Chapter 244 - Dragons Acquired

    (3rd Person POV)

    The audacious leap from ten million to twenty million dollars left the crowd stunned. Curiosity burned in their eyes as they sought the identity of the bidder bold enough to risk offending the Crown Prince of the Japon Empire. As one, they turned to face the source of the bid.

    Kurogami''s gaze darkened with annoyance as he took in the sight of a young man in a finely tailored suit, flanked by two breathtaking women. The small, crimson horns adorning the man''s forehead marked him unmistakably as a demon.

    But what truly set the crowd abuzz was the realization that this was no ordinary demon—it was none other than Arthur Pendragon, the renowned filmmaker and inventor of the revolutionary barcode system.

    Whispers rippled through the assembled guests, their voices tinged with a mix of awe and disbelief.

    "Isn''t that Arthur Pendragon? The mastermind behind the wildly successful Lord of the Rings films?"

    "I heard his barcode invention has completely transformed commerce across the demon realms."

    "To think he would bid so boldly against the Crown Prince of Japon... The man must have nerves of steel."

    Kurogami''s eyes hardened as they locked onto Arthur, a solemn intensity emanating from his gaze. Near him, Billy''s expression mirrored the same dark intensity, his thoughts racing.

    So, this is the genius behind the computer and the barcode system, Billy mused silently, his mind already calculating the potential implications of Arthur''s presence.

    From his seat, Azazel studied Arthur intently, his gaze tinged with a mix of nostalgia and wonder. Is this truly the Arthur I remember? he mused silently, marveling at the transformation of his younger brother. Time has certainly left its mark on him.

    Azazel''s surprise at Arthur''s audacious bid mingled with a growing sense of respect for the man his sibling had become.

    Beside him, Apollonia''s excitement bubbled over, her eyes sparkling with unrestrained joy. "Arthur! I can''t believe it''s really him!"@@@@

    "Indeed," Azazel confirmed with a nod, his own emotions more carefully contained.

    Apollonia''s words tumbled out in a rush, her voice tinged with a mix of elation and frustration. "After all these years, I''m finally seeing him again. Can you imagine? Father and Mother have forbidden me from even visiting him, and now, here he is, right before our eyes!"

    Azazel''s brow furrowed, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. "They forbade you from seeing him?"

    Apollonia confirmed his question with a solemn nod, her earlier excitement tempered by the weight of their family''s complex dynamics.

    A heavy sigh escaped Azazel''s lips as he grappled with the realization of their parents'' actions. Lately, their decisions had become increasingly difficult to comprehend—from restricting Apollonia''s contact with Arthur to pressuring her into a political marriage with the Prince of Thorne Kingdom, all in the name of expanding Morningstar''s influence.

    In Azazel''s mind, a simpler solution presented itself. Why resort to such convoluted schemes? he pondered, his strategic instincts asserting themselves. Morningstar possesses the strength to simply invade Thorne and unite the kingdoms through force of arms.

    On the stage, Delaney quickly regained her composure after the initial shock of Arthur''s bid. With practiced ease, she resumed the countdown. "Going once... Going twice..."

    Kurogami''s teeth clenched, his pride warring with the knowledge of the potential consequences of further bidding. With a burst of determination, he shouted, "Twenty-two million!"

    A collective gasp filled the room, the audience stunned into silence by Arthur''s audacious move.

    They had assumed his interest would wane after securing the first dragon, but his relentless bidding proved them sorely mistaken.

    Just as it seemed the Night Dragon would be claimed, a booming voice cut through the murmurs. "One hundred and thirty million!"

    The crowd turned to face the new challenger, their eyes widening as they recognized the distinctive features of a dwarf. But this was no ordinary dwarf—it was Dwalric himself, a figure of immense wealth and influence.

    Dwalric''s gaze locked with Arthur''s, a provocative glint in his eyes. The bid had soared from a mere 1 million to an astonishing 130 million, a sum that exceeded the prepared funds of even the most affluent attendees.

    Arthur met Dwalric''s gaze, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of his lips. "One hundred and forty-five million," he countered smoothly.

    "One hundred and fifty million," Dwalric fired back without hesitation.

    A smile spread across Arthur''s face as he recognized the game Dwalric was playing. The dwarf''s bitterness over being denied the barcode technologies was well-known, and the declining stock prices of Dwalric Corporation since the introduction of Arthur''s system had only added fuel to the fire.

    "One hundred and eighty million," Arthur declared, his voice carrying a note of challenge.

    Dwalric''s grin widened, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Two hundred million!"

    Unbeknownst to those around him, Dwalric had no genuine intention of acquiring the dragon. His sole purpose in driving up the price was to force Arthur''s hand, to make him pay dearly for his prize.

    In truth, Dwalric''s presence at the auction was to forge connections with the influential figures who would be attending the exclusive after-party.

    Arthur, sensing the shift in the game, made a surprising decision. "A Night Dragon... Its beauty is undeniable, but in the spirit of generosity, I believe I shall concede this round to Mr. Dwalric."

    Dwalric''s eyes widened in shock, his triumphant grin faltering. "You... You''re withdrawing from the bidding?"

    Arthur nodded, his expression serene. "Indeed, I am."

    Delaney, seizing the moment, brought the hammer down with a resounding thud. "Going twice... Going thrice... Sold to Mr. Dwalric!"

    As the pocket vault containing the Night Dragon was presented to Dwalric, a flicker of regret passed through his eyes, the realization of his unintended acquisition settling heavily upon him.

    The auction pressed onward, the focus shifting to the final dragon—the mesmerizing white-gold specimen.

    Without a moment''s hesitation, Arthur''s voice rang out, "One hundred million."

    The staggering 99 million dollar jump left the room in stunned silence, the audacity of the bid rendering even the most seasoned attendees speechless.

    Delaney herself struggled to maintain her composure, her eyes widening at the unprecedented leap. Regaining her professionalism, she resumed the familiar cadence. "Going once, going twice, and going thrice... Sold to Mr. Pendragon!"

    In the end, Arthur emerged as the undisputed victor, claiming two of the three dragons for his own.