Kaito stepped into the auction venue on the 66th floor, finding himself in a grand hall roughly the size of a football field. The space was already packed—every seat occupied by NPCs bearing noble titles or higher. Competing for items in such an environment was a daunting challenge for any player. These NPCs weren't here by coincidence; they served a specific purpose. Their presence was meant to ensure that no player could win a rare item too easily or cheaply.
In truth, the NPCs acted more like decorative safeguards than actual participants. If a player's bid failed to meet a certain threshold, the item would automatically go to one of the NPCs—regardless of their interest. This system prevented players from acquiring high-value treasures without facing real competition.
Once the attendees were all seated, the auction officially began. A white-bearded old man stepped onto the stage, his voice calm yet commanding as he declared the opening of the event. Moments later, the first item was brought forward, slowly unveiled under the bright glow of mana lanterns.
The first item to be auctioned was a Level 20 Silver-grade chestplate, with a starting bid of 2 gold coins. Its attributes were decent, but the price was far too steep. Kaito tapped the equipment panel and glanced over the stats, only to shake his head and dismiss it. It was a solid piece of gear—but nothing he could immediately use.
If he could have secured it for just 2 gold, it might've been worth considering. However, after a brief flurry of bidding from the surrounding NPCs, the price had already skyrocketed to 7 gold. At that point, any potential resale value became meaningless. Even if he sold the chestplate to a first-rate guild, it would barely fetch 3 or 4 gold at best. The market simply wasn't mature enough yet.
Right now, most players still treated copper coins as a rare treasure—let alone gold. With that in mind, Kaito continued observing as item after item appeared on the stage. More Silver-grade equipment came and went, followed even by a few Gold-grade pieces. Yet not a single item managed to stir his interest.
The reason none of the items caught Kaito's attention was simple—they were all far too expensive. If the average player level had reached around 20, equipment prices would have naturally dropped due to wider circulation and increased competition. But Glory had only recently launched. Most players were still hovering around level 11 or 12. Where would they find the kind of gold needed to compete in an auction like this?
Nearly half an hour passed before the equipment phase finally came to an end. The next segment focused on more specialized items—and that's when Kaito's interest was piqued.
"The next item up for bid is a Weapon Forging Design," the auctioneer announced. "This blueprint is a fine work by Master Thorne Duskflame. Bidding will start at 3 gold coins."
Kaito's gaze sharpened. He immediately tapped to view the item's information:
—Shadowfang (Forging Design)
(Silver Rank – One-Handed Sword)
Level Requirement: 10
The moment he saw the details, Kaito's eyes lit up. A Silver-ranked, Level 10, one-handed sword? This was exactly what he needed—not just for himself, but for equipping his core team. With the right materials, he could forge multiple copies and even sell them to other players at a premium.
This was no ordinary find. This was luck finally tilting in his favor.
However, Kaito wasn't the only one eyeing the forging design. Several other forgers—mostly high-status NPCs—joined in on the bid. After all, Silver-rank forging designs were exceedingly rare, especially one usable at Level 10.
The bidding began in earnest, and the price escalated quickly. In a matter of seconds, it had already reached 6 gold.
"7 gold," Kaito called out calmly.
"7 gold, 30 silver!"
"7 gold, 50 silver!"
"8 gold!"
The NPCs responded aggressively, their offers rising in rapid succession. The price for the Shadowfang blueprint was climbing steadily with each shout, driven by the artificial competitiveness of the auction's setup.
Kaito gritted his teeth. "15 gold coins."
The moment the bid hit 13 gold, he decisively raised it by 2 full gold, cutting through the hesitation in the room. His sudden leap stunned even the NPCs, momentarily breaking their rhythm.
He had no choice. He needed this design—not just for his own use, but to give Genesis a head start in gearing. Letting the price climb too high would ruin that purpose. After all, winning the bid was only half the battle. If the cost ballooned beyond reason, the blueprint's value to the guild would plummet.
"16 gold."
The original estimated value of the Shadowfang Forging Design was around 15 gold coins. Kaito hadn't expected the NPC forgers to still be pushing the price beyond that point.
"17 gold."
Kaito exhaled slowly. He had made up his mind. If any of the NPCs dared to raise the bid again, he would immediately jump to 20 gold and put an end to it. But if that still wasn't enough… then he would simply accept it as misfortune.
Fortunately, the remaining NPC forgers finally began to shake their heads. At 17 gold, they dropped out of the bidding. A moment later, the auctioneer struck the gavel.
"Congratulations to Lord Raen for successfully winning Master Thorne Duskflame's Shadowfang Forging Design!"
The white-bearded old man clapped lightly, his voice full of ceremony.
Kaito let out a long breath. He had done it. He might've spent 17 gold, but it was a worthy investment. With this Silver-rank, Level 10 forging blueprint, he could not only strengthen Genesis but also earn back his gold many times over.
As he carefully stored away the design, the auction continued.
"The next item up for bid," the old man announced, "is a super-rare combat skill for melee classes. Bidding will start at 5 gold coins!"
Kaito's gaze snapped toward the stage. A scroll, glowing faintly with magical runes, was carefully placed inside a crystalline case.
He clicked to view its details:
Blazing Thunderclash (Action-Type Skill)
Requirement: Melee Weapon
Effect: Charges forward and strikes the target for 220% weapon damage, dealing additional Fire and Lightning damage to all enemies within a 5-meter radius. Affected enemies are stunned for 4 seconds.
Cooldown: 45 seconds
Kaito's eyes lit up. Blazing Thunderclash—there was no mistaking it. This wasn't just a rare skill—it was a true treasure for melee users. Without a doubt, it would become one of the most hotly contested items in the entire auction.
While Kaito remained in quiet contemplation, the bidding for the skill book had already surged past 10 gold coins. Compared to the Shadowfang Forging Design, the competition for Blazing Thunderclash was even fiercer.
"20 gold!" Kaito suddenly called out, cutting through the noise with a firm voice.
"20 gold!" the auctioneer echoed with excitement. "Lord Raen has bid 20 gold! Is there anyone else willing to challenge him? This is one of the rarest treasures in today's auction—don't miss your chance!"
Kaito shot a sideways glance at the white-bearded old man, unable to suppress the scorn in his eyes. The man clearly enjoyed fueling the fire just to drive prices higher.
"21 gold!" a new voice chimed in confidently. "Since it's such a valuable item, it certainly won't be anything ordinary."
"I bid 24 gold!" declared a Tier 2 Swordsman, a satisfied smile on his face as if already imagining himself mastering the skill.
"26 gold!" came a sudden shout from a Tier 3 Phantomblade, an advanced stealth-based melee class.
The hall buzzed with tension. Most of the NPCs present were of melee-oriented classes, making the competition for Blazing Thunderclash incredibly intense. With every second, the atmosphere grew hotter—this was a battle of wallets and will.