Chapter 209 Obnoxious Princes
While waiting for the auction to begin, Jack spent a lot of time with Argyle. The lv. 71 auction house owner would take Jack around Federal City, showing him the ins and outs.
Also, Argyle would answer all of Jack's questions pertaining to the dozens of visiting dignitaries.
Fifteen of the royal families had come from all over the continent, just for this auction. And it wasn't the princes or advisors who were sent this time. The kings and rulers of each nation came personally to bid on the items.
Since Jack was one of their rarest of patrons, like the many visiting kings, Argyle hinted to him about some of the more valuable items that would be up for grabs.
Jack committed that information to his memory. This time, Jack couldn't be as greedy since he would be bidding against the kings themselves, but that didn't mean he couldn't go after the things he wanted most. It only meant he couldn't take everything and leave the kings nothing like Jack wished he could do.
With so many visiting kings, the entire city was in an uproar and it only grew more frantic as the auction date neared.
After Jack got the information he needed from Argyle and had learned the general layout of Federal City, he didn't bother roaming the crowded streets.
He or the girls would only leave when they needed something or a few of them would go and check the market to see the new wares. Since kings and noble family heads were visiting the city, most of the market stands would finally bring out their most valuable goods, making it the perfect time to search for some good items.
Maynard and Rydel spent their time in the Heavenly Palace Inn, drinking away with Zariff.
They told Zariff all about their journey, minus their meeting with Lunara and Sterfen. While drinking with their old friend, both of them were elated to no longer be seen as the two old men of the group.
One morning, the girls left together to the market to search for more goods. Lina went with Maura and Daliea, who was using her illusion to appear human, while Eliza went with Keela, who had bundled herself up and covered her face with a veil to conceal her identity.
It was extra early, just after the stands opened and before the crowds became unmanageable.
Like always, the girls had tried to bring Jack along. But he would always refuse, not wanting a repeat of what happened in Scorch City.
Instead, he took the day off to drink with Rydel, Maynard, Zariff, and Argyle. It had been a while since he was among only guys, so Jack cherished the moment while he could.
Of course, the room was already silenced. Like all of the Heavenly Palace Inn's private booths, there was a stone on the wall that could cast silence upon activation.
"So, Jack, of all the things I mentioned, which one catches your attention the most?" asked Argyle.
"Hmm… That's hard to say. I'm not like most people who go after the equipment with the highest level. I'd rather find peculiar and unique items that might only be useful in certain situations," answered Jack.
"Like…" Rydel added. He and everyone else were all curious about Jack, especially after they had learned about what Jack did during the last auction he participated in.
"To be completely honest, I hope that you or the other auction houses put up some mythic-tier or legend-tier items by mistake, like last time," laughed Jack. "Know that if there are any legend-tier items, I won't care who I offend to get my hands on them."
"Jack, isn't that a little too much?!" shouted Zariff. "You can't be that crazy, do you realize what might happen if you offend too many people?"
Zariff spoke up, but he was surprised to see that none of the other three men appeared surprised by Jack's statement. If anything, they were acting like they expected nothing else.
The other three men were smiling on the inside. Each of them knew who Jack really was, Jack J., the Legend of Trodar. In the past, Jack J. was the most unusual hero yet also the most accomplished. He had offended entire nations and guilds in the past, so why wouldn't Jack dare do so while his identity was concealed during the auction?
"Don't worry Zariff, I won't go overboard, not unless someone forces my hand. At that time, I'll be seeking the help of my powerful father-in-law for help to keep things under wraps," stated Jack.
"Well… I guess I can't blame you if they really are legendary items. But just be smart and don't cause too much trouble. You're known for that," Zariff sighed.
He found it hard to berate Jack for too long. After helped get him healed and even gave him the new pact with no EXP loss, Zariff was finally starting to acknowledge him as more than a brat. Also, the fact that his entire party was now almost as strong as Zariff helped with that.
'JACK!'
Suddenly, Jack heard a shout go off in his mind.
'Jack, come quick! We're at the market!'
This wasn't the first time Eliza had suddenly called him for help during their market errands. It had happened before and Jack had fallen for it.
Normally he would ignore such a plea, but Eliza seemed frantic and a second voice soon sounded off, followed by a third.
"Jack, please hurry to the market! Keela and Daliea need you!"
"Big Brother! Big Sisters are in trouble!"
With Maura and Lina also asking for help, Jack hurried to his feet. "Guys, do you mind coming with me? The girls are in trouble at the market."
Argyle stood up but sighed as he did so.
It was a common occurrence during this time of year for some haughty nobles to pick on commoner women, boasting about their noble blood. It was also known that some would be quite forceful upon rejection since commoners wouldn't be able to do anything.
Without exception, they all got up and followed Jack out of the room. The band of men hurried through the streets, emitting an intimidating aura to get the crowd to open a path.
Within fifteen minutes, the band of men came to an abrupt halt around a large gathering of people. The intimidating aura wasn't quite as effective this time since most of these people were around Jack's level and were busy watching something going on in the middle.
Jack glanced at Argyle, who nodded.
"Out of the way!"
His voice rumbled and shook the marketplace. Those men who previously didn't budge gladly got out of the way. No one dared to stop Argyle after they felt his unmatched strength.
The group hurried to the front and entered the ring of people.
Inside the crowd's circle, there was another smaller circle made up of well-dressed young men and their guards. All of those people in the smaller circle were now staring at Jack's group or more specifically Argyle.
"Sir, we're sorry to trouble you but this is the business of the Maltor Kingdom. Would you please forgive us for disturbance?" declared one of the young men with a humble bow.
Another did the same. "This is also a matter involving the Fulken Kingdom."
"As well as the Zuran Empire," added a voice familiar voice. That particular young man then noticed Jack and frowned. "What are you doing here? This has nothing to do with the association, so hurry and leave."
Jack stepped forward, walking straight toward those young men without any hesitation.
"I said leave before you offend not only me but the Zuran Empire!"
The princes and their guards all readied weapons, not attacking but showing no fear to act if pushed.
"Step away!"
Suddenly, a wave of heat filled the square and the princes started to sweat. They were dumbstruck when they saw Jack suddenly become the embodiment of fire and grow to a ridiculous size.
Not wanting to lose, the Zuran prince shouted, "I said leave before--"
Just then, Jack disappeared from in front of them and reappeared on the other side of them, now inside of their circle.
"Are you alright?"
That gentle toned question reached the ears of all people in the crowd. For most spectators, especially the women, it was heartwarming. For the princes, however, it was bone-chilling.
"If you were any later, that man would've forcibly taken Keela away!" shouted Eliza, the most unfazed of the women. "And those two were arguing over who could have Daliea first and second. Then, they--"
A finger was then pressed to Eliza's lips. Jack had dropped his flame body and stopped her from saying more. He turned to Keela and Daliea and asked, "Is that true?"
"Yes! It's the same pig who tried to force me to marry him!" shouted Keela, not caring if she offended the Zuran prince.
Daliea nodded. "It's true, they didn't care about me and immediately started bickering about who got me first…"
"Also," added the hot-blooded Eliza, "they mentioned me but I showed them the Fat Goose emblem. After that, they didn't mention me, but they did mention seeing if Maura's husband was worthy of her and tried to coerce her too."
"Is that so…"