Upon hearing Gaya's words, Michael was startled. Michael remembered sending Gaya after the Valrens with the molten plague. He ordered Gaya to attack them only if she found a way to infect them first. Judging by her tone, he didn't think Gaya was the one who took Tanulia's life. Finally, Gaya rose from the throne arm and looked at the mirrors surrounding the room. With a wave of her hand, she turned off all the mirrors. Michael turned his throne around.

"You have to see this," Gaya waved her hand as the mirrors flickered. A few seconds later, all the small mirrors emerged together to form a large screen. In the mirror, Michael saw a woman moving swiftly through the forest. He tapped the throne's hand, looking at the woman chasing after Tabulia's carriage and the four men riding the horses.

Michael saw the dark-robed figure using the forest as his cover. The figure had followed the carriage keeping his distance until abruptly the figure increased his speed. Suddenly the figure blurred as it disappeared from sight for a few moments. Then, it appeared above the four men riding the horses. Within a few split seconds, the figure grabbed the four one by one and slit their throats.

Everyone, including Gaya, who had seen this before, couldn't help but admire the figure's speed and agility. The Soul Refiners didn't have a chance. None uttered a word the following minutes. Instead, they stared at the woman who beat the hell out of Tanulia before cleaving her head. Nightmare and Azazel were bewildered to see Gaya fight the woman, only to lose. They had never thought the woman could defeat the Dark Queen. But what they heard next from Michael startled them.

"She was holding back," said Michael.

Nightmare and Azazel thought Gaya was going to disagree with Michael. But on the contrary, she agreed with him.

"I felt the same too. Despite the fact that we were being at the same stage and level, she was significantly stronger than me. Also, the molten plague didn't affect her, and neither did the fear toxin,"

Michael's focus was not on the battle but on what she said before attacking Tanulia. The phrase she recited, was from earth. Twinkle twinkle little star was a nursery rhyme taught to little children on earth. In fact, Michael had learned it in his orphanage. He deeply breathed in.

"Twinkle twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky,"

He did not expect someone from this world to recite the rhyme. Besides, she fought so swiftly that even a best close combat warrior such as Gaya couldn't defeat her. Furthermore, judging by how she fought, Michael could tell she was holding back. Otherwise, the woman could have defeated Gaya in a couple of seconds.

"Why can't you whore yourself to the vampires?" Michael repeated Harriet's words.

"What does that tell you?" Michael glared at Nightmare, Gaya, and Azazel.

"That she has an axe to grind with the vampires," said Nightmare.

"Yes, but not exactly," said Gaya.

"Her words have hidden meanings. She asked Tanulia why can't you whore yourself to the vampires? Why did she ask that specific question?"

Nightmare repeated Harriet's words again and again in his mind. A few moments later, he opened his mouth again.

"Yourself, she said yourself," Nightmare emphasized the word yourself.

"That might mean Tanulia used someone else to do something instead of doing it herself,"

Michael nodded. Unlike Nightmare, Gaya, Michael, and Azazel made the connection to Sabrina instantly.

"Did you put a Spyder on her?" asked Michael.

"She destroyed it,"

As soon as Michael saw Gaya shrug, he was bewildered. The woman had exceeded Michael's expectations. He wanted to see the woman more than anything. Deep down, he felt a peculiar connection with the woman. The way she moved, the way she recited a rhyme, and everything about her reminded him of himself. Even if he had no connection to him, having a freak of nature like this woman as his subordinate might multiply his power several folds. It wasn't any day he could find a powerful subordinate who shared hatred towards the Guardians. After hearing how she spared the old man before addressing herself like she belonged to the House of Halrid, her hatred towards the Guardians became apparent to Michael.

Course, there was still a chance that she actually belonged to the House of Halrid. But only a fool would reveal their identities after killing a prominent figure such as Tanulia. The woman did not seem like a fool.

"We need to get our hands on every order Tanulai issued. Azazel, I want you to send Aria to House Winston. How you do that? It's up to you. I want Aria to shadow Sabrina,"

Since Noah had found out about the Spyders, he dared not to put Spyders in Winston's house again. Instead, Michael wanted Aria to infiltrate their homes. Although Michael knew it was a difficult task for Aria, he would make her the head of the assassin guild he planned to build in the future, if she were to succeed.

"For how long, my lord?" asked Azazel.

"Until Sabrina returns to Holy Trident Academy," answered Michael.

Looking at the woman in the mirror, Michael couldn't help replaying the feed once again.

"We now have two tasks. Find out this woman's identity and the reason why Lailah is in Awor," said Michael.

Eventually, Michael dismissed Azazel and Nightmare, who returned to the tavern where Eve was staying.

"What's in your mind?" Gaya asked, noticing the dark lines on Michael's forehead. After spending almost two years with Michael, it was not very difficult for Gaya to read his expressions.

"I don't know. It's just she seems familiar,"

The next day, Michael returned to his room and pretended nothing had happened last night. He accompanied Eve to the Aqua Palace. Along the way to their VIP room, Michael noticed armed guards, countless Soul Refiners, and even three Fusion Stage cultivators.

After settling into their seats, Eve turned her gaze towards Michael.

"What was that? Why are there so many guards crawling this place?"

"No idea. I never left my room last night," Michael shrugged.

Even then turned her head to look at Gaya who shrugged even before Eve could question her,

"Why are you looking at me? I was with him,"

An awkward silence enveloped the room. Michael looked at the clouds hiding the sun. He sighed and leaned back. All of his focus was focused on the woman who killed Tanulia. He couldn't help but wonder where the man resembling a Cat was when the woman slaughtered Tanulia and her men.

Boom!

An earth-shattering bell sound reverberated in the arena, instantly silencing the crowd. Then, just like yesterday, Rickston descended from the sky following the bell sound.

When he landed on the ground, he raised his arm,

"Ladies and gentlemen. I am honored to welcome you to the second day of the Aqua Auction. Without further adieu, let us begin the auction,"

TO Michael's surprise, Rickston began auctioning quickly without wasting time. He expected the old man to reassure or at least speak a few words about what had happened to the Thusians or Valrens. But on the contrary, the old man began the auction in a rush. After Rickston's voice echoed through the arena, an iron pillar emerged from the ground. Atop, they all saw a complete set of armor painted crimson red.

This armor set had a rounded helm with half a pointed face guard and two pointed openings for the eyes. Attached to its side were two horns that curved upwards.

The shoulders were fairly oval, tall, and fairly small in size. They were decorated with hundreds of small metal fragments, mimicking the scales of reptiles. The upper arms were protected by squared, half-covering rerebraces, which sat quite well under the shoulder plates. The lower arms were covered by vambraces with a tentacle-like metal ornament attached to each side, wrapping around each vambrace.

The breastplate was made from various layers of rounded metal sheets. It covered everything from the neck down, ending at the groin. The upper legs are covered by squared, fully covering cuisses. The lower legs were protected by greaves with sharp tips at the knee point.

Judging by the shiny armor, it was apparent to Michael it was never worn before. When he looked closer, he noticed several runes glowing dimly. Not only Michael, everyone noticed these peculiar runes. Without explanation, even Gaya had no idea about the runes' effects. Michael regretted not bringing Elidyr to the auction. At the moment, the dark elf was busy creating a teleportation array in the crypt.

"Ladies and gentlemen. What you see is armor forged by a 6-star blacksmith and enhanced by a 6-star runemaster," an indescribable desire emerged in Michael's heart. Although the armor looked medieval and had a Viking vibe to it, he could reforge the armor to suit his liking. But Michael suppressed his despite because he knew for a fact he didn't have enough coins to afford the armor. Countless people gasped in shock after hearing Rickston.

Michael patiently waited for Rickston to explain the armor's various powers.

"It'd be easier to show you the advantages of having this armor than me explaining," Rickston said. Soon, a tall man with a well-toned body descended from the sky. Other than multiple scars on his body, there was nothing distinguishable about the man.

"A slave?" Michael slightly tilted his head. He wasn't a perfect human being but just the thought of owning a human being sickened Michael.

As the man landed beside Rickston, the latter began to put the armor on the man. Several seconds later, Rickston finished adorning the man with the armor.

"Now look closer, ladies and gentlemen," Rickston said before flicking his wrist. A mace with a spiked head appeared in the old man's hand. To everyone's shock, Rickston struck the man on the chest with the mace. Sparks flew as a loud thudding sound resonated in the area. Rickston didn't stop but struck the man yet again. As Rickston struck, again and again, the crimson red armor began to glow brighter and brighter.

In addition to the glow, everyone heard the armor resonate with a whistling sound. Everyone curiosylt stared at the glowing armor, waiting for something to happen.

After enduring a couple of more hits, the armor glowed so brightly that some of the people in the crowd closed their eyes. The next moment, everyone heard a loud booming sound as Rickston was sent flying by a shock wave created by the armor.

The arena went dead silent. At that moment, one could even hear a pin dropping sound in the arena.