CHAPTER 33: MARKETPLACE AUCTION HOUSE

It came to my memory immediately that the only high authority of Seafrost who was against my joining the Academy was Milton.

’So, he was behind this.’

That must have also been his instruction, the guard wanted to carry out, whatever it was.

I exhaled, feeling relieved that I had not been detected as a disguise... this is no wonder the guards didn’t try to execute me at the point.

Looking back at the vendor who got engaged with other customers, I waited till he was free a bit. Then I approached him.

"The form is finished!" the old man said easily, bringing out his hands as if it wasn’t his fault.

"Finished?" I asked, very confused.

"You heard me well," he said.

Muna immediately wanted to react, but I held her back.

"We must not create scenes everywhere, you know," I told her.

Then, from my shadow, Linda suggested an idea to me.

’Young Master, why don’t we try the Auction House? Who knows, we might be able to get the form there,’ Linda suggested.

At the same time, I heard some of the unlucky mages who weren’t able to buy the form as well murmur.

"That brings us to use the Auction House."

"Notwithstanding, I will be attending. I need this form."

"That’s extra stress to bargain, tch."

"This old man hoards this form. To think that he takes some to an Auction House to earn more money."

The last murmur I had was exactly what I had almost thought.

It was common knowledge that only the old man sells the Academy form in the whole of Montana; he was authorized to.

So, to think that the form would be sold in an Auction was also his doing.

I turned to ask him why he needed to join this kind of corrupt practice, but he was no longer in service.

"Muna, I think I would be joining the Auction as well. How much do we have left in the bag?" I asked.

"100 silver."

"100 silver?" I froze, knowing that was the lowest price the form could be sold for. "You should have come with enough money, really."

Muna scoffed. "As if I knew something like this would happen."

"Exactly why you need to learn to be prepared for any misfortune or fortune at all times," I retorted and paused, thinking of what I could do.

"Follow me," I said, after a few minutes of thinking.

...

After wandering around for a few minutes and speaking to many people about the auction houses in Montana, only one name came up repeatedly.

Not repeatedly. It was mentioned as the only auction house that existed in Montana.

"This Marketplace Auction House is very popular," I said.

Muna nodded, and Linda agreed with me from my shadow.

Then, together, we were able to get the building of the Auction house and saw how bustling it was. A lot of people were struggling their way in.

"We are lucky to have come to this town right on the day it opens, right?" I asked, standing akimbo and looking at the troops of people getting into the building.

The Marketplace Auction House only opens once every two years because they use this period to stock up high-ranked treasures, and coincidentally, we came on the exact day it would open.

Not only that, we arrived right a few hours before it opened.

"That’s what it seems," Muna acknowledged, and after a while, she asked. "But, how does Big Brother plan to participate in an Auction with just 100 silvers?"

Muna just asked an important question. Participating in an Auction with just 100 silver was unheard of. Plus, that’s the exact cost price of the item I wanted to acquire.

Refusing to get shaken off by the thought, I still gazed into the distance of the entrance of the Auction House, and saw a lady who was approaching the house.

Then I turned to Muna and whispered, "Plan B."

She looked at me confusedly, as if seeking an explanation, but I diverted my attention to the young lady and rushed forward.

"Hello, do you work here?" I asked the lady who was carrying a tray, on which a wrapped item was.

"I do," she replied with a gentle voice.

At the same time, she bowed with the tray she held in her hands.

"Thank you for saving this lowly lady," she continued, bowing.

"Okay, okay," I said and pulled out my hands to her shoulder to stop her from bowing further. "I came here today because I would like to sell something."

"..."

Muna gave me a piercing look. "What might that be?"

’Did Young Master predict something like this would happen and come prepared?’ Linda asked.

However, the young lady’s face flushed with disappointment as she raised them down.

"Umm... but every auction item has been put in place," she said.

I stood there dumbfounded for a while, but another flicker of hope tinged in.

"Then what about the item you’re carrying in that tray?" I doubted what she said was the truth.

"This is an important item that our Madam left in her chambers. She only ordered me to get it for her," the young lady explained.

"I see. So, I was late," I muttered, but never thought of giving up. "Seeing how you were sent by your Madam to get this important item among other workers, you must be a very..."

As if she predicted what I wanted to say, the young lady interrupted.

"I’m her right-hand woman," she said in a hurry. "Please, this sister is late and would like to deliver on time."

I shook my hand understandably, but before she left, I took out one of the Mana Plants in my bag and looked menacingly at it.

"Guess I would have to use this on trade by barter then," I said, trying as much as possible not to show my disappointment in reality.

’Mana Plants?’ The young lady noticed the plants in my hands and shook her head inwardly.

It was rare to find magic items that could help one cultivate their power and gain new skills. Ordinarily, you can refine your core with a demon core but it wasn’t as effective as a mana Plant.

Not only will the mana plant give you new skills that are unmatchable, but it is also a combat skill magic item. A magic item that granted the most important skill a mage needed.

"I am Esme," the young lady prostrated again. "Just wait a little, I will inform the Madam, and she might think twice about accepting your item."

Esme wasn’t ignorant. She knew that selling something of that value would not only give the Marketplace Auction House a huge profit but it would also boost their popularity.

"Hmm... have you made up your mind to sell the Mana plants?" Muna asked. "You went through hell to get that."

I turned and patted Muna on her shoulders.

"If there’s no pain, there would be no gain. However, what we faced in that Red Spatial Tear is nothing compared to what we will face after we become Purifiers."

She nodded in agreement.

Just then, Esme came out from a small building, built to adjoin the hall of the Auction house in the left direction.

"Young Master, you can come in."

"..."

I went in with Muna flanking my side. And just immediately we stepped in, we heard the voice of a woman, which seemed commanding.

"What’s going on here?!" The voice resounded.

"Lady Minxx!" the girls who stood in line, with their hands folded in front, echoed in shock. "We are sorry."

They had been noisy with their chatting and laughing carelessly at the same time.

"I will deal with you later," the old woman who had the commanding voice earlier said and turned to Esme.

"Is this the Young Master you mentioned?" Lady Minxx asked.

"Yes, ma’am," Esme replied.

"Very well. Follow me," Lady Minxx said, turning to lead the way when Muna stopped her.

"Are you the owner of this place?" Muna suddenly asked.

That was insensible, though, I thought, but anyway.

"That’s right," Lady Minxx responded, putting up a respectful attitude towards us.

Muna didn’t respond and instead brought her hands to my face.

I understood what she meant by the action, and right before the eyes of everyone present, I brought out the mana plant I was willing to lose.