Confusion momentarily clouded Clare’s expression, but it didn’t take long as realization dawned upon her.

Her eyes lit up with excitement.

“Did you hire another Seer?” She inquired eagerly.

“Yes, indeed. It came at quite a cost… Luckily, we have managed to establish a favorable relationship with Clovis. Through our connection to the threads of fate, he can still be located…” Teresa confirmed, a sense of satisfaction evident in her voice.

A playful chuckle escaped Clare’s lips. “Ah, so he remains impervious to tracking spells but falls prey to divination. How amusing…”

The two of them didn’t have to discuss it, and they knew that they had to keep this a secret.

The Holy Arts Faction and the Church of the Fortune Goddess had a common goal of eradicating the Dark Arts from the world, but the two of them did not share this ambition… They had a different perspective on the Dark Arts Faction, seeing it as just another branch of the Arcane Arts that was not inherently evil as long as it was practiced with moderation and restraint.

After all, it could be said to all other paths…

They believe that the real villains were those Arcanists who became fanatical about their own paths and despised other paths as inferior or wrong.

Unfortunately, this type of opinion would be frowned upon, so the two of them were just silent about it.

In any case, they also like the conveniences brought by the Faction and the Church to them, so they would just take advantage of it.

***

In the following day, as their duties for the day were completed, Clare and Teresa took measures to alter their appearances.

They transformed their looks, adorning themselves in attire reminiscent of nobility rather than magicians.

Though their inherent beauty remained, they opted for vibrant red hair, accentuated by their fair complexion.

To complete their ensemble, they adorned themselves with lavish jewelry, enhancing their allure. Lastly, they donned masks that concealed half of their faces, adding an air of mystery to their presence.

Their garments, though designed to captivate attention, proved to be quite common within the Black Market as they made their way through the bustling crowd.

The Black Market was apparently located below the Roaring City, like a huge cavern within the plateau.

Ignoring the peddlers and other patrons, they directed their focus toward the central building, designated for grand events such as auctions.

The two of them hadn’t been here before, and they only knew about this place thanks to their connections…

“Wait…” Teresa whispered, her gaze fixed upon a young man who seemed to be inspecting an item. This small item was laid out before a peddler, and nothing seemed to be wrong as there were many other people trying to do this within the Black Market.

However, it appeared that he had triggered Teresa’s sixth sense ability, albeit in a rather vague manner. This ability allowed her to sense various things, ranging from danger to personal interest and instinctual matters.

“Do you recognize that young man?” Clare inquired as she followed Teresa’s gaze.

“No, I do not. However, it is possible that someone might be observing us…” Teresa responded, her voice laced with caution.

“Could it be Clovis?” Clare suggested. After all, Clovis was the reason they came here. They believed that as long as they talked to him sincerely, he would understand them and join their team.

Clare was then tempted to use her Divine Sense, but because her previous work made her use this ability to find the Crimson Imp, she could only use it two more times before she got fully drained. It was the same for Teresa.

Divine Sense was the slowest in terms of recovery among all of their Spell Lights.

Teresa shook her head. “I doubt it. We have taken great pains to disguise ourselves. If anyone can see through our ruse, it would likely be Clyde. That guy might just be thinking of robbing us…” 𝓪.𝒄

Teresa then resumed her stride, leading them toward the entrance of the Auction House.

As they stepped inside, both women couldn’t help but marvel at the intricate design and opulence that greeted them. Their expectations of a crude and unremarkable setting for a black market auction were shattered as the establishment exuded an air of sophistication.

‘I guess it would be like this since it’s supported by the nobles and the factions in the city…’ Clare thought as she knew how corrupt these organizations were.

They all supported this Black Market for one obvious reason: avoiding taxes.

It wasn’t that surprising now that she thinks about it.

“Clare, refrain from using your Divine Sense…” Teresa cautioned, her tone growing serious.

Startled, Clare turned to her companion inquisitively. “Why? What’s the matter?”

Teresa’s reply was swift. “An elite female dark magician is present. She would undoubtedly sense the use of your Divine Sense immediately. We must exercise caution. We’re inside her Magic Zone, so do not mention her name.”

With Teresa’s warning, Clare proceeded with heightened vigilance…

There was no need for further explanation, and she knew that Teresa was referring to Lesley. An elite Dark Alchemist and Ritualist that had been causing headaches to the various Orders, including the Sentinels.

According to the news gathered by the Sentinels, this woman had already reached the Three Spell Fusion and even created a new Dark Spell… She was improving incredibly fast after getting out of the Academy as if she was a reincarnated Paragon.

The new Spell Model she created requires 4 Spell Lights, according to rumor. However, it was definitely worth it.

If you mentioned her name while also being aware of her face inside her Magic Zone, she would know almost everything about the person, including their attribute strands, spell models, and health conditions, and, in some cases, she could even take control of your mind for a brief moment if you’re too unguarded.

Those were the known effects, and if there were still hidden things about this spell, they weren’t aware of it.

Luckily for them, Lesley still had a limited amount of Dark Energy, so she wasn’t the greatest threat to them as of yet.

With a sigh, Clare stopped thinking about this dangerous woman.

As long as Lesley wasn’t planning to attack them and simply participate in the auction, they wouldn’t care about her.

Clare and Teresa continued on their way like nothing happened.

This time, they prepared a few items to lure Clovis out and looking forward to the auction. If they succeeded, they would definitely not lose sight of him again.

𝑖.𝘤ℴ𝘮