After Becoming an Evil Dragon, I Was Entangled by the Saintess - Chapter 19

“Tyr is a key member of the Steelheart Guild and has lived in Kast Town for years. Recently, he went out to gather materials for forging and disappeared. The Steelheart Guild secretly investigated his disappearance and discovered that it might be connected to the Sain Auction House,” Flah added to Ilti’s explanation.

“The Sain Auction House?” Yulxi raised an eyebrow.

Veranse smiled. “The Sain Auction House is located in the eastern part of Klein City, a favorite haunt of the nobility. It’s one of the few thriving commercial hubs in the city, managed by Siv, a Beastman from the Western Continent. Beastmen are rarely known for their business acumen, so this Siv is likely just a tax evasion front.” After all, anyone who came to Red Maple Territory knew that the Lord had no authority over non-human creatures. By registering as a Beastman, Dwarf, or other non-human entity, one could earn money in Red Maple Territory without paying a single coin in taxes.

After a brief pause, Veranse continued, “The actual manager is Bacchus, but this Bacchus—”

“I know,” Ilti interjected, frowning. “Bacchus is a vassal of Viscount Byron, who holds a fiefdom in the territory.” She hadn’t learned this from her father, but rather from eavesdropping on Viscount Byron’s visits using her mage’s enhanced hearing. Viscount Byron was a staunch supporter of the Empire’s Second Prince, and her father was eager to align himself with the Second Prince’s faction.

“Speaking of which, the Sain Auction House also refuses to pay taxes and refuses to fly the Black Dragon Flag,” Flah muttered. She had visited the auction house, but feigning politeness wasn’t her forte, and the way the man had looked at her filled her with disgust. If she hadn’t been warned against causing trouble, she would have slashed him with her blade. “But what does the auction house have to do with Tyr?” Flah steered the conversation back on track.

Yulxi crossed her arms and remained silent.

Veranse’s gaze settled on Flah, a flicker of mockery in her eyes, as if pitying the Elf’s naivety. She spoke slowly and deliberately, “The auction house doesn’t just sell magic scrolls, potions, and weapons. It’s also a channel for items that can’t be sold openly on the market.”

Flah stared blankly. “What do you mean?”

Veranse stared at her. “Doesn’t the Moonlight Forest have missing elves?”

Flah froze for a few seconds, her expression suddenly shifting. The relationship between humans and elves was far from amicable; elves in the Moonlight Forest rarely interacted with humans. To humans, elves were prized slaves. Flah finally understood the disgusting looks she had received at the auction house. Her cheeks flushed crimson with anger. “Damn bastards!”

Ilti was equally furious, itching to raze the Sain Auction House to the ground.

“If they refuse to pay taxes and won’t fly the Black Dragon Flag, they have no right to remain in the Red Maple Territory,” Yulxi said coldly, her eyes darkening slightly. “Use the tax issue as a pretext to investigate the auction house and the merchant guilds associated with them.”

Sain Auction House

The Sain Auction House was one of the most imposing structures in the Red Maple Territory, surrounded by towering stone walls. These walls were enchanted, making them impossible to scale. Beyond the main gate lay the inner courtyard, a sprawling complex of gardens and towers. At its heart stood the tallest circular building, the auction hall itself. Inside, sixteen tiers of steps encircled the hall, each lined with densely packed seats. However, influential figures preferred to observe from hidden alcoves above the tiers, rather than sitting in the open.

“My lord,” the Beastman Siv said, bowing his head, “the newly appointed Lord has changed the rules and is demanding taxes from us. The Elf leading the delegation gave us only three days, threatening to use force if we refuse to pay.” Beastmen were a tall, powerful race capable of freely shifting between human and beast forms. Siv was addressing a man half a head shorter than himself—Bacchus, the true manager of the auction house and a Third-Tier Mage.

“What does some noble lady know about such matters?” Bacchus scoffed, raising an eyebrow dismissively. His tone showed no respect for the nobility. “Even Unos couldn’t touch us.”

Yet Siv remained fearful, recalling the day the dark clouds had gathered—the Dragon’s Might, the presence of a true Legendary Dragon. A flicker of panic crossed his face as he added, “But the new Lord is the Black Dragon’s representative in the city. Everything she does carries the Great Dragon’s will.”

Bacchus glanced at Siv impatiently. “That thing on your neck is for thinking,” he snapped. “If you’re not going to use it, I’ll twist it off and use it as a stool.” Initially, he too had been shaken, especially by the complete annihilation of the Steelheart Guild. But after sending spies to investigate, he learned the thieves had actually been killed by crossbow bolts. The auction house had nothing to fear from ballistae. As for the Black Dragon—

“Have you ever seen a Black Dragon build a temple?” Bacchus asked. “Have you ever seen a Great Dragon that doesn’t devour humans, plunder cities, or hoard treasures?”

Siv kept his head bowed, muttering inwardly, Where would I have seen a Dragon? If I had encountered a Great Dragon, would I still be standing here? If I miraculously survived, I’d become its Familiar, not a slave to a Human Mage.

“This is a conspiracy,” Bacchus declared with certainty. He wasn’t alone in this belief; his master, Viscount Byron, shared the same conviction. Why was Miss Ilti the only one spared during the Dragon’s attack? I’ve learned she also entered Mangshui Forest. The Lord disappeared and returned, all his heirs except Ilti are dead, and Black Dragon’s Followers roam Mangshui Forest, yet no one has seen the Black Dragon itself. On the day Red Maple Territory was attacked, only two Wyverns—easily tamed demonic beasts—were in Klein City. The attack was sudden, but all the dead were notorious bandits from Red Maple Territory.

The terrifying spectacle that day must have been a high-level magical artifact. The newly appointed Lord, Miss Ilti, intends to use the Black Dragon’s banner to reorganize Red Maple Territory! Only fools would be frightened into handing over their accumulated wealth. But I’ve seen through it all. The Sain Auction House won’t give her a single copper!

“How’s the shipment coming along?” Bacchus abruptly changed the subject. “Representatives from several noble houses have already arrived in Red Maple Territory. The auction is about to begin, and we can’t afford any mistakes.”

“The merchant guild sent a messenger ahead to report. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the shipment should reach the Black Prison outside Klein City tonight,” Siv replied respectfully.

Bacchus nodded, a shrewd glint in his eyes. The nobles weren’t particularly interested in Great Dragons, though they’d certainly pay handsomely for young dragons. But Great Dragons were notoriously difficult to capture. On the other hand, elves, fairies, succubi, and other such creatures were relatively easy to acquire. These commodities were equally valuable, and the profits from reselling them, once delivered to the Royal Capital, would undoubtedly earn the Second Prince’s favor.

“Oh, and we still need to deal with the Lord’s Manor. We can’t let them disrupt the transaction,” Bacchus added.

In the past, Viscount Byron had been on good terms with the Lord, allowing the Sain Auction House to turn a blind eye to its illegal activities. But the current Lord’s Manor—

Judging by the young Lord’s recent measures to win over the commoners, it was clear she and Unos were on different paths.