The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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‘No, there are plenty of seats around, so why specifically…?’

Alter sat one seat away. But since he was so large, it wasn’t much different from sitting right next to me.

Wait, so that bastard Carlos was scared thinking Alter was part of my group?

‘What a cowardly bastard.’

Besides, his face is all covered with only his eyes showing, so what’s there to be afraid of.

Does his profile look scary too?

I became curious and tried to look, but just before our eyes met, Alter quickly turned his head away.

“You clearly have problems with both your eyes and ears. I told you to look forward.”

Really, he’s the one who came and sat down.

I thought about chasing him away with words like ‘Why, are you embarrassed when I look at you?’ but unfortunately, the auction started before I could open my mouth.

“Good evening, I’m Frederick, the auctioneer in charge of tonight’s auction.”

The first category was jewelry.

I quickly took out my opera glasses and focused on the display stand in the distance.

A ruby mined 100 years ago, a diamond cherished by some kingdom’s princess, a blessed sapphire imbued with holy power.

Just watching felt educational.

‘I have a different purpose, but I can’t miss an opportunity like this.’

I diligently wrote down the characteristics, stories, and prices of the auction items. While doing so, I didn’t forget to keep an eye on Carlos.

The last item in the jewelry category was the aquamarine I had consigned for sale.

“This aquamarine was purchased by a collector at an auction house on the Eastern Continent and was said to be decorated on a famous captain’s compass. Complete with certificates of authenticity and appraisal, this teardrop-cut aquamarine in perfect saturation and condition starts at 1 million gold. We’ll begin bidding.”

Auction paddles shot up as if they had been waiting.

It felt like quiet applause, giving me thrilling goosebumps.

The auctioneer, who had been busily counting, struck his gavel three times – bang, bang, bang.

“Sold for 3.8 million gold. Going to customer number 27.”

“Wow…!”

An exclamation burst out without me realizing it.

It was a much higher price than expected.

After deducting fees, I’d receive around 3.4 million gold, but even that was a huge profit.

Because Grandfather had purchased that aquamarine for 900,000 gold.

“Must be from the pawnshop.”

“Yes!”

“Is selling at a high price such a joyful thing?”

“Of course I’m happy it sold for a good price, but it means so many people were competing to buy our shop’s items. I feel good because it’s like our eye for quality was recognized. This must be why people do auctions.”

Whether Alter was being sarcastic or not, I whispered with my eyes crinkled in a bright smile.

He looked at me for a moment, then quickly turned his head away again.

It was just a moment. When our eyes met, I felt a slight sense of unease.

‘I thought I saw wrong earlier because it was night, but his eyes are still ash-colored? Is it because of the mask’s shadow?’

However, the continuing auction process didn’t give me time to think deeply.

From jewelry to historical artifacts, commemorative coins, teacups and dishes, the auction proceeded busily.

The teacup set I consigned sold for 700,000 gold. It was a pawned item that became the pawnshop’s property when someone borrowed 100,000 gold against it but didn’t repay. Even considering the accumulated interest, the profit margin was high, making me proud.

‘Now only The Forest of Cologne is left among my consigned items.’

The categories were being crossed off one by one.

This category was weapons. Next would be paintings, and after that would be the problematic ancient books and documents that Carlos brought.

While waiting for the painting category, I glanced at Alter.

Until now, he had been leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, but this time was different. Weapons were clearly his area of interest.

‘He was looking for a sword with pearls, right? Is that so important?’

However, there were no swords on today’s list.

Menacing veins appeared and disappeared under his rolled-up sleeves, as if he wanted to smash the shields and axes being sold in sequence.

“Not yet?”

Then he suddenly asked.

Normally I would have asked him to include a subject and object, but I know well how it feels to have expectations crushed.

So I decided to just answer him straightforwardly.

‘It’s not hard to say a word or two.’

Even if this person is a lunatic requesting self-human trafficking.

“Yes. There are no newly acquired swords yet.”

“I see. I never expected it would be easy to find anyway.”

A glimpse of emotion showed in his previously emotionless voice.

“But why do you answer questions like this while avoiding easy questions like why you came here?”

I regretted my choice from 5 seconds ago.

I had momentarily forgotten that this person was a question mark serial killer.

Fortunately, I know how to stop this person’s questions.

“Well. I wonder why~?”

“…Stop it. And look forward.”

Suppressing the queasiness in my stomach, I winked at him, and he quickly turned his head away again.

His straightforward reactions were surprisingly amusing, so I smiled a little and looked forward.

Soon it was The Forest of Cologne’s turn.

“This painting is from a private collection, a 25-year-old work depicting a forest in the northwest by an unknown artist who is now deceased. It’s an oil painting using common pigments and oils, with about an inch of cracking in the lower left corner.”

Though silence was the rule, people murmured upon hearing the description.

“Ret? Who’s Ret?”

“Aren’t coniferous forest paintings too common?”

“It’s not even made with expensive paint. And there’s even cracking? Who would buy that? It’ll obviously go unsold.”

Ahem, the auctioneer cleared his throat.

Worried about collusion regulations, it became quiet for a moment.

The auctioneer who calmed the audience opened an envelope. It was the envelope containing the starting price written directly by the seller.

After checking the contents of the envelope, the auctioneer visibly flinched.

“Uh…”

How much could it be to react like that? 1 gold? 10 gold? People held their breath and giggled.

The auctioneer swallowed and opened his mouth.

“The Forest of Cologne, starting at 100 million gold. We’ll begin bidding.”

“What?!”

After the starting price was announced, only one person in the auction house was smiling – me.

“Is it a work by a famous artist under a pseudonym?”

“No, even so, 100 million doesn’t make sense.”

“They said it’s from a private collection. Don’t tell me they brought it from the Imperial Palace treasury?”

“Does that make sense? Seeing there’s cracking, the storage condition must have been terrible, so it can’t be from a treasury.”

The conclusion was one.

“Who would buy that for that money?”

Everyone was making noise, but since I stayed still, I could feel Alter glancing at me.

“No bids? I’ll count to three and finish. One, two, three.”

Bang, bang, bang.

The gavel sounded three times.

“The Forest of Cologne has gone unsold. Unsold auction items can be seen at the next night auction.”

“Well, I’ll be. They probably thought if it’s expensive, there must be a hidden story, and someone would eagerly buy it, right? Whoever it was, they’re an idiot.”

Carlos’s mocking voice could be heard.

Even at those sneering words, I wasn’t angry at all.

‘Perfect.’

It meant it left a strong impression on people.

Not just Carlos, but everyone would definitely talk about this unsold painting.

I smiled secretly to myself.

‘Because this is my trap.’

How long would it take for the story of The Forest of Cologne to reach Hugo and Rosaline’s ears? A day? Half a day?

I was calculating when I suddenly heard Alter’s voice.

“That forest painting. Is that a consignment item you put up?”

There was no need to tell him the truth.

If he, who was likely a criminal with high probability, knew about the connection between me and the painting, there was no telling where he might spread that information.

But I was curious. Why did he think that?

“Why? Do you also think that painting looks like a consignment item submitted by a clueless novice like me?”

“A clueless novice?”

Alter chuckled as if those words were amusing and shook his head.

“No. At least not that.”

“You seem to know a lot about paintings?”

“I know about dynamics. A clueless novice couldn’t pull off such a big scheme.”

“….”

“To my eyes, the large sum of 100 million gold just looks like a step. A step to obtain something even bigger. It’s a method that reminds me of someone.”

I was a bit surprised that he pinpointed it quite accurately with such an indifferent voice.

A method that reminded him of ‘someone’—who could that be?

No, more than that, he seems quite smart, so why is he going around doing bad things like making self-human trafficking proposals with that good brain of his?

As I was thinking, Alter suddenly looked at me.

“So, you’re saying you have nothing to do with that painting?”

It was an interrogation half-filled with conviction.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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