“I present to you all… Inferno’s Tongue!” Eric lifted the cloth hiding the sword and its sheath.

The crowd at the bottom floor of the auditorium burst into an uproar. The people in the private booths were just as intrigued but remained calm for the sake of appearances.

Inferno’s Tongue was graceful yet simple in appearance. The handle was a lighter shade of black with a red stone - an inch in diameter – on the pommel. The blade was slim and beige in color from being made of dragon bones. Lightly carved from the bottom to the tip of the blade, were elegant lines and swirls that seemed to give off a very faint red glow. Inferno’s Tongue’s sheath was simple as well. The sheath was made completely from the red hide of the fire dragon that was used to make the sword. Near the entrance of sheath was a red waist strap adorned with simple carvings of a red dragon breathing fire.

When Landis first laid eyes on the sword, he felt that it was the perfect weapon for Selena. A faint but intense sign of desire could be seen from Selena’s eyes, but it was quickly snuffed out when she thought about how much it would cost.

“Now, now, ladies and gentlemen. I request that you all quiet down to continue the auction.” The auditorium quieted down at the behest of Eric.

Eric continued to advertise Inferno’s Tongue. “For those of you who do not know: Forged from the skin, bones, and heart of Drogar of Mount Kilreth by Thorog Silverbrand of the Silverbrand blacksmithing family!” He continued. “Terrorizing our city-states for many years, the mighty dragon was slain by the hero, Aubrey Dalton. Renowned for her「Ice Magic」! But that isn’t all! The pommel of Inferno’s Tongue lies the heart of Drogar that allows any「Fire Magic」related user to increase their powers by at least two-fold!”

Eric pointed at Inferno’s Tongue. “Who will own this mighty blade that will surely make the one who wields it, legendary? I have no clue…” He then paused for dramatic effect. “But today, we will find out! Starting price will be 50,000 gold!”

People began shouting prices like madmen.

“75,000!”

“100,000!”

“150,000!”

“200,000!”

It kept going up until Landis shouted from his booth, “500,000!”

Landis was too quiet up until now, so no one knew that the leader of the Humble Foxes was there.

“Friends, as you know, Selena can use both fire magic and is a capable swordsman. I will remember everyone’s face and will promise a discount for our services should no one fight over Inferno’s Tongue with me,” he said with a smile.

Selena looked at her father and felt embarrassed by his shameful actions.

Landis saw the look his daughter was giving him and wryly smiled inside. ‘It's fine, Sunshine. I can be as shameful as possible for you.’

The bidding crowd thought for a moment and could only back-off. One: the gold count was going too high. Two: the favor and discount from the leader of the Humble Foxes was no small thing. Everyone knew their reputation. Everywhere they went was a victory for their side. Whether it was man, beast, or monster.

Eric looked at the sight and felt a bit disappointed. He felt that it could have gone higher but it was still a good price nonetheless.

“Inferno’s Tongue for 500,000 to Mr. Colts of the Humble Foxes!” Eric began to countdown.

“Going once…”

“Going twice…”

“Sol –, “

Just as he was about to finish, he was interrupted by a voice that Landis would recognize anywhere.

“Tch tch tch, Landis, it’s no good to bully people, you know? 1,000,000!” The voice was venomous just as much as it was sarcastic.

Landis and Selena looked at the booth across from them open their curtains to reveal a scrawny and pasty looking man with sunken cheekbones wearing an all-black leather outfit and two daggers at his side. The man had about a dozen men behind him dressed in the same outfit.

“Quintin…” Selena spat the name out with her fists gripped so tightly, she almost pierced the skin.

Landis put his hand on her arm and shook his head to remind her of the promise they made to Norton. Selena nodded back, albeit reluctantly. Although she hated the Dark Cloaks and Quintin, she wouldn’t break her word.

Landis turned his head back to Quintin and laughed. “Hahaha, what are you talking about, Quintin? If I was bullying, it would be something like...”

In the next second, an aura of bloodlust permeated Quintin’s booth. His entourage was sweat profusely and could feel death looming over them. Without him noticing it, sweat began to drip from his forehead as well. Even the unseen man all the way at the back of the room, away from the balcony could feel the pressure emanating from Landis.

“…that,” said Landis, and retracted his aura. Afterward, he looked at Eric and yelled, “1,250,000!”

Quintin’s eyebrows twitched and he looked behind him. The man at the back nodded his head.

“1,500,000!”

Landis was surprised. ‘What the hell? The Dark Cloaks can’t be doing that well, could they? And Astoburgh hasn’t paid them since the war hasn’t even started yet. Or have they?’

He didn’t know, but he gritted his teeth and yelled, “1,600,000!”

Quintin looked behind him and the man nodded his head again. “2,000,000!”

‘Fuck, where are they getting on that gold?! Quintin keeps looking behind him every time before he bids; is the person funding him in that room too?’ Landis contemplated.

Eric remained silent and smiling at the two’s bidding war while being ecstatic on the inside. ‘The commission I’m going to get for this auction will be amazing!’

Just as Landis was about to yell something, Selena spoke out. “Father, it is okay. Remember what Uncle Norton said? We can still get the mutated goblin.” She continued. “Besides, we’re only letting Quintin ‘borrow’ it for now.”

Although she didn’t say it, Landis knew she was a bit disappointed. He had seen the look she had when she saw the sword. That’s why Landis decided to disregard what Norton had said about the mutated goblin.

“Alright,” he said quietly.

After a few seconds of silence, Eric began counting down. “Inferno’s Tongue for 2,000,000 to Mr. Hunt of the Dark Cloaks!”

“Going once…”

“Going twice…”

Eric then waited just in case Landis wanted to make another bid. But after more silence, Eric yelled, “Sold! To Mr. Hunt of the Dark Cloaks!“

Quintin looked at Landis and Selena with a smug look on his face and turned around and left but his expression turned to a puzzled one. ‘I’ve already bought the last thing worthwhile here, so why are they staying? Is it for the goblin? It might be a bit stronger than your average goblin, but that’s it. Only the scientists and wizards would find it interesting to dissect.’ With that thought, he left with his entourage and the unseen man.

“Now, for the last ‘item’. I present to you all, the only one of its kind… a mutated goblin!”

********

Minutes Before

Rae heard the locking mechanism in the door to his room *click*.

When the door opened, he saw Norton’s big frame standing there.

“It’s your time, White. Let’s go,” he said.

Rae stood up and followed behind Norton.

The two kept walking until they reached a door with a big sign above that read ‘Auditorium’.

As the two were standing there, Norton spoke up. “Sigh, it sucks that the higher-ups aren't keeping you. You’ve taught and made me realize some things without knowing it.”

Rae looked at Norton and was a bit surprised. ‘I never knew Norton was such a sentimental fellow, but he’s a decent one.’

A few moments later, Rae heard Eric yell. “Now, for the last ‘item’. I present to you all, the only one of its kind… a mutated goblin!”

Norton opened the door and Rae could see the lights from the auditorium breaking through the gap.

Norton walked through first and Rae followed behind him.

When Rae appeared on the stage next to Eric and Norton, he could see finally see some of what Altera had to offer.

He saw dwarves, elves, and even people with animal features. ‘Otaku heaven...’ Rae whispered to himself.

What Rae didn’t know was that the rest of the auditorium was just as shocked seeing him as well.

A loud yell broke Rae out of his reverie. “How is this a goblin?! This is clearly an elf!” someone screamed.

“Yeah! Is the Silver Ridge in the business of scamming now?!”

The auditorium became rife with doubt and arguments against the auction house’s credibility. Even Selena and Landis were a bit skeptical of Rae’s appearance.

“SILENCE!” Until a Norton put an end to it with a yell that reverberated with power throughout the auditorium.

Eric followed up. “Everyone, the Silver Ridge Auction House prides itself on credibility. I can assure you that this is the mutated goblin,” he said while pointing at Rae.

“I have witnessed the birth of it with my own eyes. I have also personally used an Appraisal Stone on it to confirm its race. If anyone feels any doubt, I, Eric Crane, will appraise it again, in front of everyone in this auditorium.”

Eric pulled out an Appraisal Stone and held it up to Rae’s forehead. A rainbow light flashed for an instance and then dimmed into nothingness a moment later and the stone crumbled.

『Status』

『General Information』

Gender: Male Age: 39 Days Race: Mutated Goblin Level: 8 Class/Level: 「N/A」

Everyone was silent.

“Like I said. We, at the Silver Ridge Auction House, pride ourselves on reliable services,” Eric said with a smile.

“Wait, why can we only see his『General Information』?” someone asked.

“We don’t exactly know. It might be because it is mutated, but I can also promise you that its capabilities are exceptional as well!” He turned to Rae. “Goblin, list to me all of your skills and attributes.”

‘Alright, time to strut my stuff’ thought Rae. He then listed his attributes. Strength, Endurance and Dexterity/Agility in the 140’s and the rest in their 30’s. “This one’s skills are 「Barehanded Combat LV4」「Swordsmanship LV4」and 「Dash LV3」.”

“As you can see, with the collar, it does not matter that you cannot see all of its 『Status』.” Eric continued to advertise Rae’s good points. “So not only are its combat abilities exception, but there are its looks too,” he said with a half smirk. Even he realized that Rae was beautiful.

The auditorium was too focused on the fact that Rae was a goblin that they half ignored his actual appearance. When Eric mentioned it, they took a closer look and were in a daze.

Eric took in their reactions and glad it worked. “With its looks, you will be able to walk with pride with it by your side instead of the hideous looks normal goblins have. Or, if some of you have *ahem* - other interests – I’m sure it would do well in those activities too.”

‘Oi, what the fuck are you implying, you greedy bastard?!’ Rae could feel lecherous gazes when Eric said that. From not only females, but many overweight, and pig-faced males as well. Rae promised that if he was ever sold to these people, he would kill his “owner,” and then murder Eric in retribution.

“This one-of-a-kind mutated goblin’s pricing will start out at 75,000 gold!”

“100,000”

“200,000”

“400,000”

‘Holy hell. The bidding is much more intense than the last one,’ thought Rae. Rae was undervaluing his worth. He was the first mutated goblin ever. Coupled with his looks and capabilities, he was quite valuable. There were not only perverts who wanted him, but people who wanted him to fight. There were also many extremely passionate scientists and wizards who wanted to dissect him and learn all they could.

“1,000,000!”

Everyone followed the voice that just yelled and traced it back to Landis’ booth.

Landis coughed awkwardly. “Friends, my Humble Foxes group have been in need of some help. My previous promise still stands.” Even Landis himself could not help but feel embarrassed that he was trying this twice, but the previous time did not work so he thought it didn’t count.

Selena sighed and palmed her face at her father’s behavior. ‘Let’s hope this doesn’t ruin the reputation we’ve built,’ she thought dejectedly.

No one else had the money or clout to go against him so they could only give up once again. The only people who dared to offend him was Quintin Hunt, but they were already enemies so it didn’t matter.

Eric glared at Landis for his shameless behavior and cursed him in his mind at the potential loss of gold. “The one-of-a-kind mutated goblin for 1,000,000 to Mr. Colts of the Humble Foxes!”

“Going once…”

“Going twice…”

“Sold! To Mr. Colts of the Humble Foxes. And with that, the auction has officially ended. We would like everyone who hasn’t already retrieved their items to stay behind.“

‘Whew, my luck stat finally came into play,’ thought Rae. When he heard about the Humble Foxes before (Chapter 4), he wanted to join them. Not only could he learn more about the world by traveling with them, he could get stronger as well. What was the main thing mercenaries did? Fight! And in turn, level up!

He could also maintain his “slave status” and blend in without being a goblin fugitive who managed to subvert the slave collars everyone believed in. If some people found out the collar didn’t work on him, wouldn’t they worry about other goblins as well? Or how he might influence them and maybe form some kind of rebellion? Neither of those things he would do, but would they believe him? He didn’t think so. Even if they did, they would never allow the potential threat from a race they have mistreated for so long. He thought it was better to maintain his guise - for now, at least.

********

“Father, now that we’ve gotten the goblin, what are we going to do? You said Fahrareta and Astoburgh are going to war and Fahrareta hired us; shouldn’t we prepare?” Selena asked questioningly.

Landis stood up and looked at her. “We still have space before they truly come to blows.” He continued. “Also, I’m extremely curious about the goblin. If what Eric said is all that the goblin had to offer, the goblin would’ve never gotten Norton to acknowledge him. My instincts tell me there’s more to that goblin,” he said.

He thought for a moment. Thinking about what they were going to do next, he decided. “I’m going to send a message to the rest of the Foxes and have them sit tight until we return.”

Selena got up as well and asked, “Where are we going?”

“We’re heading to the dungeon north-east of here to see what he’s truly made of,” he said. Then he turned to her and asked, “He’s already more powerful than a high-level hobgoblin. So what would happen if he evolved as well?”

"We’ll find out soon enough,” said Landis. Then he walked out of the room with Selena right behind him.

Selena couldn’t see it, but there was a look of anticipation on Landis’ face.

“Time to meet the new fox.”