Chapter 328: Todd’s private collection.

After the gasping, the entire market went dead silent. The announcer froze, his mouth hanging open. Up on the balcony, the dark-skinned beast master stopped puffing his cigar. His eyes narrowed, then glinted with deep, greedy amusement. A rich, foolish new lady had just walked into his territory.

Fifty thousand on a flame ape whose only advantage was starting a fire was foolish. Humans did not need beasts to help them start fires, they could do it on their own. Flame apes were as useless as snakes. They ate a lot. Only the rich dared to keep them as pets.

So, did this woman want a pet or dinner?

"I can make it one hundred thousand." Zyra smugly said to the auctioneer.

She threw a bag on the ground. "I have one million energy stones in here. Every beast you put on the market today is mine."

Again, the crowd gasped.

Within seconds, a heavily armored guard approached Zyra and gave a stiff bow. His appearance made her take a brief step back. His head looked like a battlefield between decay and a spider’s web. On one side, the scalp was mottled and scarred, patches of skin rough and uneven. The other side bore hair that seemed scorched--blackened strands held together with gel to form a spider web pattern somehow.

She peeked at his soul and saw corruptness and malice. This was a bad man who had done bad things.

"My master wishes to invite the generous lady to his private office." He said, in a hoarse voice.

Zyra flicked her wrist. "G and V,with me. The rest of you, stay in the market and bid. These goods are very important. If you mess things up for me, I will kill you."

Gilby and Vince joined her, flanking her sides protectively. They followed the guard up the wooden stairs and into the flat. The beast master’s office was surprisingly shabby and smelled faintly of old sweat and cheap spirits. Sitting behind a messy desk, the man smiled broadly, showing a gold-capped tooth.

"Welcome, welcome!" he boomed, spreading his arms wide. "I am Todd, the master of this humble beast trade. Ah, a young lady with such deep pockets! I have never seen you around here. Tell me, where does a wealthy person like you come from?"

Zyra’s face turned stone-cold. She looked Todd dead in the eye. "Is it necessary for me to tell you where I am from just to buy some meat?"

Todd scoffed, chuckling as he waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, secretive! I like it. Very well, no questions asked." He leaned over his desk, his eyes twinkling. "Since you have such deep pockets, we have special offers for our VVIP traders. Things not shown to the common filth outside."

Zyra leaned in slightly, playing along, her eyebrows arching. "Oh? I like the sound of that. I am a woman accustomed to fine tastes, so impress me or I will never return. I am sure you are aware that you have competitors. Some of them are my biggest suppliers. I only stopped by your little workshop because I am looking for a special herb within the vicinity of your town."

"Follow me," Todd said, standing up with a slimy grin. "I’ll show you my private collection." He couldn’t let go of this big fish.

He led them through a heavy back door, down a long, narrow corridor, and down a flight of steep stone stairs that spiraled deep underground. The moment their feet hit the basement level, the temperature plunged, and a strong, bitter, medicinal stench filled the air.

[The beasts are all kept underground here!] the system reported. [Host, the smell... it’s a suppressing drug!]

They stepped into a vast underground dungeon filled with rows of iron cages. Behind them were short plants with white flowers that carried a unique scent.

Zyra’s heart sank as she looked around. The misery in the room was suffocating. Hundreds of beasts were cramped into tiny, filthy cages. Their fur was matted and bloody, their scales were cracked, and their spirits were broken.

Nearby, a giant, two-headed ox let out a heavy, wheezing sigh. It rested its massive snout against the rusty bars. "I guess... it’s my turn today," the ox grunted softly to its neighbor. "At least in the slaughterhouse, I won’t have to eat this cursed poison anymore."

A two-tailed fox curled in the corner whimpered low in its throat. "I miss the northern mountains_ I miss my master. If not for that terrible Monkshood_ I would have torn these humans to pieces_"

"Aye," an armored bear growled weakly from a cage across the hall. "The Monkshood stole our strength. My claws can’t even scratch wood anymore_"

Zyra frowned deeply. Monkshood? she asked the system silently.

[Scanning. There are 490 beasts here.

Monkshood is a mutated monk herb that causes disorientation in beasts. It has been mixed into their daily food and water. It slowly suppresses a beast’s energy, keeping even the most feral, high-rank beasts completely weak and submissive.]

Suddenly, a caged lion near the back let out a faint, defiant growl, baring its yellowed fangs at Todd.

Todd sighed dramatically. "Ah, still feisty." He reached to his belt, pulled out a small hand-crossbow, and casually shot a dart straight into the lion’s neck. The dart was dripping with a thick, purple liquid. The lion collapsed instantly, its eyes rolling back.

Todd turned back to Zyra, twirling the empty crossbow in his hand with a proud smile. "So, my wealthy friend, what do you think of my collection?"

[Kill him and get a reward.] The system suggested quickly.

Zyra looked at Todd and snickered softly, her voice dropping to a dangerous, icy whisper. "I think you are a miserable piece of shit."

Todd’s smile vanished instantly. His brows drew together in confusion. "What did you just_"

Before Todd could finish his sentence, Zyra’s arm flashed forward. A bright silver dagger flew through the air, burying itself hilt-deep directly into Todd’s chest. His eyes went wide with shock. He gasped, looking down at the blade sticking out of his heart, completely blindsided. He collapsed onto the cold stone floor like a sack of potatoes.

"Intruders_!" the two guards yelled, reaching for their swords.

Gilby snapped the first guard’s neck before the man could draw his blade, while Big Vince simply grabbed the second guard by the face and slammed his head into a cage so hard that his skull cracked. Both guards crumpled, instantly lifeless.

Zyra dusted off her hands, her face entirely calm. "The plan has changed."

With a simple wave of her hand, the beasts vanished and moved straight into the beast Dominion.

[Nice one, Host! Smooth and efficient!] the system cheered in her head.

Gilby and Big Vince blinked, staring at the suddenly empty, quiet cages. They had no idea about the system’s Beast Dominion; they simply assumed Zyra had used an exceptionally high-grade spatial Beast Pocket.

Big Vince rubbed the back of his neck, looking around the empty stone room before glancing up at the ceiling.

"Uh_ Boss?" Vince asked, scratching his head with a bewildered look. "That was an easy rescue but how exactly are we getting out of here? There’s about fifty heavily armed guards right above our heads waiting for their boss to come back up."