"Knight made a breakthrough to the moon level"
Every breakthrough provides the cultivator with a huge leap in power to manipulate the battle energy. Even between the sublevels like low and mid, the power gap was tremendous, often a low-level cultivator wasn't a match for a mid-level cultivator in the same realm(level).
This wasn't a fact only true for battle energy but for magic level too.
Every ally he can trust is important for him to achieve his goal so Knight's breakthrough made him happy since he was like his brother, now Knight can easily defeat two or three low or mid-level, great masters.
Don couldn't linger at the moment for longer. He had plans today, very important plans so he quickly put the hood on and went outside to meet Uncle Dior.
The tavern was not crowded as yesterday evening, some adventurers were eating and drinking on the corner as some of them hitting on the waitresses while some soldiers had a beer at the bartender's counter and a hooded figure enjoying his hot stew on the table nearby.
Don knew he was Uncle Dior so he walked towards him and sat on the chair opposite of uncle Dior. Uncle Dior looked up and saw so Mike's face.
"You should eat something before we go out," uncle Dior said while having a mouth full of hot stew.
Don just shook his head "No, thanks"
"Your loss, this stew is so tasty" in a few minutes Uncle Dior licked the bowl clean and put the coppers for the stew on the table and went out followed by Don.
"While you were sleeping I asked one of the waitresses about the Thousand arms auction house"
Uncle Dior seemed to know the way so Don listened to him and followed him by side.
"Apparently Thousand arms auction was a franchise, they have many branches across the moon empire"
Uncle Dior took a turn to the left and led Don into a narrow alley.
"They deal with all sorts of stuff including slaves" Uncle Dior gritted his teeth while saying the latter part
"Is that so?"
Uncle Dior stopped moving and stared at Don
"Don't get any ideas they have a grandmaster protecting each of their branches so stealing from them " he paused for a moment
"Is like taking a gold chalice from a dragon"
"Grandmaster huh? what about the guards?"
"Oh yes the waitress said the guards were all just for the show as they were just apprentice magi's"
Don was silent when he heard this so uncle Dior thought he was confused so he started to explain
"According to the waitress since slave city was not a commercial or trade town, the auction house was closed on most days, they will only open or start an auction if they got something special "
As they were talking they walked into the market square, in the center of the market square was a statue of a plump man with many women at his feet.
The statue was decorated in flowers and incense sticks were burning.
Around the statue was an empty square and the people in the market square didn't even dare to look at the statue let alone go near
"Minister Brian" Don murmured and followed uncle Dior who didn't even take peek at the statue
"Where was I?"
"You were saying about the guards"
"Ah yes since they only open for few days in a week, why would they want to hire powerful guards also who is dumb enough to rob an auction house guarded by a grandmaster"
Eventually, they came front of a majestic three-story building, the steps and lawn was made of marble they were so shiny and clean you could see your reflection on its surface, the stairs connected with big eight marble pillars which were decorated with some paintings made by high-quality paint, the eight pillars supported a triangular structure which had a writing of 'Thousand Arms' while two banners covered the top half of each four pillars, the banners had a logo of sun and the rays coming out of it looked like close-fisted arms.
There was a blue carpet made by the first-rate fur, leading to the main door which was guarded by two blue feathered helm guards.
"Let's go inside and sell the magic core, and try to look at the auction"
Don was glad they encountered a magical beast if not there could have been some problems getting inside the auction house with empty hands.
The guards didn't seem to mind the two of them as they went inside.
The inside of the auction house was more marvelous than the outside, there were some fancy furniture located here and there and some magical plants were growing on the pots.
Don could see there were many paintings of some old people and magical beasts on the wall when he heard a soft feminine voice,
"Welcome to the Thousand Arms Auction house honored guests" a beautiful woman wearing a kimono greeted the two of them, she had a bright smile on her face just as her hair was made into a bun style.
"I am Yuki honored guests is there anything I can help you with"
"Ah yes my co-worker and I came across a magic core, so we thought we sell and have ourselves a drink "
Uncle Dior didn't take off his hood but he conversed with Yuki like talking to a good friend which made Yuki smile brighter.
"Of course, of course, let's go to the reception so we could appraise it and pay you a good price"
They went straight to the reception and Uncle Dior took out the spotless red magic core they got from the black panther
Yuki's bright smile was replaced with shock and surprise she lost her previous demeanor and looked at the magic core like a kid drooling for a candy
"Is is that a great master magic core" her eyes sparkled while she looked at the magic core and reached out her hand
Uncle Dior knew she wanted to touch the magic core but he didn't give it to her
"Yes I want to know how much I'll get by selling this"
Yuki recovered her senses as she took back her hands and cleared her throat
"I am not authorized enough to make this transaction so if the honored guests allowed me I can bring my senior to help you in a second
"Alright we wait here"
Yuki gave them a happy smile and went inside the door behind the reception, the duo looked around the hall and waited for Yuki's senior.
After a while, Yuki brought two men with her, one was a bald old man in a golden robe and the other was a middle-aged man with short white hair in a brown robe, the white-haired man was the manager according to the badge he was wearing on his left chest side.
"Yuki these are the gentlemen with the great master magic core?"
The manager asked Yuki
"Ah yes sir they are the one"
"Gentlemen if you could please show us the magic core please"
The manager reached out his hands towards them
"Ok here it is" uncle Dior handed over the magic core to the manager
The manager looked at the core carefully and gave it to the old man behind him, as the old man took the core from the manager's hands and held it over his head and looked through the light then he weighed it in his hand and closed his fist tightly.
The manager and Yuki looking at the old man expectantly just as the old man nodded and confirmed
"Yes this is a genuine mid-level great master magic core and I'll bet it came from a black panther"
The manager looked happy but not as happy as Yuki, it seemed she get a commission from transactions made by the customers she handles
"Gentleman we could buy this from you for let's just say" the manager considered for a bit
"Two hundred silver coins" but before Uncle Dior could respond to the manager's offer
" you can also choose to auction the core but we don't guarantee about the selling price"
Uncle Dior acted as he considers the options
"What if no one buys the magic core in the auction? do we need to pay you for your troubles?"
"No you don't have to but of course there will be a small fee if your magic core is sold"
Finally, they had a way into the Auction to see Minister Brian.
"We try our luck in the auction"
Yuki was a little disappointed in her customer's decision but she couldn't do anything so she retrieved a token which was made of pure silver and handed over to uncle Dior.
"I'll take this magic core to the auctioneer, Yuki you take these gentlemen to the auction hall"
The manager left carrying the magic core with the old man while Yuki led Don and Uncle Dior to the auction hall on the second floor and showed them the door.
"Minister Brian here I come" Don calmly said and opened the door.
