Cecil kept her eye on the masked man's back as they were led away. The entire time she walked behind the man, the black ominous aura never seemed to fade. For her, the masked man decided that she would be deemed as the final item of the day and she had a special cell reserved just for her.

This made Cecil sick to the core.

It was as if the shocking discovery she made wasn't enough, the more jail cells they passed by, the more queasy Cecil felt. The slaves to be auctioned here were mostly young and some of them were even malnourished, their sobs and cries could be heard echoing throughout the corridor.

"Cecil."

Rugi called out to her discreetly, and she lifted her head to give him a quick glance.

"Are you alright?" he questioned softly in concern, still maintaining an indifferent expression. "The further we head in, the more pale you look."

"...it's nothing, seeing this all for myself is pretty sickening."

Rugi closed his eyes, sighing heavily. "Yes, I did warn you that the sight wouldn't be one where everyone could bear to witness."

"It's...not only that."

"The owner of the auction house, in front of us," Cecil muttered out those words only for her and Rugi to hear. "He is a demon."

Rugi stiffened, halting abruptly.

The owner with the mask could somehow sense the strange atmosphere behind him, turning around.

"Is there a problem?"

Rugi, Cecil and the spy almost flinched.

"Not at all." Rugi bluffed smoothly.

The owner of the mask observed them for a while more, his facial expressions were unable to be seen due to the mask. In the end, he decided to move forward and they followed behind him silently.

"Cecil, forget about this," Rugi said, utterly concerned for her safety now. "None of us wants your life in jeopardy, let's get you out of here--"

"No."

Cecil clasped his arm, keeping her eyes on the masked man.

"I promise to be careful," she whispered out. "You have to let the others know."

Xue and K'xug appeared in her mind at that moment.

The two of them would probably be the first to realise it.

From here on out, I need to tread carefully.

Eventually, all of them arrived at a stop in front of the jail cell. The masked owner gestured for Cecil to step in, and the jail cell was no different than locking someone up in an enclosed room. There was an old bed and a run-down wooden chair beside it with a musty smell lingering in the air.

Cecil trudged in, giving Rugi and the spy a discreet glance.

"Well then, get a move on," the masked owner spoke, his light-hearted voice sending chills down their spines. "She's none of your concern now, isn't she? If you prefer to stay, you should know what comes next."

With no other choice, the two of them bowed and disappeared down the corridor leading to the exit.

Cecil showed the masked owner a timid stare, however, she was inspecting him closely. Other than the black ominous aura, she needed to see if there were any other distinct features about his appearance. Since everyone looked the same after wearing the mask, along with their same exact uniform, it would be hard for her to point him out the next time she saw the masked owner.

Alas, it seemed that the black ominous aura was the only tell-tale she could find. She blinked once and it suddenly faded away without any warning.

What?

She hid the bewilderment in her heart.

"Yes, good girl. Now stay here and be quiet."

Cecil lowered her head, not allowing the masked owner to see her apparent disgust.

The masked owner left her alone and she finally could have her thoughts to herself. Her surroundings were filled with the soft sobs and whine, and Cecil closed her eyes.

Don't worry.

This time, they'll be able to save all of you successfully.

Nevertheless, Cecil had a few questions in her mind right now.

Those questions can only be answered by the system inside her mind.

"AI500."

[ At your service, Cecil Lan~ ]

"Could you explain what was happening back there?"

[ Please do be more specific about your inquiry. ]

"I'm talking about me being able to see dark magic on someone now. I wasn't able to do that before, it only happened once the dark magic was directed towards me, to harm me. It wasn't only the man, but also his mask."

"He is a demon, isn't he?"

[ Yes, you can identify him as a demon. ]

"I knew it."

"But why am I able to see it now? It doesn't make any sense."

[ This is linked to the lack of missions and points. ]

Cecil paused.

"What?"

[ Cecil Lan. ]

[ Have you noticed any recent changes to your physique? ]

Cecil frowned to herself.

"...I did."

"Ever since I woke up, my body feels lighter and I feel more alert than ever. I can't explain it but...I know, I have gotten stronger in every aspect."

The more Cecil contemplated, the more she recognised this feeling.

It was the feeling when she meditated, to open up the gates within her mind.

"Don't tell me...I grew stronger because the dark magic almost killed me and K'xug managed to cure me?"

[ It was just as expected. ]

"What do you mean by that?"

[ I am unable to answer that question due the restrictions placed upon me by the Transmigration World System. ]

Cecil rolled her eyes at the blatant lie.

"Yes, sure, keep giving that excuse. You just simply don't want to tell me everything."

[ ... ]

[ I am able to tell you one thing. ]

"Oh really?"

[ The missions were given for the sake of obtaining points. The points were to be used to protect yourself and to help you build your physique at the same time. ]

[ Right now, you are on the way of becoming a vessel. ]

"A vessel?"

[ A vessel that would allow you to ascend to the heavenly or demon realm, in the near future. ]

Cecil was stunned speechless.

She didn't expect someone like her to be capable of such a feat.

In the first place, something like that wasn't specified in the novel. In fact, at this point, it seemed that AI500 knew more about the novel compared to the author that wrote the book itself.

"...the long questline that you warned me about for this journey, it must be..."

[ It is voided. ]

[ It is as exactly as I have stated, I have objectives that have been assigned to me by the Transmigration World System to finish. ]

[ This was one of the objectives. ]

"No, wait."

"Why would you need me to get strong to this extent?"

[ ... ]

Cecil wore a deadpan at the silent response from AI500.

It could only mean one thing.

[ I am unable to answer that question due the restrictions placed upon me by the Transmigration World System. ]

"A big fake lie."

[ ... ]

Cecil scoffed.

Dwelling on these matters right now wouldn't help her. She was sure, in due time, her questions would be answered.

However, whether it was answered by AI500 or someone else, Cecil did not know how it would turn out.

***

The auction began.

Hana glanced at the ash blonde-haired man sitting beside her. There was an unsettling atmosphere surrounding him but Hana could tell it was because Xue was feeling anxious.

Anxious for Cecil.

She took Xue's hand into hers, patting it once.

"Xue, we...we need to calm down," Hana comforted him, forcing a smile. "Cecil said to trust her, so we have to trust her!"

Xue closed his eyes, exhaling heavily.

He felt a hand on his shoulder this time, peeking at the person beside him.

It was K'xug.

K'xug simply nodded at him.

The rest were scattered to other seats in the audience.

Right now, all of them were awaiting for Yun's signal to begin. All of them found the auction equally sickening, along with the audience here who secretly participated just to illegally buy people as slaves.

Just then, a staff member wearing the white mask started approaching Xue, Hana and K'xug. K'xug was on high alert and this time, Xue placed his hand on K'xug's shoulder, shaking his head.

Even with the mask on that had been enchanted with black magic, Xue could still figure out who it was.

After all, this masked man was essentially him.

"I'm sure you know who I am," Rugi lowered his voice, pretending to offer them a handkerchief as if he was an overly helpful staff member. "I can't be gone for long, to keep a lookout for her sake."

Xue knew he was referring to Cecil in an instant.

Rugi leaned in.

"Cecil said the owner of this auction house is a demon."

"...!" Xue narrowed his eyes, knowing his observation was right.

K'xug swivelled his head sharply.

"A--" Hana covered her mouth hastily.

"Rest assured," Rugi smiled. "I told you I would keep a lookout for her."

Rugi left after passing down his message.

"Why..." Xue gritted his teeth, clenching his fists. "Why are both the angels and demons messing around in the mortal realm?"

He could understand how a mortal like Ephert would come into possession of weapons enhanced by light and dark magic.

Nevertheless, he could not understand one thing.

Why would an angel and a demon work with a wicked person like Ephert?

The first auction item was still being presented on stage.

It was a frightened little boy being sold off as a slave.

***

Cecil was still in her cell, her hands and legs were cuffed together, staring intently at them. There was a number "80" imprinted on the metal cuffs. She recalled how AI500 said she was slowly turning into a vessel for ascending into an angel or a demon.

Angels and demons.

Their strength and speed were nothing like mortals.

If it's like this...

Cecil lifted her hands in the air, her eyes fixated on the handcuffs. She tried to pull it apart with her strength but could only feel the metal cuffs digging into her skin, making her wince. She smiled to herself, shrugging.

"I'm still far from it."

She heard a jingling noise approaching her from down the corridor and a staff member appeared in front of her cell. He unlocked the jail cell and Cecil looked at him with the same timid stare she had been using for the past hour.

However, she was scouring the man discreetly. She noticed two keys hanging on a chain that was hooked onto his belt, squinting her eyes.

She could see the number "80" imprinted on the keys as well.

Let's test him out.

She lifted her hand, pointing it gingerly at the keys hanging on his belt.

"Th-the keys...are they for unlocking these?" Cecil stammered in her words, keeping her eyes on the keys. "I-I can't walk properly with the cuffs on..."

"Haha, that's right," the man stated cockily. "It's for those cuffs on you, but too bad, we aren't unlocking them."

Those words sealed the deal for Cecil.

She just needed to find an opportunity to get those keys in her hands.

"Get up and go, hurry." The staff member clicked his tongue, growling out in annoyance as he turned around, walking out the door of the jail cell.

Cecil stood up, narrowing her eyes at the staff member. She charged forward, ramming herself into the staff member's back. At least, despite portraying as a poor kidnapped woman, she had been given proper shoes.

"Ugh!"

The staff member stumbled forward.

He spun around, an angry look on his face. "Why, you bitch!"

He lunged for her, throwing his body forward.

Cecil smirked.

That was what she wanted to happen.

She bent her knees slightly just as the man rushed at her, after which, she used her own weight and his momentum to toss him over her shoulder.

The staff member ended up kissing the floor, letting out a pained groan.

Cecil didn't give him a chance to recover, with her hands and legs restricted, she could only throw her own body onto him. She did not miss the chance to elbow him in the stomach.

The man was defeated in an instant.

Cecil crouched down beside him, giving him a glacial stare and snatched the keys hanging around his belt.

"Wa-wait, those keys--"

"Hmph. Shut up or I'll kill you."

Cecil paused.

It seemed like she was learning to speak like Xue.

Of course, literally killing them was a whole different matter.

She used her mouth and restricted her hands to unlock the cuffs around her wrists. Just before it fell to the ground, she caught them and proceeded to unlock the cuffs around her ankles.

The man started to stand up and Cecil kneed him in the groin without hesitation.

He collapsed to the ground once again while she picked up the cuffs, clasping them his wrists and ankles.

He struggled against them but it was futile.

"Now, you wear them," Cecil offered him a cold smile. "And go to sleep."

She knocked him out with a kick.

Cecil peeked her head out of the jail cell, realising that no one was around. The staff members were busy with the auction taking place after all.

She didn't forget to take the jail door key that was still stuck in the keyhole, walking out of the cell calmly.

All of a sudden, she suddenly remembered the time where she was stuck in a cell as well and Veau helped her out of boredom.

The owner of the auction house is a demon.

Did Veau plan this?

Cecil furrowed her eyebrows.

No matter how I look at it, Veau isn't someone who does something like this.

He only has grudges against angels.

Cecil shook her head, escaping her jail cell. Her only priority now was to locate the owner of the auction house and subdue him. After which, she had to join up with the others at the back of the auction house.

Alas, there was a problem now.

The owner of the auction house was a demon. If he were to release his anger on the people right now, Cecil wasn't sure how many would survive under the effects of dark magic.

What should I do?

Try and subdue him?

No, subdue and distract him.

Can I do it?

How much stronger have I gotten?

Cecil sighed, summoning out her daggers and she clutched onto them, spinning them expertly around her hands.

"Let's find him first," she muttered to herself. "And think of what to do next."

She also needed to find one of her team to pass on the key to the jail cells. She tried her best to ignore the cries for help from the captured slaves to be sold, turning the corner when she caught sight of a staff member.

Cecil reacted immediately.

She charged forward with her dagger, turning it into a vine.

"Cecil! Wait, it's me."

She halted in her actions, raising her eyebrows.

The staff member removed his mask and Cecil recognised him in an instant, even with his disguise.

"Rugi? Why are you..."

"I was keeping a lookout for you. I realised some staff members were running down towards her and knocked them out--"

All of a sudden, Rugi started coughing harshly.

Cecil gasped. "Rugi! You didn't have to push yourself--why--"

"This way! Hurry!"

The staff members found out about Cecil's escape.

The two of them did not have time to relax.

"Stay behind here and rest while you unlock the jail cells," Cecil clutched onto her daggers, shoving the key to jail cells onto Rugi. "I'll take care of all of them."

Cecil dashed forward.

"Wait--"

Rugi coughed, splattering blood onto the ground.

"Ah, damn," Rugi sighed out. "I should have taken K'xug's offer to cure myself if I knew things would come to this."

***

"And now, our final auction piece for today is..."

The announcer built up the tension and the curtains were drawn. The audience, who were eager to witness the final item, were utterly disappointed by the empty stage.

"Huh?"

"What's this?"

"There's nothing there!"

"Is it some rare invisible item?"

The announcer was completely confused, just like the audience.

"Now's our chance!" Yun commanded loudly within the crowd. "Apprehend them all, go!"

In an instant, chaos ensued within the auction house. People disguised as audience and staff members started to fight and apprehend both the audience and staff members.

Hana, K'xug and Xue moved at the same time.

At that moment, K'xug halted abruptly as he sensed a sinister aura in the air. He frowned deeply, instantly making the connection.

Dark magic.

The demon has revealed himself.

Xue, we need to--

K'xug turned to look behind.

It was only Hana right behind him. She seemed to know who K'xug was looking for.

"He's gone, K'xug," she whipped out her bow, smiling helplessly. "To Cecil!"

***

《 start 》

They ruined themselves.

As if that wasn't enough, they are ruining others along with themselves.

Angels and demons.

How abhorrent.

How detestable.

How pathetic.

If they are so pathetic like that...

It makes sense that their rulers are equally pathetic.

Like me.

...and like you, Veau.

The two of us are equally pathetic.

《 stop 》