IPMPBB 28

Chapter 28

The room was dark.
But there was some light, so after a moment, we were able to make out our surroundings.

“Who is it? Don’t you know not to come in during a deal with a client?”

The auction house staff standing at the door asked us indifferently.
He probably mistook us for other employees.

Carlos silently and swiftly struck the back of the staff’s neck.
“…?”
The man passed out without even a sound.

Wow. Impressive.
I followed Carlos deeper into the basement, amazed at how cleanly he knocked someone out.

Soon, we saw iron-barred cells.
Most were empty, but occasionally there were rare animals inside.

The sub male lead is probably at the end of this corridor.

As I walked on, the voice I heard earlier drifted from up ahead.

“…so, what I want is…”

A low voice, likely belonging to the sub male lead, followed.

What are they talking about?
Curious, I perked up my ears.

“Saintess!”
Carlos suddenly shouted.

“It’s me, Carlos.”
“Sir Ivach?”

At the mention of his name, the tension in the air eased immediately.
As we stepped closer, we could make out the Saintess and the sub male lead more clearly under the light.

The sub male lead was still in restraints behind bars, and the Saintess had her hood up.

“Is it really you, Sir Ivach?”
“Yes, it’s me.”

The Saintess asked again in disbelief, and Carlos confirmed firmly.

“Goodness, what are you doing here, Sir Ivach?”

She covered her mouth in surprise.
Perhaps she hadn’t expected to see Carlos in such a situation.

“I’m here on an investigation. This place turned out to be an illegal auction.”

The Saintess fell silent.
Though it shouldn’t be, the silence sounded like she was thinking of an excuse.

“It seems you came here unaware this was an illegal auction.”
“…That’s right!”

She answered a beat too late.

“I sensed the sinister aura of unbelievers’ sorcery nearby, so I followed it in. That’s when I found out about the auction.”

“Selling humans as slaves—it shocked me so much I forgot to report it right away.”

“I see.”

“Yes, so…”
“How did you get a ticket? I heard entry is strictly by reservation.”

“Oh, the ticket.”
She went silent again.

Is she really making up an excuse on the spot?

“I bought someone else’s ticket at the entrance. I thought investigating came first.”

Carlos fell silent this time.

“Understood. Then we’ll treat your presence here as a coincidence.”

What? With so many suspicious holes in her story, we’re just letting it go?

I stared at Carlos in disbelief.
But he didn’t look back at me, even though I knew he noticed my gaze.

“Sir Ivach, um…”
Just as I was about to speak—

“And who is this beside you?”

The Saintess pointed to me.

“She’s barefoot—is she alright?”

I awkwardly dusted off my dress hem to cover my feet.

“Oh, don’t mind her. Just a companion.”
What?!

I stared at Carlos again, dumbfounded.

‘Just a companion’? That’s way too cold!
Carlos glanced at me briefly, as if hinting at something, but I didn’t get it.

“Then may I hand over this man to the knights?”
“Ah… of course.”

She handed Carlos a gem-studded key.

“Please wait upstairs. Find Murdin, the gambling hall manager—he’ll protect you.”
“…Alright.”

The Saintess gave the sub male lead one last glance and left.

“Sir Ivach, seriously—”
“Please wait.”

Carlos cut me off again.

“Sorry, but I’ll need to knock him out. I promised I’d help him escape slavery.”

He spoke to the sub male lead and struck the back of his neck.
The sub male lead, chained and wary, slumped forward.

“Sir Ivach! I really need to say this—”
“If you’re going to say the Saintess is suspicious, I already know.”
“You do?”

I couldn’t help but raise my voice.

Carlos suspects the Saintess? The main male lead suspects the heroine?

He looked at me like I was overreacting.

“She gave such flimsy excuses—wouldn’t it be strange not to be suspicious?”

“But… she’s the Saintess.”

You two fall in love and get marked together!

“Given her reputation, it is hard to doubt her. Even I couldn’t until just now.”

“But without a convincing explanation, being skeptical is only right for an investigator.”

Silence followed.

Carlos didn’t want to repeat himself, and I was too stunned to respond.

Is this really how things are turning out?

“If that’s enough explanation, let’s move quickly. This is bigger than we thought—we’ll need backup.”

“…Okay.”
I finally nodded.

“I’ll handle things outside. Can you stay here and watch him? The bars should keep things safe.”

Carlos was clearly trying to be considerate, since I had no real gear and my right hand wasn’t in great shape.

“Alright. I’ll watch him.”

I nodded and let Carlos go.

Left alone with the unconscious sub male lead, I let out a deep sigh and slumped to the floor.

“What is even going on anymore…”

I muttered, confused.

The sub male lead flinched—then slowly opened his eyes.

“…?”

I looked at him, stunned.
He’s already waking up after that hit?

“…Human.”

He growled at me.

“You tried to buy me just now.”

A menacing aura surrounded him.

Ah. From his view, I must look like the one trying to purchase him.

…Tried to resolve a grudge in advance, and ended up earning one instead.

“It’s a misunderstanding.”
I rushed to explain.

“As you probably heard, we’re here to raid this illegal auction. Of course, I never really tried to buy you.”

“Then why did you bid?”
“To get this key.”

I waved the jewel-encrusted key Carlos had given me.

“You need this to unlock your restraints, right?”

The sub male lead’s expression eased slightly.

“Then unlock me now.”
“I can’t.”

“…Why not?”
“You need to be questioned first. Until the investigation allows it, I can’t release you.”

“Who’s in charge?”
“That would be…”

Wait—
‘In charge’… isn’t that me?

As far as I knew, whoever arrived first usually took command of such surprise raids.
Unless the royal administration decided otherwise later, the lead investigator stayed the same.

And this illegal auction was discovered by the 3rd Order.
The 3rd Order’s commander was… me.

“I’m in charge.”

“You?”

The sub male lead raised an eyebrow high.