NOVEL NEXT Chapter 168: Smash Noah
The streets of the city were buzzig loudly.
People wandered around in every direction, the scent of roasted nuts and fried mana-fish mixing with the acrid tang of vinegar.
Huge signs blinked above every shop, some flashing discounted market prices while others projected moving holograms of celebrities I didn't recognize.
And in the middle of it all, there I was, cloaked in a long grey coat that dusted against the pavement, and a huge, ridiculous hat that covered half my face.
Every step I took echoed lightly under my boots, the storage ring on my finger pulsing faintly from the artifacts it held.
I probably looked like a cosplaying detective trying too hard to stay low-key.
'And it clearly wasn't working,' I thought.
People glanced at me like I was some weirdo while small kids kept pointing their fingers on my hat.
I even heard someone whisper, "What's with the walking funeral?"
"…"
Let 'em talk. I had my reasons. Mostly because I didn't want anyone recognizing me from those "Romero's heir has returned" posters still stuck up near the old market district.
Anyways, I turned the last corner and stopped in my tracks.
There it was.
The Auction Building.
A massive structure that screamed Lapui money. It stood tall like a monument to excess—glass walls so clean they looked invisible with a gold-rimmed signage hanging above that spelled out "LAPUI HOUSE AUCTION" in three different languages.
And even though it was early morning today, there were so many lights that it felt like someone had slapped Las Vegas onto a skyscraper.
Blinking blues, strobes of red and green, beams of yellow that scanned the crowd like they were looking for someone worthy of entry.
And then, the phoenixes.
Two towering statues stood at the entrance, carved from polished purple marble.
Their wings were spread wide, eyes glowing faintly with purple mana. One claw was raised on each as if warning: Only the chosen may pass.
From behind the glass, music blared—a mix of something electronic and classical, like Beethoven got into a bar fight with Daft Punk.
The main entrance in front of me was mobbed.
Easily a hundred people, maybe more, stood waiting in line. Rich people in velvet cloaks. Merchants holding scrolls of credit. A few nobles in hover-chairs, sipping spirit wine while they waited. But nobody got in unless they flashed that one thing—
An entry pass.
Two guards stood at the gates, the same skinny dudes with bored expressions.
They checked each ticket like it was sacred scripture, only letting people through if it bore the Lapui seal.
As for me? I had 0 passes right now.
I sighed and veered off to the side where the real plan was waiting.
And there they were—Team A. Huddled near the side alley, halfway behind a glamoured streetlamp that turned over to our Romero Estate.
The squad looked like they'd walked off a wanted poster themselves.
Dario was the first to spot me. His electric blue hair was messy as always, and his teleportation gear buzzed faintly on his wrist like it was itching to be used. "You're late," he complained, grinning like a delinquent who just broke into a candy shop.
Erza cracked her knuckles. Red hair tied back in a high tail, as her hazel eyes locked onto mine. "We thought you died or something. I was just about to loot your corpse."
"That is not the point…" I muttered, unable to believe the sight in front of me.
But before I could process what was happening, Sera gave me a tiny wave, her dark blue hair pinned neatly behind her ears, as if she was showing her outfit off to the rest of us.
An almost invisible crack appeared in my smile as I gave everyone in front of me a betrayed look.
"…why are you all wearing such fancy clothes again..? Didn't we discuss wearing some shady cloak and all to hide our appearances?"
Aurelia, wearing a glaringly low-neck top and those extremely tight jeans, gave me a funny look, as if trying to hold her laughter in.
"At least I'm not the only one suffering! hehehe~"
I gave her a flat look.
Dario leaned in, staring at me with wide eyes. "All that talk about 'secret infiltration mode'... that was a joke, Noah. Bro, are you okay? Blink twice if you're being held hostage by your fashion sense."
"…"
Seraphina, normally the calmest of the lot, chuckled under her breath. "This is a grand event, Noah. The Lapui Auction happens once a year.
Nobles and royals from all seven subcontinents should be attending if I'm not wrong. Why in the world would we hide? We're literally part of the nobility."
Erza crossed her arms. "Even if the kingdoms have fallen, the ruling houses are still strong and feared. There's no reason to act like street rats."
Yupp, I wanted to dig a hole and never come out.
Almost growling, I pulled off my ridiculous cloak and that damn hat, tossing both into my space ring.
Good thing I'd worn something decent underneath, I sighed.
The moment the coat came off, the temperature around me decreased.
Now that I had removed this inconspicuous piece of shit, I felt way better.
The only downside was that I was visibly sweating, making my outfit stick to me more than intended.
Erza blinked, actually blinking while even Aurelia stopped mid-laugh, her head tilting.
I gave the girls a sideye, after all, I couldn't be looking that good…right?
I was wearing a black turtleneck that hugged my torso just enough to show the lean lines of muscle under it.
The sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, revealing faint veins due to all the sweat covering it.
My trousers were charcoal grey, slightly faded, snug but not tight, with enough casual elegance to look both expensive and effortless.
I wasn't trying to impress, but it seemed that I had unintentionally.
"You…actually look good," Erza muttered, staring at me.
Seraphina also gave me an approving nod. "You clean up well." She said.
Meanwhile, Aurelia whistled, arms crossed over her chest, which was barely hidden due to that weirdly revealing top.
"Okay, okay. That's not bad. Would've been better if you'd skipped the funeral cosplay, but I'll give it a solid 8.5."
Dario grinned at my face. "No homo, but you look kinda smashable, man."
"...excuse me?"
***