The Heroines Are After My Fortune

27 – Was I the Only One Who Didn’t Know?

Today’s schedule is mainly two things.

Movie music production, and the auction.

Right now, inside this hall, an orchestra with a legendary, lavish cast is waiting for me, the moneyman. I figured I’d enjoy a bit of cultural life, so Elena and I got out of the car to go inside, but my eyes were caught by someone standing in front of the hall’s entrance.

“Buy a painting! I also draw portraits~”

A young man in his twenties, diligently selling his paintings.

I stood there, staring blankly at him.

“Master Aiden, is something the matter?”

Casano, acting as my escort, trailed behind and asked, sounding perplexed.

It was Elena who answered instead.

“Oppa, you’re just remembering the old days, aren’t you?”

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

Before Father Yul took me in, I too used to go out onto the streets and sell drawings just like that.

I also tried drawing portraits, but gave it up due to my lack of skill, and mainly sold imitations of 19th-century impressionist paintings.

Of course, even if I copied the masters’ work, with only my childish dabbling skills, I could only capture the feeling, not the essence, so I didn’t get much for them, but it allowed me to put food on the table, so in a way, painting is a very grateful thing for me.

“Elena, how about we go sit over there? Let’s get a portrait drawn before we leave.”

“Huh? But Oppa, you have that schedule afterwards….”

“It’s alright. We still have some time.”

Actually, I don’t.

But what can you do? I’m footing the bill, so I can be a little late.

So, after requesting Elena’s portrait, I handed over a rather hefty sum of money. He was surprised at how much I was offering, but because the result wasn’t bad, I insisted he take it. Yet, a strange feeling came over me.

‘This style of painting, could it be…?’

The vaguely familiar style made me tilt my head.

“Is this your own original style of painting?”

“Haha, I’ve been heavily influenced by a painter who recently rose to fame. I’ve added my own touches, but it’s not quite right to call it my own.”

“…………Hmm.”

A bit hazy, but I figured it was a coincidence and let it go. I told Cassano to grab the painting, then walked into the hall with Elena. The doors of the massive concert hall opened, and the entire orchestra was already in place, waiting.

“Greetings—!!”

A hundred orchestra members bowed low.

Each one of them, a master in their own right, a craftsman of their instrument.

Cost a pretty penny to gather ’em all.

“Lord Aiden Roen, it’s a pleasure. I’m Phillip, the composer for this project.”

“I’m Kyle.”

“Name’s James.”

“Yes, nice to meet you all. I’m Aiden Roen.”

A strange thing about this lineup, having three composers. Hollywood blockbusters usually just go with one main composer, but not this time.

*‘Time’s tight. If I’d used one and they didn’t deliver the goods, I’d be screwed.’*

“What kind of piece should we create for you?”

“We can craft anything you desire, just tell us…!”

The three of them, burning with rivalry. Probably all puffed up with the idea they’re the best of the bunch.

My goal was simple.

*‘Kill each other.’*

If they go at each other, driven mad by the competition, surely something decent will come of it.

“Something grand and relentless….”

“Yes, grand, relentless….”

“And then suddenly, the whole feel shifts! Something romantic, just for a moment….”

“Mood shift, romantic, hmm…?”

“I’d like something that grows quiet at a certain point, like a song that evokes waves.”

“………………??”

The composers, after diligently scribbling, stare at me like I’ve spoken absolute nonsense.

But what can I do, I don’t know the first thing about music.

“Baron, perhaps, if you could give us a little direction regarding the instrumentation that would suit the atmosphere you desire?

“At the very least, harmonic arrangements…, based only on the feeling you’ve described, it might be difficult to create the music you want.”

I had no intention of embarrassing myself in front of Elena by saying, ‘I’m musically illiterate, so please just do a good job…!!’ So, I guess I’ll just put a pretty wrapper on those words.

“That isn’t difficult at all. But, you see.”

“…………?”

“This time, I want to create music that isn’t for just me, but that can touch and be loved by many people in the Empire.”

“…Are you serious!?”

“I know that’s how you’ve all worked until now. You made music to fit the personal tastes of nobles and were paid for it. But I don’t think my tastes should be a shackle on you.”

“Y-You, Baron…”

“I want a piece with a completely new feeling, something that’s never been heard before. In this place, we have the Empire’s greatest composers and the finest musicians worthy of them. Are more words needed? I won’t interfere in the slightest. Show me the best you’re capable of.”

“Yes, we understand…!”

“We will, without fail, create a masterpiece that will be recorded in the Empire’s history!”

“Just leave it to us!”

The composers, as if they’ve had an epiphany, widen their eyes.

It seems like they were already motivated, but shall I pour on some fuel?

“As it’s a difficult task, I want to reward the results even more. The person who gets the most tracks into my upcoming film will receive a triple bonus.”

“Triple…!?”

“The guarantee’s already huge, and now triple on top of that…!”

The composers’ eyes began to burn fiercely.

They looked like they’d roll over the gathered musicians right now and record something, anything.

I just went over to Elena, who was sitting behind me with wide, sparkling eyes, watching the spectacle.

“Elena, watch for a bit. It’ll probably be interesting.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it…! Won’t you watch with me, oppa?”

“I’ve got some schedule stuff upstairs later. Let’s watch together next time.”

“…Okay? Next time, you have to watch with me for sure!”

Having given the disappointed Elena something fun to enjoy, I ruffled her hair and exited the hall.

####

“Confirmed.”

I handed my token to the guard and entered the VIP secret auction house.

Because Father Yul had a history of buying items here, I didn’t need to look for a separate recommender.

“Whoa, it’s totally amazing…!”

Sasha was the one accompanying me.

Someone who didn’t look that strong, was comfortable in the shadows, and was trustworthy. After sifting and sifting, it turned out it could only be her again. After passing through the corridor wearing masks, a huge, theater-like space appeared. We went to our assigned spots and settled in. Sasha, looking around with much curiosity, asked me.

“What kind of items usually appear in auctions like this?”

“Anything that can make money.”

“Eck, so maybe like, slaves or somethin’…?!”

“The Imperial Oversight Bureau has eyes everywhere; they wouldn’t risk such a brazen act.”

The all-powerful Oversight Bureau hates human trafficking more than anything in the Empire. Can’t say it doesn’t happen at all, but it’s not gonna be goin’ on in a large auction house like this, especially with nobles as the main clients. While I was spacing out waitin’, I saw a pretty welcome face enter the auction hall.

“Ahem, ahem, it’s hot again today….”

Meat oozin’ everywhere, features too full to be hidden even by his mask. No doubt, it’s Marco, the Golden Pig, eldest son of the Polo Trading Guild, one of the Empire’s top four. He was originally supposed to buy the item I’m after, so it makes sense he’s here today.

Usually, no one can keep up with how much money he spends here. You could tell a manager of the auction house himself came out to bow to him. Since he spends so much here, even the meaning of “secret auction” doesn’t seem to mean much to him.

“There better be something good today, eh? Last time was… quite disappointing.”

“You will not be disappointed. Today, we’ve brought in goods that are the most outstanding we’ve ever had…!”

“Ahem, hmm, I’m looking forward to it!”

Marco flopped his heavy body onto a sofa with a thud.

Watching him more would make me lose my appetite, so I looked away.

“Esteemed VIPs, thank you for waiting…! The auction will begin shortly—!!”

How long had I been waiting?

The host came out and announced the start of the auction.

“For our first item of the night, allow me to present! This item, if you will—!”

One by one, items started getting introduced. While about ten things were presented, I didn’t even think about raising my bidding paddle. Just yawned away.

“Aren’t they all good…? They look good to me.”

“A lot of what comes out here is just for show. With the special atmosphere of an auction house, and the host’s magic-like gift of gab, stuff that wouldn’t sell on the street gets sold for huge sums.”

Just look at those magical tools they’re showing now. Even if my boy Luke scratched his junk while making it, he’d make something better in ten minutes. Of course, there’s people who buy this crap up thinking it’s good, so that’s how this auction house stays afloat.

‘I don’t need any of that. I just need «Alchemist Rondo No. 7», that’s it.’

The late, genius alchemist Rondo’s fifty masterworks, they all bore their own unique numbering. Each one possessed a different effect, and was a precious thing, only one of its kind throughout the whole empire.

Looking at their true nature, most were bizarre creations, things you’d wonder what they were even meant to be used for. Still, amongst them, were masterpieces that transcended the ordinary laws of the world. The trait of these items was that until opened, no one could tell what effect they held. But the No. 7 I was aiming for today? It was like a guaranteed jackpot, so such a flaw was as good as nonexistent.

Just as I was about to wait until the end—

“I imagine there are many who have been desperately anticipating an item like this…! This is it, folks, the Ring of Restoration!”

‘Oh ho…’

A rather interesting item had come into view.

Even those who had been uninterested until now, their eyes were caught by its unusual nature.

A ring that accelerated the recovery of both mana and stamina. Clearly made by a master craftsman, it was an object that both swordsmen and mages would be desperate to get their hands on. And the proof of that was the flood of bids happening now.

“1000 gold!”

“1000 gold bid! Is there another…!”

“2000 gold!”

“2500!”

“3000!”

The bidding amount was quickly climbing.

I silently raised my placard and spoke.

“10,000 gold.”

““……………!!””

The price had suddenly jumped more than three-fold. Those who were bidding were speechless.

“Ah, 10,000 gold bid…! Are there any others? One, two, three——!”

“10,000 gold bid, confirmed!”

The sudden surge in price left everyone speechless.

They must’ve wondered if it was really worth that much.

“It’s all about momentum in an auction, after all.”

Thankfully, the golden pig didn’t jump in, so I snagged it for a fair price.

Sasha looked quite surprised by my bold investment.

“Woah, 10,000 gold…? Is it really that good?”

“If we had left it, it probably would have gone up to 20,000 gold. I got a good deal.”

“20,000…!?”

Truth be told, the 20,000 was a bit of an exaggeration, but it was definitely the kind of thing that would creep up to around 15,000 gold, climbing slowly like a snake going over a wall. You could say it was an overwhelmingly profitable investment with considerable value. I could either use it myself, or give it to Caesar.

‘…Looks like he’s starting to move, huh?’

Marco never just shows up at the auction for nothing.

Every time, with the auction house’s tacit approval, he uses his subordinates who are skilled in stealth. He uses them to figure out his rivals’ budgets and uses the information he eavesdrops to extract maximum profit. It seems he’s seen me buying something expensive and now considers me a target for caution too.

‘That cocky pig b*stard, get ready to have your throat slit today.’

If I lose a money battle, when my only strength is money, there’s no way I’m sleeping soundly tonight. I took a sip of wine, ready to rest until the final item for the duel came out.

“There won’t be anything else for a while… Pfft—!”

I spat out the wine I was drinking, completely taken aback.

Sasha, who was next to me and caught the brunt of it, had a look of utter disgust, but this really was beyond my control.

“The next item is… a painting by a legendary artist who recently vanished!”

No freaking way,

Why the hell is that showing up here…?

“Vincent Van Gogh, the master painter, his masterpiece ‘Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear’…!”

The painting barely appeared before gasps of awe erupted from all corners.

For the first time today, the participants were letting out genuine admiration.

“…It’s an impossible realm. How could a human possess such a sense for handling color!”

“It’s almost reverent, the way he sublimated the pain of his life on the fringes into art!”

“Ah! To have one’s eyes opened at a random auction… today’s highest bid is surely a lock for Van Gogh’s painting!”

As if they’d all taken some kind of drug, several nobles were gaping, lost in rapture. This whole scene, I just couldn’t process it in my brain.

That’s right,

that painting, that’s one I painted.

I even happily sold it for a pittance, 3 silver coins.

‘No way, is this some kind of hidden camera thing…?’

I, who’d sold a rip-off painting to keep food on the table,

had unknowingly become a giant of the imperial art world.