Building A Carnal Empire In The Fantasy World-Chapter 15: Count Varnell II

The man had a presence that filled the room like smoke. He was tall and broad, with silver hair that gleamed in the chandelier light. His mask was black leather with silver trim, and his smile showed teeth that were too white, too perfect.

"My friends," Count Varnell was saying to a circle of listeners. "The Soul Vein realm... it’s like seeing color for the first time after living in shadow. The power that flows through me now..." He flexed his hand, and Kael saw small sparks dance between his fingers. Several people in the crowd gasped and clapped.

Kael started moving through the room with his tray, keeping his head down but his ears open. The conversations swirled around him like water.

"...heard he broke through just last week..."

"...the meditation chamber in his east wing, cost him a fortune in spirit stones..."

"...always knew Varnell had the talent, just needed the right push..."

He stopped beside a group of older men in expensive coats. One of them, a heavy-set man with a gold mask, was speaking in a low voice.

"Of course, we all know why we’re really here tonight," Gold Mask said.

His companion, thin as a reed with a silver mask, chuckled. "The celebration is just the cover story. I heard there are some very interesting items up for bid later."

"Items?" A third man leaned in closer. "What kind of items?"

"The kind that would cause problems if they were sold in daylight," Gold Mask replied.

Kael’s lips curled up in a knowing smile. So Madam Vex had been right. This wasn’t just a party.

He moved on before they noticed him listening. Near the grand staircase, a group of young nobles had gathered. They couldn’t have been much older than Kael himself, but their clothes and jewelry screamed wealth and privilege.

A young woman with auburn hair spilling from beneath a red mask was speaking excitedly. "Father says there’s going to be a slave auction tonight. Real exotic ones, not just the usual farm workers."

Her companion, a blonde girl in blue silk, gasped. "Slaves? But that’s illegal in the capital."

"Only if you get caught," laughed a young man with a green mask. His voice had a cruel edge that made Kael’s skin crawl. "Besides, these aren’t ordinary slaves but beastmen. I heard there’s going to be a pair of elf twins. Can you imagine?"

Kael nearly dropped his tray. Beastmen? Elf slaves? He remembered such stories from his predecessor’s memories, but he’d thought they were just tales to scare children. There were other races in this world after all.

"My older brother bought a beast-kin girl with no cultivation last year," another young man bragged. "She had cat ears, tail, the whole thing. Cost him three thousand gold, but she was worth every coin. Hehehe..."

The auburn-haired girl giggled. "Did she actually purr?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Among other things, hehehe..." the young man said with a grin that made Kael want to punch his smug face.

He forced himself to keep moving. His face felt hot under his mask, and his hands were shaking slightly. These people were talking about buying and selling human beings like they were discussing the weather.

Near the fireplace, he overheard two middle-aged women discussing prices.

"Last two year’s auction was disappointing," one said, adjusting her purple mask. "Nothing but common criminals and debtors."

"Well, Count Varnell promised something special this time," her friend replied. "He’s been collecting for over a year now."

’Collecting.’ Like they were talking about butterflies or coins.

Kael served drinks to a group near the windows, catching bits of conversation about "merchandise quality" and "starting bids." His stomach turned with each word.

A bell chimed somewhere in the house and the conversations began to quiet.

Count Varnell raised his hands for attention. "My dear friends, thank you all for celebrating this milestone with me. The Soul Vein realm opens so many new possibilities." His smile was sharp as a blade. "Speaking of possibilities, I believe it’s time for the evening’s... special entertainment."

Murmurs of excitement rippled through the crowd.

"If you would all follow me to the east wing," Count Varnell continued. "I think you’ll find tonight’s selection quite extraordinary."

The nobles began moving toward a side door that Kael hadn’t noticed before. Their masks turned the crowd into something from a nightmare—dozens of half-faces, all smiling the same hungry smile.

Sterling appeared at Kael’s shoulder like a ghost. "Servers remain here," he said quietly. "Clean up, prepare for after."

Kael watched the nobles file through the door. Madam Vex caught his eye and gave him a tiny nod to wait before disappearing with the crowd.

Soon, only the servants remained in the great hall. The sudden quiet felt strange after all the chatter and laughter.

"First time seeing the upper crust at play?" asked a voice beside him.

Kael turned to find an older servant, a man with gray hair and tired eyes. He was collecting empty glasses with practiced efficiency.

"Something like that," Kael replied.

The man shook his head. "I’ve worked these parties for twenty years. Gets worse every time. Used to be they’d at least pretend to have shame about it."

"About what?"

But the man had already moved on, muttering to himself as he stacked glasses.

Sara appeared at Kael’s side, her face pale above her silver mask. "Did you hear them talking?" she whispered.

"Yeah." Kael set down his empty tray. "I heard."

From somewhere deeper in the house came the sound of many footsteps and muffled voices. The auction had begun.

Lila joined them, her black mask making her look like a shadow. "Madam Vex wants us to stay close to the kitchen," she said quietly. "She’ll come to take us to our clients in a few minutes. Also, she said we should keep our ears open."

"For what?" Sara asked.

"Information," Lila replied. "Names, prices, buyers. Anything that might be useful later."

Kael frowned. "Useful for what?"

But before Lila could answer, a new sound drifted through the walls. It was faint, almost lost in the general noise, but unmistakable once you heard it.

Someone was crying.

And from the east wing came the voice of Count Varnell, carried on the air like poison: "Now, let’s begin with our first lot. A matching Earth Rank cultivation pair, very rare. Bidding starts at fifty thousand gold..."

Kael looked around the empty hall with its golden decorations and crystal chandeliers, thinking to himself, ’Tonight’s going to be a very long nights.’