On the far side of the room, the noblewoman who had placed the highest bid earlier turned her head as well. Her eyes narrowed slightly, surprise flashing across her gaze. She hadn't expected anyone else to dare compete in a moment as tense as this.
"Young friend," she said gracefully, her voice as smooth as silk yet laced with underlying pressure. "Who are you?"
Lein didn't answer right away. He merely turned his head slowly toward the woman, then spoke in a calm but resolute voice.
"Lein. From Earth."
The entire room tensed.
A name... and a place no one had heard before—yet uttered with unwavering confidence.
And in a world like this, that kind of confidence only belonged to two types of people—utter fools... or someone truly dangerous.
"Earth?"
A few people immediately wore puzzled expressions.
"What kind of place is that?" someone murmured, one eyebrow raised.
"Is it a new realm? Or perhaps a hidden sect?"
"Could be... a newly discovered minor cosmos?"
