Chapter 148

The secret behind Serpene’s sudden fortune was none other than the fact that it was built on the illicit trade of monsters, bolstered by sorcery, one of the most forbidden powers of all.

“Axion, what do we do now?”

Evelyn’s voice trembled as she asked, unable to steady herself. He answered in a tone so calm it was as though she had asked the most obvious question.

“We’ve been treated to quite a spectacle. I suppose it’s only fair to return the favor.”

“Return the favor?”

As she stared back with questioning, wavering eyes, the man lowered his voice to chant the words of a spell.

Fwoosh—

In the next instant, the long curtains draping the dais erupted in flames, tongues of fire leaping skyward.

“What in the world are you…!”

Evelyn tried to seize his arm, to stop him, but his gaze remained fixed on the blaze.

“It’s just an illusion.”

“…What?”

Only then did she realize that Axion intended to use illusion magic to plunge the auction hall into chaos. This was only possible because of his immense magic power.

“F-Fire! It’s fire!”

As the blaze roared higher, oppressive heat swept through the hall, and alarms shrieked in every direction. The Crown Prince’s expression twisted in fury at the sight of his carefully orchestrated auction engulfed in flames. Veins stood stark against his clenched fists as he rose sharply to his feet, temper fraying.

The auctioneer, who had been staring blankly while trying to grasp the situation, scrambled to follow the emergency protocols.

“Honored guests, please evacuate the area immediately!”

At his cry, nobles rushed toward the exits in panic, while Serpene’s attendants poured in to suppress the blaze.

However, the crimson fire that was born of illusion refused to yield so easily. When it became clear that the flames couldn’t be quelled, the sorcerers stepped forward, striding toward the dais. It wouldn’t take them long to sense that the fire was imbued with magic.

‘What if they discover the truth?’

As though reading her thoughts, Axion lowered his voice.

“They won’t notice anyway.”

He explained that he had woven layer upon layer of formulas into the spell, leaving no trace that could be followed. Then, with a curved smile tugging at his lips, he rose to his feet.

“Come. Let’s get going.”

“Are we leaving now? Just like this?”

She couldn’t accept leaving with empty hands since they hadn’t secured any real evidence yet.

Axion’s smile deepened faintly as he replied.

“Of course not.”

For a fleeting moment, a flicker of madness gleamed in the man’s crimson eyes before vanishing.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

“Axion, how did you even figure out where the administrator’s office is?”

Evelyn could only marvel at her fiancé, who had somehow led them to a hidden room far from the auction hall. But he seemed disinclined to offer much explanation.

“Let’s just say I had some help from my subordinates.”

His vague answer left her tilting her head in puzzlement, but she soon returned her focus to the task at hand, which was finding proof. Even though they had been in the room for over thirty minutes, they hadn’t found anything substantial.

‘Where could it possibly be hidden?’

With a weary sigh, Evelyn’s expression faltered in frustration.

At that moment, the man’s searching hand suddenly stilled.

Sensing something unusual, she turned toward him and found his crimson gaze fixed upon the lowest shelf of a bookcase. As though he had spotted an inconsistency in the pattern of numbers, he began pulling the volumes free, one by one. They finally uncovered a recessed handle hidden deep within the bookcase.

When Axion gripped the handle and slid the bookcase sideways, a deep compartment, about the size of a small safe, was revealed.

“Do you think there’s something inside?”

As she whispered, he gave a brief nod.

A lock barred the compartment, but Axion pressed his magic into it, turning the lever slowly. Before long, a sharp click broke the silence, and the lock yielded.

Within lay Serpene’s confidential ledgers, the detailed records of its monster trade.

As they had finally found the proof they sought, relief swept through Evelyn’s chest. Still, there was no time to linger. She was just about to suggest they leave the office when—

— What the hell is going on?

— It seems there’s been a fault with the lighting system.

The familiar voice that carried in from outside the door turned her face pale in an instant.