The Book Eating Magician Chapter 125:

Chapter 125 – Life is Timing (1)

‘Does this mean to come in?’

Theo waited a moment, but there was no further reaction . He was a bit curious about the procedure which opened and closed the door, but there existed something more important than a trivial question .

It was dark enough inside that he couldn’t see anything from the outside . Some people would be reluctant to step into the darkness, but Theo walked forward without any hesitation .

Step, step .

His clean-soled shoes rubbed against sand and made unpleasant noises . No, maybe they had laid the sand for this very purpose . As a rustling sound entered his ears, Theodore scoffed .

He’d noticed breathing sounds coming from the narrow passages on the left and right . However, it wasn’t that their stealth was inadequate; Theodore’s senses and Mitra’s detection ability were just superior . It was to the extent that he could determine the number and skills of those hiding .

‘Six people, among them is an aura user . I’m not sure about a head-on fight, but his stealth is equivalent to a regular knight . ’

Just like inhabitants of the dark side of the world, the life which permeated this place was insidious and sticky . For those who lived in the shadows, a head-on battle was only a last resort, and fighting skills wasn’t necessary . It was probably a prerequisite that they knew how to strike from the back, not the front .

However, Theo continued moving calmly . The nasty feeling wasn’t a problem, but he didn’t relax his guard either . He might find them ridiculous, but it would be stupid to not be wary .

Theo put on his best cold expression as he walked on . Then after precisely 100 steps, Theodore arrived in front of a shabby door that he calculated to be around 20 meters below the surface .  Finally, a space filled with deep shadows greeted him .

‘This information guild… Is he the [King of Mice] of the Sipoto branch?’

The space was unnaturally open, and there was an unusually old-fashioned table in the center of the room . Theo’s keen eyes were able to distinguish the good quality of the wood and that it was made by a skilled craftsman .

Theodore looked at the person sitting beyond the table . Under the dim light, the man who boasted a unique appearance grabbed Theo’s attention . Despite having the distinct brown skin and brown eyes of the desert people, the man was big enough to be eye level with Theodore while sitting down .

Even so, the presence around him was like a fog .

‘Considerably skilled . ’

It didn’t feel like the man could beat Theo, but it would be hard to catch him if he ran away . Theodore raised his evaluated level of the Information Guild by two stages .  The man sitting behind the desk looked at Theo quietly and opened his mouth to say, “…It has been a long time since I’ve had uninvited guests . ”

“Uninvited guest?”

Did that mean the instructions Canis provided him were wrong?

However, he got an answer to his question as the man continued speaking, “You aren’t a guest that my kids brought, or any of those who work with them . Based on your speech and clothing, you recently came from Meltor in the north . ”

“How do you know that?”

“There are all sorts of tricks . How you tie a shoelace, the tan marks, dirt attached to the hem, and so on . There are many things that can’t be hidden unless you are a properly trained secret agent . ”

Indeed, Theodore admired the man’s keen eye for detail . It had been less than three minutes since Theo arrived at the door . However, that man had casually uncovered Theo’s hometown and that he had arrived in Sipoto recently .

If this was the level of the man in charge of the guild, Theo couldn’t doubt their credibility .

Theodore sat in the chair before him . “As expected of the best information guild in the central continent . ”

“Yes, who introduced you to this place?”

“A black market trader called Canis . ”

The eyebrows on the brown skin raised . “Canis? That cub is still alive . Though there has been no message from Meltor recently…”

“Are you acquaintances?”

“We’ve done business a few times . His skills aren’t bad, but his way of thinking is too narrow . He must’ve found a pretty good rat hole,” the informant mumbled before extending his thick arms . The tattoo of a two-headed serpent on his forearm wriggled .

He reached out as if asking for a handshake, before his rough face smiled . “I am Sipoto’s branch chief, Gibra . ”

“Theo . ”

Gibra finished the greeting and brought up the subject first . “So, why did you come to find us?”

Theodore was relieved . Asking for the job was the same as accepting the request . He was concerned about being an outsider, but as Canis said, the Information Guild didn’t distinguish between the origin and identity of the guests .

The only important thing was whether the customer could pay the price, the black market trader had said .

‘Then this story will be fast,’ Theo thought with a strange smile as he looked at his left hand .

Before leaving Meltor, he had changed all his goods into cash and stored them in the inventory . It was a tremendous amount when he added in the rewards he’d accumulated from his achievement in Elvenheim . The prices of original books or the sales commission wouldn’t even make a dent in it .

There was no reason for Theodore to hesitate, since he possessed both wealth and power .

So, he said, “There are things I want to buy in Kargas . ”

Gibra listened with a bright expression .

Theo continued,“I want to know the location of all the original books in Kargas and the information about the owners . I will leave it to you to act as the agent for the purchase . The status of the item is fine as long as it is an original, and if the item is bought at a reasonable price, you’ll be paid part of the purchase price . ”

“Original books? You mean the original copy of a magic book? It will take a lot of money to buy all the ones in Kargas . ”

“How much?”

“30 gold as a deposit, the survey period— …Ah, whoops . ”

As Theo wondered about the sudden interruption, Gibra scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression .  “I’m sorry, but I can’t take the commission . I can’t . ”

“How come? If it is simply a matter of the cost…”

“No, it’s not that . Honestly, the money is good, but the timing is really bad . ”

‘Timing?’ Theodore made a perplexed expression .

“Timing?”

“That reminds me, you’re from the north? Then you won’t know about a famous attraction of Kargas . ”

The Kargas Kingdom was the center of the central continent and a trade kingdom, so it didn’t have anything to symbolize it . In Kargas, all logistics from the north, south, and center gathered before spreading to the rest of the continent . It was a kingdom where numerous foreigners frequented, and there was a mixture of cultures . It would be strange if there was something unique about this place .

However, there was something behind Kargas . It was the place where money and desire gathered from all over the world in the abyss of the trading kingdom—the underground auction houses .

“Every year, it will be held in secret for a few weeks . There is a saying that the goods that move through there go beyond the yearly budget of a few kingdoms . ”

“What does that have to do with my commission?”

“The auction is a place where sellers can handle things at the highest prices . Even more so when there are original books on sale . ”

When Theodore made an expression of realization, Gibra continued, “You finally understand . The auction is more attractive than selling it to an unidentified buyer . The right time for the commission would be a few months after the auction ends . So, I can’t accept your request . ”

Theodore was convinced by the reasonable explanation, so he wasn’t embarrassed by the rejection .

The auction house where buyers from all over the world gathered was indeed more attractive than a single buyer . It might be possible to persuade the owner prior to that, but there would be more people who preferred the tradition of the auction house .

As Gibra said, Theo’s timing was really bad .

‘…No, not yet . There is still a way . ’

Theodore’s expression recovered as he lifted his head .  He looked at Gibra and expressed his idea, “How about participating in the auction directly?”

“If possible, that would be for the best . The auction house isn’t just for sellers, as buyers can also get things at reasonable prices . ” However, Gibra shook his head . “Sipoto’s auction house isn’t a place for the uninvited . Isn’t it an event where the budget of a kingdom is moved? The guild doesn’t accept commissions for entry . It will be a problem if we are caught . It is better to wait a few months for the commission . ”

“That is only true if I was an uninvited guest . ”

“Hmm?”

This time it was Gibra’s turn to be confused . Theodore smiled and placed his hand on his chest .  Everything was lining up, so it felt like the heavens were helping him . It hadn’t even been a day since he’d received the plaque from Bear . The dim light shone from the palm of his hand .

Gibra’s expression turned into one of shock for the first time as he grasped the identity of the plaque .

“The Polonell Company?”

“You know it . ”

“I would have to die if I didn’t know the symbol of the top three trading companies in the north . By the way, I don’t know how you got your hands on this at your age . ”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that . ” Theodore shrugged casually .

Judging from Gibra’s reaction, this plaque would qualify him to enter the auction house .  Who would’ve expected his journey to produce this result? Theodore seemed to feel an unknown flow of life around him .

Gibra calmed down from his shock and held his chin . The expression in his eyes was different from before, and his blurred appearance seemed unusual .

“You are eligible if you have the mark of the Polonell Company . Prior to that, I want to ask one thing . Guest from Meltor, do you intend to sincerely participate in Sipoto’s auction house?”

A remarkably intimidating atmosphere emanated from Gibra, but his opponent was Theodore, the master of a grimoire . Theo wouldn’t be overwhelmed by anyone who wasn’t a master .  Above all, Theo had no time . Just a few months was enough to make him feel rushed . The time limit was decreasing with every day that passed .

Theodore nodded with a serious expression, and Gibra opened his mouth to say, “Okay, then I will call you Employer from now on . ”