CH 295

「Precautions when entering the Deus Art Museum auction

1. After entering, please call each other by pseudonyms.

2. Get a mask from the staff and wear it.

3. Do not leave the room you are directed to.

4. Please use the button placed in the room to participate in the auction.

5. Those who violate the above will be penalized.」

“They tell us to wear a mask.”

After entering, we couldn’t even say our names, but we were going to cover our faces… I don’t know what the hell they are trying to do.

“It would be safer to go together as much as possible.”

Cheon Sa-yeon put the card in the inside pocket of his jacket with an uneasy look as to whether the content on the card was offensive.

As we entered the museum, another staff member approached us with a smile.

“Welcome. Three parties?”

“Yes.”

“I will guide you to the auction house.”

Following the staff, we crossed the main hall and headed right.

‘Are we using another passage?’

The underground stairs, which I knew beforehand, were still locked with a large door. The staff who passed in front stopped in front of the elevator at the innermost part of the building.

“Please get in.”

The rather old elevator was small enough for four people to get on. When I got on there, the staff pressed the button on the third underground floor.

Uung, the elevator rattled down with loud noise as it was old.

When we reached the third underground floor, the elevator door creaked open. The hallway outside the door was very dark and narrow.

“I hope you have a great time.”

As we got off, the staff greeted us and went back up the elevator again. As I looked around the hallway where I could feel the cold air, I said in a low voice.

“I didn’t know we would come down to the third underground floor.”

“It looks like they have prepared a lot for this and that.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who spoke leisurely, pointed to the staff standing at the end of the hallway and the golden door with a chin. I noticed that beyond that door was where the auction took place.

“Welcome. Please choose a mask for entry.”

The staff held out a tray with various masks on it. Most of them were masks that only covered the eyes.

“These three would be the best.”

Cheon Sa-yeon picked up the mask with me and Ha Tae-heon, who was thinking about what would be better.

I was about to say that he had chosen it too hastily, but I noticed that the mask that Cheon Sa-yeon chose was the right size and didn’t block the view.

‘He has good eyesight anyway.’

All three were black masks, but unlike Cheon Sa-yeon’s mask without any accessories, Ha Tae-heon’s mask was studded with blue jewels and mine was sprinkled with golden powder. After putting on the mask, the staff opened the door.

“Please come in.”

I entered the auction house, touching the mask hanging over my shoulder. I was nervous in my own way at the organizers’ actions for forcing even a mask due to lack of a pseudonym, but I frowned at the scene unfolding in front of me.

“This…”

Ha Tae-heon, who followed, also muttered with an unpleasant look.

“It’s more like a party venue than an auction.”

In the wide hall, round tables were placed everywhere and dozens of people wearing masks were laughing and chatting while drinking champagne. Contrary to my expectations, the closed atmosphere was nowhere to be felt.

“What’s going on here?”

“I don’t know what it was, but things got complicated.”

Ha Tae-heon, who scanned the party hall, clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Among the dozens of people who attended the auction, I couldn’t feel the energy of a talented person from them. Even the serving staff were all ordinary people.

“The staff must have been a member or mental-controlled, but I’m not sure about the auctioneers.”

I thought that there might be ordinary people, but I didn’t expect that there were a large number of people gathered here.

“Besides, it’s on the third underground floor, so it’s even more dangerous… Wait, what are you doing?”

“Can’t you see? I’m drinking champagne. Come on, take one.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who had just walked to a nearby table, handed me and Ha Tae-heon, who was having a serious conversation, a glass of champagne one by one.

I took it unconsciously and narrowed my eyes at the relaxed image of Cheon Sa-yeon throughout the whole time.

“Is this time to drink?”

“We’re not doing anything right now, but I need to drink some alcohol, Se-hyun-ah.”

“Pardon? Wh, what the…”

What did this bastard call me now?

Cheon Sa-yeon, who naturally called me Se-hyun, smiled as if asking what’s wrong with me, who was embarrassed.

“Since they told use to use a pseudonym, so I can’t call you as usual, can I?”

“That’s right.”

Ha Tae-heon, who was staring coldly at the twinkling Cheon Sa-yeon, intervened with a voice full of dissatisfaction.

“I think you would be more comfortable with Kwon Se-hyun than any other name.”

“No, why did the two of you choose my pseudonym…”

Cheon Sa-yeon asked me, who was dumbfounded.

“Then do you have any other names you can use?”

“…there may be.”

“I know that you used Kwon Se-hyun when you infiltrated the club with Woo Seo-hyuk and Park Geon-ho last time.”

“……”

Cheon Sa-yeon and Ha Tae-heon continued the conversation with me, who had nothing to say, and kept my mouth shut.

“What do our Deputy Master want to be called as a pseudonym?”

“You decide that first.”

“Hm, then I would say that I’m Se-yeon (세연) who is similar to Se-hyun (세현)? To look like real brothers. How about Deputy Master as Se-heon (세헌)?”

“I think it’s too similar.”

“It’s a pseudonym to use for a while, but it doesn’t matter. Rather, shouldn’t our Se-heon speak to me with honorifics now? You speak informally very naturally.”

“It’s funny that you don’t even care whether I use honorifics or not before.”

“…you’re not fighting, are you?”

I couldn’t tell if they were seriously arguing or just joking around.

So, there was no time to be quiet. I sighed at the growling Cheon Sa-yeon and Ha Tae-heon, when I heard a familiar voice from the earpiece I was wearing.

[Um, Yi-gyeol-ssi? Master? Can you hear me?]

It was Min Ah-rin. I responded by activating the microphone function of the earpiece and putting the glass to my lips, pretending to be drinking champagne.

“I can hear you well. Have you all arrived?”

[Yes. I just entered the art museum. But…]

[There’s a problem.]

Following Min Ah-rin, Park Geon-ho’s voice was heard.

“A problem?”

[There are too many spectators. Even considering it’s the weekend, there are a lot of people, so I’ll have to find out why.]

“If the reason… does this mean that the cult did something to the museum side as well?”

[We need to look for it a bit more, but there’s a high possibility of that.]

[My prediction is that an event was held for the audience.]

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be in the information we knew in advance?”

[Not necessarily.]

This time, Woo Seo-hyuk gave the explanation.

[If it’s a private event for a specific person, it’s not easy to find out. There wasn’t enough time to obtain priority information, so there’s nothing we can do.]

“I understand. Take a look and let me know if you find any new information. Everyone be careful.”

[Roger.] (In English)

After Park Geon-ho’s clever reply, there was nothing more to be heard.

Cheon Sa-yeon and Ha Tae-heon, who heard the words through the earpiece just like me, looked around with subdued eyes.

“There are a lot of people here, but there are also a lot of visitors to the art museum upstairs. There are too many strange things.”

“If the Praus Cult make up their minds to destroy this building, there will be a lot of victims.”

“…no, if it was just for that purpose, they wouldn’t have bothered to open an auction.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who emptied the champagne glass, slowly set the empty glass down on the table. At the same time, all the lights in the party hall went out in an instant.

[This is the announcement for the guests who visited our Deus Art Museum auction house.]

Suddenly, the lights went out and the announcement message rang out loudly through the murmurings of the surprised people.

[The auction will start soon, so please follow the staff’s instructions and move to the room on the second floor.]

As soon as the announcement was over, the door to the party hall we had passed through opened again and the staff entered one by one. They had strong energy that I had never felt before.

‘Four A-rank, six B-rank.’

A total of ten talented people of staff began to visit the participants and lead them to the second floor. In the dark where they couldn’t see well, the participants moved without any protest.

“Please follow me.”

We also had a staff with us. After looking at each other, we, along with the other participants, proceeded to the second floor.

It hadn’t yet been confirmed what the intentions of the Praus Cult were, so we couldn’t act hastily.

‘More than anything else, it’s even more dangerous now that the lights are off.’

When I went up to the second floor, I saw several doors in the hallway narrow enough for one person to pass through. Near the middle, a staff who opened the door gestured for us to enter.

Ha Tae-heon, who took the lead, cautiously entered inside. Inside the room, there were three single sofas and a small table with alcohol on display.

“Auction will begin as soon as attendees have finished moving. Thank you.”

The staff poured out explanations like a machine without raising or lowering the tone then closed the door and left. Cheon Sa-yeon found a remote control with a red button on the corner of the table, turned it around, and opened his mouth.

“Put them in each room and start the auction… there’s no way that a good thing will come out.”

The front of the room was all made of glass, so we could see the party hall where we were before. I sat down on the sofa and sighed.

“Is anyone in the attendees you know?”

“Unfortunately, no. However, it’s certain that foreigners are mixed in the middle.”

“It’s an auction involving the cult, so there must be something in common among the attendees we don’t know.”

“Maybe so. Does our Se-heon-dongsaeng* have any other opinions?” (*little sibling)

“Why am I dongsaeng?”

Ha Tae-heon, who was sitting next to me, asked sharply at Cheon Sa-yeon’s playful question. These two are starting again.

“Of course, dongsaeng. Because I’m first. For your information, our Se-hyun is the youngest.”

“Yes? Wait a minute, why am I the youngest?”

If that’s the case, shouldn’t I be the first? Cheon Sa-yeon tilted his head when I responded with dumbfounded.

“Then?”

“Did you forget? My real age is 35.”

“But, aren’t you younger than me?”

“Why am I younger? You are…”

Recalling Cheon Sa-yeon’s age, I belatedly felt sorry for him. Come to think of it, Cheon Sa-yeon lived through time, so his actual age didn’t mean much.

When I closed my mouth, Cheon Sa-yeon closed his eyes and smiled.

“What about me?”

“…no. Then I will do the second one.”

“Good. So Se-heon will be the youngest? Both of you call me ‘hyung’.”

“……”

“……”

This isn’t it.

Ha Tae-heon, who had a tired face, touched his forehead, and I, who went out for nothing and couldn’t find anything, clenched my chin and averted my gaze.