Seeing Kyran''s reluctant look after dering she would join them, Leif exined their need for a guide.


    Simply put, it was better for Kyran and his group to have someone like Leif move with them so that other ns would not target them or even Estrid''s people from the moment they set foot on their territory.


    The ne where Estrid''s n resided was called the Crepuscule Auction House. Though it was called a house, it resembled a small ne and was artificially made, much like the Junction Port.


    In Kyran''s opinion, however, the Crepuscule Auction House resembled a moving fortress. He thought this after hearing from Aillos that it was initially arge ship that grew in size in time. Few knew that information; even if it got revealed, no one would care because they were only interested in doing business with them.


    While Estrid and her n mainly resided in the Crepuscule Auction House, they also possessed a small-sized ne. The ne was too small to amodate the Crepuscule n. Thus, it was primarily used as Estrid''s farm after the auction house expanded.


    Estrid''s farm, where rare medicinal nts and herbs were grown and maintained by her disciples, was not left unprotected. A group of six talented Alchemist Venerates ensured its upkeep, while sixbat mages with dubious backgrounds stood guard, providing a strong sense of security.


    It was a known fact that Estrid did not care about a mage''s history as long as he or she caught her fancy. For this reason, many members of her n were exiles or from a small tribe. Thebat mages protecting her farm were among those members. Four of her disciples were the same. Nheless, she took them in simply because she saw their potential.


    Typically, the ns where those exiles were from would have threatened Estrid into surrendering them. They might already be exiled, but their home n would never want their ex-n member affiliating themselves with another.


    Thanks to Estrid''s special status and the protection bestowed by The Emperor to her and her n, no one dared challenge her. The other ns even ended up currying her favor by keeping a blind eye on the exiles she employed or took into her n.


    In any case, because of theplex rtionship of beingsing in and out of the Crepuscule Auction House, if an unfamiliar group entered for the first time, most ns would approach them, thinking they could be exiles from another n. They would then exploit and use them to enter Estrid''s circle.


    This scheme was already known throughout the Higher Realm, and it would have been impossible for Estrid not to be aware of it. After all, her intelligencework boasted the most extensive in the Higher Realm. However, no one could genuinely confirm whether she knew about the scheme, and she turned a blind eye to them knowingly. If she did turn a blind eye, what caused her to do so was a mystery.


    After hearing Leif''s exnation, Kyran relented to her joining them. Ae and Veles did advise him to tread carefully inside the Crepuscule Auction House because the security was not as great as at the Junction Port. Kyran took their advice to heart, especially since Cyneah insisted oning with him.


    Alta would serve as Cyneah''s primary guardian, but Kyran ensured her clothes were adequately enhanced, and she always had the token. The Steele''s protection also served as anotheryer of security. But most of all, his connection with her now allowed him to pinpoint her location much more easily.


    The same went for Cyneah. She could also pinpoint Kyran''s location, and she did not have to rely on instincts to know whether he was okay. The connection they now had after making their vow in front of the Ancestral Steele allowed them to be more aware of each other''s status and whereabouts.


    Kyran and his group, with the addition of Leif and Mira, left Ogen soon after and headed to the Crepuscule Auction House.


    Oceanus reluctantly let them go—he was still hung up on by Kyran calling Cyneah his wife—and promised to send updates regarding his deal with the de Dancer n.


    Cade and Euan could provide the update since they had already gone to the unnamed ne, but Kyran was okay with hearing updates from Oceanus'' side. He did give separate tasks for thetter that were equally important to his n.


    It took a week to arrive at the Crepuscule Auction House''s port. There was no identity check when entering the port or staying in the outer city. Only when entering the inner city would they be asked to present identification because that was where all the businesses of the Crepuscule n operated.


    True to her role as their guide, Leif escorted them to the inn she had booked ahead of time. However, because the number of people expected to stay in the inn had increased, Leif rmended booking another room.


    Leif took Kyran and Cyneah into ount and booked a double room. But when she distributed the room numbers, Kyran took the single room and had Alta and Cyneah take the double room.


    This puzzled Leif and Mira.


    Cyneah knew why Kyran chose the single room, which was why she did notment on the room arrangements. As for Alta, she heard about Kyran''s mother and Cyneah''s master not wanting them to share a room and thought that was Kyran''s reason for choosing the single room for himself.


    In fact, Kyran chose the single room simply because he nned to stay outside and investigate. He did not want to bother Cyneah while she rested bying inte or leaving suddenly. Cyneah knew this and thus kept silent.


    After dinner, the group decided to retire for the night because they were exhausted from their travel. They might not have encountered any trouble while traveling, but because the ship they traveled in moved twice the speed of an average one, it took quite a toll on their bodies the moment they docked.


    Kyran was probably the only one who was unaffected by the speed. It was no surprise, though. His Void allowed him to teleport and warp without experiencing any side effects. How could a ship that had an increase in speed affect him?


    The outer city of the Crepuscule Auction House reminded Kyran of an industrial town in the Human ne. There wasw and order, but only to a minimum, to ensure the businesses could function properly.


    Still, Kyran sensed an ambiguous air lurking in the dark corners of the outer city. Moreover, the prying eyes of the residents and visitors directed at him were too obvious.


    Leif had already warned him about the situation at the auction house, and Ae and Veles, too. But he did not expect it to be this bad.


    ''And Estrid allowed all of it?'' Kyran wondered while looking toward the west side, where he could barely make out the tall walls that separated the outer city from the inner city.


    Kyran ignored the prying eyes of the beings around him and continued walking around the city. He also entered some shops and checked some of their merchandise.


    The items sold in the outer city were of good quality, some even excellent— however, most were of dubious origin. Thus, they were mostly ignored and left to dust.


    Kyran would have loved to buy some items because they could be of assistance to his people. But after inquiring about the prices, he immediately changed his mind. Most might have ignored these items, but the ones selling them were no fools. They knew their value well and would notpromise because no one wanted to buy them.


    Kyran entered a lot of shops and was surprised that none of them priced their items wrong. Others would not find it strange, but not him. If such good items were sold within the outer city, why would anyone not want to buy them? Sure, they were expensive, but that was only in his opinion due to his limited funds.


    But if he had the authority to use the Dragon n''s wealth, he could buy every item that caught his eye.


    Not that he would buy them, of course. The Dragon n had the capability to produce most of the items there with a much better effect. The only thing stopping them from production was likely the avability of the materials needed to create them.


    In any case, Kyran did not understand why such items were on disy and yet most ignored them.


    ''Hm?'' Kyran picked up some movements as he continued to walk down the bustling alley. There were still a few hours before midnight, and the city''s business area was still pretty active. As for the ambiguous air he sensed earlier, it had gotten worse as the night deepened.


    ''No way...''


    A sudden realization struck him as he tried to make sense of the strangeness he had felt after visiting some shops.


    ''Are all those items on disy a test?''


    This was the only reason that came to Kyran''s mind. What if those items were disyed there on purpose to find beings like Kyran who could discern their value? What if the shop owners were instructed to monitor those individuals and report them back to the inner city? What if everything was Estrid''s ploy to sift out potential talents?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Kyran might be getting ahead of himself, but he could not shake the feeling that the number of prying eyes observing him had increased. Moreover, there were a few of them whose presence he could barely sense, meaning their level was rtively high.