Extra's Magic

As we shook hands, I felt his grip tighten around my arm, and a spec of his Mana entered my body.

Although I was vigilant, I didn't expect him to act so brazenly.

"..."

For a moment, we held each other's gaze in silence. Then, I summoned my own Mana and swiftly enveloped and shattered his, making the corner of his lips curl up.

"Alfred, please bring our client the promised money..."

Nothing said, releasing my hand and settling back into his seat while I barely managed to suppress the pained expression that threatened to surface on my face.

Dispelling the foreign Mana from my body was no easy feat, especially when the person on the other end was a B Rank Awakener.

As I tried to move my numb fingers, I watched the red-eyed butler called Alfred bring in the suitcase and place it on the table in front of me.

Peeking at the rows of Arcons bills neatly lined up inside the suitcase, I felt a twitch at the corner of my lips, but I suppressed the urge to smile.

"I'd also like to sell a Yeti core..." I said, trying to keep my voice steady and composed.

Nothing and I quickly reached an agreement to exchange it for 4,500 Arcons, and I happily accepted the offer. However, this time, I refrained from shaking his hand. I needed at least one hand unharmed to defend myself.

Placing the money into my Spatial Ring I made a conscious effort to keep my pace steady. I didn't want to appear as if I was in a hurry to leave.

"It's always a pleasure to serve a good customer. Till next time, Aiden..."

Nothing's voice echoed as I shut the door behind me. At first, I thought nothing of his words, but then, a chill ran down my spine and I froze in place.

'How does he know my name?!'

My mind went into a turmoil and I quickly looked around, hurriedly walking towards where I came from.

Thud...

"Watch where you are going!"

Lost in thought, I turned a corner and accidentally collided with a burly man wearing a masquerade mask. A young woman stood beside him. I quickly bowed my head apologetically and tried to leave, but the man grabbed my shoulder.

"How dare you not apologize? Who taught you manners!"

Before I could even react, he hurled me into the nearby wall.

Crash...

Pain shot through my body as I felt my ribs snap, and I spat out a mouthful of blood. My scarf also nearly fell from my face.

"Don't bother with a peasant like him, honey... He's just a kid~"

The woman at his side sneered, wrapping her hands around the man's neck and pulling him closer to her face. Her garish makeup almost made my eyes water more than the pain.

"You're lucky, punk!"

The man somehow managed to spit out, while kissing with the witcjh-ahmm the woman.

I watched as their backs disappeared around the corner, my golden eyes burning with anger. I was enraged, but also too weak to do anything; the man was likely a D-rank awakener, and I had no chance of fighting back in my current state. It was a stroke of luck that they hadn't killed me.

"I'll remember you..."

I muttered under my breath, imprinting the couple's image into my memory. I swore to myself that I would pay them back in the future and slowly reached for my Health Potion.

As soon as the liquid touched my throat, a warm sensation spread through my body, and the pain in my ribs lessened slightly.

I sat there, on the cold pavement, in the shadows, for around ten minutes, leaning against the wall, until my ribs were fully healed. Only then did I stand up, ready to escape this shithole.

"..."

I attempted to stay in the shadows as I approached the exit, but the blood I spat was trickling down my scarf, drawing curious stares from those around me.

Thankfully, no one approached me, and I was able to reach the gap between the buildings without incident.

Glancing back at the Dark Auction one last time, I squeezed myself through the narrow passageway, putting in extra effort to avoid any traps or insects.

As soon as I stepped onto the city streets, passengers gave me weird looks, probably because of the blood. I was forced to hastily remove my blood-stained scarf and duck into a nearby store to purchase some paper towels to clean my face.

The cashier gave me a curious look and asked for my ID, but upon seeing that I was from Mage Academy, she stopped questioning me.

"Have a good day..." I said to the cashier as I cleaned my bloodied face.

Looking across the street, I spotted a majestic store with impressive glass displays. It stood tall, towering over the surrounding skyscrapers.

[ 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢 ]

As I walked towards the building, I couldn't help but feel drawn to its grandiose exterior.

Stepping through the automatic door, I was immediately greeted with an equally impressive interior.

The store was lavishly decorated, with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and elegant displays showcasing the finest wares. I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as I looked around at the luxurious surroundings.

Inside the store, there were several other people, each engrossed in their own business. Some were perusing the displays, admiring the items presented on the pure, white marble pedestals, while others were engaged in conversation with the attentive personnel.

"..."

Looking at the items displayed near the entrance, I simply walked past them, going straight to the back of the shop, where thrash was located.

These objects were by no means actual trash, but in comparison to the fine wares at the front of the store, they paled in comparison.

...

Although I invested in stock and I successfully sold my cores, it didn't mean that I could just buy artifacts from one of the most prestigious stores without a care. I was still poor.