Chapter 126: Auction · Prelude (Part 2)

After breakfast, the team searching for Churde Defendi began to expand. Under the orders of Marquis Vauban, more people joined the search team.

After Baron Janel sent his men out, Dean also participated in the search after asking for permission from the young lady of the Tier Baron Family. However, compared to the aimless searching of others, Dean’s target was quite clear.

Of course, to ‘conceal’ his clear target, Dean used some methods—

“Thank you for the information!”

Dean sincerely thanked the duty captain of the City Guard in front of him.

“It is a small matter. We have already submitted the corpse and the report from that time to Lord Marquis. Presumably, Lord Marquis has already made a decision!”

The duty captain of the City Guard was a sturdy middle-aged man. Facing the polite Dean, he responded with a smile.

“Thank you again!”

Dean bowed slightly and left the City Guard with his two young subordinates and deputies.

“It is terrible that such a murder happened in Vauban City!”

Ike had a look of disbelief, while Theron beside him was somewhat shaken. Clearly, after arriving in Vauban City yesterday, the two young men were dazzled by the prosperity here and had long forgotten about the so-called crisis.

“Where there are people, there will be no lack of Darkness and bloodshed—Tier Town has it, Vauban City has it, and the Capital of Emerald has it too!”

After reminding his young subordinates, Dean strode toward the crime scene pointed out by the other party.

Of course, Dean absolutely did not intend to check here again, or search for Churde Defendi in the true sense.

He came here just to find out the owner behind that building.

Compared to inquiring for no reason, inquiring under a certain banner was obviously more reassuring.

“Regiment Commander, it is right here!”

Ike pointed at the street not far away where Vauban City patrol soldiers were stationed.

Clearly, this place was temporarily sealed off.

The layers of crowds blocked outside were the best proof.

However, possessing the title of Knight Order Regiment Commander and responding to Marquis Vauban’s search, Dean and his group were naturally allowed to pass.

But the scene was just as described by that duty captain of the City Guard.

Even Dean, who personally participated, could not gain anything more.

However, Dean naturally would not ‘retreat in the face of difficulty’ like this—

“Ike, ask the guards who the residents nearby are. They might have discovered more!”

Dean instructed one of his subordinate captains.

“Yes, Regiment Commander!”

Ike turned around and ran toward the stationed guards.

Dean pretended to continue investigating the scene, looking for clues that could not exist—in fact, the places where clues might have been left had already been wiped clean by him.

Not long after, Ike ran back.

“Regiment Commander, the property here belongs to Mr. Balbo, and this Mr. Balbo is the steward of Your Excellency Madel—Madel is now one of the aides of Marquis Vauban and is very trusted by the Marquis!”

Ike said clearly.

“Aide to the Marquis? Then, let us go ask this steward!”

Dean said this.

However, very naturally, they were met with a closed door—

“Mr. Balbo has already made it clear enough, there is nothing more to say. Moreover, he is currently at the mansion of Your Excellency Madel. If you have any business, go to Your Excellency Madel!”

A rough-faced, powerfully built guy said this, then slammed the door shut with a ‘bang’.

This behavior undoubtedly caused indignation among the two young subordinates of the Knight Order.

“A steward of an aide, acting this arrogantly?!”

Theron mumbled indignantly.

“Exactly, even Marquis Vauban is not this overbearing!”

Ike also showed his youthful side.

The two young men walked in front, while Dean lagged a step behind. He cast a questioning look at his deputy—

“That guy is no problem, but a bit strange!”

Huck knew very well what his Regiment Commander was asking and immediately said.

“Yes, on guard!”

Dean added.

“That is right, on guard… as if guarding against something!”

Huck nodded suddenly, expressing his agreement.

Dean beside them fell silent, but in his narrowed eyes, a gleam flashed.

In fact, the moment the other party opened the door, Dean felt the hair all over his body stand up—Dean was naturally no stranger to this feeling.

It was the feeling of being locked onto by a certain strong expert.

Although the other party had concealed it, Dean, who had undergone Thief training, was very clear about such a lock.

At least a Grand Knight!

Dean finally made his speculation.

“Grand Knight… a big fish that appeared unintentionally!”

Dean sneered coldly in his heart.

Clearly, if this were the mansion of Marquis Vauban, the appearance of a Grand Knight would not make Dean say anything; he would not even be surprised by a Silver Knight.

But this was just the home of the steward of an aide of Marquis Vauban.

Added to that were the two Knight-rank guards that appeared last night, and the steward himself who also possessed not weak skills.

Everything seemed to make Dean suspicious.

As for that Your Excellency Madel asking Marquis Vauban for help, and Marquis Vauban sending people?

Such a thing was impossible!

Firstly, given the other party’s status, his steward having late-night dealings with a Territory heir under Marquis Vauban’s jurisdiction was itself the greatest taboo among Nobles.

Secondly, and more importantly, that Territory heir had now disappeared.

Such a disappearance was absolutely indefensible.

Therefore, only if that Your Excellency Madel had not lost his mind would he absolutely not confess.

Moreover, he would handle everything without showing any emotion—just like now, the death of the other party’s steward was not revealed at all, and the relationship between Churde Defendi and him was known to no one.

And he also sent capable subordinates to guard here.

Anyone who came to inquire with an unclear identity would obviously be captured in one go by that Grand Knight.

Of course, what Dean paid more attention to was the ‘ability’ of the other party to command a Grand Knight.

This was absolutely not something an ordinary person could do.

In the entire Vauban City, apart from Marquis Vauban, it seemed only one person could achieve this—that Goth spy chief hidden within Vauban County.

Of course, this was merely a guess by Dean right now.

To confirm this guess, Dean still needed some methods, not complex methods.

However, that would be after Marquis Vauban’s auction.

With his deputy and young subordinates, Dean walked toward the Upper District at the intersection without looking back at the direction behind him.

Along that direction, walking straight to the end was the temporary stronghold of the ‘Brotherhood’.

Dean knew this clearly in his heart.

But he did not think now was the time to alert the enemy.

…

“Is that so? Then we just need to report the truth to Marquis Vauban!”

After hearing Dean’s truthful report, the young lady of the Tier Baron Family nodded.

In fact, the relationship between Tier Territory and Defendi Territory was basically well known, so being able to do this much was already very difficult.

Even Marquis Vauban would not say anything more.

And that was enough.

As for Baron Janel on the side?

Clearly, he had also gained nothing, but after seeing that Dean had also gained nothing, the Baron instead became triumphant.

Undoubtedly, he thought that since even Dean had gained nothing, what did it matter if he gained nothing?

Moreover, since both he and Dean had gained nothing, it proved that the two sides were not that different, or even basically the same!

This was naturally something worth being proud of.

Dean glanced at the ‘good-for-nothing’ Baron, naturally unable to understand the other party’s thoughts, while the young lady of the Tier Baron Family on the side did not even want to look at this Baron.

The search continued until after lunch, before the auction began.

The result was naturally gaining nothing.

However, the auction started as scheduled.

After all, everyone knew clearly without saying which was more important: the auction of a Marquis or the whereabouts of a Baron Territory heir.

Because he had items participating in the auction, Dean appeared as a guest.

Therefore, Huck, as Dean’s deputy, naturally followed behind the young lady of the Baron Family.

As for the seating arrangement, Marquis Vauban naturally had his own plan, arranging the three of them together—the seating arrangement for Marquis Vauban’s auction was not as uniform as imagined, with rows and columns; instead, it was arranged scatteredly according to the identity and relationships of the guests.

Just like his four subordinate Lords, who sat together like this.

And the merchants sat together.

Those distinguished guests from other Counties continued to sit together according to their regions.

As for the auction platform?

It was built in a position located in the middle of the hall, and the wide aisle left behind was naturally the channel for transporting the collection items.

When Marquis Vauban appeared, all the guests in the venue stood up and saluted. The old man responded to each of them, then walked straight in the direction of Dean’s group.

As the County King of Vauban County, this Marquis naturally needed to sit in front of his own Lords and Territory heirs.

This was the rule and the custom.

“The auction begins!”

After Marquis Vauban sat down, the steward of Marquis Vauban walked up onto the platform and lightly knocked the wooden gavel in his hand on the table surface in front of him.