Unsealing Emptiness

However, Ozul ignored it and still made his way to the entrance. As he was about to enter, the guards blocked the way as expected.

“I am here to sell this here,” Ozul said while showing the wooden box.

The guards exchanged glances but did not let him inside. Instead, one of them pointed to the side of the building.

“Go that way. Show your item to the person there.”

Though it wasn’t a big deal, Ozul was satisfied with the guards’ behavior. Unlike others, they could also not sense any Mana from him, but they did not show any scorn.

It showed that the auction house had capable enough people.

.....

‘Well, it certainly has qualities for becoming the best auction house,’ Ozul thought. He would naturally not just believe in things only because many agreed on it.

Unless he witnessed things with his own eyes, there would always remain a doubt in his heart.

He slowly made his way to the side of the building. It was quiet here, unlike the commotion in the front. There he saw a door being guarded by another Rank-5 Mage.

There were usually only one or two Rank-5 Mages in the entire cities in almost everywhere around the Mainland. But in Neutral City, people at their level were hired only for guarding the doors.

As he approached the door, the guard in black stared coldly at him.

“I am here to sell something,” Ozul said to the man who was just about to ask whatever he was doing back here.

“Wait here,” said the man in his heavy voice before he went inside.

Ozul wasn’t in a hurry, so he waited a couple of seconds before the man came back and allowed him to enter.

Inside the room, men and women alike walked here and there in a hurry. It seemed like today was a busy day from all the bustle.

There he saw a man with blonde hair; he seemed to be the one in charge as he was seen ordering some people.

He noticed Ozul and came towards him, “I heard you wanted to sell something? You do realize that this is an auction house; we auction items, not buy them.”

‘... oh well, I won’t lose anything by auction. Instead, it might get me more than I had assumed,’ Ozul thought before nodding towards the blonde-haired man.

“Ok, what do you want to auction? And a reminder; we will keep 5% of whatever your item is sold for in the end. If no one is willing to buy it, you will be returned the item,” the man explained.

He did not think that Ozul had anything valuable to put for auction anyway.

It was an important day. There were many valuables from all over the Mainland going to be auctioned today. So the man was also in a hurry to get it over with.

Ozul noticed his impatience but slowly took the wooden box in his hand and showed it to the man.

“Huh?” The man took the box. He almost had the urge to throw it on the ground because of the weight he felt. It seemed like there was nothing in it. And the person before him was only here to joke around.

As he opened the box, he was relieved as he felt the trail of Mana fly out from inside.

“What herb is this, sir?” the man asked as he stared at the frail plant with only five leaves.

He held a slightly respectful tone this time since he confirmed that Ozul was not here to waste his time but indeed had something good to put on the auction.

“Harmony Leaves,” Ozul answered.

The man did not react for a few seconds, and suddenly his eyes opened wide with surprise.

“You... Sir, you mean to say that these are Harmony Leaves!?” the man asked with disbelief apparent on his face.

Ozul nodded his head. He wasn’t surprised that the person was aware of what Harmony Leaves were. He was apparently in the best auction house around the entire Mainland, so the staff here should naturally be aware of rare herbs.

“Are you... Hehe, why are you standing there? Follow me; I will show you to a private room.”

The blonde-haired man was going to ask something. But in the middle of his sentence, it was as if he realized something, and his behavior took a 180-degree turn. He smiled with flattery before respectfully motioning Ozul to follow him.

A few minutes later, Ozul arrived before a fancy room. Two girls stood before it with clothes that showed much of their skin and only covered the most sensitive parts. It appeared to be a room reserved only for VIPs.

As Ozul entered, he saw a simple yet elegant room with two red couches placed near the glass wall. There was a table between the couches, which had some delicacies placed on it.

Ozul sat down on the couch and looked through the glass window. It was a VIP room to place bids for the auctioned items.

He noticed that the auction had yet to start. The hall had yet to fill out to the brim. It meant that there was still some time before it started.

“Rest assured; we can only see through the glass wall from this side. Your identity will never be exposed,” the man commented when he noticed Ozul still wearing the conical hat which hid his face.

Ozul nodded his head and put the hat away. He already knew that others couldn’t see him from outside from the way the other VIP rooms were blocked from sight for him. It was just that he forgot to put it away before.

It had become his habit not to absorb the Ball of Purity back in his body for the hat. So he put it on the table and looked towards the man.

“Cough... you see, I would have to tell my superior about this item to take a look. I am not knowledgeable enough about it,” the man said in a little panic.

“Take your time,” Ozul replied calmly before he started to stare outside the glass wall. He was not in a hurry.

The blonde-haired man carefully placed the wooden box on the table before dashing out of the room.

As he left the room, the two ladies standing outside the room came in and stood by the door, seemingly awaiting an order.

However, Ozul completely ignored their presence as was busy staring at other VIP rooms. Alas, he wasn’t able to see through those opaque glass walls either.

. . .

A few minutes later, the door to his room was suddenly barged open.

*Tak!*

Ozul turned his head to see a lady walking in with a sense of urgency. Ozul also noticed her unusually anxious emotions.

She wore a long purple robe that showed the side of her milky smooth legs till the thighs from the sides. Her chest was just as well-endowed as her face was beautiful. She looked to be around her early 20’s.

Though what Ozul noticed foremost was her cultivation base, which was at Peak Rank-7.

“Where are the Harmony Leaves?” the woman asked as her eyes fell on Ozul. Unlike any other healthy woman, she completely ignored his otherworldly face.

Ozul wasn’t complaining. In fact, he was happy to know that he wouldn’t have to deal with something annoying at this point.

He pointed towards the wooden box on the table. The woman hurriedly picked it up and opened the box.

The woman carefully examined the Harmony Leaves before a glint flashed past her eyes, and a bright smile appeared on her face.

She closed the wooden box and sat down on the other couch, to the opposite of Ozul.

“Forgive my manners. I haven’t introduced myself. I am Hana~” the woman introduced herself with a coquettish voice.

“Ozul,” he replied briefly.

Ozul noticed that the woman named Hana was a little surprised for some reason.

Hana was stunned because she did not expect that a person would be able to remain so indifferent before her charms.

“Since you probably know who I am-”

“No?” Ozul said, a little confusedly; why should he know about her?

Hana stared at Ozul for a while to see if he was playing a joke. Though It was a pity that she could not read anything from his blank face no matter how much she tried.

“Cough... I am the one who manages the Littlewood Auction House, under the Ashin Family,” Hana said while raising her head a little.

Ozul raised his brows a little, which made Hana assume that it was because of her identity as the one who runs the best auction house on the entire Mainland.

However, it was actually because Ozul only now heard that this place was under the Ashin Family.

‘No wonder that woman recommended this place...’ Ozul thought, he now doubted if this place really was the best or the woman had only said it so because of it being under the Ashin Family.

With a little more confidence now, Hana spoke, “So, I was wondering if you would like to listen to my proposal?”

She still held the wooden box in her hand, making Ozul wonder why she behaved that way.

It wouldn’t have been unusual if she was only excited when she saw the Harmony Leaves, as any auctioneer would be when they found an item that would rile up the whole auction house into bidding like madmen.

Ozul sensed that she was more relieved than excited after confirming that they were indeed Harmony Leaves.

“I am listening...”