Legacy of the Dark Sage

Kyran had to go to the Crespuscule Auction House for a few reasons. And one of the big reasons was currently being fulfilled— a chance to enter the Crepuscule Treasure Vault.

Such a reason was not unexpected because most clans in the Higher Realm would also like to have a chance to enter their vault. However, the reason those clans wanted to enter the vault was very different from Kyran's. Those clans wished to enter and find a way to steal their treasures, but Kyran only wanted to take a look at them.

After all, that was all he needed to recreate them— at least, that was the case with rare materials and items, as well as treasures created from Array.

Kyran did not have the time to travel around the Higher Realm and collect information— or, to be more accurate, visual information— on every item that could be used as materials in Array Creation or ingredients in Alchemy.

Thus, he surmised that the Crepuscule Clan, with its extensive intelligence network and numerous connections, was the closest to the Solis Clan in terms of gathering almost every rare and even legendary item in the Higher Realm.

Of course, he could not say the same with unique items such as the relics, magic scrolls, and talismans found in sacred grounds or unique places like the Tower of the Ancients since those were considered treasures before The Fall and could not be easily replicated.

Not that it mattered to Kyran. Because the clan that was primarily responsible for those items was on his side— the Ancients. So long as he learned how they created them and knew what materials they used, he could make those treasures whenever he wanted. He might even be able to enhance them if he could deepen his knowledge in both Array and Craft.

In any case, Kyran's current priority was to expand his visual information on rare materials and ingredients in the Higher Realm. He read many of them during his stay in Ogen and even increased his knowledge while in the Dragon plane. However, recreating items using Void magic required Kyran to have a very clear and distinct understanding of them.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

If Kyran had only seen the item from a book, the book should have in-depth details for him to imagine them if he recreated them. If not, then even if he succeeded in recreating the item, it might not have its property intact.

It was unfortunate that the Dragon Clan and the Ogen Clan's treasures combined were only enough to cover about 30% of every item the Higher Realm could offer. If they could cover even 60%, Kyran would avoid getting close to the Crepuscule Clan and peek at their treasure vault. But since that was not the case, he could only take the risk.

Frankly, if the Blade Dancer Clan's treasure vault had not been damaged during the escape, they might have been able to cover another 10% to 15% of the items found in the Higher Realm. Alas, that did not happen.

In fact, the Blade Dancer Clan barely salvaged any of their treasures, which was why Kyran had more reasons to amass his wealth to support them and also pay the Ogen Clan, which was currently providing them with materials to build their stronghold.

Kyran initially planned to win Estrid's good graces and infiltrate her clan's vault, but Aillos's warning changed his mind.

Since Estrid and Lucian's relationship was kind of vague, Kyran wanted to avoid meeting the former. After all, he could not use his face-altering mask before her; thus, his real face, which Lucian knew, would be exposed.

Considering all these, Kyran changed his plan. Fortunately, Leif gave him some helpful information that helped him come up with a new plan.

The open auction.

At first, Kyran only wanted to form a connection with one of the low-ranked alchemists in the auction house. Thus, he did not anticipate the appearance of the new vice-head, Reynard. Luckily, Reynard seemed new at negotiating, and Kyran managed to exploit that.

However, interacting with Reynard still posed many risks, which was why Kyran decided to act alone. He did not wish Cyneah and the others to come with him, so he had them stay in the outer city and participate in the open auction.

It was just as well because the Crepuscule Clan's Treasure Vault was inside the inner city. If Kyran went there with everyone, the risk level would increase.

Kyran was confident in escaping alone without relying on Void magic. Thus, he would be fine even if something terrible happened. But if Cyneah and the others were with him while he was not worried about their capability to fend for themselves, escaping would be out of the question unless he was prepared to expose his Void magic.

When that happened, however, it would not be long before his connection with the Dragon Clan and the Ogen Clan would be exposed. They had to avoid that at all costs, especially when they were still in the first stages of their war preparation.

While these thoughts swirled in Kyran's thoughts, he and Reynard arrived in front of the room where the transmission array that would transport them directly to the Crepuscule Clan's Treasure Vault was located. Discover stories at empire

During their walk to the room, Reynard boasted non-stop about his clan's wealth to Kyran. He also mentioned some information about what to expect in that day's open auction and the VIPs that would be attending.

"...Is it alright for you to leave the event when it is about to start?" Kyran asked while Reynard opened the door to the room, which contained a security array that required his magic signature.

Reynard waved his hand dismissively and said, "There is no need to worry. While my position suggests my high status, someone with a much higher status than me is the one leading the event."

"Right... since you're the vice-head, the head of the auction house must be the main organizer."

Reynard paused and looked at Kyran, wearing a somewhat confused expression. But then his eyes cleared as if realizing something and said, "Ah... right. That does make sense. However, the one leading the open auction is our clan head, Lady Estrid."

He smiled proudly and even puffed out his chest before adding, "Initially, the other executives did not want to do the open auction because of the recent events in the Higher Realm. The unrest among the clans is palpable these days, and they are afraid that no large clan will attend the open auction."

Kyran did not say anything and only listened as Reynard blabbed.

A mage greeted them from inside the room, and after Reynard instructed the mage to activate the transmission array, the mage looked in Kyran's direction with a slight frown.

"He is an important business partner," Reynard told the mage, sensing the latter's doubt. "I will take responsibility for him."

The mage nodded reluctantly at his words and walked over to a transparent panel at one side of the room.

A quick look at the transmission array written on a levitating marbled platform on the floor and the transparent panel, Kyran guessed it was one of those mobile transmission arrays. Moreover, the formulas in the transmission array did not have specific coordinates or destinations. Instead, a formula connecting the transmission array to the transparent panel was included.

Kyran guessed that the coordinates to the transmission array's destination must be entered from the panel. This concept allowed the transmission array to connect to several transmission arrays, making it a very convenient and cost-efficient magic item.

Kyran believed it was cost-efficient even if it required a crazy amount of magic energy to use because, at least, there was no need to create other transmission arrays to connect to the others. In the long run, it would cost less than those transmission arrays that could only connect to one other transmission array.

Others would find the mobile multi-destination transmission array very innovative, but Kyran was not impressed. After all, he had already created a similar one using the Regis Terram in the Dragon plane as the base to develop other gates in different planes— not only in the Lower Realm but also in the Higher Realm.

"Please follow beside me so the others will not mistake you for an intruder," Reynard told Kyran with a smile.

"..."

The transmission array on the platform lit up, and Reynard stepped on the platform at once. He then looked at Kyran and gestured for him to follow suit before looking at the mage on the panel, who gave a slight nod.

A pillar of light lit up from the platform, and the two were immediately transported to their destination.

"Lady Estrid is leading the open auction herself?" Kyran asked as soon as the light that enveloped them faded. "Isn't that a little intimidating for all the attendees? As far as I remember, the items being auctioned are incomparable to the ones being auctioned inside the inner city."

Mistaking Kyran's words as he compared his experience of attending an auction in the inner city to the open auction, Reynard smiled knowingly and only replied vaguely, "Well, open auctions are not organized just for items to be auctioned. Since VIPs from large clans will still attend, socializing with them and building more rapport is also important."

"...I see," Kyran replied after a short pause. He was not convinced of Reynard's answer, but he thought it made sense, so he let it go.

"We are here," Reynard announced after the two walked for another ten minutes and stopped in front of enormous twin doors made of gold.

The door itself did not look impressive. However, Kyran saw an intricate array of formations covering the walls.

"Let us go inside," Reynard said with a smile and touched one of the doors. As soon as his palm touched the door's surface, the walls lit up, and several clicking sounds could be heard behind them.

Following those sounds, cracks appeared on the doors, and like moving blocks, they retracted to the sides and revealed the room behind them.

It was not the first time Kyran visited a treasure vault, but the Crespuscule Clan's vault size was several times bigger than those vaults he had seen thus far.

"I hope you will find something you like," Reynard said as he stepped inside the vault. He smiled at Kyran and added, "I genuinely want to trade with you."