## Chapter 17.
—
“I have no intention of reselling *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*.”
Haryeong let out a sigh.
Elena swallowed dryly.
“Why?”
Bakered’s face twisted. He didn’t even bother hiding how displeased he was with Yuri’s answer.
To Yuri’s eyes, something like faint smoke was leaking from Bakered’s body. That smoke split through the mana in the air and drifted toward Yuri.
Goosebumps rose on his arms, and his skin tingled. Even though nothing gripped his throat, his breathing suddenly tightened.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Elena’s expression turned murderous. The crackling sound of electricity intensified. She strode forward and blocked Bakered’s path.
“You’re pressuring my friend just because the deal didn’t go your way…!”
“Sir Bakered, this is excessive.”
Haryeong also hardened her face and drew her dagger. Staring straight at Bakered, she spoke.
“This is Le-Seun, managed by the Ascad family. Surely you’re not thinking of opposing the Ascad family just because you trust in your Sixth-Tier strength? And Miss Elena is the prospective disciple of Heavenly Thunder Orca.”
“Tch…”
At those words, Bakered grimaced and withdrew the pressure.
“It seems I revealed my emotions without realizing it. That’s how desperate I am for *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*. I hope you’ll understand.”
Sixth Tier?
Rubbing his goosebumped arm, Yuri inwardly admired him. Bakered, who had only been level twenty-something as a Sairan guard, had reached the Sixth Tier after thirty years.
“Still, isn’t the one to discuss this with the Golden Marigold?”
“Yes.”
Yuri answered.
“The one who needed *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist* and won the bid is me. So if you want it, you should talk with me.”
“And who are you?”
“My name is Yuri.”
“Very well, Yuri. From what I see… are you planning to enter martial arts through *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Bakered’s beard twitched. He looked Yuri up and down, appraising him. His frame wasn’t bad, and there was no murkiness in his eyes. He lacked internal energy, but he didn’t seem lacking in aptitude for the martial path.
“Why choose fists?”
Bakered asked.
“The path of a fist fighter is extremely harsh. Most either become crippled before reaching the Fourth Tier, or they can’t endure it and end up taking up a weapon.”
“That’s not true for everyone. You too, Sir Bakered.”
“I had no choice. But your situation is different. With 1.5 billion cel, you could obtain a sword art worthy of being called a supreme technique.”
“I prefer fists.”
Yuri shook his head.
At that answer, Bakered’s beard twitched again.
“Do you even know what kind of fist art *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist* is?”
“No.”
“You don’t even know, yet you insist on it?”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of it. But when I saw those five characters in the catalog, I felt destiny.”
“D… destiny?”
“Yes, destiny. There were many other martial arts listed, but none of them caught my eye except *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*. So I decided I would absolutely win it and learn it.”
Bakered stared blankly at those words. He blinked for a moment and tried to speak, but Yuri didn’t let him.
“So no matter how much you offer, Sir Bakered, I will never sell *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*.”
“That… is troublesome. I also absolutely must obtain it.”
Ssss…
Smoke drifted around Bakered again. But perhaps because of Elena and Haryeong’s warnings, it didn’t press toward Yuri like before.
“So what should we do? I need it, and you need it.”
“That’s why I said I’d add extra money—”
“Instead of standing here talking, why don’t we sit down and continue?”
“Sit? Ha, what—are you asking to go to a café together? Or sit on the floor here?”
Bakered scoffed.
“Aren’t there plenty of good chairs inside?”
Yuri smiled back and pointed toward the auction hall behind them. Since it was a VIP-only hall, the chairs were soft and comfortable.
“You want to go back to the auction hall?”
“Yes.”
Without waiting for an answer, Yuri headed inside.
“What are you thinking?”
Elena hurried after him and asked. Haryeong didn’t say anything, but her face clearly showed she didn’t understand either.
“It’s a good plan for you too.”
Yuri smiled at Elena.
Right now, he held the handle of the blade. As Haryeong had said, this was Le-Seun, managed by the Ascad family, and Elena—effectively his backer—was Heavenly Thunder Orca’s prospective disciple. No matter how muscle-brained Bakered might be, he couldn’t pressure Yuri with force here.
How could he use this to gain an advantage?
1.5 billion was a huge sum, but he didn’t want to give up *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*.
*‘First, I’m definitely learning it.’*
With that as the baseline, he had already thought about what more he could squeeze out.
[Most of the VIPs attending today’s auction have likely been waiting for this moment.]
[We are honored to present the unique magic of the Seventh-Tier free mage, the Flame Vermilion Bird, Harabel Usia—*Scorching Inferno.*]
[*Scorching Inferno* has been personally submitted by Lady Harabel Usia. Before introducing the spell, we will first introduce the illustrious Flame Vermilion Bird herself.]
Back inside, the auction had reached the turn of *Scorching Inferno*, the highlight of the day.
Clap clap clap—
Amid applause, a woman appeared in the center of the hall.
True to her nickname, Harabel Usia’s hair flickered like flames, and her red eyes gleamed with the same fiery light. Her personality looked just as fiery. Wearing a leather jacket, she stood with both hands shoved into her pants pockets in a slouched stance.
“Minimum bid is 1 billion.”
Harabel said bluntly.
“I’m not selling it for less. It’s worth that much. Whoever buys it—I don’t care how you use the spell. Learn it yourself or analyze it into something else, makes no difference to me.”
Her blazing gaze swept across the VIPs.
“Maybe someone’ll analyze it just to come after me. Go ahead, if you’re confident. As long as you’re ready to die.”
Yuri believed somewhat in physiognomy, so her rough speech actually felt natural. If someone who looked like that spoke gently and politely, *that* would be stranger.
“So cool…”
Elena, who had somehow ended up back inside, clasped her hands before her chest as she watched Harabel turn away without ever removing her hands from her pockets.
[Haha, as expected of Lady Flame Vermilion Bird. Then we shall begin at 1 billion.]
The bidding for *Scorching Inferno* began.
Sitting beside Yuri with arms crossed, Bakered muttered while glaring at the back of Harabel’s head.
“Is 1 billion cel some dog’s name or something?”
It seemed he disliked that even a single spell—not a full original magic formula—started at such a price.
“So, what more did you want to discuss?”
“As I said earlier, I won’t sell it even for extra money.”
“Get to the point.”
“Are you planning to learn *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist* yourself? Or do you just need the manual itself?”
“Is that a question I have to answer?”
“If it weren’t necessary, I wouldn’t have asked.”
Bakered fell silent and glared at Yuri. His gaze was fierce, but Yuri didn’t avoid it. The look Lorellia had given him in the waiting room before he possessed had been far scarier.
“I will learn it myself.”
“So you don’t need the manual itself.”
“I don’t understand why you’re asking—”
“Then I’ll sell you a copy of the manual.”
The quick reply made Bakered blink.
[1.4 billion… 1.5 billion. We have 1.5 billion.]
Even as they talked, the bidding for *Scorching Inferno* kept climbing.
“There’s only one manual for *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*. I want to learn it, and you want to learn it. So there’s no helping it.”
“A copy… you’ll sell a copy?”
“Yes. Same price—1.5 billion cel.”
“W-what nonsense…”
Are you in your right mind?
Bakered stared at Yuri in disbelief.
“You’re saying you and I will both learn the same martial art?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“There absolutely is…! We’re neither master and disciple nor martial brothers!”
“Who created *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*?”
“…The late master Yang Il-su, the Split-Light Fist.”
“And you’re not his disciple or martial brother either, are you?”
At that immediate retort, Bakered couldn’t continue and his beard merely trembled.
“It’s a martial art bought with money anyway. What’s the problem with making and selling a copy?”
“No… but… for two people in the same era to split and learn one martial art…”
“Even *Scorching Inferno*, now at 1.8 billion, is being sold to some unknown VIP while the Flame Vermilion Bird herself is still alive.”
“That may be true, but…”
“I don’t care about outdated traditions. Since you desperately want *my* Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist, I’m just offering a reasonable solution. If you don’t want a copy, I’ll keep the copy and you take the original. If you don’t like that either, then give up on it.”
Bakered didn’t answer immediately.
He was the one desperate for *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*.
He must not take it by force.
Nor could he.
If it were someone else, maybe—but his opponent was someone connected to the prospective disciple of the Dercia Magic Tower’s master.
“Even if you… intend to learn *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist* too, 1.5 billion Cel is far too expensive.”
“Wasn’t that the price you personally offered, Sir Bakered?”
“That may be true! But that price was appropriate only if I alone inherited *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist* in this era—”
“You didn’t say anything like that earlier.”
Yuri answered without backing down.
[2.3 billion! Lady Harabel Usia’s *Scorching Inferno* spell has been sold for 2.3 billion!]
The auction for *Scorching Inferno*, which had started at 1 billion, ended.
[A staggering 2.3 billion! *Scorching Inferno* has set a new highest price record in Le-Seun’s public auction history!]
[We hope this heated momentum continues as we introduce the next item.]
[The tragic lightning-attribute mage who passed away three years ago, Fifth-Tier *Flashing Soul-Chaser* Jang Un’s *Seven Forms of Flashing Thunder*! A unique magic formula composed of seven spells.]
Contrary to the host’s hopes, the excitement did not continue.
*Scorching Inferno* had sold for such a high price, Jang Un’s reputation couldn’t compare to Harabel Usia’s, and moreover, this city of Lutran already had the greatest lightning mage of the era—Heavenly Thunder Orca—as well as the Dercia Magic Tower, which had pursued lightning magic for generations.
“No matter what… original or copy, if you learn *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist* too, 1.5 billion cel is excessive.”
“Then you should have won the bid yourself.”
“If only you lot hadn’t been there…!”
Bakered’s fist trembled. He too had been caught off guard by the much higher-than-expected final price. Who would have thought there’d be competition over *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*…! Grinding his teeth, he glared at Yuri.
[We will begin bidding for Jang Un’s *Seven Forms of Flashing Thunder* at 50 million 셀.]
“If 1.5 billion is too much, how about this instead?”
Yuri slowly surveyed the atmosphere among the VIPs. The heat from the *Scorching Inferno* auction had already completely died down. The bids were rising occasionally, but not quickly.
“You win the bid for *Seven Forms of Flashing Thunder* and transfer it to us, and in return, Sir Bakered personally teaches me the fundamentals of *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*.”
“…What?”
“As you can see, I’ve never properly learned martial arts. I only won *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist* because I felt a fateful pull toward it, but honestly, I’m worried about how I’m even supposed to learn it.”
Elena, who still hadn’t let go of her lingering attachment to *Seven Forms of Flashing Thunder*, had never imagined Yuri would twist the deal like this. She could only stare at him blankly, mouth half open.
“If you don’t like that either, there’s nothing I can do. I can’t concede any further. I’ll just learn *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist* from Miss Haryeong.”
Though she suddenly became the target, Haryeong’s expression didn’t waver. She knew very well what answer she needed to give.
“Nice.”
“….”
“I’m extremely, incredibly happy. Thanks to you, Sir Yuri, I get to read the *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist* manual for free. Kyah-ho.”
“Ahem.”
“Don’t worry, Sir Yuri. It’s embarrassing to say myself, but my martial talent is fairly outstanding. I’m more than capable of teaching someone like you who’s completely new to martial arts.”
Haryeong cheered with an utterly steady, expressionless face.
“An assassin… learning *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*…!”
“Assassins have two perfectly good hands. Why wouldn’t we learn fist techniques?”
“Why do you sell it to me for money but let an assassin learn it for free?!”
“Miss Haryeong never said she’d buy it with money, and unlike you, Sir Bakered, she and I are close.”
“May I cry for a moment? Your words move me deeply, Sir Yuri. So we were close. Does that mean we’re friends from now on?”
Still expressionless, Haryeong made a fuss in a low voice.
[200 million Cel. We have 200 million.]
Even so, it was still a valuable spell—the bid had already surpassed 200 million. Bakered listened to the rising price while alternating his gaze between Haryeong’s blank face and Yuri’s relaxed one.
“Teach… the fundamentals…? H-how far counts as ‘fundamentals’?”
“Just check whether my stance is roughly correct.”
“That’s the fundamentals?”
“You’re not teaching the ultimate secrets—just the forms and techniques. If that isn’t fundamentals, what is?”
Haryeong answered in Yuri’s place.
“Sir Yuri. From what I observe, Sir Bakered seems extremely reluctant. So just give up. I may not have his level of mastery in fist arts, but my passion won’t lose to anyone. If you learn from me, I’ll teach you not just the basics but advanced techniques and even the ultimate stage.”
At this point, doesn’t she actually want to learn it for herself?
Yuri glanced at her unchanged face and thought.
“Ridiculous…! How can an assassin dare speak of advanced techniques and ultimate mastery in fist arts?!”
“Sir Bakered, stop throwing dirt. If you’re not going to buy, just leave.”
[300 million Cel. We have 300 million.]
Bakered abruptly turned to look at the host. Seeing him biting his lip hard, Yuri leisurely continued.
“If *Seven Forms of Flashing Thunder* is sold, this deal is off. My conditions won’t change, so take your time and think.”
“Is it really okay to take time? It looks like it’ll sell soon…”
Elena spoke in a trembling voice. If things went well, they could get *Seven Forms of Flashing Thunder* too. Only now did she understand what Yuri had meant earlier.
*‘It’s a good plan for you too.’*
He was right.
On top of *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist* for Yuri, she could also obtain the *Seven Forms of Flashing Thunder* she had wanted. This was a setup Yuri had made for her sake.
Elena couldn’t help but feel purely moved. To think that Yuri would give her something like this…!
*‘I haven’t received a present since I was eight…’*
The stuffed doll she had taken when leaving the orphanage. It wasn’t handmade, but Yuri had given it to her on her birthday.
It was probably stolen from a shop, but it had been the first and last birthday gift she’d ever received from him. Even after leaving the orphanage they exchanged birthday letters every year, but never gifts.
She had carried it around so much as a child that it was now worn out, yet the doll Yuri had given her still decorated her room.
At the word *present*, Elena clenched the hem of her skirt tightly.
Yuri didn’t rush Bakered any further. If anything, he’d raise the conditions higher—he had no intention of lowering them.
[350 million… 350 million Cel. Any further bids?]
The host’s voice pushed at Bakered’s back. He swallowed hard and pressed the button on his armrest.
“400… million Cel.”
Yuri grinned.
—
