The ad for the Cairosa auction was pretty typical except for the fact that blue grade weapons were more common compared to New York. With higher level dungeons, better quality items would naturally appear.

But what caught her attention the most was that the auction even featured a few purple grade items. In the next auction, there were three purple grade items to be won.

A purple grade bow, a purple grade shield and a purple grade item set.

However, there was one difference that surprised Shiro. The auction house allowed the winners to hire guards of different levels to assist them in protecting their items.

With higher level guards, the more money they needed to pay.

'Hmm… that'll make it a lot harder for people to steal the items.' Shiro thought with a frown.

She had wanted to try her luck with the purple grade bow and the shield if possible. Bow for her and Shield for Madison. As for the item set, since they didn't reveal what it was, Shiro wasn't too interested.

'Since it's a new city, there may be a few decent items to be won in the auction.' She thought and decided to join the auction. The date of the auction was two days away which wasn't too long for her.

"Updated nya. I must say, you are one powerful 13 year old nya." Susie smiled as she handed Shiro's ID card back.

[Name: Shiro

Estimated Age: 13

Class: Ice Mage

LVL: 37

Mage's Association Membership: VIP (New York Branch)

Priority Rank: 9 (New York Branch)]

[Thank you. Are you able to give me a guide on all the dungeons and raids in the city?]

"Sure nya. These adventurers aren't the most hospitable with newcomers especially since you guys evacuated from New York nya. They think you're going to take their bounties nyahahaha." Susie laughed as she pulled out a pamphlet.

"Since you're level 37 nya, I suggest you party up with people who are level 40 or more since the lowest dungeon here is level 40 nya." Susie reminded.

[I know. Thank you.] Shiro nodded before leaving the guild.

'Hmm… She doesn't smell human. Maybe she's a demi like me?' Susie thought to herself before continuing her job.

Upon leaving the guild, Shiro already noticed a few unfriendly glares directed at her. Amongst these stares, she could even feel fear.

Smiling slightly, Shiro narrowed her eyes before walking towards the auction house. While the auction wasn't going to start for another 2 days, she wanted to see what items they had for sale outside of auctions.

But before she did that, she felt like she should change her current outfit a little.

'Maybe I should go with a darker colour scheme. A white robe jacket isn't exactly the stealthiest outfit I can wear considering how much stealth I've been doing lately.' She thought.

While she enjoyed her current outfit a lot; which consisted of a white robe with a hood, white gloves, black shirt, short black jeans that stop at her thighs, white stockings, a pair of shoes with short wedges on the heels and a black face mask, she also wanted to change her outfit a little.

Having the same outfit does get boring every day.

'I wonder if I can get Aarim to customise my outfit. It's either that, or I buy a new one made from Monster Cloth so it doesn't break.' Shiro thought since only the person who made the outfit is able to customise it.

Arriving at the auction house, Shiro walked in before sitting herself at one of the tables and browsed the catalogue.

There was a larger assortment of blue equipment along with some rare materials. These rare materials would help blacksmiths greatly when they try to make better weapons.

However, none were suited for her or her friends.

The skills that the weapons and armour have weren't too appealing either. She guessed that they were most likely preserved for the auction in two days time. After all, they would most likely want the auction to have the best items.

'Hmm… Maybe it's about time that I give Lyrica's dual ended blade another upgrade.' Shiro thought as she had more MP now. Last time, when she changed Lyrica's weapon, she only had a measly 6k MP.

However, she now had 155k. which is around 25 times more than before. She could make a much more potent Nano Tech Growth Infuser.

But since Shiro had already modified the dual ended blades that Lyrica had, she couldn't modify it anymore. Especially since the first Nano Tech Growth Infuser was just a crap mark 1 variant. Lucky for her though, she still kept the second dual ended blade that Helion created during her first commission with him.

Returning her focus to the catalogue, Shiro lost interest quickly. She had tried her luck in most of the categories and couldn't find anything worthwhile.

There was only one tab left and that was live auction. Adventurers who wanted their items to be sold quickly would try their luck in the live auction.

There had been a few stories regarding people managing to snatch themselves a good item for half the cost. Therefore, there will always be people who lurk in the live auction to snatch up the goods before other people discovered it.

Browsing through the live auction, Shiro kept her disinterested gaze on the catalogue.

'Useless, useless, don't want, trash, too expensive, not for mages…' She thought to herself whilst browsing through the pages.

However, her finger stopped the moment she saw the item on the second to last page.

Not many had bid for this item as they believed the item to be priced too highly.

[Strange Rune - $5,000,000]

The exact use of the rune is unknown. However, from previous study, the rune will change a certain attribute of a weapon. The attribute has yet to be determined.

Time remaining: 1 day, 2hrs, 23 mins

From the picture of the strange rune, Shiro immediately recognised it to be a Source Change Rune.

The Source Change Rune was a highly valuable rune that when paired with other Source Change Runes, it can constantly change the elemental attribute of your weapon.

By fusing the Source Change Rune with certain elemental crystals, you can make a weapon house the basic elements of; fire, wind, water, lightning and earth. This was extremely important higher up in the levels as monsters of higher levels had a huge variety of resistances that needed to be countered on the go.

Therefore, each Source Change Rune was precious and was yearned by the masses. To make matters worse, these runes were extremely rare and the sources of acquiring these runes weren't exactly common either.

'A prime opportunity.' Shiro grinned.

However, she guessed that the reason as to why they dubbed it 'Strange Rune' was due to the fact that Rune research wasn't advanced since they couldn't decipher the Source Change Rune.

Immediately placing the bid of 5 million dollars, Shiro made sure to send a message as well.

[Bidder: I wish to know how many of these strange runes you possess and would like to purchase them all for research.]

She was about to leave the chat when a reply from the seller appeared.

'That fast??' Shiro thought with surprise.

[Seller: I only have three of these strange runes as they were left by my grandfather. I can sell all three of them to you for $12,000,000.]

'Hmm… 12 million is a VERY cheap price for these runes.'

[Bidder: Would it be possible for $10,000,000?]

[Seller: $12,000,000 is already very cheap.]

'Well he is right about that.'

[Bidder: Very well. In that case, I'll first pay $5,000,000 for this rune. Then you can meet me on the first floor of the auction house to transfer the other two runes.]

[Seller: Alright, I'll be right there.]

Smiling at the fact that she managed to get such a good item, Shiro couldn't help but let a chuckle out.

This attracted a few stares from the surroundings as her genuinely happy face made their hearts beat a tad faster. Even though she was in the body of a 13 year old, just her beauty was enough to make them consider committing a sin.

Since she was the only bidder, the seller was allowed to end the auction prematurely.

Walking up to the reception, Shiro scanned the code that was given to her when she won the auction.

$5,000,000 was taken out of her system as the receptionist handed her the Source Change Rune.

[Bidder: I'll wait for you at the table near the reception. I'm the girl with the white robe.]

[Seller: Ok.]

Sitting herself back at the table, she crossed her legs and waited for the seller to come.

"Heya cutie. Haven't seen you around in Cairosa. You new?" A guy asked as he sat down in front of her.

He had short blond hair that was swept to the side, blue eyes, green earrings and wore a rather nice outfit that consisting of a jacket, shirt and jeans.

[Michael LVL 50 – Spear Warrior]

[Yes. I came with the other refugees from New York. I'm just waiting on a business transaction right now.] Shiro typed on her phone without much change to her expression.

This gave the guy the impression that she was a cold beauty type of girl.

"Why don't you talk to me instead of writing on your phone? I'm sure your voice is just as beautiful as your appearance." He smiled.

[I'm mute. So from what you say, my beauty doesn't exist then.] Shiro replied with slight amounts of sass.

Without waiting for his reply, Shiro stood up and walked to a different table.

Michael frowned as his eyes followed her. Clicking his tongue, he pulled out a cigarette and took out his phone.

"Same as usual." He said over the phone before leaving the auction house.

Meanwhile, Shiro was feeling a little bored waiting for her seller to appear.

[Bidder: Where are you?]

[Seller: I'm coming. I'm just retrieving the other two runes.]

[Bidder: Alright.]

Sure enough, a young boy sat in front of her.

"Erm… Are you the buyer for the Strange Rune?" He asked shyly with a blush on his face.

He had short brown hair, brown eyes and a very average outfit that just had a shirt and pants.

[Daniel LVL 21 – Fire Mage]

His appearance wasn't remarkable but wasn't ugly either.

[Yes I am. I'll transfer the other 7 Million once I see the runes.] Shiro typed out as she just wanted to experiment on the three Source Change Runes right now.

"Ah yes. Erm here." Daniel said as he pulled out two more runes.

[So how shall I pay? Do you want to make the transaction through the auction house?] Shiro asked.

"I have a payment crystal here." He replied as he pulled out a familiar crystal.

Wondering for a short moment as to why he even has one, she dismissed the thought and transferred $7,000,000 to Daniel for the two Source Change Runes.

[Thank you very much.] Shiro smiled.

"Ah it should be me who thanks you." He replied hastily.

Chuckling slightly, Shiro stood up and walked out the auction house.

'I should probably find somewhere to be alone so I can experiment with these runes. But first, I need to deal with these guys first.' Shiro thought as she could feel three malicious stares on her.

Walking back towards the slums since she had nothing else to do for the day, Shiro looked for a good place to welcome her new friends.

Turning the corner, Shiro smiled coldly as she flicked her fingers. Thin nanotech wires were spread out as Shiro waited for the three men who were following her.

She wasn't naïve to think that the three them are innocent considering the blatant hostility and l.u.s.t she could feel in their gazes. Plus, she had heard one of the men, Michael, say "Same as usual", suggesting that they had done this multiple times now.

When the three of them turned the corner, Shiro flexed her fingers as the nanotech wires tightened around their necks.

"Hm?!" Michael was shocked as he felt something touch his skin.

[Hello boys. Rather rude to be stalking a girl with the clear intent of committing a crime.] Shiro typed out as she had a casual smile on her face.

Michael only glanced at his friends before exploding his aura outwards.

Shiro kept her smile as she flexed her fingers.

The benefit of nanotech wires was the fact that Shiro could change the composition on a whim. Naturally, she's able to make them into chainsaws if she so wished.

With a single flex of her fingers, razor sharp blades extended out from the wires changing their appearance from wires into miniature chain wh.i.p.s.

The miniature chain wh.i.p.s caused thin lacerations on their necks but it wasn't fatal.

However, Shiro wasn't aiming for them to be fatal but merely to give her an opening to their necks.

Before they could react fully, a dagger was suddenly formed from the wires and into their necks.

"GAH!" Feeling the dagger embed itself into his neck, the men paled with fright and regret.

Giving them a little wave and a smile, Shiro detonated the daggers.

*BOOM!!!

Their heads flew off their necks as the explosion had destroyed the spine and throat entirely.

Shiro quickly stored their bodies away as she left the area before any guards came.

The main reason to why she was so decisive about killing the three was because she only needed three more victims to level up her monster title. With three fools presenting themselves, it would be rude for her not to accept their offer. Plus, she was probably doing the girls in this city a small favour since three rapists have been taken care of now.

[Beginner Monster title upgrade conditions met. 10/10 Humans killed.]

[Proceed to title up? Yes / No]

Chapter 87: Strange Rune
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