To be honest, that jeweled headpiece on stage might've looked like nothing more than a trinket to Orsaga—something he could casually crush in his hand.
But to most of the aristocrats and nobles in attendance, it was already rare and precious enough to be considered a legendary treasure.
Its effects were excellent, the design elegant, and most importantly, it didn't have any harsh usage requirements—just put it on and it worked.
So, unsurprisingly, quite a few women's eyes lit up, instantly captivated by it.
They were already plotting how to make it theirs.
Even the two women clinging to Orsaga's waist were visibly tempted.
But after some hesitation, both gave up on the idea of bidding.
They knew better. They understood that they didn't have the financial clout to go up against the real elites.
Sure, compared to the average citizen—or even many wealthy merchants—they were already considered noble ladies of high status. But within the truly upper echelon, their status and wealth barely scratched the surface. At most, they were just presentable.
Still several rungs away from the real power players.
So, despite the heat in their eyes, they knew that item wasn't something they could realistically claim. All they could do was quietly stifle their desire and watch from the sidelines.
But they weren't the type to stay content for long.
That was exactly why they had taken the initiative to approach Orsaga.
On him, they saw a chance to rise.
Otherwise, no matter how handsome he was, they wouldn't have been so forward.
Playing hard to get was their default mode.
Each of them was an expert in the art of catching a rich man—highly skilled in grooming backup suitors and manipulating affection like second nature.
They could easily captivate a teenage boy with just a few words.
But once they realized Orsaga might be someone truly extraordinary, someone far beyond their original expectations, they immediately shifted gears—becoming proactive and attentive.
Honestly, if the guys who'd been hopelessly devoted to them ever found out how aggressively their so-called goddesses were throwing themselves at Orsaga, they'd probably cry themselves to sleep.
Just picturing that made Orsaga feel very pleased with himself.
Watching the two women eye the headpiece with clear desire yet restraining themselves because of the price, Orsaga's eyes gleamed slightly. A faint smile curled his lips as he leaned toward them and whispered,
"Each of you can pick something from today's auction. Think of it as a gift from me."
The two froze, clearly caught off guard.
It wasn't until he repeated himself that they finally registered what he'd said.
The cat-eared girl on his right clutched his arm even tighter, her ears folding down slightly. With a hint of shyness, she asked, "Really?"
Her expression was pure and pitiful—enough to stir sympathy.
Even if Orsaga knew ninety-nine percent of it was just an act, it still worked.
He nodded with a smile. "Of course."
Immediately, both women latched onto his arms and started acting cutesy.
"You're the best."
Orsaga looked visibly pleased, and his reaction made the nearby crowd even more resentful.
Especially the other women.
"Those two skanks..."
They looked at the two clinging to Orsaga with a mix of disdain and burning jealousy.
Proof, yet again, that when it came to tearing each other down, no one beat women.
Maybe this was their version of sisterhood.
With Orsaga's confirmation, the two women exchanged a quick glance—maybe it was telepathy, maybe just instinct. Either way, they came to a decision quickly. The woman on his left took the lead.
"112,700 gold coins!"
"113,000 gold coins!"
"113,500 gold coins..."
Listening to the elite in the audience continuing to shout out higher and higher bids, her heart was pounding wildly.
Even though she was wealthy herself, she'd never imagined she would one day be bidding at this level.
After all, ten gold coins could let a commoner live comfortably for a whole year. At this point, the price on that headpiece was enough to support an entire town for a year.
She swallowed nervously and stole a glance at Orsaga before raising her hand and calling out:
"125,000 gold coins!"
The sudden entry of a new bidder drew attention from the other competitors.
Their gazes turned toward the unfamiliar voice, quickly landing on the woman who had just spoken.
But after pausing on her for only a second, their eyes naturally drifted to Orsaga.
It was clear she didn't have the confidence or power to make such a bold bid on her own. She was obviously acting under Orsaga's signal.
On her own? She didn't stand a chance.
This wasn't just a matter of money—it was about status.
Like a rabbit wouldn't dare to snatch food from a wolf's mouth, people like her didn't usually enter these circles.
After a few moments of silently sizing Orsaga up, those other bidders quietly looked away.
They couldn't identify his exact background or strength, but his demeanor and aura were unmistakable.
No ordinary man could carry that kind of presence.
"He's qualified to compete with us."
As the pressure of those gazes faded, the two women at Orsaga's side visibly relaxed.
They shared a subtle smile, and then clung to his arms even tighter.
The one on his left now looked much more confident as she resumed bidding.
In the end, she won the headpiece for 132,000 gold coins.
When a group of maids carefully brought the treasure down from the stage, Orsaga could clearly hear the two women beside him—hearts beating so wildly it sounded like they might leap out of their chests.
He chuckled and casually handed a pouch to the lead maid.
"This should cover it."
She blinked, surprised that he hadn't handed her gold coins directly, but her professional training held. She accepted the pouch and began examining its contents to assess the value on the spot.
The moment she opened it, a dazzling light from countless gems burst out, nearly blinding her.
"Hisss…"
Like a dragon finding a hoard, her instincts kicked in, and her eyes refused to leave the sparkling trove.
It took a gentle nudge from another maid to snap her out of it so she could start the valuation.
Moments later, she said,
"My lord, this bag of gemstones is roughly valued at 160,000 gold coins…"
As she spoke, she reached in to return a few of the gems.
But Orsaga simply waved her off.
"No need. I'll probably be buying more things today. Just keep it."
He then picked up the headpiece and placed it on the woman to his left, gently brushing her hair aside. She blushed fiercely, her face filled with shy delight.
Watching him tease the girl, the lead maid said no more. She quickly nodded,
"Understood…"
And turned to leave with her team.
In her heart, she couldn't help but sigh—what a life of luxury. Even legendary-Rank treasures could be casually gifted away like this.
Orsaga didn't care what she thought.
He could clearly feel the emotional storm from the two women on either side—one was radiating satisfaction, the other seething with jealousy but too afraid to show it, forced instead to compliment her rival through gritted teeth.
Even with his eyes closed, Orsaga could smell the plastic in their so-called sisterhood.
It was honestly kind of fun.
Like playing a game.
As for the money? It didn't even register in his mind.
To him, it was nothing more than junk looted from his enemies' corpses. Whether it was from the Abyss or the many worlds he'd wandered, he'd collected enough to pile into a mountain.
This was pocket change.
___
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