“Is it wise for you to take the lead yourself, my lord?”
“You say that after seeing those traitorous bastards earlier?”
The ones who had just sold out their comrades were Black Cat’s own executives.
And that could only mean one thing—titles and ranks mean nothing when death is on the line.
“If I send a proxy and they stab me in the back, who’ll take responsibility? You?”
“……”
“We knew they’d make a move! Don’t tell me anyone’s forgotten that we’ve been monitoring every organization formed after the purge?”
Currently, Proud was under Kazliden’s domain. Everyone knew they’d do anything to protect their territory.
“Even lions defend their dens with their lives—especially if they don’t want them stolen.”
“I… I was foolish.”
“Ignorance isn’t a sin. You can learn. But…”
Belgot wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb.
“If that stupidity causes losses, that’s another story.”
“Forgive me, my lord.”
“Just be careful. A comrade turning their blade on your back—it happens more often than you think.”
Tsk tsk. Belgot clicked his tongue and strode quickly along the crimson-carpeted hall.
“I’ll conduct the auction myself and take the payment personally.”
After this, he planned to go into seclusion for a while.
“Let’s just endure until it’s over. I’ve already made preparations for everything.”
“Phew, quite a crowd.”
From the rooftop of the opposite building, Dion lowered his enchanted spyglass. The magic enhancement allowed him to see through small gaps into the building’s interior.
“But this could cause trouble with Kazliden. As you saw from the guest list, several imperialist families are attending.”
“So much for their refined manners.”
The Kazliden faction and the Riumbel Imperial Family stood on opposing sides politically—but that didn’t mean they rejected the black market.
On the contrary, they used it well.
“They want to condemn it publicly, but still profit from it privately.”
“Honor, pride, conviction—they’ve already sold all that off, apparently.”
They could’ve acted openly, yet chose to skulk in the shadows. It was a prime example of human hypocrisy.
“By now, young master Felix must’ve started moving.”
“He’s probably keeping his team small. If Gilbert himself took the rear, then Felix must be leading from the front.”
“Well, he’s a meticulous one.”
The front line was always more dangerous, having to break through enemy defenses.
But the real core of the operation lay in the rear—supporting and executing the main objective.
That’s why Meital was sent ahead to open a path, while Gilbert handled the rear personally.
‘Nothing beats experience in the field.’
That kid—after surviving death several times—was nothing like the naive boy he used to be.
“Now it’s all about timing.”
Speed and precision—that was the essence of the plan.
Even a brief delay would mean failure. If that happened, Kazliden would face public backlash, and the imperial family would have a reason to pressure them.
“Let’s hope he doesn’t rush in recklessly.”
“Come now. He may be rough, but he won’t go as far as killing anyone.”
“I’m not so sure.”
Felix resembled his grandfather far more than his father. That worried Wistons deeply.
He wasn’t completely reckless, of course—but there was always a chance things could go wrong.
“Hopefully we won’t have to intervene.”
“That’s the best outcome.”
Wistons sighed deeply.
He prayed it wouldn’t come to that—but one could never be too careful.
He raised the spyglass again, peering into the building.
“…?”
His eyes widened. Wistons tapped Dion urgently.
“Look inside. Quickly.”
“What’s wrong?”
Had something happened?
Dion lifted his spyglass—and the moment he looked inside, he exhaled sharply.
“Oh no.”
He grabbed his sword in haste.
“We’d better get down there.”
The plan itself was simple.
Meital would open the path, followed by Felix and Gilbert. While the two attacked the main base, Meital would secure the escape routes.
The auction was being held in a massive hall, with guests seated in private rooms separated by glass walls, observing the proceedings.
Meaning—if they could locate Black Cat’s private room, the operation would go smoothly.
But of course, there’s always a variable.
‘Damn it.’
Meital sheathed his sword with a grimace.
‘There are way too many people.’
He knew the security would be tight since the leader himself was attending, but—
‘They even mixed in the guards of other bidders.’
That made it impossible to strike only Black Cat members without drawing blood from other noble houses.
A single misstep could start a diplomatic disaster.
‘The boss and lord must’ve realized this by now, too.’
Thanks to their prior intel, things had gone smoothly so far—but one wrong move and the whole mission could collapse.
If the leader caught wind of the commotion and fled, it would be catastrophic.
“Who’s there?!”
“!”
Meital quickly ducked behind a corner—just in time for a dagger to bury itself in the wall where he’d stood.
‘Damn, that was close.’
He’d heard they were skilled, but facing them in person really drove it home.
“Sir Meital.”
“Hold position. Wait for my signal.”
Stopping his subordinates, Meital narrowed his eyes.
‘So much for thinking a new group would lack structure.’
Their coordination was sharp, their response fast—they were far from mere street thugs.
‘There’s someone backing them.’
They had assumed from limited intel that Black Cat was just another petty criminal gang.
But seeing tonight’s operation, Meital realized they might have seriously underestimated them.
And just as that thought crossed his mind—
“The security layout is completely insane.”
Felix muttered under his breath, agreeing with Gilbert, and adjusted his grip on his sword.
