## Chapter 129 – (5)
I stared at Lasha, who was collapsed on the ground.
[Fortress: Strangulation]
“…”
Originally, Lasha’s Fortress was blank.
However, after fighting me, a small change had occurred in her Fortress.
There’s a saying.
When oxygen becomes scarce due to a lack of breathing, the brain releases endorphins and dopamine, creating a feeling of pleasure.
But I never imagined Lasha would end up like that.
I felt a little sorry, but from my perspective, it was a good thing.
Having a Fortress was several times easier to exploit than having none at all.
I got off the ring and asked a staff member.
“If Lasha becomes a slave, when can I buy her?”
“…If that happens, you can buy her at auction as early as tomorrow.”
“That fast…”
That was a bit unexpected.
Didn’t Lasha’s sister say it would be in two weeks?
…Is Lasha’s sister a special item?
Honestly, Lasha was quite pretty in my eyes.
The fact that she wasn’t a special item meant that expensive slaves weren’t determined solely by appearance.
“…Just in case, should I earn some more money?”
I thought I might need to gamble and exchange more money to have enough funds for the auction.
And fortunately, the gambling method here was very favorable to me.
I stretched my body and looked at the staff member.
“I’ll participate in the next match too.”
***
“The auction will start in one hour.”
“Huh? I thought it was tomorrow.”
“Yes, a lot of time has passed.”
“…”
I asked the staff member to let me know one hour before the auction started.
And it was already that time.
I had to give the staff member 3,000 chips in exchange for the alarm.
It was a bit expensive, but I asked just in case, and it was a good thing I did.
I didn’t realize time would pass so quickly.
I felt the fear of gambling anew.
I was so engrossed that time had flown by like this.
I had to revise my thinking.
Even if I had something to check the time in my pocket, there was no time to look at it inside the casino.
I had earned quite a bit, but I felt regretful when I tried to get up.
I passed through the 3rd basement floor and headed straight to the 4th basement floor.
The huge auction house, which used the entire floor, was very dark, as it sold illicit goods.
Only the floor, which marked the path, was faintly lit.
Even in that darkness, masks were required, and masks were displayed at the entrance of the auction house.
Along with pamphlets containing information about the items being auctioned today.
Honestly, I thought I would be recognized even if I wore a mask because of my size.
But I wore a mask and entered the auction house, since they had prepared it.
I didn’t forget the pamphlet either.
I took a seat in the front and read the information about the auction items.
There were 15 items being auctioned today.
Looking at them, there wasn’t a single normal auction item.
“Really?”
I let out a hollow laugh.
Among those items, the one I was looking for was also listed.
Lasha.
In the place where the auction item photo should have been, there was a picture of her biting her lip tightly and looking at the floor.
“Ahem.”
The auctioneer, who was in charge of the auction, went up onto the auction stage.
The auctioneer fiddled with the microphone, making small noises to test it.
And the auction began in earnest.
“The first auction item is a USB from an entertainment reporter. It’s said to be full of photos of celebrities’ private lives that couldn’t be published in articles.”
The item introduction felt a bit petty.
“The starting price is 1,000 chips, and the auction price will increase by 1,000 each time you raise your hand.”
It was an absurd auction item, but it was definitely something that would appeal to people who were interested in celebrities.
As expected, as soon as the auction started, many people raised their hands.
“2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, it’s very popular, so we’ll increase it by 3,000.”
Despite the increase in the unit price due to excessive popularity, people didn’t lower their hands for a long time.
Thanks to that, the auction price soared quickly.
“81,000, 81,000, is there anyone else?”
The item that was 1,000 chips had quickly become expensive, and was eventually sold for 80,000 chips.
A USB with photos that you don’t even know what they contain for 80,000 chips.
Indeed, their spending was extraordinary.
The second auction item was a ticket to a broadcast program.
Of course, it wasn’t an ordinary ticket.
“It’s the front row seat, and a famous actor will be sitting on the left, and a famous girl idol group will be sitting on the right. The auction starts at 1,000 chips.”
This was sold for a whopping 100,000 chips.
It was an amazing auction item.
After that, there were a few novel auction items, such as the stock holdings of a famous stock investor, and the development rights for a new chicken restaurant menu.
Finally, the moment I had been waiting for arrived.
“Ah, this is an auction item that was suddenly added yesterday.”
As soon as the host explained, several people, including me, looked around.
It was an act to check the competitors.
About five people, I guess.
“She’s a product who was active on the 2nd basement floor. Lasha!”
Lasha appeared on the auction stage wearing an eye-catching outfit.
The outfit, which was chosen or put on her to be sold for a slightly higher price, emphasized her physical beauty to the fullest.
“Wow…”
“Heh…”
“Whee!”
Her appearance alone was enough to elicit whistles and voices admiring Lasha’s appearance from all over the quiet auction house.
I also slowly approached the front of the auction house and sat in the front row, looking up at her.
I wanted to see her from as close as possible.
I wondered if Lasha would recognize me in the process.
The inside of the auction house was so dark, and all the lights were focused on Lasha.
Even though I was right in front of her, Lasha didn’t notice me at all.
“Starting price is 100,000 chips! The auction price will increase by 50,000 each time. Let the auction begin!”
Because the price was expected to be somewhat expensive, no one raised their hand immediately after the start, just watching each other.
Except for me.
When I raised my hand in the front row, Lasha slowly looked down at me.
And her eyes widened little by little.
Then Lasha bit her lip tightly.
Grind.
The sound of her clenching her teeth could be heard all the way here.
I was just raising my hand with a gentle expression.
“150,000, 200,000, 250,000!”
I didn’t care whether a competitor joined in or not.
I kept my eyes fixed on Lasha while raising my hand.
I was going to buy her even if I had to take out a loan.
Lasha was looking down at me as if she didn’t like it.
“Is there something on my face?”
“Kuh…”
When I spoke nonchalantly, Lasha’s lips twitched as if she wanted to say something.
I could feel that she was swallowing her curses somehow because she had to show a good image at the auction to be sold at a high price.
Unbeknownst to her, that appearance excited me even more.
“850,000! There are currently two bidders!”
At the auctioneer’s shout, the eyes of the people watching the auction went back and forth between me and a woman.
Especially lingered on the woman for a long time.
“That woman, isn’t that the woman?”
“Ah… the one who vents her anger on the slave’s face…”
“Last time, she burned herㅡ”
Ominous stories were exchanged.
Whether that story reached Lasha or not, Lasha’s expression slowly hardened.
Her eyes shook, and her mouth opened in surprise.
Feeling a little mischievous, I was about to lower my hand when Lasha sent me a look.
It was a different expression than before.
It was desperate.
It was like the expression of an abandoned cat.
“Your expression is honest.”
I chuckled, and Lasha bit her lip.
“1,100,000, is there anyone else? 1,100,000!”
Since I kept raising my hand, it seemed that the other side had dropped out first.
I succeeded in buying Lasha at a price that I didn’t know was expensive or cheap, and I immediately handed over my card to pay.
“Okay, sir, please take this.”
“What is this?”
“It’s a button to subdue a beast.”
I received a remote control with a small button from the auctioneer.
The choker around Lasha’s neck was not just a simple decoration.
“If you press the button, the choker will be electrified.”
“Hmm…”
I looked at the button and handed it back to the auctioneer.
“I don’t need it.”
“No, but…”
This auctioneer doesn’t know.
Who won against Lasha and made her a slave.
I didn’t need something like that.
These two hands were enough.
I smiled and gestured to Lasha.
Lasha, who had been staring blankly at my hand for some reason, belatedly startled and came to her senses.
Lasha approached with hesitant steps and stood next to me.
I didn’t take off the choker.
Because it suited her well.
I received her and headed to one of the most expensive rooms in the hotel that I had booked in advance with Lasha.
There was an elevator exclusively for the gambling hall, so her lewd outfit was not seen by anyone.
Whether it was uncomfortable for Lasha to show her outfit even to me.
She kept glancing at me, or trying to stretch the insufficient fabric with her hands.
I reached out to Lasha.
“Should I hold your hand?”
“…No.”
“You won’t get the money if you don’t listen to me.”
The reason why a slave cannot resist the buyer is not simply because of the choker around her neck.
Even if the slave has the winning bid, only the buyer can grant permission to use it.
It means that even if a slave buys a bottle of water, they need the permission of the buyer, the owner.
“You have to save your sister, right?”
“…How did you know that…”
Lasha looked up at me with a surprised expression.
I held out my hand without saying a word.
“Take it.”
“Kuh…”
Lasha hesitated and then placed her hand on my palm.
It was a small and cute hand, considering she had shown a fierce punch.
When I naturally intertwined our fingers, Lasha frowned and shrugged her shoulders.
Enjoying that reaction, I opened the door to the room I had booked.
