High above the main floor, safe behind the one-way illusion barrier of VIP Room Seven, Zero sat perfectly still in his plush velvet armchair. His heavy, Abyssal Steel gauntlets rested on the armrests, and his glowing red eyes fixed on the illuminated stage below. He was a silent, black-armored predator waiting for the real feast.
Down below, the Auctioneer, immaculate in his white and gold suit, struck his podium once more with his gavel.
BANG.
"Silence, please!" the Auctioneer projected, his voice filled with practiced charisma. "Let us not waste a moment of this glorious evening. Tonight's catalog is vast, and the quality is unprecedented. But before we bring out the legendary treasures, we must first attend to the finer comforts of life."
He gave a polite, knowing bow toward the rows of lower-ranked noblewomen and merchants' wives in the standard seating.
A beautiful, silk-clad hostess walked onto the stage, holding up a small, elegant crystal tray. Resting on the tray was a set of five small, pearlescent crystal vials, each filled with a glowing, pale-pink substance that looked like liquid starlight.
"We begin our evening with an alchemical masterpiece of elegance," the Auctioneer announced, gesturing dramatically to the vials. "Item One: The Moonlight Blossom Beauty Lotion. Classified as Rank D Alchemical Consumable"
A small murmur of excitement rippled through the non-combat section of the audience. Rank D meant it was accessible to those without massive fortunes, yet still a rare luxury.
"This is not mere perfumed water, ladies and gentlemen!" the Auctioneer declared.
"Crafted by the renowned Senior Alchemist Elara of Oakhaven, this lotion is infused with the essence of pure slime jelly and ground Moon-Lotus petals. It guarantees to erase the finest wrinkles, lighten the skin to the shade of milk, and leaves a subtle, intoxicating scent that lasts for three days. It is the secret of eternal youth!"
Zero watched with impassive indifference. A beauty product made from slimes.
Completely useless for war or survival, but perfect for bleeding gold from arrogant humans who feared old age more than monsters.
The Auctioneer raised his gavel, looking across the crowded room.
"We are auctioning these as a complete set. Five vials of eternal bloom. The starting price is exceptionally generous: 1 Gold Coin"
BANG.
Instantly, the main hall erupted into a frenzy of raised hands and shouting voices. These were people who didn't have enough money to bid on rare armor or weapons, but they desperately wanted a piece of luxury.
"One gold and ten silver!" a fat merchant in the third row yelled, holding up his hand.
"One gold and twenty silver!" a woman in a purple dress on the other side of the room countered.
"Two gold!" shouted a low-ranked Knight, clearly trying to impress the woman sitting next to him.
"Three gold!" barked a prominent cloth merchant, a sneer on his face as he outbid the knight.
The price was rising quickly. A Rank D item normally fetched two gold coins in the market. But the competitive atmosphere of the auction house was already driving the price into the realm of inflation. The Auctioneer was skilled; he let the crowd bid against each other, only stepping in to clarify the leading price.
"We have an offer for three gold coins!" the Auctioneer bellowed, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Three gold for five vials! Do I hear more? Think of the beauty! The elegance!"
"Three gold and fifty silver!" the wife of a grain merchant shrieked, determined to win.
Zero watched the commoners fight over slimes and flowers. The fact that people were willing to pay this much for a simple lotion showed just how massive the disparity of wealth was in the Human Kingdom.
The shouting died down. The cloth merchant scowled and folded his arms, unable to match the last bid. The grain merchant's wife was beaming, looking around triumphantly.
"Going once for three gold and fifty silver!" the Auctioneer raised his gavel.
"Going twice..."
BANG.
"Sold! To the charming lady in the fifth row! Enjoy your Moonlight Blossom!"
The crowd applauded politely as the silk-clad hostess escorted the beaming woman backstage to complete the transaction and hand over the gold coins. Zero relaxed slightly in his chair. The common items were a necessary formality. The real show, the one where his items would bleed these humans dry, was just beginning
Time ticked by inside VIP Room Seven. Down on the main floor, the Auctioneer successfully sold a few more minor items—a set of enchanted beast-leather boots, a low-grade mana potion, and a decorative dwarven shield.
Zero watched in absolute silence, completely unimpressed.
Then, the atmosphere in the Golden Scales Auction House suddenly shifted. The magical chandeliers dimmed until the main floor was bathed in shadows. The only light left was a sharp, focused beam hitting the center podium.
The Auctioneer stepped into the light, his playful, charismatic smile replaced by a serious, intense expression. He raised his gavel.
BANG.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the Auctioneer's voice dropped an octave, vibrating through the massive hall. "The warm-up is officially over. Please, hold onto your seats and steady your hearts. The real auction begins now"
A heavy silence fell over the crowd. The merchants and common adventurers suddenly looked nervous.
"From this moment forward, the items presented are not for the faint of heart, nor for the light of purse," the Auctioneer declared proudly. "What comes next will test your limits. It will show the Kingdom your true status, your power, and exactly how much wealth you command. We are now entering the realm of legends!"
From the heavy red curtains, two elite guards walked out, carrying a long, velvet-covered display case. They placed it carefully on the pedestal.
The Auctioneer grabbed the edge of the velvet cloth and ripped it away.
A collective gasp echoed through the main hall. Even Zero, watching from high above behind his one-way crystal window, leaned forward slightly.
Resting on a bed of black silk was a breathtaking longsword. The hilt was crafted from pure gold and embedded with a massive, blood-red ruby. But the blade itself was terrifying—it was forged from pitch-black steel, with veins of glowing, pulsing crimson running through the metal like a heartbeat.
"I present to you... The Blood-Wraith Sword!" the Auctioneer announced.
The weapon was beautiful, but it radiated a dark, suffocating aura that made the people in the front rows instinctively lean back in their chairs.
"This blade is a masterpiece of dark forging, wielding immense destructive power," the Auctioneer explained, his voice filled with awe and dread. "It has been wielded by some of the greatest warriors in our history. However... it carries a powerful Curse."
Whispers broke out across the hall.
"Legend says," the Auctioneer continued, lowering his voice to a dramatic whisper, "that the curse feeds on the user's life force. The past three owners of this blade achieved unparalleled power. Some say the sword grants immortality. Others say it consumes the soul. Why? Because every single warrior who wielded it eventually vanished without a trace. Dead or immortal? No one knows!"
"This is a weapon for a true conqueror, a lord who does not fear the unknown!" the Auctioneer shouted, raising his gavel. "The starting bid for this cursed luxury is 10 Gold Coins!"
The main floor was dead silent. Ten gold coins was a fortune, and no common merchant wanted a cursed sword that might eat their soul.
But this item wasn't meant for the commoners.
Before the Auctioneer could even ask for a bid, a magically amplified voice echoed from VIP Room One—the largest, most luxurious balcony situated directly opposite Zero's room.
"Fifty Gold Coins"
The voice was young, male, and dripped with absolute, unquestionable authority.
The entire auction house froze. The merchants on the main floor went pale, immediately bowing their heads toward the dark, mirrored glass of VIP Room One.
Zero narrowed his glowing red eyes behind his iron mask. "System," he whispered.
"Analyze that voice"
Ding!
[Entity Detected: High-threat individuals present in VIP Room One]
[Identities: Crown Prince Caspian and Princess Seraphina of the Human Kingdom]
[Status: Royal Bloodline. Highly protected]
Zero's gauntleted hands tightened on the armrests of his chair, the Abyssal Steel groaning softly.
The Crown Prince and Princess were here. The future rulers of the very Kingdom that had slaughtered Kaelith's tribe and enslaved demi-humans for sport were sitting just across the hall.
"Fifty Gold Coins from VIP Room One!" the Auctioneer shouted, bowing deeply toward the royal box, sweat forming on his brow.
"The Crown graces us with its presence! Do we have any challengers for the Blood-Wraith Sword?!"
No one on the main floor dared to raise their hand. Bidding against the Crown Prince was political suicide.
Zero sat in the darkness of VIP Room Seven, a cold, dangerous aura leaking from his armor. The royals were throwing around fifty gold coins for a cursed toy, while the people they oppressed died in the dirt.
Would you like Zero to bid against the Prince to test the waters, or should he wait in silence until his Velkora Fruits are brought out to completely drain the royal treasury?