# Chapter 73: 73
Realizing that there was no way out of it anymore, Yves slightly lifted the hood from his face and responded coldly.
—¿De qué estás hablando, Roderick?
—Where did you get the information that I was interested in that sword?
Yves placed his palms together once and responded.
—That's what I call an egocentric sense of self-awareness. You're already claiming it, but I didn't even try to get information about it.
—W-What a blatant lie! You offered such an outrageous price!
Franz Roderick exclaimed while grinding his teeth.
—Remember this! The people of the south will never recognize you as the Marquis. What did you do that day so that only you survived in the Marquisate? The truth will be revealed!
Undeterred, Yves responded.
—Roderick, take your 1.1 billion rupee sword and run home. Anyway, you bought what you came for, why don't you show it off and brag about having won it at such a high price from an undeserving member of an empire founding family, hm?
—Urk!
Franz Roderick was seething with rage.
He won the auction, but it didn't feel like a victory at all.
He smoked with fury like an overloaded chimney, but the only sound Franz Roderick made was that of his clenched teeth. He couldn't even respond.
He already knew there was nothing he could say in his defense.
For now, the image of a mature noble arguing like a child with the young Marquis Russell was not worth showing.
The only one who would lose prestige would be him.
Furthermore, he had never beaten Yves Russell in an argument before.
Eventually, he had no choice but to snort and turn around, uttering a cliche phrase.
—I will never forget what happened here today!
Radis frowned as he looked at the back of the man's head.
He knew how Franz treated Robert, so he couldn't form a good opinion of him.
Franz had kicked Robert out of the family only because he was an exceptional talent.
With his words and actions now, calling him a 'little man' was the perfect description for him.
Aside from that, there were other things that bothered him.
About the trap that led to her death.
Franz Roderick.
Radis decided to remember that man's face.
Instead of walking away, he looked at Yves, who was still staring in the direction where Franz had disappeared.
He seemed to be grinding his teeth.
Sighing briefly, Radis shook Yves' arm.
-Marquis.
-…Yeah.
—Let's go look for my 110 thousand rupens sword.
Hearing the similar price, Yves smiled.
When Radis saw that smile, he also laughed and continued.
—I could buy it with my pocket money, but you said you would buy me a sword, right, Marquis?
-Of course. Did you bring a wallet with you?
—Mmh, yes, just in case. Here it is...
—Oh-ho! Save that.
As they joked, Yves seemed more relaxed.
Radis smiled, feeling relieved as well.
───── •????️• ─────
The place to claim the items was very busy. When Yves went to pick up the 110 thousand rupee sword, Radis waited calmly in a corner.
There were people walking around who, at first glance, seemed somewhat careless in that place that was supposedly reserved for guests.
Radis could immediately tell what kind of people they were.
That coat of arms is from the May Mercenary Guild, and that other one is from the Mormor Mercenary Guild. I guess most guys here are like that. Are they here to sell things?
In the northern region, the larger mercenary guilds went to war for the trophies they could acquire, but most of the mercenary guilds in the southern region were smaller in scale.
Their main tasks used to be escorting merchant guilds or taking care of the security of some stores. They also hunted monsters on occasion.
Radis didn't like mercenaries very much.
This was because they tended to overprice their items and services.
And...
—Huh!
When something caught Radis's attention, he frowned for a moment and soon approached a group of people.
Valiz