Again, self control. I iterate this message to myself.

Don't shoot the bouncers.

Don't shoot the aristocrats either.

I'm calm. My tranquillity matches that of a serene woodlands.

I breathe in and out. Like the gentle breeze across the plains.

But damn, I can't stand their chi chi, pretentious act! They sure know how to trigger people alright.

"Heh, to think a peasant got in here, seems like the standards here have lowered,"

One sneers in my direction.

I forgot how much I hated the upper class. It takes me a minute to stop myself from stabbing the man. There weren’t many people like that in Sharne. Nonetheless, I find myself a nice comfy corner at the back of the hall as the auction goers file in. Some take high class seats above the crowd while the rest seat themselves in front of the stage.

"What do they do here?" An empty voice inquires.

"Buy stuff. Though they offer higher prices if they really want something, like haggling," I give an extremely simple explanation of an auction.

Hm, yes, you may wonder who that was, and that was Lazari. You may say it was pretty shameless of me, but I petitioned for a handicap to really cinch my chances of beating the man. Even if the prize is something as petty as seniority, which is actually worth jack all.

However…

It's all about the bragging rights!

The scholars and those rich snobs may not understand, but for us commoners, bragging rights are everything! To be able to put a man down, and have him unable to retaliate and yet still have the moral high ground is one of the most euphoric feelings I know of. Even more so, when the said man in question is two power ranks above you.

And yet, the most humiliating feeling is to be kicked down and unable to bite back. It devalues the value of one's being. Truly terrible stuff. The penalty was just as great as the prize.

You may say, that such mirth is merely the works of the depraved. But what is really depraved is how the bourgeoisie does it. With no effort put in, except for their birthrights, they think that they're above everyone, that they can just sneer at me and expect me to just take it.

That's wholly undeserved and even more depraved than any actions I could commit.

That said, I'll be sure to mug that aristocrat once this is over.

I pull up some cloth to hide my wide smile.

"Welcome! Welcome!"

After a sufficient number of people entered, an auctioneer took the stage.

"What a fine night we have today, with so many ladies and gentlemen. I hope you're ready to loose your wallets as we are sure to have something to catch your eye,"

Going through some formalities he signals behind him, as the stage curtains lift up. In this manner, the first item of the night is presented.

"First on today's agenda, we have a pristine work of art! An enchanting collage from the oriental states said to even be able to put the most muddled minds at ease,"

It was legitimately some kind of background frame. It was just a painting of some grassy plains.

Nonetheless, as the first item, they started small, before jumping to enchanted weapons and toward the end some miscellaneous goods. And by miscellaneous, I mean there were some really random items on show.

Like, there was a brick for goodness sake! A brick!

"Hah! You may think this is a brick, but it's not any old brick, it's only the finest of them all. An essence brick," He paused to let that sink in, "A brick of character!"

My lord. You've got to be kidding me. It's a brick! How can a brick even have character?!

Surely people aren't buying that, and I mean that both figuratively and physically. No way is anyone buying that brick.

And they don't. No one makes a bid. After all, no one expected such a mundane item to be brought up so late into the night. In fact, many are not so quietly badmouthing the auctioneer.

And despite his attempts to shill the brick, its starting price of ten gold had to be lowered to a silver for some scholar to take pity on the guy. Yet the scholar had a wide grin like he just had a field day. I will never understand these academics.

But still. A silver for a brick? That auctioneer is the one who just got a market day.

"Can't believe someone bought the thing,"

"Hm, isn't it amazing?"

"Indeed, that auctioneer's charisma is off the charts,"

"Yesn't, the brick,"

What? I don't think Lazari's quite comprehending the sheer trickery employed to sell off that brick.

"It's a special brick,"

"What makes you say that?"

"It’s special," I get no further elaboration.

"Chii," Lily gives a short chirrup of assent, backing the claim.

Normally, I would just brush this off. However!

A demon and a magical beast are telling that this brick is special. Add in the fact that no way a normal brick would be placed in an auction, meaning that even if it doesn't amount to much, the brick is still worth a pretty penny.

Though we are competing in more practical items and there were many other options to choose from.

"D'you think we should take the brick?"

"Anything,"

Sigh, I turn to Lily for a more proper answer. And with a puffed chest, and wide grin, she gives a low kaw.

Of course, I'm going to be the kind of person to steal a brick. Of course.

I wonder what other thieves would think of me.

The brick bandit? Surely I'm the first.

…

"This is so boring," She drawled.

Once again, the extraordinary star summoner Marrielle Goldburn was stuck on the short end of the stick.

"Alright, we're short on hands, so you're gonna be guarding the auction house. It's predicted that there'll be ruckus there, as always," Was what her team captain said.

"No use complaining, might as well just try and catch some crooks whilst we're at it," Hector shrugged.

He wore a more armoured version of the standard footmen outfit, with a rifle slung across his back. The rifle was silver, with intricate engravings dotted around it. Hector prided himself on his works. So much so, that he stabbed a man for ruining one of his projects.

Wasn't his finest hour, but something that he didn't regret.

Charon the crossbowman merely grunted. The bastard always sided against her.

The auction house had its own guards, but their job only extended to the auction house and its interior. Once outside, they had no more business to do with anyone, so to quell the wave of theft about to happen, more guards were placed in and around the auction house.

By the time the auction finished the moon was already high in the sky

With that, a wave of people left the auction house, most quickly scurrying away. Some wait inside until the crowd clears, some try to worm their way out. But it doesn't take long for robbers to appear.

"Hey! Watch it!" Looks like some scholar looking person just bumped into Marielle.

Though before she can do anything, the scholar is tackled and pinned down in a standard procedure arm lock.

"Get off the man!" Hector yells at the guy, aiming his rifle.

This guy looks kind of familiar…

"Wait, it's the drug dealer!"