CHAPTER 176: AUCTION (PART 1)

Once inside the large auction house, Kael went straight to the reception desk to pay for his participation.

In this world, auctions were not open to the public. Each seat had a price. To participate, it was necessary to pay an entry fee; only then did one obtain the right to compete, to buy.

Those who did not pay were mere observers who could only gaze at the luxury from afar. For them, the auction was not a market, but a theater.

They saw rare materials, relics, and even living beings paraded before them: elves, dwarves, beastmen, and even humans of altered lineage. In this place, the difference between merchandise and person was as thin as the edge of a blade.

His current status... was no different from that of a slave. Perhaps even worse.

In ancient times, the situation was different. There had been a great diversity of races: Trolls, Demon Wolves, Titans, Giants, and many more. They were the true rulers of the vast region. Before, this entire territory formed a single continuous expanse, a world without borders.

But as the ages passed, the land fractured and the current map was born: the Northern Frontier, the Great Western Sea, the Southern Jungle, and the Central Continent.

Kael, in his past life, had devoted time to researching this change. He had reviewed ancient registers, questioned scholars, and cross-referenced theories. However, even with his sharp mind, he was unable to obtain a clear answer.

After paying the entrance fee, Kael was guided by the workers through a long hallway with multiple doors on either side.

One of the workers stopped in front of a dark wooden door and, with a slight bow, opened it.

"This is your room," he said respectfully, before leaving without adding another word.

Kael entered without haste. The room was spacious and lit by a soft light that did not hurt the eyes. In front of him, a large glass window offered a perfect view of the main stage, where the products would be presented one by one.

From that spot, he could observe everything without being seen.

There was a long, comfortable sofa, big enough for four people. On the table in front of it were a small bottle of wine and some snacks. Everything was carefully arranged, designed to offer comfort without distraction.

Kael sank into the sofa, observing the layout of the room. It was exactly as he had requested: a private room.

It wasn’t a matter of luxury, but of convenience. At auctions like this, exposure could attract unnecessary problems, especially when bidding on valuable or rare items.

Soon after, the entire auction room was completely full. The murmur of conversation mingled with the rustling of robes and the clinking of glasses. It was orderly chaos, an ocean of greed disguised as elegance.

Suddenly, the lights went out. A blanket of darkness covered the place, and in that instant, all sounds ceased as well. The entire crowd held its breath, as if the shadow itself had imposed silence.

Only the faint lights of the energy crystals, placed around the edges of the hall, vaguely outlined the figures of those in attendance.

Seeing that everything was about to begin, Kael poured himself some wine. The crimson liquid slowly fell into the glass, reflecting the dim light with cold flashes. He brought it to his lips, took a sip, and, showing no emotion, fixed his attention on the empty stage in front of him.

His eyes shone calmly.

The show was about to begin.

...

When the murmurs ceased completely and only a heavy silence remained, the stage where the products were displayed suddenly lit up.

The light revealed a carefully prepared scene. In the center of the stage stood a woman of unsettling beauty, dressed in a nun’s habit. Her face was hidden behind a white rabbit mask.

Beneath the fabric, her figure was sensual, sculpted with almost divine precision. Each curve hinted at by the light was enough to captivate the audience’s gaze, even though she showed no emotion: she observed them all with perfect neutrality.

[Testing, 1, 2, 3...] The woman’s angelic voice echoed throughout the great hall, pure and harmonious. [Everything seems to be sounding perfect.]

The woman paused briefly, looking at everyone, and continued.

[Before we begin the auction, we must express our gratitude to Bishop Henri. If it weren’t for his intervention, this event would not have been possible.]

The woman reached out and pointed to one of the private booths on the highest levels.

Immediately, the booth was illuminated with a soft, golden light, revealing the figure of an elderly man. His snow-white hair fell over his shoulders, and his eyes were deep and calm. He was dressed in black episcopal robes, adorned with gold thread forming sacred symbols.

Unlike others, his face was not covered; it was as if he was not afraid of everyone knowing who he was, or perhaps he knew that no one would dare to challenge him.

Bishop Henri calmly raised his hand, greeting the crowd. His gesture was slight, almost lazy, but in that simple movement there was a sense of sacred solemnity.

The light in the booth went out again. Then the lamps came back on, bathing the stage in a golden glow.

[And without further ado, let’s begin this wonderful auction. The first item of the evening.]

A wooden cart was pushed to the center of the stage. The creaking of its wheels echoed.

Under the cloth appeared a shining object: a scarlet gem shaped like a wolf’s heart. Its surface pulsed slightly, as if it were still beating, radiating a wild and beastly energy.

[This, ladies and gentlemen, is the precious heart of an adult werewolf, crystallized after a long and rigorous process. Whoever obtains it will be able to permanently assimilate part of a werewolf’s strength. In addition, it grants a notable improvement in physical endurance and has a small healing effect.]

The woman paused, letting desire and greed build in the air.

[Bidding starts at one mana stone.]

"One and a half mana stones," declared a hoarse voice from the crowd.

[The gentleman in seat 14 has offered one and a half mana stones for the werewolf heart. Does anyone else wish to take home this incomparable treasure?]

"Two mana stones," replied another, in a firm voice.

"Two mana stones and a piece."

"Three mana stones."

"Three and a half mana stones."

The voices rose one after another. The bidding for the adult werewolf’s heart slowly increased, each bid pushing the price a little higher.

In different parts of the room, buyers leaned forward, watching with burning eyes.

La atmósfera se había vuelto densa, sofocante.

Each word spoken seemed to clash with the next.

In the center, the woman in the nun’s habit and white rabbit mask stood. She spoke no more than necessary, but her every gesture was enough to ignite the crowd.

She only fanned the flames, provoking those present with an almost innocent tone, pushing them to continue.

After a few minutes, the buzz in the room began to subside. There were no more bidders for the adult werewolf’s heart.

[Ten and a half stones. Will anyone else bid on the adult werewolf’s heart?]

The auctioneer’s voice rang out clearly, amplified by a slight echo of energy. However, silence was her only response.

"Hmph, whoever bids the highest is an idiot. The price has already doubled... bidding more will only bring losses," someone in the audience muttered, their tone laden with disdain.

Glances were exchanged, but no one dared to raise their hand. The atmosphere, previously full of competition, became heavy, almost suffocating.

The woman on the podium sighed inwardly. Her eyes, trained by years of auction experience, recognized that interest had reached its limit.

[Last time...] he announced, his voice descending like an invisible hammer. [No bids... one... two... three...]

He paused briefly, just long enough to maintain the tension for another second.

[The heart of the adult werewolf, awarded to the gentleman in seat seventy-eight, for ten and a half mana stones.]

A slight murmur rippled through the room. Some looked at seat 78 with curiosity, others with envy. To most, the purchase seemed reckless.

The woman took a breath and continued in a clear, resonant voice:

[Now we move on to the next item, from the Great Western Sea region. It is the armor of a turtle dragon. It possesses extraordinary defensive power; it can even withstand the direct impact of a rank 5 Aura Master or the attack of a fifth circle Mage.]

[The starting bid will be 100 mana stones.]

As soon as his words faded away, the atmosphere in the room changed completely. The air seemed to grow thicker, charged with greed and pent-up desire.

Bids began to echo one after another, like thunder in a storm that was growing out of control.

"One hundred and ten!"

"One hundred and thirty!"

"Two hundred mana stones!"

Each voice rose louder than the last. The numbers increased rapidly, and the atmosphere filled with an invisible heat that came not from the fire, but from human ambition.

Meanwhile, the woman in the nun’s habit remained impassive at the center of the stage. With professional calm, she pointed her fingers at each bidder, acknowledging the bids without missing a single detail.

The glow of the lamps reflected off the surface of the armor, casting a dark and deep radiance.