Mated to the Mad Lord-Chapter 176: Pickup

It took only an hour more before the auction was closed, and the participants slowly began to disperse—especially those who hadn’t successfully bid for anything.

Cain, with Vazer standing right beside him, wasn’t among those who needed to leave. They simply waited in their seats until it was time to collect what they had paid for.

Vazer had a loose aura around him as he sat with his legs crossed, a sly look on his face. In contrast, Cain had a much colder presence, sitting like an immovable stone with an icy gaze that seemed indifferent to everything around him.

Vazer had just opened his mouth to speak, a grin slowly spreading across his face, only to pause as he noticed someone walking in their direction. It was a tall, muscular man with an assault rifle in his hand and a menacing look that showed he wasn’t the type to joke around.

Vazer’s expression became more serious, though a hint of a smile still played at the edges of his lips as he listened to the man speak.

"Follow me!" the man ordered, his tone almost commanding.

Vazer’s smile only widened, his blood-red eyes lighting up with a violent undertone as he got to his feet. Cain did the same, moving to stand between Vazer and the guard as he watched the man walk forward, leading them toward a door in the auditorium that seemed to lead elsewhere.

They passed through it without a word, silently following the guard through the paths he took until they arrived at another door. The guard knocked respectfully before pushing it open.

Cain and Vazer didn’t hesitate to walk in behind him. The guard instantly glared at them, completely unaware of the way Vazer’s shoulders bristled—his smile becoming just a tad more dangerous.

In front of them sat Zarrida and her brother, Vaddum, behind a table, waiting to see the clients who had been willing to pay such a huge amount of money for the witch girl. However, the second their gazes settled on the two men standing before them, they froze.

Zarrida was the first to scramble to her feet in fear, her eyes darting between Cain and Vazer as she stuttered, "I—I had no idea!"

"Zarrida! What’s wrong? Do you know them?" Vaddum asked, a wary look in his eyes as he studied Vazer. The moment he took in his features, realization dawned.

A Red!

His gaze sharpened as he clenched his fists, confidence flaring up inside him. Why does Zarrida seem so scared? With the both of us, we can totally take him!

Just as he prepared to attack, Zarrida’s hand smacked the back of his head, forcing it down with enough strength that he couldn’t resist as she herself bowed low.

"My Lord! If I knew you wanted her... I would have sent the slave directly to your mansion!" Zarrida exclaimed, meaning every word. She loved her life far too much to put herself in danger for something so trivial.

Her gaze remained fixed on the floor as she pointed toward the cage on the ground, where a blindfolded girl had been placed inside.

"I couldn’t possibly think of collecting—"

But before she could finish, Cain cut in, his tone making it clear that she should shut up.

"Her eyes are brown?"

Zarrida’s body trembled at the question, her thoughts scrambling.

I know she’s a witch! It’s illegal in a werewolf district—and even worse for a Werewolf Lord! There’s no way he’s going to keep me alive!

Her heart pounded erratically in her chest as she forced herself to respond.

"Yes, my Lord! I got a witch to do it!" she swore, her voice deep and firm, ready to proclaim her undying loyalty if it meant keeping her head on her neck.

Vaddum, now realizing the gravity of the situation, stiffened upon hearing his sister call the man in front of them "Lord."

"How much do I owe you?" Cain asked.

But Vazer was already moving. No longer standing in his previous spot, he turned around to face the man who had led them into the room.

The guard trembled ever so slightly, though he kept an expression of defiance as he faced Vazer—something the Red found amusing. Vazer stared directly into his eyes.

"You’re a werewolf, right?" Vazer asked in a tone that almost sounded polite, though he continued speaking without waiting for a response. "Pity! At least your blood wouldn’t have been wasted!"

Before the man could blink, Vazer dashed forward—then stepped back just as quickly.

His right hand was raised for all to see, bloody, with a still-beating heart resting in his palm.

The guard barely had time to process the horror of seeing his own heart before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

Zarrida forgot whatever she had been about to say, while Vaddum gasped loudly. He wanted to protest—to demand how a Werewolf Lord could allow such a thing to happen to a werewolf right in front of him. But before he could even open his mouth, Zarrida’s hand clamped around his neck, tightening with enough force to push his head down even lower.

Their fate was still undecided. The last thing she needed was for her brother to shoot off his mouth.

"Y-You owe us nothing, my Lord. It would be my pleasure if you were to take it as a gesture of goodwill!" she responded, her head still bowed. She desperately wanted to look up and discern her fate from the expression in his eyes, but she dared not.

Just as Zarrida awaited Cain’s response, she instead heard the devil beside him speak—to her immense anger, which she didn’t dare show.

"Loose ends aren’t good. Killing both of them would be best!" Vazer said, staring at the heart in his hands with excitement. He watched it beat for a few more seconds before it finally stilled. Then, with a careless flick of his wrist, he tossed it to the ground.

His bloodied fingers twitched as he continued speaking. "The woman still looks trustworthy, but the brother definitely needs to die!"

Zarrida balled her fists together, preparing to plead their case—only for her brother to foolishly jerk his head up, his face contorted in fury.

Before he could even get a word out, Zarrida smashed his head into the table with enough force to crack the surface, leaving his forehead bloody. She didn’t care.

"I can keep him in line!" she promised, knowing full well that the two of them were one decision away from being killed.

Cain finally spoke.

"Kill everyone that knows about this!" he ordered.

Then, without another word, he stepped forward, effortlessly lifting the cage with the sleeping girl inside—almost as if it weighed nothing. Without sparing them another glance, he turned and walked right out the door.

Zarrida hesitated only for a second before she looked up—only for her pupils to constrict in fear.

The Red was still standing by the door, his bloody hand raised slightly as he stared right at her.

The memory of how fast he had moved was still fresh in her mind. She immediately lowered her head again, speaking in the most respectful tone she could muster.

"I await new orders!" she declared, keeping her head bowed even as silence filled the room.

A moment later, she heard her brother whisper in disbelief.

"T-They’re gone..."

Zarrida didn’t care. She immediately turned to glare at her brother, grabbing his shirt tightly enough that the fabric slowly began to tear.

"From now on, we receive orders from them!" she told him, realizing that she had never come so close to death before.

And if she could avoid it... the best way was to serve it.