Since the beginning of this auction, this is the first time such a quiet situation has occurred.
Many people hesitated whether to bid or not.
Especially for such an item that sounds powerful, but no one knows if it's truly as powerful as it seems.
After all, it's not a well-known Pokémon item like the Life Treasure Pearl or Sharp Fang.
However, just as everyone was hesitating, the auctioneer walked to the side and seemed to hear some new arrangement from the staff.
He returned to the stage with large strides.
But he couldn't maintain the smile on his face.
Somewhat awkwardly he said, "According to the latest news, the seller only accepts Pokémon items related to Ghost-type Pokémon, or Dark-type Pokémon."
Whoosh—
The entire venue erupted in laughter.
Thud, thud, thud!
"But!"
The female auctioneer forcefully made the venue quiet again, seriously saying: "But! The seller stated that if the bids exceed the price of this Spoon itself, he is willing to compensate the difference."
"And, to show sincerity, he is willing to provide a Ghost-type Pokémon as compensation. I believe everyone is aware of the value of a Ghost-type Pokémon."
Even though she offered favorable conditions, the buyers were not fools.
How good can a Ghost-type Pokémon, thrown in as a bonus, be?
"Ahem, the auction starts!"
The female auctioneer was also inwardly cursing her boss.
She struggled to maintain a lively atmosphere for most of the event, only to have it dashed away like this, leaving her with a sense of frustration.
And in the private box.
Although Natsuhiko also heard what was said, seeing Yujira staring intensely through the window, he knew he might have to be the fool in this situation.
"But, seeing Yujira's craving look, maybe it won't be a bad deal after all."
He also thought the item was expensive, and the auction format was quite unreasonable.
But there's no helping it, Yujira wanted it.
Even from such a distance, it felt attracted to it.
"A thousand-year-old Alakazam, an Ancient Pokémon? Or a Super Ancient Pokémon?"
With these thoughts, Natsuhiko walked over to the bidding device and directly pressed the button on the table.
This was his first time participating in an auction.
"Number thirty-eight! The VIP in box thirty-eight, bids one million!"
Seeing that there was finally a bid, the female auctioneer secretly breathed a sigh of relief, at least it won't go unsold now.
"Yongji?"
Yujira also responded, seeing Natsuhiko, who was usually quite stingy with him, unhesitatingly press the button that represented one million alliance coins, claiming otherwise would be a lie.
However, Yujira indeed really wanted that Spoon.
Because it felt there was something special inside it, strongly attracting it.
So.
It really wanted it!
This was the first time Yujira wanted something so much, and naturally, Natsuhiko wouldn't be stingy.
"One million, going once! Is there another bid?"
The female auctioneer glanced around the room, seemingly expectant, but in fact, she had already sentenced the item to death in her mind, just hoping it would end quickly.
"One million, going twice!"
But ironically, some things do not go as planned.
The light representing box fifteen lit up.
The female auctioneer also momentarily froze, a bit surprised: "Box fifteen, bids one million one hundred thousand!"
"Is there another bid?"
In the private box.
"Hmm?" Hearing that someone was actually competing for such an unpromising item, he couldn't help but frown.
But since he decided to obtain it, he had no reason for hesitation now.
He pressed the button again.
"One million one hundred and fifteen! VIP in box thirty-eight, bids one million one hundred and fifteen..."
However, before the auctioneer could finish her sentence, the light in box fifteen came on again.
"One million two hundred! VIP in box fifteen, bids one million two hundred!"
"One million two hundred and five!"
"One million three hundred!"
"..."
"One million seven hundred! VIP in box fifteen bids one million seven hundred!"
All eyes in the venue were focused on box thirty-eight, where Natsuhiko was.
During this time, it was a bidding war between Natsuhiko and the person in box fifteen, and the price rapidly soared from one million to one million seven hundred in just a few minutes. People were eager to see if the person in box thirty-eight would continue bidding.
Inside the box, Natsuhiko lounged with his legs crossed, his face expressionless, slowly eating the remaining grapes from the fruit platter.
"Yongji..." Yujira hesitated, slightly struggling.
"Yujira, you can indeed feel its attraction, right? Something special inside?" Natsuhiko asked in a calm tone.
"Yongji!"
After so long sensing it, Yujira had confirmed, nodding affirmatively.
"So, it seems there are others who recognize its worth..."
Since Yujira desired it, and it was indeed a good thing.
Natsuhiko spat out a grape seed, stood up, and grabbed the microphone next to him.
He decisively abandoned the slow bidding style.
With a deliberately disguised, slightly hoarse voice, it echoed through the venue, "One High-Level Dark Stone."
Whoosh—
The venue erupted again.
This was a High-Level Dark Stone!
Priceless, with no market for it, many people wanted it but had nowhere to buy it. What was the background of the guest in box thirty-eight?
This clearly showed impatience with competing against the person in box fifteen, giving a direct overwhelming blow!
An utter, complete overwhelming!
Even the female auctioneer was momentarily dazed.
She truly didn't expect that something she had no hopes for would attract someone to bring out a High-Level Dark Stone for it?
This time, all eyes again focused on box fifteen.
Many showed mocking expressions.
In box fifteen at this moment.
A person wrapped entirely in a black robe tightly gripped a Medium Quality Dark Stone, his eyes blazing.
This was something he had deliberately prepared for that Spoon.
He didn't expect, before he could even bring it out, the other party would use a High-Level Quality Dark Stone.
Blown away by an overwhelming blow.
What reasoning could be made? Where?
"Hmph!"
He snorted coldly, rose directly, and strode out of the box.
He attended this auction precisely for that Spoon, and now that he didn't get it, there was no reason to stay.
His eyes were filled with icy coldness.
On the other side.
"In the latest development, the seller states he wants that Dark Stone, he will compensate the difference, and also provide a rare Ghost-type Pokémon. The auction for this item ends here!"
Nonsense.
It's already reached a High-Level Dark Stone, why continue?
Meanwhile.
There was a knock on the door of Natsuhiko's box.
Thud, thud, thud—
A voice came from outside, "Guest in box thirty-eight, the seller of item number one hundred and twelve wants to meet you."
Meet?
What's the point of meeting?
Natsuhiko chuckled lightly. Didn't he already know what they wanted?
They just wanted to see if he really had a High-Level Dark Stone, as such items were indeed rare.
The raspy voice sounded, "No need to meet, just have him bring the change and that Spoon to me, and I will naturally provide the High-Level Dark Stone."
Natsuhiko had no intention of opening the door.
It was a transaction, what was the need to meet?
Hearing Natsuhiko's firm attitude, the staff outside was momentarily silent before responding: "...Okay, sir."
...
...
In the VIP room inside the auction venue.
An elderly man with white hair, accompanied by a girl about fifteen or sixteen years old with somewhat dark skin and short hair.
"Grandpa, why did you bring me to a black market auction?" The girl looked at her grandfather, puzzled, seemingly somewhat uncomfortable with the black market.
"Hehe—Furong, whether it's a black market or a white market, as long as we can get what we want, it's a good market. We shouldn't be too confined by the league's rules, this is the first lesson grandpa teaches you after bringing you down the mountain." The old man looked at his granddaughter with a touch of doting.
"Oh..." Furong stuck out her little tongue.
She had just recently left Divine Departure Mountain and was not familiar with the ways of the outside world, simply believing that the league was good, and other things were bad.
But clearly, her grandfather was a very experienced elder.