"Leave... servant... I want to speak with this patron and his plus one... alone..."

Zoya leaves the room after a bow. No one else needs crystals since no one else is in this side room. I wished someone else was here to make this interaction less tense. Zoya is waiting outside the room, out of earshot but close enough to be called over with a raised voice.

"How was the blood? No refunds."

"It was... what I imagined it would be..."

"..."

"..."

"So this the guy? Yeah? Unless you were selling blood to other people as well."

"What do you want? It'll be awkward to have another transaction right now."

"Yes... It wouldn't be polite to the hosts of the evening... I wanted to know how was your reception here so far... Unfortunately, I had to invite you via the... What was it called... It was called the 'nobody door' but in a different language... I don't remember which exact one... but I digress..."

"It was fine."

"Ah... very well... I do have another deal for you... that doesn't involve the substance coursing through your veins..."

"If it's to marry your daughter, my answer remains the same."

"Pity... but not what I was going for... I would like to know the information pertaining to how your nectar got that way... The taste permeated into the lifeforce as well... Compliments to the chef... I had to restrain myself from running out... I'm saving it as an appetizer for a dinner party... I would invite you... but I'm worried you'd become the main course... haha, only joking... For the most part."

Telling I know nothing would only draw suspicion but explaining that I ate a forbidden fruit can have unforeseen consequences. I checked the title I got after eating the fruit.

[Indulger U

The user has consumed one of the forbidden fruits.]

The only other thing that's uniquely ranked in my status window is my [Heal Anything], that's still stuck at level one. "One" implies there is more, which would make sense. But why does making my blood "sweeter than an apple and more nutritious than a meal" make the [Blood Apple] forbidden? Is it the origin or some hidden effect, or was it spite from a god who is a vampire chef? The apple came from my ring after it consumed a life-threatening amount of blood. Is this the first one to exist, or is it a part of a "forbidden species?" I can make assumptions, but for now, I need an answer, something truthful in case lie detection comes naturally from his disposition of truth.

"A ate a weird fruit in a fracture. It was most likely that, but it could also be a coincidence. Everything can be a coincidence."

"That's it...?"

"It was just after a close encounter with a god that owed me something. They paid me back a little before the consumption of the fruit. It was decent, if not unsanitary."

"Curious... Then the process cannot be replicated... I appreciate you answering honestly or at all... I would have accepted your silence... Disappointingly, but I would've accepted it... A god...? You imply this wasn't the first meeting... Am I mistaken..."

"Nope. It wasn't the last either."

Rain speaks what's on my mind. "Can you discern lies? Magically or otherwise?"

"My clan were the inventors of the [Liars Orb]... it's usually circulated through law enforcement... At least in your country... If you weren't aware... It detects falsehoods... Liars, you can say... I do not need magic or devices to spot a liar since I would trust my intuition more than any magical instrument... I like your doctor here... They haven't once lied to me in the short time we interacted... Very rare..."

"Aleveritas? I thought he was the one who invented the [Liars Orb]. He's related to you?"

"Haha... Girl... You don't know that Aleveritas is my clan's name, not one individual... You would've recognized my emblem if that was the case... save yourself from some embarrassment... Why would a healer... who mingles with gods and smells so delicious... bring you as a plus one...?"

I didn't know his clan until I met him. I don't know where this underhanded aggression is coming from. A prod or taunt?

"I don't gotta explain shit, old man. He invited me, so ask him. Maybe he couldn't get a date in time and asked the first random chick in a full-body chemical protection suit he saw. Maybe he's into that kind of thing."

He looks over at me, unfazed by Rain's words. I shrug.

"The fundamental reason I invited my plus one would ultimately expose her. I'm sure you could track down everyone I ever met with that nose of yours, but I still won't explain myself."

"Sure... Sure... Now back to the second thing I want... I didn't mention when I first met you... you have two hearts, don't you... I heard it... Out of respect for privacy and the enchantments in place here... I can't hear them now..."

"What do you want?"

"I want to buy one of your organs... the one saturated with your blood... pumping more than two thousand gallons a day... How much would a heart cost...? I only need the one..."

"Wouldn't open heart surgery be impolite for the hosts?"

"I can pay you in advance... as long as you meet me in an alleyway after the auction..."

"Heh."

"Your plus one has a dirty mind... Doctor... So...?"

[Second Heart], as the name implies, gives me a second heart. The skill allows me to regrow hearts after strenuous effort and healing. "Donating" a heart would put me in a weakened state for a while since my regeneration would disappear and my vigor would lower. Although I want to sell as many organs as I need for credits, that reveals a problem. If I broadcast that I can conveniently regrow hearts, compared to other methods, I might sway the vampire to abduct me. If not him, someone else in his community.

"What is your name?"

"Algernon..."

"I am willing to hear an offer that sways me. But I will only do it once. I'd prefer not to give up an organ, but I need credits."

"Hmm... A creature at your level and with your vitality... life force consideration... Species and any other genetic complications... The taste would be a factor... Nutrition wouldn't, but it helps... I have an estimate a human heart with your specific qualities would fetch..."

"I'm cardiovascularly healthy."

"Noted... How about... 105 million credits... Added more on since building a healthy relationship seems beneficial to both parties... Maybe... If you decide to survive until you are powerful or influential... Find me in my territory... Doctor, that has met the gods..."

"Are you willing to go higher on the price?"

"Yes... Up to triple the amount... But that would close any future dealings or relations..."

"I'll take the 105."

"Good boy..."

~

Another contract was signed, but I didn't need to call Free Chain. It was a copy of the last one but with minor differences in details to facilitate this new deal. If I don't show up to give a heart, both my hearts will stop, and 106m credits will automatically leave my account. I don't know what will happen if I go into the negatives, but I have money now. Algernon, the truth-speaking vampire, left Rain and me on our own.

"Do you want any answers?"

"Not really, no. I'm just disappointed that one of your hearts isn't enough for one of the herbs I fed you... Damn. You're lucky I haven't overpowered you and started milking you like a cash cow."

"I know you won't."

"How do you know that, blood boy?"

"Because I wouldn't trust you if you would."

"..."

Although Rain enjoys inflicting pain on me, or at least likes the experimentation that process opens up, she has never wronged me. It goes beyond the fact that I'm a disciple of her father, which makes the dynamic weird already. I can count the number of people I trust on both hands, and thanks to her, I have two. Before taking the [Sage of the Diviners], I believed our relationship was purely transactional for benefits. But that fucking leaf changed my whole perspective of life. I didn't have anybody in my last 'life.' It made me see my friends and family in a new light.

I still don't care for half the students on my team, and I still have boundaries.

I bought the stone set and looked for something else that would be helpful. Rain found and purchased a coupon for 100,000 vials, 100% off. The piece of paper with a stamp was the same price if she bulk purchased the vials instead. That wouldn't be a coupon but a gift card, right? I don't know.

I'm spoiled for choice. The items that seem interesting are weapons, utility items with niche effects, or something out of my price range. Indecision is going to kill me, so I hold my credits until I see something I must have, and nothing like that screams out to me. Maybe some of these rich people are going to sell better items. These items are just a chance for the auction house to make more money in the guise of setting out appetizers anyways.

Zoya comes up to me with a gift-wrapped bundle of rocks. Getting them wrapped was free, and since this is a gift for Flash Gordon, I don't see why not. Zoya seems more... polite and attentive to our needs. Rain also got her coupon wrapped for "shits and giggles."

"Here you go, my generous patrons. One bundle of energy stones and one certificate. This is also for you two. I assumed that you don't have memberships with our auction house, so I have some membership cards for you. Please forgive me if my judgment was wrong."

I look at the Id card made out of gold. It has seven notches along the top, with gemstones in the left two. The first is silver colored, and the second is gold. Rain takes hers, so I do as well.

"Our member cards are all rank A magic items. If you circulate your mana to them, you claim ownership over it. It'll disappear after using it, and you can summon it anytime while on the premises of any of our facilities. That's to help with fraud and theft prevention."

[Sphynxwork Membership Card (Gold) A]

"I'm sorry dear patron if this card is too low level for your liking. As an assistant guide, this is the highest level I can give out, and I needed permission from my superiors before doing so."

"Don't worry about it."

I stake my claim over my new item, and so does Rain. I don't know if she overheard our conversation or knows that vampire bigshot we talked to and managed to convince her boss that we're valuable just by association.

I contemplated leaving the auction house now and waiting in an alleyway, but I decided to stay and see if I could get something of value and maybe see how much our stuff sold for. We sit on a balcony overlooking a stage with a dark aura floating next to a hanging microphone originating from a portal, the same color as the aura.

"Testing, testing, one, two, three. If you don't hear or understand me, please tell your guide, and our translator will be recalibrated. You would know something is wrong since screaming would be the only thing you can hear."

The aura is speaking. Why can it talk?

"Hello, one and all! I am the host of this fine evening, the legendary auctioneer, Neizaibloop. Everyone hears a different name, but that of little relevance. Unfortunately, our host will not be arriving on time. They were ambushed on their way over and needed to do some paperwork because of the aftermath. Fortunately, this isn't a special event but a casual get-together to sell unnecessary items and purchase some treasures. Hahaha. I hope we can all leave this place happy and with fewer credits."