42 Auction [6]
The auction was coming to an end, but in the darkness, there were certain figures moving through the light rain that had started falling like tears. This kind of atmosphere was perfect for many to take refuge in their homes, for others to stop walking the streets, and for some to close their businesses.
In the darkness of the alleyways, several figures dressed in dark clothing moved swiftly. They all carried long, slender swords, while others wielded strange weapons that exuded a fleeting aura of danger.
From the shadows, one of the figures spoke urgently, "Boss, Prince Gilgamesh is still inside the auction house. What do we do now? Should we wait for him to leave, or...?"
A masked man standing on a rooftop saw his men arriving; his eyes gleamed with a golden light as he said, "Perfect! We mustn't miss this opportunity to finish him off and take revenge on behalf of our master! Let this kingdom shake to its foundations with much greater force once the prince Gilgamesh is dead!"
"Understood!"
...
Participating in this auction, where he himself sold most of the items, wasn't exactly interesting for Gilgamesh because there wasn't much to entertain him. All this time, he simply watched as he made money and talked with Elaine about some plans he had in mind for the future, just to have some influence outside the walls of his family.
Whether he wanted to or not, he would be involved in the struggle of the nobility when the time came for this kingdom to lose its ruler. That's why, according to Elaine, it would be good to expand influence in noble families and gain the support of houses that could represent the power of his faction in the future.
Among the families not involved in the power struggle were the Black Crow family, Harrington, and the Ivanov family. These families were noble knights who followed the code of honor, and their loyalty was among the best remaining in the Asura kingdom, aside from the major families that controlled the most important regions of the kingdom.
The families Elaine mentioned were those that chose not to get involved in politics, those who remained true to their roles as guardians of their respective territories and were the ones who commanded entire armies directly under the king's orders.
"If you're interested, you can strip Prince Halfaus of his power. There are rumors that he has no desire to become king, even though he has the greatest power due to the support of the Eurus and Zephirus families. If you decide to take what he has, you could have the support of two very wealthy regions."
"The families that support my brothers don't concern me, not to mention my sister, who is a lost puppy in her fantasies," Gilgamesh rubbed his chin and continued, "If I want, I can create new families and make all those who have ruled for decades disappear. The only thing these families should understand is not to bother me, but considering the state of affairs, I'm asking for something impossible. Besides, the Eurus and Zephirus families might support my brother only in hopes of controlling him if he becomes king."
"Oh... That's natural. Every family hopes to get better opportunities once the king they supported becomes the winner of the royal struggle. Considering that very few know their true capabilities, do you think those inepts will realize before making another move against him? Nobles usually don't use their brains when it comes to their ego; I learned that a long time ago."
Elaine had a clear impression of each of the families and all the regions of the Asura kingdom. After all, she had had opportunities to expand her auction house into regions controlled by those families. So, considering Gilgamesh's position, it was clear that he needed to establish a powerful position to deter all the assassination attempts.
The more she thought about who might be attacking Gilgamesh, the more pensive she became.
Truth be told, these secret power struggles were normal, and even the King had to be cautious not to favor any of his sons. Assuming he didn't have a favorite among them all. However, the current king was somewhat sluggish in any public activity he undertook.
"That doesn't matter; all you need is power to be a king... Although I've said that I don't care, the more they annoy me, the more I want to take it by force. But obviously, that's a great hassle, so before something I don't want happens, I'll travel the world and return when I'm fifteen."
When Gilgamesh said this, Elaine thought about what he had said and felt a bit nervous. She didn't think like any other woman due to her age, but if she had one requirement for marriage, it was that the man who asked for her hand be the strongest, not in terms of physical strength, but in character, and in that regard, someone like Gilgamesh had no rival.
"The last item has been auctioned for 120,000 Asura Gold Coins!"
When the last item was sold, Gilgamesh stood up and said, "So, my dear Elaine, I entrust you with all my wealth and the construction of my magical tower. I trust in your abilities, and I know you will make good use of our resources. Some of my knights will visit you regularly to address some issues that require large-scale cleanup, so when you give me reports, I also want the names of those who stand in my way."
Gilgamesh walked toward the exit door and added, "Remember, Elaine, you now represent my image, so no one should even think about harming you, not a single hair. Otherwise, their heads and the heads of their families will roll on the ground."
Elaine stood up and said confidently, "Then I won't hesitate to give you all their names. I won't accompany you to the door due to my appearance, so I hope you understand."
Gilgamesh knew that Elaine had concealed her body since she arrived in the Asura Kingdom, so he perfectly understood her concerns and didn't take offense. He left the auction house alongside Simon.
...
"Should I get you an umbrella?" Simon asked after seeing the light rain in the sky.
"It's not necessary. Today seems to be a beautiful rainy day," Gilgamesh looked at Simon and added, "Make sure to take good care of Elaine. She might become my wife in the future."
"Don't worry, my lord. I will ensure that nothing harms her, even if I have to offer my head," Simon said in an exaggerated tone.
Gilgamesh, upon hearing this, walked onto the street without minding the mud or getting wet in the rain. He muttered to himself, "Even if one seeks beauty in life, everything returns to nature when one dies. I too died that time and was buried by my people in Uruk. Maybe my body rotted like everyone else's. In the end, all that remains over the years in humans is a pile of bones, dust that turns into nothing but dust."
"I should stop blaming myself for still having certain characteristics from my past life. I need to be more careful not to push myself too hard here..." Gilgamesh finally shook his head and headed toward his carriage.
It was at that moment that several dangerous auras were sensed by him, and an ironic smile appeared on his face. In the end, everyone wishes to be killed by him in one way or another.
What a nuisance. Now he had to see the color of blood again. Well, at least those assassins seeking to end his life had come to be killed. Gilgamesh could feel that killing intent from hundreds of meters away, growing heavier by the moment. How could he not understand that this was a gift for him?
"Simon, go outside; there are crows flying in the sky..." These words caused Simon's eyes to momentarily flash fiercely, but then he calmed down and closed the carriage door.
This time, he would fulfill his role as Prince Gilgamesh's royal guard, no matter how many he had to kill. He couldn't disappoint Gilgamesh this time, as he himself had said that he could become a Sword God in this life.
"How can I make all these idiots understand that they're only coming to their deaths? If I knew a concrete way, I'd do it because it's a hassle always seeing useless people die for just a few gold coins. Do they want to kill me? I just want to live a peaceful life!"
"Take the emptiest road, unless you want blood to stain other people's property!"
Following Gilgamesh's voice, the guards with dangerous looks gleaming behind their concealed faces responded to the order and slowly walked their horses, their bodies getting soaked by the rain.
"Wait a moment, I want to go with you!" A tiny voice was heard among the people coming out of the auction house.
But at that moment, a cold voice sounded in the distance, and a tall young man looked at the carriage where Gilgamesh was seated, saying, "Be careful on the road, Prince Gilgamesh!"
