CHAPTER 931: THE SECRET AUCTION (PART-4)

The male host raised his hand, his voice ringing through the grand hall with perfect poise.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we shall now begin the first round — the Weapons and Artifacts category!"

Behind the auctioneers, two attendants removed the crimson silk sheet from the first display table, revealing a sleek silver blade that glimmered faintly with rune inscriptions.

"Each item is listed at one million credits, and you have 60 seconds to write your bids," the man continued, "and as stated before, the highest blind bid wins the item."

The guests straightened in their seats, picking up their cards.

Each weapon was revealed one after another — some sleek modern rifles enhanced with soul energy amplifiers, others ancient swords humming faintly with spiritual resonance.

When the attendants unveiled the sixth item, a soft pink glow emanated from the velvet box — a delicate silver chain with a small moonstone pendant.

The female hostess smiled knowingly as she introduced the item "The Siren’s Veil, a necklace designed specifically for female wielders. When worn, it emanates a charm effect against men. Those with weak mental fortitude will be unable to raise their hands or weapons against the wearer. Be warned, however — it can also backfire on your personal relationships and cause privacy intrusion, as sometimes, the effects linger for a while."

A murmur swept through the guests, half intrigue, half discomfort, by the item. Several male hunters visibly frowned, while some of the women guests looked at the item with keen interest, especially Selene.

Cards began to rise silently as attendants collected bids.

Moments later, the man announced the result.

"The highest blind bid is 16.3 million credits... Winner: Table number 13. Congratulations."

Kate’s lips curled faintly as the attendants brought her the necklace. She examined it once, then clasped it around her neck, the pink light fading gently against her collarbone.

Orion glanced sideways. From beneath the mask, he said. "Congratulations."

"Thanks..." As she smiled, Orion casually commented. "Just don’t use it on me."

To that, Kate couldn’t help but chuckle, staring into his eyes. "Who knows... I might just use it against you, tonight."

As Orion flinched, Kate softly laughed in amusement and looked away.

Next came a barrage of modern and hybrid tools: Staffs, soul energy rifles, energy-infused daggers, even a spear embedded with draconic scales. Bids rose and fell like a tide, between five to twenty million credits, depending on their rarity.

"Item 9, a soul energy Blaster, capable of storing up to Tier-3 soul energy energy (100 million particles). Winning bid — 13 million credits. Winner: Table number 2."

Then, moments later—

"Item 12, a pair of Celestial Gloves, allowing the wielder to store and release their soul energy instantly when reserves are depleted. Winning bid — 19.5 million credits. Winner: Table number 2."

A soft hum of respect passed through the hall. Several attendees whispered among themselves.

The final artifact — a crystalline short sword — went to one of the smaller guilds for 7.8 million credits, closing the first category.

The hostess smiled as the final item was being sold.

"This concludes the Weapons and Artifacts section. Congratulations to the winners. We will now proceed to the second category after a ten-minute recess. Please refresh yourselves while we prepare the next round."

As the murmurs grew and the attendants circulated with drinks, Orion leaned back slightly, watching Kate and Selene from behind his mask.

"She really has a lot of money to spend millions..." Orion couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about the life he lived before, where money was nothing to him.

Ten minutes later;

After a brief intermission, the male host once again stepped forward, the room dimming under the soft golden chandeliers.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced with a gleaming smile, "the next category — Alchemy — is now open!"

Immediately, the air shifted. The excitement that filled the hall earlier with weapons and artifacts now turned sharper and more calculating as rare alchemy products are too precious compared to artifacts and weapons. Unlike weapons and artifacts, which are only like one-time buying, the potions, elixirs, and pills were consumable in nature and always on demand.

Attendants wheeled in a long glass case, within which twelve items shimmered in various colors — scarlet, azure, emerald, and amber — each vial sealed with soul energy sigils that pulsed faintly.

"Each potion and pill in this batch has been verified by the World Pharmacist Association," the host continued. "Each batch will have 20 of them. And the listed price for each of that batch: two million credits."

Cards filled with seven-figure numbers almost instantly.

Kate, however, sat back, expression indifferent. She didn’t even touch her card.

Selene, on the other hand, excitedly filled the cards one after another. In fact, she bid them all.

The Results of her bidding:

Item 1: Elixir of Herculean Strength — increases physical power and stamina by 150% for one hour. Selene’s Winning bid: 7.8 million

Item 3: Vial of Swiftwind — doubles reflex and agility temporarily, often used by assassins. Selene’s Winning bid: 6.5 million

Item 6: Benedicta Essence — heals major wounds instantly and restores lost limbs if used within thirty seconds of damage. Selene’s Winning bid: 10.3 million.

Item 9: Potion of Calm Mind — stabilizes soul energy flow during mental backlash, commonly used by high-tier spellcasters. Selene’s Winning bid: 4.7 million.

As the twelfth and final potion was sold for 5.6 million, the host smiled, adjusting his tie.

"That concludes the Alchemy Category. Now, after a short 10-minute recess, we will be back with the next category: the rare earth materials."

Polite applause filled the room.

Ten more minutes later;

The attendants removed a velvet curtain, revealing stacked boxes of crystalline ores, metallic blocks, and radiant gemstones. The light refracted off the displays, casting prismatic colors across the ceiling.

"Mythril ores, Black Titanium blocks, high-grade soul energy Crystals, Starfire Dust, and much more. Minimum bid begins at five million credits."

The crowd became visibly restless — these were the kind of materials every guild and artificer craved.

Kate merely crossed her legs, uninterested. Selene leaned back, clearly satisfied with her earlier acquisitions.

But Orion’s attention sharpened like a blade.

He watched the numbers shoot up:

10 million... 14 million... 19 million... 27 million credits!

The bidders were spending like rain, fighting for every batch of ore. Orion’s eyes widened slightly behind the mask.

They’re paying that much for mere ores?

His fingers unconsciously clenched into a fist as realization dawned.

Orion’s lips twitched under the mask, a silent grin forming. "Well, if just ores are selling at such a price, the end product should be worth even more, right?"

By the time the first round of the blind auction finally wrapped up, the hall’s atmosphere had eased. And the clock read 7:03 p.m., just 3 minutes more than expected.

Orion leaned back on his chair, exhaling softly through the mask. "Now, according to the file, only 10 items are left. Even if we consider 10 minutes per item, the bidding war will only take around 100 minutes, adding to 20 minutes of possible recess, it will end by nine as expected... From 10 to 11, dinner, and then go for the 23:45 show, which will end by 2. We will then have until morning to spend time with one another. I can sleep on the flight..." he thought, glancing briefly toward the other end of the hall — toward table number 2, where Selene sat with Luna and Elise. A woman who had a crush once, a woman who was his girlfriend, and a woman whom he had slept with.

But just as he relaxed a little, the hostess clapped her hands, her voice ringing through the mic.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we will now take a ninety-minute dinner break! The second round will commence at exactly 8:30 p.m. Please enjoy the meal prepared by Griffin Manor’s master chefs."

The announcement drew a few pleased murmurs from the guests — and a groan from Orion’s heart. No one expected it, as they weren’t informed of this at all.

But before anyone could even complain, a line of servants in white gloves approached each table with silver trays, unveiling delicacies like golden roast Thunder Goose, exotic seafood, gemstone fruit salads, and aged spirit wine.

The aroma hit everyone like a storm, especially for Orion, who had never seen, let alone eaten, anything that looked so exquisite in this world. His stomach growled quietly in protest.

But then reality hit — the wolf mask over his face that covered his mouth.

He sighed internally. "Great. I can’t even eat with this thing on."

Kate, sitting beside him, noticed his quiet frustration and chuckled softly, swirling her wine glass. "You could always take off the mask, you know. No one will mind."