Chapter 503 - 472: The Unceasing Cycle

Chapter 503: Chapter 472: The Unceasing Cycle

’This Nightmare... knows me?’

The moment this thought surfaced, Roland quickly came to a realization.

The "brother" the Nightmare spoke of likely wasn’t referring to his current self.

Since his transmigration, the only Other Plane he had ever set foot on was during a brief journey through the Star Realm aboard a Shell Ship—let alone the Lower Realm, where Nightmares originate.

As he pieced this together, Roland’s spirits lifted.

Although he was still unsure how he and this Nightmare would meet in the future, its words confirmed at least one thing.

The period when "Rudolph" was active had to have been before this Nightmare was captured.

In other words, everything he was currently experiencing was, for "Rudolph," a "future" that had yet to occur.

He immediately prepared to ask more questions through his Animal Companion connection.

Just then, however, a series of hurried, heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor behind them, intermingled with the rustle of fabric and hushed rebukes.

"Vilan! You idiot! Who gave you the nerve?"

A sharp, piercing voice rang out.

Everyone turned to see a man dressed far more elegantly than Vilan, a man with the stature of a Half-Elf, striding quickly toward them.

He had the typical appearance of a Half-Elf.

He had curly brown hair and a round face with a meticulously trimmed short beard, but his light brown eyes were blazing with fury.

The badge pinned to his chest was larger, and its material was clearly of a higher quality.

"Supervisor Caspar, I..."

The color instantly drained from Vilan’s face.

"Shut up!"

The Half-Elf supervisor named Caspar shot him a fierce glare, his short, stubby finger nearly poking Vilan in the nose.

"Do you think the guild’s rules are a joke? How dare you sneak people in here for a paltry sum! If you disturb ’Shadow Flame’ and it affects the auction, can you bear that responsibility?"

His voice echoed in the empty corridor.

Next, Caspar’s sharp gaze turned to Roland and his companions, as he was clearly prepared to unleash his fury on these "rule-breaking visitors."

However, as his gaze swept past the Elf and the Gray Dwarf to finally land on the face of Roland, who was surrounded at the center, his shrill reprimand cut off abruptly, as if severed by a blade.

The anger on his round face vanished. He narrowed his eyes slightly, took a step forward, and gave a small bow in Roland’s direction.

"...So we have distinguished guests."

Caspar’s voice was much lower, laced with a deliberately practiced smoothness and caution.

"It was my subordinate who was being foolish. He has disturbed your viewing and broken the guild’s rules. I apologize to all of you on his behalf."

He straightened, his gaze lingering on Roland’s calm face for a split second before he stepped aside to clear the path out of the corridor. His posture was humble, yet it left no room for refusal.

"However, this is, after all, a quarantine area for high-risk creatures. For your own safety and to adhere to the guild’s procedures, please proceed to the main hall."

"If you are interested in ’Shadow Flame’ or any other mounts, we will be sure to provide you with our utmost service at the auction in three days."

His words were polite and thorough, but his intention to see them out was unmistakable.

Vilan stood to the side with his head bowed, not even daring to breathe.

Roland took one last, deep look into the enclosure at the pair of Magma eyes still watching him. Several thoughts raced through his mind before he finally gave Caspar a slight nod.

"We were presumptuous. We will leave now."

He said no more. Personally escorted by Supervisor Caspar, he turned with his companions and left the area, which was thick with the stench of sulfur and savagery.

Behind them, the heavy, Rune-inscribed door slowly swung shut, sealing the Nightmare and its questions away once more.

Back in the spacious and brightly lit main hall, the somewhat noisy chatter of the crowd diluted the oppressive tension of the quarantine area.

Vilan, his head bowed, was about to sneak back to his post when Roland called out to him.

"Mr. Vilan."

The receptionist’s body stiffened. He turned around slowly and forced a smile, his hand unconsciously covering the pouch where he had stashed the Golden Radiance Coin.

"D-Distinguished guest, is there anything else? I am so... incredibly sorry about what happened."

When he saw Roland’s gaze seemingly fall on his clutched money pouch, an expression of utter agony crossed his face, and he whispered rapidly in a low voice.

"Um... even though Supervisor Caspar came and you didn’t get to look for long... you still got to see it, right? According to... according to our agreement... how about I refund you half?"

The corner of his mouth visibly twitched when he said "half," as if he were carving off a piece of his own flesh.

Seeing his miserly display, Roland couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he unhurriedly took another Golden Radiance Coin from his pouch.

He held it between his fingertips. Under the bright light, its flowing golden luster and the swirl of miniature Star Dust at its center looked especially captivating.

Although he hadn’t counted them carefully, he knew his pouch contained at least several dozen similar coins.

To Roland, the value of the currency itself was far less than that of the information it could buy.

"You can keep the money."

Roland handed the Golden Radiance Coin to Vilan, who fumbled to catch it, his face instantly a mixture of incredulous surprise and confusion.

"I have a few questions for you."

Vilan clutched the two Golden Radiance Coins as if they were a lifeline. His smile immediately became incredibly eager, even taking on a sycophantic edge.

"Please, ask away! If it’s something I know, I’ll tell you absolutely everything!"

"About that Nightmare, ’Shadow Flame’..."

Roland lowered his voice.

"When, where, and how did you capture it? Did the process go smoothly?"