The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Unbeknownst to those around him, Desmond possessed strength comparable to that of a second-class Swordsman, having discreetly activated his body enchantment not once, but twice. Unfortunately, the injured guard's final words had diverted everyone's attention from this crucial detail. The guards now glared at Desmond with a murderous intent, their collective gaze piercing through him.

Six guards, who had previously encircled Desmond, swiftly obeyed their captain's commands and stepped back, creating a clearing. Desmond, undeterred, remained composed, neither launching an attack nor attempting to flee from his confined position.

In a sudden turn of events, the ground beneath Desmond's feet morphed into pliable clay, enveloping his legs and solidifying, effectively trapping him in place. Not stopping there, the clay-like substance extended from the ground, growing tall and transforming into sturdy pillars that surrounded him.

From one of these pillars, an earth chain materialized, snaking its way around Desmond's left hand. Another chain emerged, encircling his neck with a firm grip, causing him to strain for breath. The pillar forcibly pried open his tightly clenched left hand, rendering him helpless and resembling a captured beast more than a human.

Desmond, now confined in an undignified manner, let out a cold, mocking laugh as he locked eyes with the guards who had apprehended him, particularly focusing on the captain. "Impressive... Do you truly believe that this will keep me restrained?" he taunted.

The captain snorted dismissively in response. "And what of it? We possess valid reasons and evidence to arrest you, mister," he retorted, his tone brimming with confidence. He issued orders, assigning some of his subordinates to guard Desmond's immobilized form while others were tasked with checking on the auction staff and attending to the injured young master, Gibson.

In his mind, he relished the thought, "Hehehe, once this is over, I'll surely be rewarded handsomely."

Initially, the captain had merely intended to reprimand Desmond and remove him from the premises for his assault on a VIP guest. He had also sought to secure compensation for the incident. However, upon recognizing the face of the VIP whom Desmond had injured, the guard's strategy took a calculated turn. "So what? You dared to harm one of the friends of future grandmaster Grimm's son.

What can you possibly do?" the captain mused, a sly smirk gracing his lips.

The loss of the other guards had hardly concerned him, as he had recently ascended to the rank of captain. Yet, he cunningly incited outrage among his subordinates regarding the fallen guards' deaths. "Young master... young master..." he feigned concern for Gibson, then turned to one of the wizards, commanding, "Hey, you! Come here..."

The captain's command had caught the attention of the silent wizard who had been observing the scene from a distance. However, being a 1st-class swordsman, the captain held no authority over the 1st-class wizards, who were considered his apprentices. They possessed their own pride and were reluctant to comply with his orders.

In the usual hierarchy, only 2nd-class swordsmen were eligible to become captains and command 1st-class wizards. Yet, the captain before them had gained his position through family connections, defying the conventional norms of the organization.

Such practices, where personal connections played a role in leadership positions, were not uncommon in large organizations like auctions and guilds, where the command structure often differed from that of the royal army.

While one apprentice begrudgingly followed the captain's directive, the others seethed with outrage at being instructed to restrain Desmond's body. The situation further intensified their discontent, as they were well aware of the captain's undeserved status.

Meanwhile, the staff member who had been seated on the ground, intimidated by Desmond's earlier display, regained her composure upon witnessing the guards restraining him. She attempted to speak up, but her words were interrupted as a guard approached to help her up.

"Miss, are you alright?" the guard asked, extending a hand to assist her.

After steadying herself and taking a deep breath, the staff member spoke up again, addressing the guard. "Excuse me, sir. It's not Mister's fault over there..." she began, pointing towards Desmond.

In a sincere and concise manner, the staff member recounted the entire sequence of events, detailing Gibson's initial attack on Desmond and Desmond's subsequent act of self-defense. As the guard listened intently, his face paled, and his body trembled with a mix of shock and realization. "W-were we... wrong?" he stammered, overwhelmed by the revelation.

The staff member nodded emphatically. "Yes, you were. Please wait a moment," she replied, understanding the gravity of the situation. The guard, visibly shaken, turned and made his way towards the captain, who was preoccupied with attending to the injured young master, Gibson.

The staff member couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy for the guard and his subordinates, knowing that they were likely to face consequences for their hasty actions.

Unsteadily, the guard approached his captain, his body trembling as he struggled to maintain his balance. His head hung low, displaying the weight of his realization. The staff member patiently awaited the arrival of her manager, who would be responsible for handling the unfolding situation and addressing the consequences that awaited the guard and his subordinates.

Thump.

Anticipating the imminent arrival, the door crashed open with a thunderous boom, sending shockwaves through the air. The entrance revealed a middle-aged man with bloodshot eyes, his furious gaze fixated on Desmond amidst the chaotic scene.

"What in the depths of hell do you think you're doing?! Release the young master this instant!" The man, known as the presenter responsible for overseeing Desmond's possessions, roared at the surrounding guards, his voice laced with unbridled anger.

"What?! Cancel that damn spell immediately!" The presenter's frustration grew as he noticed his subordinates hesitating, failing to promptly obey his orders.

"YES, SIR!" The guards responded in unison, including the spell-wielding wizard. This time, the wizard dared not question the presenter's authority, fully aware of the power and influence he wielded.

Meanwhile, the captain, witnessing this spectacle, stood dumbfounded. "I am the captain, and you, uncle, are nothing more than a mere presenter. How dare you issue commands to me?" His thoughts raced with indignation, questioning the audacity of the presenter's orders, while inexplicably, his subordinates submitted.

The scene ignited a seething rage within the captain. He rose from his seat, his heavy footsteps echoing with authority as he marched toward the presenter. Raising his hand, he struck out with a resounding *slap*!

"Who the abyss are you? How dare you defy my authority!" The captain's bellowing voice reverberated, the slap resonating so forcefully that those nearby instinctively flinched and shielded their eyes, unable to bear witness to the confrontation.

Yet, the air was shattered once more by an even mightier slap, carrying a ferocious gust that whipped up dust and debris. When the bystanders dared to open their eyes, they were greeted by the astonishing sight of the captain hurtling against a glass shelf, causing its precious contents to tremble and dance amidst the swirling haze.

"I merely allowed you to partake in this auction at the behest of a friend, but I never fathomed you would sow such havoc on your very first day." The presenter's voice pierced through the cloud of dust, exuding an air of eerie calmness.

Unscathed and unperturbed, the presenter showed no signs of injury or even a trace of the vicious slaps. The captain, on the other hand, bore the marks of his defeat, his visage crushed as if an immense boulder had collided with his face.

Witnessing this unprecedented event, the onlookers, including the esteemed First Swordsman himself, were left dumbstruck. They had never witnessed the captain's defeat in battle before, and yet, here he lay, effortlessly dispatched by a mere pair of slaps. Memories of the prior incident involving Desmond and the guards flooded their minds, intensifying their bewilderment and astonishment.

Desmond, momentarily stunned by the unfolding spectacle, couldn't help but discern the connection between the enigmatic presenter and the owner of the auction. "Who could have anticipated that the proprietor of this auction harbored such peculiar inclinations?" he pondered, his hand patting his shirt absentmindedly.

"Never dare to set foot in this place again, or I shall not hesitate to end your existence!" The presenter's voice dripped with a menacing threat, his gestures signaling his guards to dispose of the captain's lifeless body and cast it unceremoniously into an unmarked grave.