Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent-Chapter 167: Ch : What we found- Part 1

The storage room of the fallen Auction Master Garret was vast and cluttered, filled with forgotten trinkets, discarded antiques, and mysterious crates stacked high against the dusty walls.

Kyle, Bruce, and Melissa stepped inside with silent caution, the stale air and faint scent of aged parchment and metal surrounding them like a shroud.

Bruce whistled low as he eyed the contents.

"He really hoarded a lot of junk."

Melissa didn’t respond, already moving toward a shelf lined with gleaming stones. She picked up a violet gem and held it to the light, inspecting it for flaws.

"Some of this could fetch a good price."

Bruce grabbed a couple of gems too and weighed them in his hands.

"Not bad for a bonus."

But Kyle’s voice cut through the room, calm and resolute.

"We don’t need coin anymore. Leave the gems."

Bruce looked up, confused.

"Then what are we looking for, young master?"

"Something rare. Something useful. Something with potential. Not something everyone else can put a price on."

Kyle said, walking deeper into the room.

They continued searching in silence, scanning boxes and containers filled with aged scrolls, cracked magical items, and a few worn-out weapons.

Kyle’s eyes scanned everything quickly, but nothing stood out—until Bruce tripped with a loud grunt.

"Damn it—! What the hell is this?"

Bruce cursed, steadying himself against a barrel before glaring down at the object that had nearly sent him sprawling.

At his feet lay a large egg, nearly the size of a helmet.

It was covered in a grey crust, the surface dull and cold, as if time itself had drained its color.

The egg pulsed faintly with something long-forgotten—an echo of mana, faint but not dead.

Kyle was already walking toward him.

"Young master, do we toss this thing or—?"

Before Bruce could finish, Kyle had crouched down and picked up the egg with both hands.

Without hesitation, he pushed his mana into it. A light shimmered beneath the stone-like surface, reacting faintly to Kyle’s touch.

A smile slowly spread across Kyle’s face, subtle but unmistakably satisfied.

He stood, still holding the egg.

"We’ve found our item. There’s no need to search any further."

Bruce and Melissa stared at him, dumbfounded.

Melissa looked around at the rest of the storage.

"But there are still weapons, enchanted scrolls, armor—"

Kyle only shook his head.

"This is what we came here for."

Though neither of them fully understood the decision, they had long learned not to question Kyle when he wore that particular smile.

Bruce gave a small shrug, and Melissa followed as they exited the storage room.

Outside, sunlight filtered through the dusty windows, casting long shadows across the hallway. As they turned the corner, they came face to face with someone waiting for them.

Prince Mikalius stood with his arms crossed, a casual grin on his face, as if he had been there by coincidence—though Kyle knew better.

"Ah, future brother-in-law! What a pleasant surprise."

The prince greeted with a theatrical wave.

Kyle offered a polite nod.

"Prince Mikalius."

Mikalius’s gaze shifted downward.

"I heard you stopped by to pick a little something. So? What did you choose from the ashes of our unfortunate auctioneer?"

Kyle remained still, one arm cradling the egg protectively.

"Just something... interesting." freeweɓnøvel.com

Bruce opened his mouth to speak, but a glance from Kyle silenced him.

The prince raised an eyebrow and leaned in slightly, his voice lower.

"I had a feeling you’d find something no one else would. You always do."

His eyes flickered to the egg, curious but not prying—yet Kyle could sense that the prince already suspected the truth.

"I trust it was worth the trip?"

Mikalius added with a knowing smile.

Kyle gave the faintest of nods.

"More than you know."

Prince Mikalius’s sharp eyes lingered on the dull grey egg cradled in Kyle’s arms.

With a casual tone that didn’t mask his interest at all, he asked.

"That’s quite the curious item you’ve picked up, Kyle. Ever considered selling it?"

Melissa stiffened at the suggestion, her fingers tightening slightly around her cloak. Bruce’s brow twitched as he looked between the prince and the egg.

It was clear that neither of them liked the idea of giving away something Kyle had chosen so deliberately, especially not to someone like Mikalius.

Before either of them could speak and risk offending the royal, Kyle’s voice cut in smoothly.

"I wouldn’t mind selling it, if Your Highness can afford the price."

He said, his tone calm but laced with a faint edge.

The prince grinned, intrigued.

"And what would that price be?"

Kyle tilted his head.

"More than the mana stone."

The casual humor faded from Mikalius’s face for a breath, and then he laughed, shaking his head.

"You drive a hard bargain, Kyle. I’ve already drained my treasury this month buying that last stone. I fear my steward might faint if I try to spend more."

"Then I suppose the egg stays with me."

Kyle said with a faint smile, shifting the weight in his arms slightly.

Prince Mikalius gave a dramatic sigh.

"So cruel, future brother-in-law. So very cruel."

Still smiling, the prince waved them off and turned toward the auction house.

"I need to sort through what’s left anyway. Most of it will go back to the family. No point in punishing them for Garret’s greed."

With that, the prince entered the building, his usual relaxed stride returning as he stepped inside.

Kyle, Melissa, and Bruce continued their walk, heading toward the outer edge of town where the carriage waited.

The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in strokes of gold and crimson.

The streets were starting to clear out, but the aftermath of the morning’s chaos still lingered in the air—rumors, whispers, and watchful eyes.

As they passed the side of the auction building, Kyle felt it: a gaze, sharp and burning, locked onto him from somewhere nearby.

He stopped.

Turning his head slightly, he looked toward a narrow alleyway between the storage sheds.

A small child stood there.

The boy couldn’t have been older than seven. He wore simple, worn clothes, and his hands were clenched into tight fists at his sides.

His eyes—too old for his young face—were narrowed in open hatred and unspoken accusation, staring directly at Kyle.

Bruce noticed Kyle’s pause and followed his gaze. The moment he saw the child, his expression darkened.

"That’s Garret’s son. He must’ve been watching everything from the shadows. Can’t blame the kid for it, I guess."

Bruce said quietly.

Kyle didn’t answer immediately. The child didn’t look away, didn’t flinch under the weight of Kyle’s gaze. There was no fear—only anger, bitter and raw.

Bruce sighed.

"He’ll remember this. Probably for the rest of his life. Might even grow up blaming you for what happened to his father."

"That would make him dangerous."

Melissa muttered, glancing uneasily at the boy.

Kyle turned his head away.

"Let him hate me."

The statement was cold, but there was no cruelty in Kyle’s tone. Just acceptance.

"He’s too young to understand the weight of his father’s actions. Time will teach him, one way or another."

They moved on, the tension of the moment hanging in the air behind them. The boy didn’t follow, nor did he look away until Kyle disappeared from view.

Inside the carriage, Bruce cast a worried glance back through the window.

"Young master, are you really not going to do anything about that?"

"There’s nothing to do. He’s just a child right now."

Kyle said, still holding the egg close.