Mika 019 (Patreon)

Mika led the thug towards the Auction Hall, where his Elder should have been. “One moment, please. I will ask if my Elder is here.” Mika revealed that his Elder was probably quite wealth if he was a patron of the Auction Hall. The thug could only salivate.

“Excuse me, good sir. This little one asks if you have seen his Elder. He is an older man, wearing robes of white and green.” Mika smiled up at the guard of the Auction Hall.

“Robes of white and green? Ah! That Elder. He’s inside with the Auction Mistress. They’re currently busy.”

“This matter is quite important,” Mika urged. “If Elder finds out that I have delayed this, this little one will surely be punished.” He clasped his hands together and pursed his lips together sadly. 

“You’re quite polite for a youngster.” He looked at the thug and then down to the boy. “Alright, fine. Come along.” The guard led the pair into the Auction Hall. The guard was in his mid thirties and was Base Bronze.

The three made their way up around some stairs before the guard stopped. He turned back to look at the two. “Are you sure you want to interrupt them?” The guard spied the Alchemist badge on the boy’s hip, so there was something funny definitely happening. He didn’t want to be punished for making a mistake.

“Please! I will accept full responsibility, even from the Benevolent Mistress. This I swear!” Mika bowed his head once again.

“Young Master, you’re too polite for this one.” The guard chuckled and then knocked on the door. Within a moment, it slid open to reveal a beautiful woman with dark hair and purple lips. She was tall and slender, and was smoking a long and thin pipe. She was Tempered Iron, which didn’t surprise Mika one bit considering her age.

“Why do you interrupt me when I’m with such an esteemed guest?” she asked, her eyes glaring at the guard. She quickly scanned the two behind the guard, noting the Alchemist badge instantly, and she relaxed slightly.

“I apologise, Mistress. It seems there’s an issue regarding the good Elder’s disciple.”

The woman’s eyes fell back down to Mika, who bowed his head. “This one apologies for bothering you, kind sister, but I have an important matter to discuss with my Elder.”

She relaxed slightly when she was called sister, and then she eyed the pair up. “Come in quickly then,” she said, snapping her fingers and someone left the room carrying a small box. It was no doubt the Perfect Grade Cultivation Potion, since the guy handling the box was Base Steel and in his late forties. The auction may hold some of the greatest power houses of the entire city. Mika could even feel the presence of someone with much greater power nearby.

As they entered, Elder Yan stood up. Mika greeted the Elder with a hand over his heart, raising one knuckle upwards to send the Elder a message. “This one greets you, Elder. There’s a situation.” He smiled nervously, though it was all an act.

Mika had called the Elder an Elder, but he meant rank within his field, which was much different than an Elder of some little family. The thug quickly realised that the situation was getting out of hand as he glanced around. Since the boy was so polite, he felt as though he could push the situation.

“Your disciple ran into me and caused me to shatter a plate of fine craft. If I appear before my Young Master empty handed, I will lose them both.” The plate had been of decent make, but it hadn’t been anything special. 

“Is that true?” Elder Yan asked, looking down at Mika, brushing his beard gently.

“I ran around him, Elder, not into him.” Mika smiled nervously.

“Hmmm.” The Elder continued to brush his beard.

“Nonsense! He caused me to drop the plate.” The man shook his head. 

“Is that so,” Elder Yan replied. “A man of, what, Iron? Dropping a plate because of a crippled boy…” He glared down at the thug, who shrunk under the gaze.

“Forgive me, Elder! I wouldn’t have pressed the issue, but my Master would punish me…”

“Elder, he had come willingly for compensation and for punishment. He dropped the plate and accused me of causing trouble.” Mika shook his head and hid behind the Elder. “He didn’t have Starr Alchemy within his sights.”

The thug realised what had happened and clenched his fists. “You! Brat!”

“Let me speak with your Master then, boy.” Elder Yan continued to glare at the thug, who continued to retreat.

“The Master is currently-“

Elder Yan used his overwhelming spirit to apply some pressure on the man before him. “Take me to him so I may clear up the misunderstandings, or I will have you compensate me here and now.”

“Y-yes! Of course! Allow me to guide you!” The thug shrunk away. 

“Since this fellow has bothered my business, I’ll send someone to escort you as well, Elder.” The woman smiled as she looked down at Mika, who seemed to have orchestrated quite the plot. “I wish to continue our discussion soon, Elder.”

“I apologise for the inconvenience, good niece. This Elder thanks you for the kindness.”

Mikael placed a hand on his heart, revealing a single knuckles still. “This little brother thanks elder sister for her kindness. It’s true that the Auction Mistress is as kind as she is beautiful.”

“Ara! You’re a little young for my taste, but you’ll grow up to be a lady killer. Once you reach a higher rank than me, I might consider you.”

“This little brother will remember the promise of kind Auction Mistress, who certainly won’t go back on her word.” His eyes twinkled up at her. 

She raised her brows in surprise and then smiled. “I won’t wait too long for you, little brother.” She smiled. “I’m Tara Tang, and what is this little brother’s name?”

“Mika Blackhand,” Mika replied, bowing his head. 

“Blackhand?” Tara smiled. “I’ll be sure to remember that.” She was already forming a plan to check on his background. There was something off about him. 

“That is too much honour for the like of this little brother.” 

The same man from before who was Base Steel appeared, and then another man who was Forged Bronze, and the pair escorted the Alchemists out. Whoever the thug’s Young Master was, he’d have to think thrice after seeing an Elder Alchemist and such an escort.

The thug gulped. “Oh magnanimous Elder, let us wipe the matter clean.”

Elder Yan used his pressure again and glared down at the thug. “If you are willing to cripple yourself before me I will leave the matter as it is.”

The thug’s eyes grew wide and he retreated, leading them back to the family holding. Their sigil was that of a tiger leaping upwards, black against gold, was the sigil of the family. It seemed to be quite a decent family, one which was probably the main branch of a minor noble family, or a branch of a major noble family. It was much more capable than Mika’s own family.

The family guard exchanged a look with the thug, confirming they knew one another, and then he looked to Elder Yan. “What business does this…” The guard straightened up, noting the Elder Alchemist badge at Yan’s side. “What business does this Elder have with our Tegro family?”

“It seems there is some kind of misunderstanding which has occurred between this one and one of mine. I wish to clear up such a matter with your Young Master.”

The guard exchanged a look with the thug, who nodded, and then he turned to the other guard. “Send word to the Young Master.”

“Ah? What’s this? Is the Tegro family looking to other Alchemists?” A stranger appeared behind the group, bringing with them two Forged Bronze escorts. She was an Expert Alchemist, and was quite young, only in her mid twenties. She was quite tall, and quite voluptuous. She was barely Forged Copper, though, as Mika noted that there was some kind of issue with her dantian, something which would kill her in a few years.

“There is a misunderstanding that the Young Master is required to resolve,” Elder Yan said.

“It’s good to see you, Elder Starr,” she said in a way which was certainly not the case.

“Expert Baex, it’s nice to see you as well,” Elder Yan replied in a similar manner.

The pair remained silent, glaring at one another. The Young master eventually appeared, and he was a man in his early twenties. His rank was Tempered Iron, which was fairly decent.

“There seems to be a problem,” he said. “What is it?” He yawned.