There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)-Chapter 687: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 22

Inside a high-rise building in Luxier, the capital of the Western Republic, a man leaned back on his swivel chair, staring at the scenery behind the floor-to-ceiling glass wall.

He smiled in satisfaction while absorbing the view of the urban landscape. "What a good day," he sighed while sipping on his morning coffee, excellently brewed by a world-champion barista whose job now was solely to make his coffee.

A woman in a pantsuit standing beside his desk muttered in confusion. "It’s snowing, Sir."

"That’s why it’s good," he swiveled back and smiled cheerfully--which was a rare sight. It was rare that the smile contained real joy instead of mockery. "The colder it is the better."

Not many people might come due to the snow, but the media would definitely be there, waiting for any story. Whether he, Ramsay Hammer, proceded with the auction or not, it would still be worth to be turned into an article or two.

"Still upholding our schedule even in this bad weather," the man smirked, spreading his arms wide. "Wouldn’t I look gracious?"

Another man in a suit replied readily. "A lot of people had come from afar, so it would be a loss for them if the auction is canceled."

"Exactly!" he snapped his fingers, before glancing at the snow persistently falling since the morning. "Prepare my heat insulation coat."

"Yes, Sir."

When his assistants went to fetch the coat, Ramsay left his seat and stood in front of the glass wall, enjoying the winter scenery even more.

"You must be pissed, right? Radia Mallarc..." he smirked.

Laurel had never even met him. He made the representatives from Mortix wait for days saying he was busy, and then dropped the public auction announcement out of nowhere. He could imagine their expression--he could imagine Radia’s expression.

Those crimson eyes, ever so aloof and indifferent to everything that did not interest him...

"No matter what I do, you never pay attention to me," Ramsay’s smile deepened at the thought of an annoyed--probably even distressed look--on that face. "You have no choice but to, now."

* * *

Despite the snow, people had been gathering in Luxier Plaza since dawn--some had even camped inside the park surrounding the Plaza since the night before. They eagerly waited as the barricade protecting the Plaza was being lifted, and immediately made a line so they could be admitted in. Granted, they could still participate even if they weren’t inside the Plaza, but the chance to get noticed by the committee--or rather, by Ramsay Hammer--would be slim.

Beneath the umbrella and inside their winter coat, they clutched their own treasure; family heirlooms, their best artifacts, all the money they had saved their whole lives. Each had their motivation to get the flame artifact, but none was weak.

No one with a weak motivation would stand in the snow, freezing while waiting for a small possibility.

Of course, the stage where the auction would be held was under a canopy. To protect the artifact, they said. While the host of the auction explained the rule--which was registering their bids for the committee to peruse later--and introduced appraisals that Ramsey brought, the man himself was sitting comfortably, scanning the Plaza.

"Do you think he’ll really come, Sir?" the assistant lady asked curiously.

"I already denied his mother’s visit, so he would know he should come in person this time," Ramsay scoffed.

Yeah; that was why he did not even consider meeting Laurel Mallarc. He wanted to rile up Radia, making him think that he had no choice but to come in person. Unless he gave up on the item altogether, he would attend this auction.

But he knew Radia was in Luxier. He was already informed by someone working in the airport--a private jet with the Mortix logo just landed not long ago.

Yeah, he’ll be here--Ramsay smiled deeply, feeling excited just from the fact that Radia Mallarc was in Luxier. Whether the man would attend the auction or request a private meeting did not matter to him.

That being said...

"Why do you think he wants this artifact? It’s not compatible with his class," Ramsay stroked his chin while pondering. "Summoned creatures could not be enhanced with an artifact anyway."

"I’m not sure either, Sir," the male assistant replied. "Perhaps for a friend? I heard he has a good relationship with Eastern Sun."

"That flame witch?" Ramsay tilted his head. "But why would he send his mother to negotiate for someone else?"

"Perhaps Mallarc House wants to win her over and recruit her?" the assistant lady muttered. "Wasn’t Radia Mallarc purchasing an expensive healing relic four years ago?"

"Hmm...make sense. Is House Mallarc in decline or anything?"

"I’m not sure, Sir. It doesn’t seem so, but you never know with Old Houses. If there’s a friction between Old Houses, no one would know but them."

"That’s true..."

It was annoying to admit, but Ramsay did not come from the Great Houses family. The Hammer was considered a conglomerate, but also a new money. Anything less than five generations of wealth, even with more money, would be considered lacking in history.

Oh, whatever. The reason was not important to him, as long as he could play this man; make Radia dance on top of his palm.

"But when will this guy--"

He paused, smiling deeply until his canines were visible as he caught the sight of dark red hair, striking against the snow. With an all-black outfit, the crimson eyes staring at him were even more captivating.

A laugh came as he suppressed the shudder tingling his back from that intense crimson gaze. "There he is."

"Sir?"

Before the assistants could say or do anything, Ramsay stood up and walked toward the host, who had been randomly choosing people from the crowd to be appraised. With a cheerful smile, he snatched the microphone from the bewildered host.

"Today is so wonderful!" he spoke to the crowd in a cheerful tone that elicited a cheer, but his eyes only looked at one person standing at the back of the crowd. "To think that this humble auction even beckoned someone from the Eastern Federation!"

Immediately, surprised murmurs spread among the crowd.

"What?!"

"Those bastards from the East?"

"Where?"

The people immediately moved their heads to look for any foreign faces. It wasn’t like there were no foreigners there, but people from the Eastern Federation typically refrained from attending a public function like this.

Lips stretching wider, Ramsay spoke to the mic, letting his voice be heard all around the Plaza, the parks, and the media broadcasting the events. "Welcome to my humble function, Radia Mallarc."

The Western Republic’s citizens might not know Radia, but most of them would have heard about House Mallarc. After all, the names of prominent Old Houses were taught in school because they were tied to the heroes of the Old Age. It was especially easy to remember the House with striking characteristics--like the Mallarc’s red hair and eyes.

Naturally, as people tried to locate the color, their gaze quickly fell on Radia.

"Are you here to spectate?" Ramsay asked the man who stood wordlessly, still looking at him. That single attention was so, so delicious. His smile deepened before he let out a fake, but not unnatural gasp. "No way--are you here to bid?"

Murmurs quickly spread, full of curiosity. Without removing his gaze from the stage, Radia answered without hesitation. "Yes."

The curious murmurs swiftly turned into scorns. Ramsay was sure Radia could hear all of those, feeling the gazes prickling all over him. The crimson gaze was stiff, but unreadable. Ramsay couldn’t know what was behind that stern gaze, but it was thrilling nonetheless.

The attention he craved.

"Come now, you can’t be seriously thinking about competing with these people?" Ramsay shook his head with a sigh. "You’re a wealthy man, Mallarc--you get money every time you take a breath. You can get a lot of artifacts just by waving your hand once, so let the people have this one, hmm?"

Naturally, the scorn around the crowd got more heated. It almost felt like they would jump and kick Radia out if it wasn’t for the two imposing figures accompanying him.

Well...Ramsay couldn’t care less if the people wanted to kick Radia out. But he supposed...it wouldn’t be much fun if it ended so quickly, would it? He curled his lips behind the microphone, staring back at the sharp crimson eyes. How about it? What are you going to do now, huh?

Hmm...should he lend some help? He smiled and parted his lips, but Radia beat him to it.

"Please," the voice was strangely weak; hardly matching with the intense gaze. "I need that artifact...please."

Ramsay was rather surprised. If he only listened to the voice, Radia sounded just like any other person who wanted to have the artifact here.

But there was no way he could get swayed because of that. Putting on a hardened face, he deliberately spoke in a dramatic tone. "Don’t you have empathy for these people?"

"I have prepared nine fire-attribute artifacts in return--all of them are high-grade artifacts from the fourth and fifth floor," Radia swiftly said, and one of the men behind him opened a big case with nine artifacts lying against black velvet cloth and encased in a protective array. The aura and mana waves coming out of them were enough to make the crowds gasp. Certainly, they were the real deal; some even swallowed hard at the sight. "You can use them to proceed with the auction. Won’t it be better if more people had artifacts?"

The tide suddenly started to shift. The sentient flame artifact was indeed precious, but it didn’t exactly match these people’s level. They knew their treasures wouldn’t be able to buy the artifact normally. Would it be so different if they got the artifacts that Radia Mallarc brought? No--not at all.

And if there were nine, their odds had just increased.

Seeing those sparkling eyes below the stage, Ramsay clicked his tongue. As expected; this guy was cunning and read the crowd well.

"That is quite generous of you, but some people come here because they need this specific artifact, you know--even bringing their family heirloom," Ramsay tried to shift the tide back. "Shouldn’t you show more sincerity beyond using your abundant money?"

"Then, I will add this," unfazed, as if already predicting it, Radia took out an antique box with a compass relic inside. "It is, as you want, a family heirloom. You can look it up--it will be in our House registry."

Ramsay cursed inwardly. If he talked again, people might catch on. He glanced at someone in the crowd then, making a signal with his eyes.

"Hmph!" someone suddenly scoffed from the crowd, somewhere near Radia. "How can you call it sincerity? Most people here only have one or two family heirlooms and have been agonized for days about bringing them here. What about you? I bet you have a warehouse full of family heirlooms," the man sneered, swaying the others’ opinions again. "What’s letting go of one when you still have dozens."

Those who had to part with their one and only treasure nodded in agreement, and the sentiment grew, spreading all over the Plaza. Ramsay was about to smile in satisfaction when he heard a strangely emotional response.

"Then what--" Radia paused and pressed his trembling lips, taking a shaky breath before asking again in a lower tone. "What do you want me to do?"

It was a surprising reaction, especially from those who knew Radia. Naturally, including Ramsay himself.

"What should I do so you sell me the artifact?" the voice even sounded desperate, and the intensity in those crimson eyes was that of a wounded animal. "Please..."

"Master--"

"Sir..."

"Shut up!"

Radia hissed and silenced his subordinates before shifting his gaze back to the stage. "Tell me," he spoke with a restrained voice that made it seem like he was getting choked. "Ramsay Hammer! Tell me."

Ramsey had to bite his cheek as he shuddered. Ah...finally; he’s calling my name.

"I told you, you need to show sincerity."

But let’s humble him first.

"Others made sacrifices by letting go of their precious treasure," Ramsay swept his gaze across the Plaza, making a sympathetic face. "But treasures are not precious to you, so you must let go of something else."

At last, the sweeping gaze returned to the pair of crimson.

"Your pride," his eyes curled as joy spread inside his body. "Let go of your pride and get on your knees."