Summoned and Unwanted

[In other words, you better make an excuse if you want to lower the attention on yourself. Zero is slowly mutating with your mutated blood, unlike Plow, Tusk, and Nix, who mutated immediately.]

-You are right. –

Vincent believed Kazumi’s suggestion was the best choice to make.

“My mistake, haha. I meant body language. It looks hungry.” Vincent turned his gaze on the Visk Vine. “Zero, do you want to eat it?”

(Hungry)

Zero moved its small leaves on its head and looked interested. Vincent placed Zero on the cushion with the Visk Vine. Zero turned and remained facing the Visk Vine, yet it didn’t go to it eat.

“Nimbus Nerves only eat blood.” Both Nick and Leonis said almost at the same time.

It was common knowledge for them, yet Vincent was doing the opposite. However, to their surprise, Zero wrapped its small vines, placed the Visk Vine in front of its mouth, and *Chomp, crack, crack... gulp*

.....

(Master)

Zero said a different word after eating something that wasn’t blood.

Zero raised its small vine arms and waited to be lifted by Vincent. The dangerous plant looked somewhat adorable in its small one-inch size.

.

[Condition] Healthy, Blood Bond (Vincent Lionheart), Mutation (5% – Mana Root)

.

Vincent smiled after he inspected Zero. Later, he placed Zero in his pocket, and it didn’t seem to hate it.

Zero can acquire a new ability when the mutation value reaches a hundred percent based on the new details in the condition stat. However, Vincent is worried about the unknown amount of blood he will have to donate for said mutation.

The hero was going to become plant food.

“It ate it...” Nick could only mumble these words. He was too surprised to speak.

Similarly, Leonis mumbled, “First a strange fox, then a boar, and a bird. Now a strange troubling plant. I have to also ask Byron for a small farm because of the animals...”

Leonis shook his head and honestly continued, “My little angel is going to live in a barn soon...” *Sigh*

Vincent approached the surprised Nick, placed his arm around his shoulders, and said, “My gifts or now gift is great. Why don’t we go to the VIP balcony your butler Vivid mentioned?”

Nick snapped out of his daze and looked at Vincent’s pocket. Zero’s two tiny leaves slightly moved as it noticed his gaze.

‘Vopor was right. It is fun being around Vincent. Furthermore, I don’t feel like there is too much of an age difference between us.’ Nick thought as he placed the flame enchanted sword in his hand on a nearby cushion.

“Okay. Please follow me since my friend is happy with the chosen gift.” Nick said. Then he led Vincent and Leonis outside the backstage storage room and locked the door afterward.

After confirming the door was locked, Nick headed for the VIP balcony room. Later, they went up, and Nick opened a door with a small name board beside the door. Similarly, it was made out of gold, and it had VIP written on it.

Inside the room with well-decorated walls were two long sofas, a coffee table in between, and a red curtain opened. The balcony view looked stunning after entering the door. Vivid was standing nervous, as if he was caught relaxing on the sofa.

“Master Nikolai. Great timing. The auction is about to start in a few more minutes.” Vivid tried to change the subject. His nose twitched, and his ears moved. “Lord Vincent, is a Nimbus Nerve plant in your pocket? It is smaller than I remember.”

Nick smiled and explained what a thrilling and unimaginable show Vivid missed. The minutes ticked, and the sound of trumpets sounded. The auction was about to begin.

Vincent, Leonis, Nick, and Vivid stood on the balcony. At the railing were two light gemstones. It appeared this was the signaling method to buy from a distance in the Graymoon Auction House.

An auctioneer walked the stage. In his hand seemed to be a gemstone. The man welcomed the participants, and after exchanging a few words of praise, he began with a row of salves.

They were a mix between humans, half-elves, beastmen, lizardmen, orcs, and goblins. All of them were clothed in clean clothes, and although they were scared and some sad, they didn’t look mistreated.

However, before the betting started, the auctioneer took out a document and spent a couple of minutes reading the terms and conditions. It was mostly how the slaves must be treated if a person wanted to buy a legal salve and that there will be random inspections throughout the year. Mistreated slaves will be confiscated by the law if any inhumane treatment is reported and verified to be true.

Vincent and Kazumi didn’t know how to feel about this heavy subject. Slavery was terrible, yet the rules the auctioneer read could help unfortunate people of all races live in a better environment.

However, every good has a bad, and the more good, the worse could happen. Such beneficial conditions to legal slaves made the illegal slavey become more sought after, even to the point of threatening people if they had a powerful backer, similar to what happened to Vincent and Iris.

The slaves were sold a while later. Vincent, Nick, and Vivid had a frown on their faces. The three of them didn’t like the first part of the auction.

The next to be sold were weapons, armors, and scrolls. Their prices almost made Vincent cry, while Nick had a tear in his eyes after seeing the flame enchanted sword being sold for a high price. He couldn’t buy it as it went over the budget set by his parents.

The final items of the day were the fruits, vegetables, and plants section. However, a problem soon started.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this month has been a difficult one. Many traders have lost their cargo to the recent emergency our great kingdom suffered. The final item today might be disappointing to many, and the Graymoon Auction House apologizes in advance for the lesser quality of the next item.”

The auctioneer snapped his finger, and a maid with a cushion entered the stage.

“The bidding starts at fifty copper coins for the small grape stalk with eight fresh and four damaged Dark Purple Sweet Grapes from the Eastern Continent. As many know, these grapes are sweet, and they can make delicious sweet wine. However, this is the only one remaining from the danger the emergency brought our kingdom.”

Vincent turned his gaze on the three beside him and asked, “Do the grapes cost this much for a starting price?”

“Lord Vincent, these grapes are a summer crop that originates from the Eastern Continent as they strangely grow tastier and healthier there. It means this is the last imported cargo for this year.” Vivid explained.

“Is it that difficult?” Vincent curiously asked.

Kazumi also wanted to know. She wanted to gather all the information about the world as they had to travel the world in search of the place where those before Vincent died or were sent back to Earth.

“There are a lot of hostile plants, magical beasts, monsters, cyclopes, mermen, mermaids, and probably more hidden races. Importation comes from small camps with a lot of guards or pirates stealing the grapes from the inhabitants of the Eastern Continent, which in turn makes it harder to make a permanent production village.” Leonis explained common knowledge any business owner knew when it came to importing exotic items to make a living.

“Lord Leonis is right. The cheapest crate I know of was sold for forty silver coins. But they were from a season which had many imported grapes, and their condition wasn’t very fresh if I remember correctly.” Nick said.

The situation below them was becoming problematic as an uproar suddenly erupted. Many people began to leave before the bidding opened.

Vincent felt strange watching many people get angry as if someone humiliated them and leave angrily stomping like a stampede.

Vivid leaned his head and whispered in Nick’s ear, “Lord Victor had an idea of this development. We had more grapes in stock, but they were damaged long enough to start spoiling. However, Lord Victor wished Master Nikolai to remain unaware.”

[The mood feels weird, but I suggest taking advantage of the situation.]

-You mean to purchase the grapes?-

[Yeah. Mention Lilith to Leonis, and the grapes will be ours, hehehe.]

Vincent didn’t think it would work, but he wanted to try what Kazumi suggested with a sly giggle. “Iris is good at growing plants, and I bet she might be able to grow grapes. I heard Lilith loves grapes too.” Vincent loudly said to himself.

Leonis’s ears moved, and a smile appeared. He grabbed the light gemstone and kept trying until he bought the grapes for twelve silver coins. One silver coin per every small sweet grape.

The auction ended as the last item was sold. After a few minutes of drinking refreshments and hearing Nick talk about how great the flame enchanted sword was, the twelve grapes were brought to the VIP room.

Leonis took the grapes and smiled at the thought of a small vineyard being in his daughter’s garden next summer with the help of Iris.

However, Leonis still wondered what kind of trick Iris learned from her goblin tribe. All he could know, and all he could be told was how Iris could turn the grapes into seeds and grow them because of his truth or death condition.