"{Where are 'The Traitor's Silver Coins' located?}"
{Moira} didn't beat around the bush. She dropped all pretenses and went straight for the juggernaut. While she was clearly burning with curiosity about how a mere human knew of such forbidden Items, she was pragmatist enough to realize this was her only chance to get a guaranteed honest answer.
One might assume she could simply wait for the 'Black Auction' to end, ambush me in the parking lot of reality, and beat the answers out of me. But she knew the properties of the 'Special Ticket' as well as I did. The moment the 'Three Question Exchange' concluded and the pocket space dissolved, the participants would be instantly teleported back to the exact residence where they first used their Invitation Card. Tracking me down after that wasn't impossible for a demon of her caliber, but it was a massive hurdle she didn't want to clear if she didn't have to.
"'The Traitor's Silver Coins' are located in the Ruins of the 21st Floor," I replied.
For High-Ranking beings who spent their eons lounging in the luxury of the Higher Floors, the lower levels were nothing but a blur of insignificance. They had no conception of how vast or maddeningly complex a single Floor could be. To {Moira}, the 21st Floor sounded like a specific coordinate; to me, it was a haystack the size of a continent, and I had just given her a very vague map. But that's not something she should know.
"[Notice: The Third Question for {Moira} has been answered! S-Rank Arthur Tempest, please ask your question!]"
I took a deep breath. This was the question that I wanted to asked most.
"I know for a fact that a 'Level-Break' didn't occur during the Tutorial Phase at the regional site where the Tower 'Ifel' is located. Who was truly responsible for killing the innocent people there at that time?"
I had spent my limited free time scouring the records, looking for the truth behind the massacre of my village. The official story of a monster breach never sat right with me.
{Moira} let out a smile so creepy it made the shadows in the room retreat. She looked genuinely amused, her red hair appearing to pulse with dark light. "{That was the work of none other than you humans. What do you call them? Ah, yes—the 'Reaper' and 'Black Serpent'. We didn't even have to give them orders. You see, you humans are the closest things to us {Demons}. Just a taste of power, and all hell breaks loose. Hahahahahahahaha!}"
The sound of her laughter was like grinding glass.
"[Notice: The Third Question for Arthur Tempest has been answered!]"
"[Notice: The Contract 'Three Question Exchange' has concluded!]"
"[Notice: The time limit for the 'Special Ticket' has concluded!]"
"[Thank you for attending the 'Black Auction'!]"
"{I look forward to meeting you in the Higher Floors, Arthur Tempest,}"{Moira} said, her voice being the last thing I heard as the special room began to fracture. The space contorted violently, the gothic ballroom and the crimson-haired demoness blurring into a tunnel of white light.
My feet touched the familiar, cold tiles of my apartment floor. The silence of the room was a jarring contrast to the chaotic energy of the auction. Melchior manifested beside me a second later, still holding a phantom grip where his wine glass had been.
"Ah!? I was still enjoying that expensive wine... Arthur?" Melchior asked, his voice low and concerned.
I didn't answer immediately. I did my best to maintain my cool, but my hands were trembling with a cold, focused rage. At least now the masks were off. The 'Reaper' and 'Black Serpent' Guilds weren't just victims of demonic influence; they were the butchers of my home. They would pay for every drop of blood they spilled.
"[Congratulations! You have completed the Hidden Chained-Quest, 'Irregularity in the Reaper Guild'!]"
"[Calculating Rewards...]"
"[Congratulations! You have been awarded +20,000 Coins, an S-Rank Item 'Golden Apple', and a Title 'One who negotiated with {Demons}'!]"
"[Info: The S-Rank Item, 'Golden Apple' is a highly condensed energy fruit that can make your body stronger and sharper. It does not increase your Stats.]"
"[Info: The Title 'One who negotiated with Demons', boosts your chances of being favored when dealing with {Demons}.]"
The weight of the 'Golden Apple' appeared in my [Inventory], its golden glow reflecting in my eyes. The hunt had officially begun.