Chapter 36: SkyHigh Auction 2


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    The auctioneer''s mboyant announcement echoed through the grand hall. "Herees our first item!"


    The apanying drumroll and lively orchestra amplified the drama of the moment. The host, adorned in a peculiar star-shaped mask, twirled around, his arms wide open in a theatrical gesture as the curtains behind him parted to reveal arge cage.


    "Does he really need to be so dramatic?" I muttered, bemused by the spectacle. But considering this was as much a show as it was an auction, the entertainment aspect made sense. ncing at Seo, who seemed thoroughly captivated by the host''s antics, I had to admit it added to the experience.


    GROOAGHHHKKKK!!!!!


    Suddenly, a loud, primal roar echoed through the hall, startling the audience. It sounded like a lion, but there was an unfamiliar undertone to it. The host made a grand leap and gestured toward the cage behind him.


    "Tada! A baby tamed manticore!" he proimed with a wide, gleeful smile.


    The crowd erupted in excitement and murmurs. Even as a baby, the manticore, about the size of a fully grown lion,manded attention. Its appearance was impressive: a fearsome blend of lion, scorpion, and bat, with a serpentine tail tipped with venomous barbs.


    "What is that?" Seo asked innocently while curiously looking at the baby manticore with interest.... I guess even if it was a monster, its baby state was still somewhat cute?


    "Manticore.... It''s considered an A-rank monster once fully grown," I whispered to Seo. "Some even be dungeon bosses. They are a very rare monster toe across with. so, capturing one, specially as a baby, is a rather impressive feat, and rare urrence"


    Seo nodded, her eyes wide with fascination.


    The baby manticore prowled within its cage, its muscr form exudingtent power.


    The host continued his spirited pitch, emphasizing the rarity and potential value of the creature.


    The auctioneer''s voice boomed through the hall, his excitement palpable.


    Since it was still a baby and fully tamed at that, the manticore would imprint on its owner as it grew, forming a bond stronger than most knights'' loyalty. It would be a fierce bodyguard, far more reliable and powerful than many human protectors.


    Almost immediately, a symphony of buzzing noises filled the air as bidders pressed their crystals.


    The desire to own such a rare and powerful creature was universal. I couldn''t resist joining in, pressing my crystal just for the thrill of it.


    Who knows? I might get lucky, right? But deep down, I knew the odds were against me.


    Such wishful thinking.....


    "We have 150,200 over there!" the auctioneer shouted, his voice rising with the escting bids.


    The price skyrocketed into the hundreds of thousands within seconds. Damn, just how wealthy were these people? The realization hit me hard-this was only the first item, and already the bids were astronomical.


    The chances of winning this auction seemed slimmer with each passing second.


    My heart sank a bit.


    The bidding war continued fiercely, with numbers climbing higher and higher. Wealthy collectors and influential figures were relentless, each determined to outbid the other for the prized manticore.


    Among the most aggressive bidders, Boseman Yuliel stood out, his expression calm but his intent clear. He pressed his crystal with a practiced ease that spoke of experience in high- stakes auctions.


    "200,000 gems!" the auctioneer announced, the crowd''s excitement palpable.


    I nced at Seo, who seemed equally captivated by the proceedings. Her eyes sparkled with interest, and I could tell she was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.


    ''Well at least, I''m d that she''s having fun''


    Even though we were here for a different reason, the energy of the auction was infectious.


    "250,000 gems!" Another bidder raised the stakes, and a murmur of astonishment rippled through the audience.


    "300,000 gems!" Boseman''s butler, Fred, calmly pressed their crystal, signaling their bid. Boseman nodded approvingly, his eyes never leaving the stage.


    I sighed inwardly. At this rate, there was no way I could keep up.


    The bidding war for the manticore finally settled at an astounding 500,000 gems, won by an anonymous bidder from one of the VIP balconies. The auctioneer''s gavel came down with a decisive thud, and the room buzzed with excitement and chatter.


    "Congrattions to the winner!" the auctioneer eximed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Now, onto our next item!"


    This was only the first item of the day.... And already 500,000 gems were expensed.


    And what I wanted was something that wasbeled as a unique item.... Haha no matter how you looked at it I''m cooked....


    After the intense bidding war for the baby manticore, the auction continued with its usual ir.


    The next item up for bid was a stunning, ornate sword, its de glimmering under the auction house lights. The auctioneer''s voice rang out, expertly building anticipation.


    "Next, we have this magnificent sword, crafted by the legendary cksmith Ardentis. Starting bid: 100,000 gems!"


    The crowd buzzed with excitement. Within moments, the bids skyrocketed.


    "150,000 gems!"


    "200,000 gems!"


    "300,000 gems!"


    Finally, the hammer fell at a staggering 350,000 gems. The winning bidder, a middle-aged man with an air of quiet confidence, seemed pleased as the sword was brought to him. And so it went, item after item, each fetching prices well into the hundreds of thousands. Exquisite jewelry, rare potions, enchanted artifacts-the auction was a parade of luxury and power. Each new item seemed to push the limits of extravagance further, and the bidding wars grew more intense.


    ''Hahaha, wasing here a mistake?'' I muttered under my breath, feeling the weight of the situation.


    In the game, the value and rarity of items up for auction depended on luck. Sometimes, you could walk away with incredible treasures at a steal, while other times, you had topete fiercely. But I didn''t expect this randomness to reflect so urately in real life.


    I nced at my status screen briefly.


    [Luck: 0]


    Fuck me....


    I looked over at Seo, who seemed entirely absorbed in the spectacle. Despite my growing frustration, her presence was oddlyforting. She turned to me, noticing my expression. "Riley, are you okay?" she asked, her crimson eyes filled with concern.


    "Yeah, just thinking about howpetitive this auction is," I replied, trying to keep my tone light.


    Then finally after a few more minutes that passed the item that I wanted finally came around. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the item I had been waiting for came up for auction. As the auctioneer dramatically removed the cloth covering it, arge cauldron was revealed. It was heavily rusted, its metallic body showing signs of age and wear. Despite its appearance, the audience was captivated. The auctioneer highlighted its property rank and value, mentioning that it bordered on the unique rank. The hidden runes inscribed on its shell were a clear indication to any knowledgeable mage of its true potential.


    "Now then, since it''s quite a broken item, let''s start the bidding at 5,000 gems!"


    I knew my chances were slim, but I had to take a shot. Without hesitation, I pressed my crystal


    and bid 50,000 gems directly. Seo looked at me, puzzled. She probably thought we were just here to sightsee, not to bid seriously on anything.


    But I had my reasons, and I needed this item badly.


    This is all for the sake of getting stronger.... ''So, fuck my wallet!!!''


    My hands moved and written down my next bid on the magic crystal ced on the side of my


    chair.


    "100,000"


    Now I was the leading bidder.... Please count it now Mr. auctioneer!!!!


    ra Luminaria was bored.


    Sitting atop one of the VIP balconies, she sipped her wine, crossing her legs as she looked at


    the ongoing auction with disinterest. Her eyes scanned the room below, where bidders eagerly raised their crystals for various items.


    "Mydy, should I prepare the carriage?" her maid asked, noticing ra''s distress and boredom. She knew herdy well enough to predict that she might leave soon, as she often did


    at other auction houses back in their country. "Hmm? Ah, no, let''s wait for a bit. There were some fairly interesting items earlier, so there might be a few more worth seeing," ra replied, swirling her wine thoughtfully. Nodding, the maid stepped back, ready to assist whenever her master decided to leave.


    ''I should''ve gotten that manticore...,'' ra thought, annoyed with her indecisiveness. She clicked her tongue at herself.


    She knew she had made the logical choice to stop bidding once it reached around the 400,000


    mark.


    Although the final price was about 500,000 gems, which was twice the normal market price for tamed manticores, considering its rarity and capture rate, it was worth it. Not to mention, it was still a baby with plenty of growth potential.


    Now all that was left were boring old swords and items she could buy outside if she wanted to.


    Although some were fairly interesting, they weren''t worth wasting her money on, making the whole manticore fiasco even more annoying.


    Sipping her wine, ra winced as she looked at the balcony across from hers with annoyance.


    Although the VIP there remained anonymous by name, she could immediately tell who it was based on mana alone.


    Ever since she was young, ra had always been quite sensitive to people''s mana, perceiving them in unique colors and qualities.


    As far as she could tell, the person inside the tinted ss wall was probably the principal of this academy. Considering her well-known nature and keen interest in monsters, it was only natural that such a person woulde here just for the manticore alone.


    Although ra wanted to leave now, she couldn''t. She was sure that if such a person, along


    with the famous banker and investor Boseman, and even the rare master of Lust, Liany, were here, there was bound to be an item they specifically came for.


    As the auction continued, ra''s interest was reignited. She watched with renewed attention


    as the auctioneer unveiled each item. Despite the mundane nature of most items, she knew the real treasures were yet toe.


    Although the items were getting boring now, ra knew that she should at least bid for something that might interest her at a low price, considering she was already here. Since the chances of her outbidding the principal, Boseman, and Liany for the specific item they wanted were still fifty-fifty, she should at least secure something for herself. The auctioneer then revealed arge, rusted cauldron. Despite its worn appearance, the cauldron exuded an aura of ancient power. ra''s interest was piqued when the auctioneer mentioned its near-unique rank and the hidden runes inscribed on its shell.


    "Now then, since it''s quite a broken item, let''s start the bidding at 5,000 gems!" the


    auctioneer announced.


    ra watched as bidders began pressing their crystals. Her curiosity grew when she noticed a blonde-haired young man at the back bidding a significant amount-50,000 gems-without


    hesitation.


    ''Hmm?'' she wondered why someone would bid that high for such a broken-looking item.


    Although she could see some runes inscribed on it, of all the items presented, it seemed the


    most trash.


    However, the young man''s bold bid intrigued her. Leaning forward, she decided to observe


    more closely. The woman beside him, Seo Gyeoul, appeared puzzled by his eagerness. ra


    recognized Seo from the Knight Department, known for her exceptionalbat skills and stoic demeanor.


    ''Why is she here?'' she wondered for a bit before ignoring her presence entirely, as she put her attention to the blonde haired man again.


    As the bidding war escted, ra saw the young man remain unfazed, increasing his bid


    whenever challenged.


    His determination suggested he knew something about the cauldron that others did not. ra''s interest deepened. There had to be more to this seemingly worthless item. Deciding to test the waters, ra ced a bid of her own, raising the amount to 60,000 gems.


    She saw the young man nce her way briefly before raising his bid to 70,000. His quick


    response confirmed her suspicion-this cauldron was important to him. ra''spetitive spirit ignited.


    She raised the bid to 80,000 gems, and once again, the young man countered without


    hesitation. The auctioneer''s excitement grew as the bids climbed higher, the crowd buzzing


    with anticipation.


    Just as ra was about to ce another bid, she noticed the principal, Boseman, and Liany watching the exchange intently from their VIP rooms.


    The fact that they hadn''t entered the bidding yet made her cautious.


    She didn''t want to overextend herself for an item she wasn''t sure about.


    "100,000 gemsss!!!!!"


    But then the bidding reached a hundred thousand gems, ra''s curiosity peaked.


    She couldn''t fathom why a knight student would be so invested in what seemed like a simple cauldron. Was he perhaps acting as a proxy for someone else?


    ra was familiar with the concept of proxies, where anonymous individuals bid on behalf of others to manipte prices. It was amon tactic in auctions, used to either drive prices up or down depending on the situation.


    Observing the young man''s demeanor, she sensed a genuine interest in the item. His indifferent gaze belied a seriousness that intrigued her. There had to be more to this cauldron


    than met the eye.


    Driven by instinct and a hint of skepticism, ra pressed her crystal, joining the bidding war.


    It was a calcted gamble, but if the young man truly represented someone else''s interests, then the cauldron held far greater value than anyone realized.


    As ra''s bid of 200,000 gems was dered, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation.


    All eyes turned towards her balcony, where she sat with an air of confidence, meeting the gazes of curious onlookers.


    In response to her bid, the young man''s demeanor shifted. There was a flicker of intensity in his gaze, a silent acknowledgment of the challenge she presented. Without hesitation, he pressed his crystal, raising the bid to 300,000 gems.


    The auctioneer''s voice rose with excitement, amplifying the tension in the room. It was clear


    that this battle of bids was far from over.


    With each increment, the stakes grew higher, and the determination of both participants


    became palpable.


    As the bidding war intensified, ra remainedposed, her focus unwavering.


    She was determined to im the cauldron, driven by abination of curiosity and a desire


    to unravel the mystery surrounding it.


    With the young man''s bid hanging in the air, ra prepared herself for the next move.


    This battle of wills was just beginning, and she was ready to see it through to the end, no


    matter the cost.


    The auctioneer''s voice reverberated through the grand hall, brimming with enthusiasm.


    "300,000 gems for the young man at the back!!!" His excitement was palpable, perhaps even


    surpassing the initial estimation for this supposed "trash" item.


    My stomach churned at the mention of the exorbitant price.


    Three hundred thousand gems....


    I couldn''t help but let out a bitterugh under my breath. I was utterly screwed. I didn''t have


    even a fraction of that amount.


    "Riley...?" Seo''s concerned voice broke through my thoughts, apanied by a subtle gesture towards me.


    Despite her probable willingness to help, I knew the harsh reality of our financial situation. This auction item might as well have been sold to ra already.


    I tried to shrink into the shadows, hoping to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention.


    But it seemed futile, her eyes were practically glued to the item and me now. "350,000 for our dear VIP!!!" The auction host''s announcement signaled ra''s next move. I


    knew I should back down, but... I was already in too deep.


    As I nced up at ra''s smug expression from her balcony, a surge of irritation coursed


    through me.


    She was the epitome of someone who stopped at nothing to obtain what she desired, especially if it held value.


    If she was determined to snatch this item from me, I knew I had to push back.


    I also know she was just beingpetitive about all this but...


    "I''ll at least increase it near your budget," I resolved silently, drawing upon my gaming


    experience to gauge ra''s spending limits for the day.


    Although, in the real world, those limits were subject to change.


    "400,000!!!! At the young man in the back!"


    The crowd erupted into a cacophony of cheers and excitement as our bidding war escted.


    Each moment intensified our silent duel, all while concealing the turmoil brewing deep


    within me.