“Let's go to the Colosseum first.”

Damian led the two towards the largest building in this underground city, where loud shouts filled with fiery passion echoed.

A magnificent structure slowly unfold in front of them as they move closer, built with towering pillars and tough-looking material this arena would surely stood against the rushing times.

“If your wondering why this one was different its because this building was built and managed by the Lord of this city.” the man did not let go of the chance to make a jab or two towards the nobles after he saw the young man's expression of awe.

“The one that previously invited us?” Alexis asked while his eyes wondered around the statues of mighty figures lined in both sides of the open path.

“Yes, so be—”

The rest of his spiting words were drowned by the resounding cheers that blasted through their ears. Alexis snapped his head towards the arched entrance where the shouting came from, now that they are just few steps away from it he could finally piece some of the words that the audience are throwing.

The three passed through the entrance after paying a fee and shooing off some people that asked for their bets, they made their way upstairs where the eager voices was now too loud for comfort and Alexis had to cover his ears yet its still unpleasant.

He followed Damian as he weaved amidst the crowd slowly rowing towards the front most place where a railing of half a person's heights prevents everyone from falling, the man stopped and scoot sideways, his hands guided the boy to go and see what's beyond.

Alexis accepted the offer and peered to the other side—the loud cheers blared as he saw blood blossom on the stage.

“That's the arena, where they perform horrendous shows to entertain people's bloodlust, men fought against monster way out of their league and sometimes even with each other while those from the crowd cheered and bet on who's the winner.” Whispered by the devil at his side.

The cheers then suddenly turned into jeers due to the warrior's cowardice, he thrown his sword and caress his wounded arm while running away from the mountain beast.

“Why do you know so much?” Lance who's been quiet for a while asked, the group only stayed in the city for three days and yet this man has this deep knowledge about it that it managed to surprise even him.

Damian winked and said mysteriously, “Trade secret.”

Just as the booing became much more louder the audiences was treated to what they desired, the man's limited stamina finally ran out he was weeping and begging to the starving beast that is slowly walking towards him, once its in range it instantly pounced straight for his throat tearing them between its maws. Alexis and everyone watched as the man struggled until his limbs became limp and his eyes glazed.

“Wooaaah!!!”

Alexis was baffled by the crowds sudden maniacal outburst, he turned his head away from the arena and looked at his back, their faces has madness and joy showcasing fully from their warped expressions, not even a tinge of guilt can be seen from it. Together the monster and the beasts enjoyed the bloody feast below.

“Do you still think that this city is beautiful?”

Amidst the roaring voices a question full of sarcasm made Alexis look at Damian whose lips curled into smile but his eyes are not. Before he could gave his answer however he heard a rattling sound below, he snapped his head back to the arena and saw the metal gates being slowly raised.

A man with the same set of armors and weapons from the previous one confidently strode out of it.

“…why?”

With his voice filled with confusion the boy searched for an answer to his instructor.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Its because of money.

“There is a bounty on that beast and the more human it killed the higher the prize it will be. The shine of gold is much more blinding than the sun’s light.”

The new challenger proudly fought the beast, he stayed in the arena and entertained the crowd for a long time, and unlike the previous one he was even able to wound the beast, but, he made a small mistake of overestimating himself now he became the monster's second dinner for the night.

Alexis watched as two mangled corpses while he remembered the monster he faced before, it was just two days ago yet it felt like a long time, if there was no Lance that is guiding him that time he could only imagined that his death would not be pretty.

“Alright that's enough, let's go the auction maybe we could find some good things.” Damian got bored and lead them out of the colosseum guiding them towards the next place.

Alexis took a glance towards the grand structure for the last time, the den of money and swirling dark emotions.

...

There are two types of auction, the first is one is open for public, its filled with pricey artworks like paintings and sculptures, they can be anything as long its legal. The second is one that also sells artworks but its either fake or stolen, the more dangerous or morally and ethically wrong their product is the more it's keep secret, that's why its hard to find one, however there's still an open secret place called black market, there you just need money, connection, or power and you can join any unpermitted auction house and this is where the three of them are going.

However when they arrived at the venue they found out that it already started and they are unable to enter inside anymore.

“Tsk, we're late.” Damian clicked his tongue and scratches his red hair, then all of a sudden he stopped and looked at Lance with wide open eyes.

“Take it out.”

“What?” Lance confusedly look at his palm-opened hand.

“The badge given to you, take it out.”

He gave him a look of doubt but he still gave it to him.

“Hey you there! Look at this.”

Damian gave the medallion with insignia of the royal army to the person that does the reception for this auction house.

The man's smile stiffened for a moment before it turned much wider and bright, he excused himself for a while and checked something off the desk when he finished that he hurriedly called them a guide.

While climbing up the stairs towards the second floor Damian tossed the badge back to Lance. “Don't underestimate their information network. Right remember this—” he paused and glanced towards Alexis before he continued, “If you need some kind of information about anything its best to go look for it at the black market, for the right price they'll mostly tell you anything.” he made a coin sign with his index finger and thumb and showed to the young man who labeled it as an important piece of knowledge.

When they reached the last step they were immediately guided towards one of the VIP room. As the guide opened the door for their suite a loud sound flows to their ears.

“A..nd! Its sold!”

Pak!

Which was then followed by a boisterous clapping of the bidders.

The guide then closed the door for them and the two took their seats naturally while Alexis was mesmerize by the room’s decoration and the architectural style of the place where he could look down on the entire floor below.

“Take your sit, the next item are coming.” Damian pointed at the couch next to him.

Holding off his curiosity he did as he told and gazed at the stage where the auctioneer loudly introduces the new item carried by two women.

It is a magic tool with a great power and many people wanted it that's why once the man finished putting out the starting bid someone immediately call for two times high of that. The bidders raised their bid until the limits and Alexis' hand that is clutching his pouch tightened especially after the bid rose to thousands of gold. In the end the highest bidder sitting on the same VIP room as they are won the thing.

The design of the whole building was semi circle and the room they are situated is at the left wing, they could not look at the item as a whole unlike the central rooms in exchange however they could see it much clearer, that's why when the next item after the magic tool appeared Alexis clearly saw the despair in the eyes of the one they called item number 6.

“The next item is a wife of a certain merchant that just died recently….the starting bid is....”

Alexis did not process the auctioneer's words clearly because his attention is in the two people on the stage that 'helped' the woman removed her clothes, she squirmed and tried to fought back for her dignity however she was weaker than them, when she realized that it was all in vain her struggles started to become sluggish and every time a piece of her dress fell on the floor her movement became slower until it stopped. Amidst the whistles and cheers of the audiences she stood still in the platform, her face is devoid of any expression and her eyes gazes to the void, the woman's soul went away leaving behind a lifeless bag of bones and flesh.

Like monsters seeing an armor less knight they lunged straight at her, the people became beast bidding on who will eat the flesh, as they descend into madness their tones reached into crescendo and their bids simultaneously followed.

Pak!

“Sold!”

The wasteful pig cheered while others eagerly awaited for the next offering that the butcher will serve.

Alexis' face was apathetic, he just watched the madness happened while the devil's question repeatedly echoed in his mind.

“Do you still think that this city is beautiful?”