So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

"Bomb? Did you say bomb...?"

Yoko Bounds muttered.

A dangerous glint flashed in the old rogue's eyes.

"..."

It seemed the Mudhouse guild master wasn't the only one excited.

The Two Rings guild master Jungo Reist, seated on the left, was the same.

Though he didn't speak or lean forward, he kept fidgeting with the bead in his hand.

"These crazy bastards, putting bombs up for auction."

Yoko's curse could actually be considered praise.

For a moment, she turned her head to the left, and Jungo on the left looked to the right.

Their gazes met in mid-air.

If gazes had mass, sparks would have flown from the intensity.

After briefly staring at each other, they looked forward again as if nothing had happened.

The way they were fidgeting with their auction paddles showed their intense rivalry.

I was dumbfounded.

'Now criminal organizations are trying to get their hands on bombs!'

Even if they call themselves rogue guilds, aren't they just fancy versions of thieves? Take it or leave it.

Anyway, I had absolutely no intention of letting them have ownership of the bombs.

After all, that's my property.

"It seems to be my property indeed."

Pelerian said so too.

I decided on my strategy.

First, I would buy it here even if I had to spend my entire fortune.

Then track the amount and find and beat up that deputy branch manager.

"Then, let's begin the auction with the first item."

The auction began.

"This is a white porcelain vase from the Eastern Continent! Starting bid is 100 silver coins!"

I have no interest in such items.

I plan to go all-in on Pelerian's item, so I hope they move on quickly.

"110 silver, 120 silver... Any more bids? Double! 240 silver! Sold!"

However, there were many items left on the list, and the auction went on for quite a while.

The bomb, being the main auction item, would probably come out later.

Looking at the newly received number list, it was near the bottom.

The tension that had swirled around when the bomb appeared slowly subsided.

Neither I nor the rogue guild masters beside me spent money carelessly.

We raised our paddles a few times for practical items but otherwise stayed still.

A boring atmosphere flowed.

And in boredom, people tend to think various thoughts.

Yoko Bounds spoke first.

"If you're not going to bid, why did you come?"

She was addressing us.

More specifically, she was probably addressing the Viscount who was still dozing.

Though no answer came this time either, she didn't seem to expect one.

"I don't know where you're from, but don't mistake that big guy next to you for a trustworthy rogue."

What?

Don't tell me this old lady thinks I'm in cahoots with Two Rings.

Well, we had occupied the seats next to the Two Rings guild master before she arrived.

Plus, I'm a mysterious figure wearing a mask, and the guard I brought is the murderously strong Madam Lilah.

It's natural for her to be wary.

"It would be better not to try anything foolish. Hehe."

Is that a threat?

But using too strong words makes one look weak.

Doesn't she know that, being a rogue guild master?

Whatever misunderstanding she might be having, time passed and the auction continued.

By the time even Lilah couldn't suppress her yawn.

"Thank you for waiting. Finally, we will begin the auction for the main item."

The bomb appeared on the platform once again.

"Twenty ancient adhesive bombs from the Aredeis civilization! Starting bid is 1,000 gold coins!"

The atmosphere became noticeably agitated.

1,000 gold coins.

An enormous amount. Considering that the bounty on the guild masters of Two Rings or Mudhouse who dominate the underworld is around 1,000 silver coins, this is worth ten times that.

However, it might not be such a great amount compared to the value of the item.

"1,100 gold, 1,200 gold..."

Paddles were raised from various places.

With just 100 gold coins, you could buy a decent house in the capital, so each paddle raise added another house's worth to the price.

Yoko Bounds and Jungo Reist also raised their paddles.

"1,400... Ah, the Lady has bid 1,700!"

In an instant, it approached nearly double the starting price.

It was about time for me to step in.

「Using Crown of Connection lv3.」

...

「Temporarily establishing complete connection with target.」

Twitch.

I gained control over the Viscount's body.

I move his fingers to select a paddle.

Yes, this will do.

"Ah...! The masked gentleman. Double, it's a double! 3,400 gold!"

The auctioneer was undoubtedly someone who knew how to enjoy his profession.

He shouted the amount with great excitement.

And the guild masters of Two Rings and Mudhouse sharply turned their heads to look at me.

"You have quite a lot of money."

"...Hmm."

Yes, I am rich.

And actually, while I am a rich snake, I'm rather detached from money.

Money comes and goes, doesn't it? Even if I invest my entire fortune, my tail doesn't particularly tremble or anything.

In other words, there are no limits to my spending, that's what I'm saying.

3,400 gold coins.

The atmosphere sank heavily at that overwhelming amount.

Yes, give me back what's mine.

Just as I was smiling with satisfaction, the auctioneer shouted energetically.

"Ah, the gentleman over there bids 3,600 gold! The basic unit is now 200 gold!"

What!

The paddle was raised by someone sitting on the opposite side of the auction block from me.

Indeed, it was a face I had seen just earlier.

It was the Heaven Medicine Party's underling who had tried to scout Lilah.

I raised my paddle again in disbelief.

"The masked gentleman bids 3,800 gold! Ah, 4,000 gold has been bid!"

But the Heaven Medicine Party's old man didn't seem to have any intention of backing down.

When I raised by 200 gold, he raised by another 200.

And when it approached 5,000 gold.

My tail started trembling. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

'Ack, I'm out of money...'

Even though I'm a rich snake, I'm not exactly a monopoly snake.

The money I received from Roil and what I got from Pelerian's safe didn't exceed 2,000 gold.

My auction budget was 6,000 gold.

Actually, the remaining 4,000 gold was all the liquid assets I could gather from the Viscount.

'What should I do...'

Now no one else could participate in the auction.

For all their talk of being the two major rogue guilds, 5,000 gold coins was an amount they couldn't gather even if they emptied their vaults completely.

"Well, what to do, we should overwhelm them with momentum."

Pelerian advised calmly.

Right, this isn't the time for a match.

Instead of raising by tiny amounts of 200 gold, we need to show our leisure and power.

"1,000 gold up, 6,000 gold, 6,000 gold!"

ALL IN.

Even the auctioneer's voice started trembling.

The auction house became dead silent.

And then, the Heaven Medicine Party's old man raised his paddle once more.

"6,200 gold!"

Snake, defeeeeat!

No, do they really have that much money?

And why do they need bombs anyway?

"These crazy bastards, what would medicine sellers do with bombs."

"..."

The rogue guild masters had similar reactions.

"They say they've made mountains of gold coins selling medicine..."

But that financial power didn't seem to be mere bluster.

"What now..."

'No...'

Even Pelerian had no answer to this situation.