Chapter 192
Opening the phone, he browsed through the auction market to search for Void Dust, but he could not find any, which made him frown.
His brows knitted together as frustration simmered beneath the surface.
“Strange, there’s no way the exorcists don’t have it, but it looks like it’s not available at the moment. Hmm?” His voice was a low murmur, as if speaking the words aloud might somehow bring the elusive material to him.
He eventually submitted a post, asking for sellers willing to trade Void Dust with him.
After that, he noticed a notification and opened it.
[User YellowSnowman has outbid you. Amount: 10 million Neden.]
A flash of irritation crossed his face as his eyes narrowed at the screen.
His eyes widened slightly, and he clicked his tongue in annoyance.
[User YellowSnowman has outbid you. Amount: 10 million Neden.]
[Non-flammable Geoloril]
[Current Price: 10 million Neden]
[Time left: 2 months, 5 days]
[Bid? Yes/No]
“Hmm, YellowSnowman? He’s also interested in this metal?”
“Well, I’ll place one last bid before calling it quits. I only have 20 million Neden; I can’t compete with this guy right now. Not to mention, I don’t want to owe Jenna either. So… one last bid.”
[Yes]
[11 million Neden! You have outbid user YellowSnowman!]
[Bid placed successfully! Notifications will be sent directly to your inbox!]
A sense of satisfaction washed over him as he saw the confirmation, but it was tempered by the knowledge that this could escalate further.
With that, he searched for the next important thing: finding some clues about the city of Harlington—more specifically, about the cursed playground.
His fingers moved quickly over the screen, driven by a mix of determination and curiosity.
Scrolling through some articles, he found some news about the place.
The city of Harlington.
It was a city that was not too close to the capital but not underdeveloped either.
Its streets were likely bustling with life, yet it existed on the periphery of the more significant happenings in the country.
It could be classified as a tier-2 city by normal standards.
The city functioned normally, with barely any exorcists in the area.
Indeed, exorcists weren’t allowed to wander into normal human cities, causing chaos.
The delicate balance between normalcy and the supernatural had to be maintained, after all.
Only by obtaining a special permit from the Exorcist Union could exorcists be allowed into normal cities and towns.
The Exorcist Union had strictly issued guidelines stating that exorcists were nothing more than guards, soldiers who would protect the human race from extinction.
At least, to the normal humans living in the cities, that was what was portrayed.
The normal humans, born without espera or anything else, were considered the ones to progress the human race further in the future.
Of course, this did not mean that the exorcists were not considered at all.
In fact, the boundaries were quite well defined.
Normal humans were typically considered “preserved” specimens.
Yes, to the average exorcist, normal humans were a sort of guarantee that would ensure their race never went extinct. A safeguard, should the frontlines ever falter, ensuring humanity’s continued survival.
This meant that while exorcists would carry forth the legacy of humanity in future generations, the well-protected normal humans were considered the last resort.
A last resort in case an all-out war consumed everything.
It was clear that exorcists must take down demons if they were to be eradicated forever.
Preserving their species in safe cities and towns was something that had been planned out since ancient times and had been followed ever since.
The cities and other territories were considered sanctuaries for humanity to grow and prosper while the exorcists at the borders fended off the demons, keeping them safe.
It was a fragile peace, one that relied on the constant vigilance of the exorcists and the isolation of the normal humans.
Naturally, this led to some disputes, but in the end, everything had worked out so far.
The Exorcist Union placed special emphasis on keeping the relationship with normal humans as simple as possible. They did not want a war to break out between humans over one side being incited against the other for having espera and being exorcists.
This was why it was necessary for exorcists in normal cities and places to maintain a proper and good reputation.
A single misstep could lead to widespread panic, or worse, a rebellion against those who were meant to protect them.
This had been extremely effective over time.
After all, exorcists were still humans—humans with espera. It would be strange for them not to mingle and coexist together.
And this was also why the Mystic Purge Clan was so infamous and frowned upon by some exorcists.
The Mystic Purge Clan was a clan that cared about nothing other than hunting as many demons as possible. They neither cared about reputation nor the beliefs a proper exorcist should hold.
They were indifferent, cold, and cruel—even to their own comrades.
Their methods were ruthless, prioritizing results over relationships, leaving a trail of fear and respect in their wake.
However, they were one of the strongest clans, and their strength spoke for them. Their actions had never been against humanity from the beginning.
All of their moves, tactics, and everything else were for the sake of humanity. If any clan were to fit the definition of proper, disciplined, and unforgiving guards of humanity, then everyone would speak of only one name.
The Mystic Purge Clan.
The clan that fit this term the most—the bloodthirsty hounds, the barrier that threatened to consume any enemy if they dared step close to human lands.
A force of nature, relentless in their pursuit, their very name was enough to strike fear into the hearts of those who knew of them.
This was why, while some held unfavorable opinions of the clan, more admired them as heroes.
Nonetheless, it was clear that exorcists were not permitted to wander in normal human places without a proper pass from the Union, lest it caused chaos.