Reincarnated as a chicken

Auction

We had to pay 1 gold coin each to even participate in the auction. Several soldiers of D and C rank were constantly patrolling the area or standing guard. The servants were moving about quickly and not being a bother to anyone. I even noticed that some statues and portraits had some weird sort of magic tool in them. According to the agent, it allowed the security to know if there was anything weird by sensing any change in mana, aura or heat of the participants. That was simply how high tier this thing was.

I started to feel out of my depth here, but I calmed down.

"That's strange... shouldn't there be a lot of people attending the auction?"

I asked and Nukeme shrugged.

"There have to be people who can actually buy the things going for the auction in the first place."

Ignis said nonchalantly and walked over to the big man in a black suit wearing a mask. He handed over 4 gold coins and the man accepted the money with a gleeful expression, before giving Ignis two golden tickets.

'Wow... you paid for us?'

I asked and Ignis looked genuinely surprised.

"Erhm... I-I just bought two golden tickets. Normal tickets are black."

'Oh... ok.'

I felt a bit embarrassed, but I quickly recovered. I really didn't want to buy something too expensive. Two coins gave me that luxury hotel room the night before for at least a month. With unlimited room service! I couldn't just give up two gold coins.

'But... it's for Ulva... No. Wait. If I just use 1 gold coin each, for me and Nukeme, that's 2 gold coins. We will simply go and sit in a trap, but I at least used two less coins. In that case.'

I took out two gold coins and gave it to the man who smiled creepily. His big hands grabbed my tiny hands and he said.

"Oh~ Madame Moiselle, do enjoy the lavish VIP seats we have reserved for you. May I know what House you belong to?"

'House? What's this guy talking about?'

<<Notice: A House refers to one of the highest of the Noble Factions in the world. There are currently fifteen established Houses>>

'Seriously? Well damn. I guess I don't belong to any of those, huh?'

<<Affirmative>>

"Oh-um... Her House is to remain unknown here."

Ignis came between the man and myself.

'Huh? Are these guys not aware of the fact that this is a trap?'

This was very interesting. The man was acting as if he didn't know that this entire auction was made up just to catch me. Did the orchestrator set it up in this way so that I didn't notice anything odd? Pretty risky of him, isn't it? Whatever.

"Oh. I see. How presumptuous of me. Please do not consider my earlier actions rude~"

He set, before drawing the curtains and leading a path for us. He gave me a ticket and I wondered where the other was.

"Eh-em... Please, is your carrier not aware of where he must wait for the goods?"

He was glaring at Nukeme as if he were the scorn of the planet.

"Of course. Now, off with you."

Ignis gave an order to Nukeme which infuriated the hob-goblin. He almost drew his daggers to fight, so I gave him the order. He calmed down and we walked through the curtains, leaving him behind.