The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 21

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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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Blade-like eyes stare at me.

I swallowed slightly and asked while gazing into Alter’s gray eyes.

“Um.”

“Speak.”

“Don’t I need to look forward anymore?”

“…No. Look forward.”

Having successfully changed the subject, I sighed inwardly and turned my body slightly.

Now that the painting auction was over, my only interest was Carlos.

“We will now begin the auction for rare books and ancient documents. The first auction item we’ll show you is a signed first edition by a famous fairy tale author.”

This isn’t it.

Carlos, with his arms crossed, looked quite bored.

Crossing and uncrossing his legs, unable to keep his body still for even a moment, he seemed like someone who wanted this part to pass quickly.

“The second auction item we’ll show you is a cocktail recipe document from a former imperial chef, with coloring and.”

This isn’t it either.

“The third auction item we’ll show you. An unpublished posthumous work by sociologist August and…”

This is it.

Carlos’ posture changed.

“…’The Interpretation of Power,’ which contains his handwritten notes, starting at 200,000 gold.”

“Oh my!”

A scream-like voice echoed through the quiet auction house.

Eyes naturally turned toward the buyer section where the sound came from.

A woman who had unknowingly screamed and stood up looked very embarrassed as she sat back down.

“I’m sorry…”

I turned my gaze back to Carlos’ seat and narrowed my eyes.

‘What? He keeps staring at that woman.’

If he had just glanced casually like me, his gaze would have moved away, but he kept watching intently.

That wasn’t all. Carlos’ chin was pulled up. He was definitely smiling ominously under his mask.

Why? Who was that woman with the purple hat, only showing her back?

More importantly, ‘The Interpretation of Power’?

It seemed familiar somehow. As I traced my memory, I took a deep breath.

‘I remember. That book!’

It was a banned book. More precisely, a book that would soon be banned.

‘The Interpretation of Power,’ an unpublished work that I remembered because I was puzzled when I saw an article about it being designated as a banned book. Of course, since it’s at auction now, it’s not banned yet, but it will be designated as banned in exactly one month.’

Why would Carlos put a book that would soon be banned up for auction so brazenly?

I bit my lip. I recalled the punishment for those who possessed banned books.

‘If ordinary citizens are caught with banned books, they just pay a fine and have them confiscated.’

But if the person who owns a banned book is a public official, the story is a bit different.

‘They can even be fired. The person who was fired for having that banned book was exactly…!’

[…Fired Palace Document Officer Hanna Diego claims unfair treatment in interview…]

Hanna Diego.

The woman with the purple hat was exactly that person, and Rosaline had wanted her to be fired.

The reason didn’t matter right now.

If Rosaline disliked that document officer?

‘That means she’s someone who helps me just by keeping her position!’

After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I watched with wide eyes.

“500,000 gold. 550,000 gold. 600,000 gold. Bidding increases by 100,000 gold. 700,000 gold. 800,000 gold…”

The price was rising rapidly. It was a two-way battle between Hanna at number 80 and Man #81.

Hanna seemed to really want that book. She kept raising her auction paddle.

‘Rosaline must have predicted that Hanna would desperately want ‘The Interpretation of Power.”

But Man #81 was no pushover either. He kept following every time Hanna raised her paddle.

But somehow the timing was strange.

‘He’s not following immediately, but waiting a moment before raising it? Just like he’s receiving someone’s orders.’

The man was wearing a mask so large it was visible even from behind.

A mask that covered not only his face but his ears as well.

I looked at Carlos once more. His body, which had been moving restlessly, was now well-behaved.

Except for his feet.

Tap. When he tapped his shoe once, the man raised his paddle one second later.

Tap tap. When he tapped his shoe twice, the man waited for a moment. As if contemplating.

‘I get it. Man #81 has a magical device in his ear! Carlos attached a transmitter to his shoe sole to send signals!’

“1,300,000 gold. 1,400,000 gold. 1,500,000 gold. Bidding by 200,000 gold increments. 1,700,000 gold. 1,900,000 gold.”

The auction price was rising like crazy, and Carlos’ chin showed no sign of coming down.

The reason he was grinning was obvious.

‘That evil bastard! He’s selling the book to get her fired, but he’s also trying to maximize his profit by driving up the bidding!’

I had to stop Hanna, who was running toward her own dismissal like an unbridled horse.

Once an auction is concluded, it’s absolutely impossible to cancel.

Even if collusion is discovered, the transaction proceeds as is. The only way to get compensation is to file a separate lawsuit.

A way to dump the book on Carlos’ group while also being able to report them.

And a way to keep myself hidden as much as possible…

“Excuse me.”

I had an idea.

I grabbed Alter’s arm.

“How much to rent you for an hour?”

“What?”

Alter was shocked, but I was in a hurry.

Even at this moment, the book price was soaring sky-high.

“You said it before, asking me to buy you! How much to rent you for just one hour?”

“No, that was… Ha.”

Alter, looking flustered as he ran his hand through his hair, asked.

“What is it. You said you wouldn’t buy me before. What’s going on that you need to buy me today?”

“Ugh, I don’t have time for a long argument, so I’ll send you the receipt later.”

I stretched up as high as I could and whispered in his ear.

“Do you see number 81 over there?”

Whether Alter’s ear twitched or not, I began explaining like a machine gun.

From the transmitter under Carlos’ foot to the scheme he was pulling with number 81.

But I felt a bit anxious. Would he believe me?

No, more importantly, would he help me?

“I’ll somehow handle the transmitter, so you just make sure that number 81 can’t escape…”

“Why?”

As expected. Alter asks.

Is he asking why he should cooperate?

But the question that followed was slightly different in nature.

“Even if number 80 buys the book at an expensive price due to collusion, you don’t lose anything. So why are you trying to stop it?”

Deflated, I laughed hollowly and answered.

“She’s an innocent person. An innocent person in danger of being scammed. I have to help her. Even if there’s nothing in it for me.”

Even if that woman wasn’t Hanna.

Even if the scammer wasn’t Carlos, I would have helped once I witnessed it.

“I understand, but how can I pretend not to know?”

Since I understand. Since I found out. I can’t pretend not to know.

At my firm answer, Alter’s dark eyes narrowed slightly.

‘Is he going to refuse?’

Well, this person might be a bad person too.

I was about to rummage through my bag, thinking I’d have to manage somehow on my own.

“Fine. I’ll cooperate.”

It was an unexpected answer.

When I turned around, Alter added.

“I liked that answer. Only that answer. I have no other intentions.”

Perhaps worried I might say something cheesy again, his deliberate addition was a bit amusing, making me laugh before I came to my senses.

“Yes, understood. Oh, it’s already gone up to 6 million gold. Let’s hurry!”

“What are you planning to do? It’s impossible for you to handle that man’s transmitter with your strength, isn’t it? You even left your self-defense items behind.”

“I have it all figured out, so hurry up and go!”

Alter, who had looked back several times, headed toward the buyers’ direction.

Taking a deep breath, I rummaged through my bag.

Although I had left the self-defense magical tools behind, there was one thing remaining.

‘I have this.’

A glass vial containing holy water.

I watched for the right timing. Hanna also seemed troubled by the price that had risen too high, taking longer to bid.

Just before the auctioneer counted to three, she hesitantly raised her paddle.

I could instinctively tell. This was Hanna’s final bet.

Carlos seemed to know this too, as he smirked. This time, Carlos would stomp his foot twice, meaning not to bid.

Tap.

And just before he stomped his foot one more time.

‘Now!’

Crash—

After signaling to Alter, I dropped the glass vial on the floor, shattering it.

And then, tap.

“…What the.”

Carlos shot up from his seat.

What he saw while stepping on the spilled holy water was.

“Closing after counting to three. Three, two.”

“No! That’s not right!”

“One.”

Bang, bang. Bang.

“‘Interpretation of Power’ has been sold to Customer 81 for 8.5 million gold.”

“No—!”

The back view of Customer 81 who had won the bid in bewilderment.

“We received a tip, sir. We have something to verify, so could you please sit down for a moment?”

And the sight of burly guards blocking his way with stern faces.

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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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