Chapter 502 - 471: Secret Silver Hoof

Chapter 502: Chapter 471: Secret Silver Hoof

After asking a few street vendors, Roland’s group quickly pinpointed the location of the Secret Silver Hoof’s headquarters.

It was located on the edge of Silver Radiance City’s Upper City District, adjacent to the famous Artisan Corridor, an eye-catching building that was both practical and ostentatious.

They walked along the wide main road, crossing several Crystal Arch Bridges that spanned a canal.

When the building came into view, everyone couldn’t help but stop and stare at its scale and style, even though they had been mentally prepared.

The Secret Silver Hoof’s headquarters wasn’t a High Tower or grand hall in the traditional sense, but a sprawling, ring-shaped complex.

The outer walls were built from dark gray Anti-Magic Stone, their surface inlaid with silvery-white metal stripes.

These stripes weren’t simple decorations; they formed a massive guild emblem resembling a horseshoe stomping the ground, which shimmered with a cold luster in the sunlight.

The main structure was divided into several floors.

The ground floor was an open-air arcade. Through the tall archways, one could see a brightly lit space displaying all sorts of saddles, bridles, and Armor. The materials ranged from common leather to shimmering Magic Fabric, and numerous customers were browsing within.

Above the arcade were several rows of enormous viewing windows with metal grates, through which the agile silhouettes of moving figures could be vaguely seen.

The most eye-catching feature was the semi-circular domed structure rising from the rear of the building—evidently the "Dome Auction Hall" mentioned in the announcement.

The dome was made of some sort of translucent, milky-white material. Light and shadow seemed to flow within it, while floating platforms and walkways encircled the exterior, allowing people to view it from different angles.

Several wide, clearly reinforced ramps extended from various side entrances of the building, connecting to training grounds and racetracks in the distance.

At that moment, a team of uniformly dressed Beast Tamers was guiding several magnificent Land Birds with coats like satin, slowly walking them up a ramp and into a side entrance.

In addition to the city’s usual smells, the air carried the faint, mixed scent of hay, leather, livestock, and some kind of high-grade Magic Potion cleaner.

From the building’s shadows, the occasional deep, powerful snort or the crisp CLACK of a horseshoe on stone revealed the true "masters" of this place.

"Quite the setup."

The Gray Dwarf’s professional gaze swept over the building’s joints and structure.

"This place combines exhibition, trade, Taming, and auctions. It’s very practical in its design. The cost must have been astronomical."

"It seems the Secret Silver Hoof’s status and wealth in Silver Radiance City are extraordinary,"

Avril said softly.

Roland nodded and took the lead.

"Let’s go. We’ll take a look inside."

The group walked toward the imposing arched main entrance.

Under the portico, Guards in standard-issue Leather Armor with batons at their waists calmly glanced at them but didn’t stop them, apparently accustomed to visitors of all kinds.

The moment they stepped into the spacious and bright main hall, a receptionist in a smart uniform with a Secret Silver Hoof badge on his chest hurried over to greet them.

He looked to be in his thirties, human, with meticulously combed brown hair and a polite, well-practiced smile on his face.

"Good afternoon, esteemed guests. Welcome to the Secret Silver Hoof. I am Vilan, a receptionist."

He gave a slight bow, his eyes quickly and professionally scanning the peculiar group before him.

A handsome young human man with a calm demeanor, an exquisite High Elf maiden, a Gray Dwarf who exuded the ruggedness of the underground world, a Half-Elf dressed as a Minstrel, and a human who looked like a scholar.

A flicker of surprise and awe passed through his eyes.

In Silver Radiance City, a diversity of Races was the norm, but the different Races were far from living in harmony. ℯℯ𝑙.

On the surface, peace was maintained under the rule of Order, but private competition, wariness, and even friction never ceased.

The fact that a proud Elf and an xenophobic Gray Dwarf could walk side-by-side, both subtly deferring to the young man, was in itself a silent declaration of power.

Vilan couldn’t help but speculate about Roland’s identity.

"I heard your guild captured a Nightmare."

Roland, however, paid no mind to the man’s scrutiny and got straight to the point.

"I was wondering if we could have a look at it?"

A perfectly calibrated look of difficulty immediately appeared on Vilan’s face.

"Ah, you mean ’Shadow Flame’? Indeed, it is our greatest catch of late."

He rubbed his fingers together, a subtle gesture he concealed between his slightly clasped hands.

"However, according to the guild’s rules, auction items are not usually displayed to the public before their official debut. We must maintain suspense and fairness for the auction, after all..."

His words were tactful, but the shrewd glint in his eyes and the suggestive little gesture with his fingertips did not escape Roland’s notice.

Roland understood immediately. He took a Golden Radiance Coin from his pouch and slipped it into Vilan’s hand without a trace.

"We’ve come because of its reputation and are just curious to see it from a distance. We won’t get close or disturb it, and we certainly won’t affect the auction in three days."

As his fingertips touched the cool, valuable metal, the difficult expression on Vilan’s face melted away like thin ice in the sun.

He quickly pocketed the Golden Radiance Coin, lowered his voice, and his smile became much warmer.

"You’re too kind... Technically, this is against the rules, but seeing as you all have such an extraordinary air about you, you must be distinguished guests who understand how things work. I suppose you just want to satisfy your curiosity."

He turned to the side and made a guiding gesture.

"Please follow me, this way. But, I must ask you all to keep this confidential and not make a scene. Otherwise, it will be difficult for me."

With that, the group passed through a heavy, soundproof door behind the main hall and entered a wide, well-lit corridor.

The sides of the corridor weren’t walls but individual enclosures separated by thick metal bars.

The lighting was clearly well-designed—soft and even, allowing visitors to see clearly into the enclosures without over-stimulating the creatures inside.

As they walked, all sorts of mounts came into view one by one.

"On the left are Wind Feather Land Birds. They’ve been domesticated for three generations, have a docile temperament and a steady gait, and are suitable for long-distance travel or noble patrols."

Vilan explained, pointing to the large avian creatures in a few enclosures.

Farther on, several enclosures held armored, lizard-like creatures, their Scale Armor gleaming with a coppery-iron luster in the light.

"These are Stone Armor Lizards. They have excellent load-bearing capacity and aren’t afraid of difficult terrain. They’re very popular for use in mining tunnels or mountain exploration."

In an especially wide enclosure, several horses with coats as silver-white as moonlight were quietly chewing their feed. A faint light seemed to flow around their hooves.

"Moon Shadow Steeds. They have excellent night vision and a certain resistance to negative Energy. They are favored by Night Watchers and some Casters."

Vilan’s tone remained professionally matter-of-fact, but his voice would unconsciously rise slightly whenever he introduced a rarer or more expensive breed.

"Look over there."

He pointed to a distant enclosure shrouded in a translucent Force Field. Inside was a creature covered in short, pale gold fur, with the body of a lion but the head and broad wings of an eagle.

"That’s a Griffin cub. Very rare, from the distant Wind-Split Mountain Range. Its auction is scheduled for next month."

"And in that corner..."

His gaze shifted to another area fortified with multiple protective Runes.

Inside was an elegantly-shaped equine creature, but its coat was an unhealthy grayish-white. The single horn on its forehead was short and dim, its light faint.

"That’s a... well, a Unicorn of not-so-pure bloodline. Due to its degenerated lineage, its value is greatly diminished. It will be auctioned, but the time and appraisal haven’t been set yet."

The corridor extended deeper, the environment growing more serene, and the protective measures on the enclosures visibly strengthened.

The unique aroma in the air, a blend of searing heat and Shadow, grew thicker.

Vilan stopped before a heavy metal door, inscribed with complex Runes and clearly different from the others.

A crystal plate beside the door displayed the words "High-Risk/Rare Creature Quarantine Zone."

"Everyone..."

Vilan turned around, lowered his voice, his face showing a mixture of pride and awe.

"’Shadow Flame’ is inside. Please remain quiet and don’t make any movements that could be seen as a provocation or threat. Its Perception... is extremely sharp."

After he finished speaking, the receptionist took out a badge and pressed it into a recess beside the door.

The Runes lit up in sequence, and the door slid aside with a low, hydraulic-like HISS.

A wave of heat mixed with the smell of sulfur and Shadow Iron washed over them.

The enclosure within was vast and dimly lit, its floor paved with heat-resistant black stone slabs.

In the deepest part of the enclosure, a massive silhouette stirred slowly in the shadows.

Two points of red light, as scorching as Magma, lit up in the Darkness, silently "watching" the uninvited guests at the entrance.

It matched the descriptions Roland had read in ancient texts.

Its fur, dark as night, swallowed what little light there was. Silent, deep-red streams of flame rose from its four hooves and tail, and every breath stirred up tiny sparks and the scent of sulfur.

But words could not convey its almost tangible pressure.

A heavy Presence, a mixture of pure wildness, the brutality of the Lower Realm, and ancient wisdom, seemed to make the very air congeal.

Just as Roland was observing intently, a low, hoarse, muffled roar, like Magma churning in a rock crevice, erupted from the Nightmare’s chest.

The sound wasn’t sharp, but it had a gut-shaking penetrative force, accompanied by a blast of scorching air.

Vilan’s face went pale, and he subconsciously retreated.

Avril and Galvis also took an involuntary step back. Duraga tightened his grip on his War Axe, while Bronson quickly jotted something down in his notebook.

Only Roland stood his ground, unmoving.

Because deep within those burning red eyes, there was no rage or vigilance, but an incredibly human-like expression mixed with astonishment and confusion.

In a flash of thought, [Animal Companion] was activated.

An invisible bridge instantly formed between him and the Legendary Creature, translating the seemingly threatening growls and scorching aura into a directly understandable torrent of language and emotion.

The next moment, the long neigh transformed within Roland’s Perception into a low, deep, yet energetic "voice" that rang in his mind with unconcealed joy.

"Hey! Bro! What are you doing here? This isn’t what we agreed on!"