Chapter 48: Operation at the Auction House

Entering the conference room alongside Liu Shiyu, Cheng Feng’s gaze swept across the four association members seated around the round table.

Jiang He, upon seeing Liu Shiyu arrive, greeted her enthusiastically from his chair. Liu Shiyu, however, responded with calm indifference.

Cheng Feng’s attention was drawn to a woman whose strikingly cold beauty set her apart. She wore a white hairband over her black hair, a gray tactical bodysuit, and a light silver armor jacket. Leaning back in her chair, she appeared to be resting with her eyes closed. About twenty to twenty-three years old, she emanated a subtle yet unmistakable aura of power. Judging by her presence alone, she was undoubtedly the strongest of the four demon hunters present.

Her name was He Moli, gifted with wind-based superpowers. Though Cheng Feng didn’t know her, he silently speculated that her strength was considerable—clearly a top-tier elite demon hunter, equal in rank to Liu Shiyu.

The third member was a young girl with long twin-tails tied by red ribbons. She looked to be about sixteen or seventeen, around one meter sixty in height, dressed in a black and red Gothic Lolita outfit. Her legs, clad in black stockings and boots beneath her skirt, made her resemble a character from a cosplay event. She lay sprawled across the table, fast asleep.

The fourth was a man just past twenty, his rimless glasses lending him an air of refinement. His hair was parted neatly down the middle, and his crisp white shirt and black trousers created a meticulous impression. Was he truly a demon hunter? Cheng Feng wondered if he might be an office worker who’d wandered in by mistake.

The man noticed Cheng Feng and Liu Shiyu entering, smiled, stood up, and offered his hand to Cheng Feng, introducing himself.

“You two are here for the association’s mission, I presume? Brother, I haven’t seen you before—you must be new. Hello, I’m Luo Ke.”

“Hello, I’m Cheng Feng,” replied Cheng Feng respectfully, reciprocating the introduction.

Hearing their conversation, the girl in the Gothic dress awoke from her sleep at the white round table. She rubbed her eyes drowsily and yawned, “Luo Ke, is everyone here yet? I’m so bored—when will this meeting start? I actually fell asleep.”

Seeing her awake, Luo Ke casually introduced her, “Let me introduce you—this is Gu Yan, my partner.”

“Who’s your partner? Stop talking nonsense,” Gu Yan snapped, her expression instantly changing. A uniquely designed pistol appeared in her hand, aimed at Luo Ke’s head, and she fired without hesitation.

“Bang!”

The sharp report of the gun echoed through the conference room, the bullet flying straight at Luo Ke’s forehead.

“???”

It all happened so quickly that Cheng Feng stared in shock, unable to react before Luo Ke, right beside him, took a bullet to the head.

Stunned, Cheng Feng asked, “Hey, are you alright?”

“No worries, no worries. Sorry to surprise you, Brother Cheng,” Luo Ke replied, miraculously unharmed, his smile intact as he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from his forehead with practiced ease. “Xiao Yan is a bit hot-tempered, but she’s actually quite gentle inside. You’ll see once you get to know her.”

“Hmph,” Gu Yan snorted, holstering her pistol. “If you dare talk nonsense again, next time I’ll empty the magazine into your backside.”

Cheng Feng: “...”

There was simply too much to comment on, so he let it pass.

He and Liu Shiyu took their seats, while Jiang He quietly engaged Liu Shiyu in conversation, full of concern. “Shiyu, it’s been so long since we last met. How have you been? You seem to have lost weight.”

“Thank you for your concern. I’m fine,” Liu Shiyu replied succinctly.

“That’s good to hear. Shiyu, after this mission, do you have some free time? There’s a new Western restaurant downtown—the food is really excellent.”

“Sorry, I probably won’t have any time.”

“I see…” Jiang He’s mood visibly darkened as he sensed Liu Shiyu’s coldness and said no more.

Cheng Feng watched from the side, amused, unable to fathom why Jiang He kept trying to get close to Liu Shiyu. Did he not realize her feelings were as cold as ice, that approaching her would only leave him frostbitten? How many times would this lovesick fool need to suffer before he understood?

Soon, several more association members entered the conference room, and the meeting began in earnest, discussing the upcoming operation.

The monsters selling at the auction had always operated by abducting girls from various districts, only targeting young women to supply the market's demand. Each time, they would snatch a victim and then relocate to another district, making it nearly impossible for demon hunters to track their movements.

Through the group’s discussion, Cheng Feng learned that the underground auction wasn’t organized by a coalition of monsters, but by a single mastermind known as “Magician.”

The Magician alone, after years of investment and effort, had created the massive underground auction to benefit those monsters who hungered for human flesh.

In Winter City, the Disaster Association maintained intense pressure against monsters. Many high-intelligence demons wished to eat humans but feared being hunted by demon hunters. The underground auction provided a solution for these weaker monsters, allowing them to buy fresh, tasty humans without risking themselves. According to intelligence reports, the auction was held every seven days, and each time about one hundred to one hundred fifty monsters participated.

Most of these monsters were weak, mere riffraff, which was precisely why they relied on the auction to survive.

Thus, the main target of this operation was the founder of the auction—the Magician.

As an S-class monster, the Magician's true strength was unknown, requiring elite demon hunters to confront him.

After detailed discussion, the group settled on a simple plan: the auction would take place again tomorrow night at eight. All potential exits would be sealed, and the demon hunters would storm in for a massacre. The strongest monster, the Magician, would be dealt with by either Liu Shiyu or He Moli, while the other hunters—both trainees and regulars—would focus on eliminating the weaker monsters.

The operation was scheduled for nine o’clock tomorrow night, and the meeting adjourned.

The association members dispersed from the conference room.

He Moli lingered, turning to Liu Shiyu with a chilly tone, “Liu Shiyu, tomorrow’s operation against the Magician—I can handle it alone. I don’t need your help.”

Liu Shiyu, who rarely interacted with her, didn’t understand He Moli’s motives but kindly reminded her, “The Magician’s abilities are shrouded in mystery. He might have contingencies. Are you sure you don’t need assistance? Can you win alone?”

“It’s just a Magician. How dangerous could he be? I’ll claim the achievement of killing an S-class monster, so don’t you dare compete with me.”

With that, He Moli left the conference room in cold silence.

Cheng Feng and Liu Shiyu descended together, returning to the car where Xue Ju was still waiting in the back seat.

Frowning, Cheng Feng said, “Liu Shiyu, I believe this operation is ill-advised—dangerous even. My sister is still inside the auction. If you charge in and fight the monsters, she and the other captives will have no guarantee of safety. They could easily be taken hostage.”

“I’ve considered your concern,” Liu Shiyu replied after a moment’s thought, her lips curling into a clever smile. “Tomorrow, disguise yourself as a vampire and infiltrate the auction. Bid for your sister and buy her back. The operation begins at nine o’clock. If you can secure your sister’s safety before then, we’ll proceed as planned.”

Cheng Feng’s eyes lit up; it was indeed a good plan. Yet unease lingered within him, a nagging sense that tomorrow’s operation at the auction wouldn’t be so straightforward.

PS3: Thanks to Little Osprey QAQ, Still Missing One Last Thing, and Midsummer Dragon for the monthly tickets.