However, the scene that greeted them upon arrival made the group involuntarily furrow their brows.

It was due to the poor interior environment that raised concerns about safety.

The walls were haphazardly stacked with stones and propped up with wooden beams just to prevent collapse, while the floor was merely dried grass spread over packed earth.

The structure also did not appear to be a systematically constructed building. It was as if they had dug tunnels and created spaces at random.

Centered around a relatively spacious cavity that could be called a hall, short passages extended like corridors in several directions.

Each passage connected to another inner hall, and it seemed auctions were held separately in each space.

Noises loud enough to deafen one’s ears erupted from here and there.

“2,000 lats have been bid. Yes, the gentleman over there has bid 2,100 lats. If there are no other bids, it will be sold to the gentleman after I count to three. One, two, three… Sold!”

“Damn! Who would pay over 2,000 lats for such a thing?”

“Tch, this is no fun. I’m going to check out another auction.”

“Give me a chance. I came all this way to buy this!”

Moreover, the population density in this narrow cave was so high that not only was movement difficult, but the noise from all directions was enough to make one’s ears hurt.

It seemed impossible to exchange even a word with companions unless whispering directly into their ears.

“You know the auction hand signals, right? Then enjoy yourselves freely, hehe.”

The guide, who was cackling unpleasantly without even trying to hide his rotten and missing teeth, turned around and left.

As Kardiel watched him climb back up the narrow stairs, he finally took in the breath he had been holding. It truly was a foul smell.

“This is quite different from what I expected.”

The imperial grandson Raphael looked around curiously, taking in the interior.

Passersby turned to look at him once. It seemed their gazes lingered on the intimidating aura that could not be hidden even with the hood pulled down.

“At this rate, it will be difficult to find where the desired items are being sold…”

“Do not worry about that, young… Ahem, young master.”

From then on, Raphael’s attendant took charge of guiding them.

“In the case of such valuable items, to prevent any unforeseen incidents, the auction is held in the innermost hall. It should be this way, please follow me.”

The four of them thus made their way through the halls and passages where auctions were in full swing, pushing through the crowds towards the depths of the black market.

However, throughout their journey, they had to furrow their brows several times at the scenes around them.

“Behold! This beautiful youth is of fallen noble blood, and has never tasted meat since birth, resulting in smooth and glossy skin. The bidding will start at 500 lats.”

No, sometimes they even had to forcibly resume their halted steps and control their anger.

“Young… I mean, young master Raphael! Please pretend not to notice, this is how such places are.”

“But slavery is illegal no matter what…”

“This place’s very existence is illegal. So please don’t cause any trouble…! We have a purpose, don’t we?”

“Urgh.”

“…Uncle Sergei as well. Please keep walking. Unless you want to be mistaken for being interested in beautiful slaves.”

“…”

The imperial grandson Raphael clenched his fists, his eyes blazing.

Sergei’s expression turned cold, shadows falling over his gentle green eyes.

Kardiel thought that if he hadn’t come along, he wouldn’t have been able to stop those emotional adults from acting rashly.

Moreover, their sense of justice made their companions nervous several more times after that.

After much difficulty, the four finally arrived at the center of the black market.

The atmosphere there was quite different from the auction halls they had seen on their way.

Dark, dirty fabric hung like curtains on the walls and ceiling, and even the floor was covered with what looked like a carpet made of straw mats.

Above all, perhaps because it was the innermost area, there were almost no loud voices.

Rather, the atmosphere was sensitive and serious. It was now closer to the auction house atmosphere Kardiel knew.

“…Yes, then the high moonstone brooch that belonged to Princess Hortensia has been sold to this beautiful lady for 152,000 lats.”

Just then, one item was sold to someone.

It should have been a cause for celebration, but somehow the imperial grandson Raphael’s expression hardened again.

“If it’s Princess Hortensia’s high moonstone brooch… I know it suddenly disappeared one day. To think it would be in a place like this.”

He was saying it was stolen goods.

The group simultaneously swallowed silent sighs. This black market was truly a hotbed of crime and illegality.

“If we had come a little earlier, we could have retrieved an item from the previous generation… How regrettable.”

It was regrettable, but it couldn’t be helped.

Considering that items from the magic era were put up for auction last, they had deliberately arrived at a late hour.

In any case, following the auctioneer’s call, the stolen brooch was immediately handed over to the winning bidder.

It seemed they used a system where payment was made and the item taken on the spot.

Coincidentally, the winning bidder was a woman standing just a few steps away from the four.

The luscious hair flowing out from under her hood was quite impressive.

“Oh my?”

“…!”

Ah, it seems they had been staring for too long.

Feeling their gaze, the woman turned her head, and her eyes met Kardiel’s.

They were sea-colored eyes beautiful enough to elicit admiration.

Above all, she possessed such dazzling beauty that Kardiel found himself staring as if enchanted without even realizing it.

Even so, it was difficult to gauge her age.

Judging by her skin condition, anyone would say she was in her 20s or 30s, but the atmosphere was too ambiguous for that.

It would be more convincing to say she was a mature woman in her 40s or 50s who had meticulously cared for her naturally good skin.

Just like how Lieselotte’s skin looked like that of someone in their early 20s.

Ah! It was at that moment that her eyes formed seductive curves.

Flustered, Kardiel immediately averted his gaze. But troublingly, the woman slowly walked towards their group.

“Fufu. Hello, little one. It’s my first time seeing you here. Are all three beside you your companions?”

“…”

It was truly an awkward mistake. Noticing the woman’s approach, Sergei sent Kardiel to the back and stepped forward.

“What is it?”

“Hmm. There are one, two, three handsome men here? Oh, sorry about that one.”

“I asked what you want.”

“My, my. Such a beautiful woman approaches and greets you first, yet you act so prickly. But I’ll let it slide. You’re handsome even with one eye, big brother.”

“…If you have no business, it would be best for us to go our separate ways.”

Trying to protect Kardiel, Sergei showed an exceptionally cold and defensive attitude.

His stiff tone and overbearing atmosphere were quite unfamiliar.

Even Kardiel was taken aback, wondering if Sergei had always had such a side to him.

The woman who approached, however, paid no mind to Sergei’s attitude.

Rather, she acted even more affectionate, putting on a coquettish smile.

“How disappointing. The young man over there was the one who first caught my eye. Little one, if you like this brooch, shall I gift it to you? Or if it’s this big sister you like, I could make some special time for you.”

“Oh my…!”

The imperial grandson Raphael hurriedly covered both of Kardiel’s ears.

It was inappropriate, stimulating language for the underage Kardiel.

“I don’t understand why you’re so surprised. Could it be you’ve just come of age, little one?”

The woman laughed merrily, as if finding it amusing. Then, as if saying she would stop teasing, she introduced herself without being asked.

“I’m Dorothea. Mistress Dorothea, if you say that, everyone in this field knows me. And you all?”

“There’s nothing for you to know.”

Once again, Sergei drew a line without mercy.

By this point, even Mistress Dorothea’s smile cracked slightly.

“How rude. You’ll surely regret treating me so impolitely. Even if you are my type, big brother, there are no exceptions.”

“Rude? You speak like a noble. You should reconsider your own manners, spewing obscenities and mocking others upon first meeting.”

“What did you say?”

“You’re noisy. If you came to participate in the auction, focus quietly on the items.”

In the end, Mistress Dorothea’s expression changed.

Biting her lower lip and trembling slightly, her face no longer looked splendid and beautiful.

Killing intent flashed in her eyes. Her fiercely distorted expression was that of a vicious villainess, enough to make one’s skin crawl.

“…I’ll make you regret those words from earlier, without fail.”

With those final words, she strode back to her seat. Even after that, she didn’t forget to glare at the group for a long time.

Sergei didn’t even blink at her chilling, piercing gaze.

What was important to him as a guardian was checking on Kardiel’s condition.

Only then did the imperial grandson Raphael uncover the ears he had been protecting.

“Are you alright?”

“…Yes.”

At some point, all eyes in the vicinity had turned to their group.

It seems even the auctioneer had been watching them.

Because of this, Kardiel had to hold back what he was about to say for a moment.

‘…Didn’t that woman resemble someone?’