CHAPTER 180: AUCTION (PART 5)

With the initial bid of seventy thousand mana stones, made by the lady in booth number one, the atmosphere inside the room changed immediately. That figure did not dampen spirits, but rather ignited them like a spark falling on a barrel of gunpowder.

The titans hidden behind their booths awoke one by one. What had been a quiet auction turned into a silent battlefield.

It wasn’t long before voices began to echo loudly:

"Eighty thousand stones..."

"Ninety thousand stones!"

"One hundred thousand stones..."

The figures rose relentlessly. Each new bid was more aggressive than the last, as if with each word they were testing each other’s will and sharpening the pride of the powerful.

The bids only increased as the minutes passed. It was clear that many coveted the Peach of Alma, that fruit impossible to obtain by ordinary means. Everyone wanted it. Everyone was willing to pay the price, no matter the cost.

Amidst that sea of voices, Kael had yet to utter a single word.

His eyes watched the movements, the pauses between bids. Every detail was a signal he calmly interpreted, like a hunter studying his prey before the final leap.

Kael waited for the exact moment. The perfect opportunity where a single bid could crush all others.

Silent, patient, cold.

Like a tiger lurking in the darkness before the deadly strike.

The auction continued just as heatedly, with bids rising to absurd heights. Each new figure seemed more unreal than the last, and the spectators, silent, simply listened.

Mouths closed, eyes opened in disbelief. Their faces reflected the same unspoken question:

Why do they have so much?

Wasn’t it said that everyone in this huge city was equal? Wasn’t that what was preached with such conviction? However, seeing those figures, that illusion collapsed.

It was then that they understood, not with their minds, but with the wound left by the truth, that equality has never existed.

It will never exist.

The world, from its very roots, is divided. There will always be a chasm separating the powerful from the weak, those who command from those who obey, those who buy from those who can barely look.

The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. The distance between the two is no accident: it is the very nature of existence.

That was the harsh reality.

And facing it, even if only at an auction, left them with a bitter taste, a weight on their chest that was difficult to ignore.

Because even those who considered that order unfair, even those who dreamed of changing it, knew deep down that if they had the power, they would do the same.

That’s how human beings are: they want justice when it suits them, preach equality when they are at a disadvantage, and forget about it the moment they rise to the top.

With this understanding, the auction continued. However, the festive atmosphere that had previously filled the room had completely disappeared. What remained was a heavy silence.

The bidding had already reached the incredible sum of two hundred and thirty thousand mana stones.

An absurd amount.

Each number that increased was a dagger to those present, a reminder of how unattainable that fruit was.

All for a Soul Peach: a unique object, practically nonexistent throughout the Northern Frontier.

Time passed slowly, suffocatingly. The lights in the hall shone on tense faces, while the air grew thicker with each bid.

Whispers were scarce; excitement, extinguished. The only thing that remained was silent desire.

The people in charge of the auction did not care in the least about the mood of those present. They were not interested in the dull looks or the oppressive atmosphere that hung over the place.

For them, their only goal was to sell the item to the highest bidder and secure a substantial commission.

[The gentleman in booth fourteen has bid on Soul’s Peach. An impressive three hundred thousand mana stones. Would any of you like to bid on this item?]

The auctioneer’s voice spread softly throughout the room, but what it left behind was a heavy silence.

In the private booths, the great titans were carefully evaluating their next move. Everyone knew that the last item, the most important one of the night, was still missing, and no one wanted to expose themselves prematurely.

The air grew thick.

Until a voice split it in two.

"Five hundred thousand mana stones."

Kael’s voice echoed throughout the auction hall. It was calm, emotionless, but it fell upon the atmosphere with the weight of a mountain. In a single instant, the calm disappeared.

The murmur returned with force, like a wave crashing against the walls.

"Did I hear that right?" someone muttered, incredulous at the absurd figure.

"You’re not crazy... I heard the same thing."

"Five hundred thousand! How can he have so much money? It’s too surreal!"

"Could it be possible that we’ll hear the figure of a million tonight?"

"It would be the first time in my life that I’ve heard such a high bid... I can only imagine..."

The voices came from all around, filled with amazement, envy, and bewilderment. Even those who had remained impassive at first couldn’t help but look up at booth number 6.

Kael’s mere bid had completely changed the atmosphere in the room.

At that moment, Kael towered over everyone present.

That wasn’t just an offer.

It was a declaration of dominance.

[The gentleman in booth number six has bid five hundred thousand mana stones! Does anyone else wish to raise the bid?]

The auctioneer’s voice rang out clearly, prompting murmurs and stifled exclamations. Half the room stirred. Five hundred thousand mana stones were a sum few would even dare to mention.

But the calm was short-lived.

A firm, deep, unwavering voice cut through the air.

"Five hundred and fifty thousand mana stones!"

As if his tone had lit an invisible fuse, the atmosphere became intense. Within seconds, other voices joined in, filled with desire and pride.

"Five hundred and seventy thousand mana stones!"

"Six hundred thousand mana stones!"

Each figure fell like a blow, making the hearts of those present tremble. The lights in the hall seemed to flicker, reflecting in the eyes of those watching from the shadows.

Even the spectators, who could not compete, remained on the edge of their seats, unable to look away.

The bids continued to rise, and the tension became almost tangible, like a steel wire stretched to its limit.

Then Kael’s voice rang out again.

"Eight hundred thousand mana stones."

He did not raise his voice. He did not need to. Each word he spoke weighed like a mountain; silence fell abruptly. No one dared speak for a moment; even the air seemed to hold its breath.

However, just when victory seemed assured...

"One million mana stones!"

The voice came from booth number one, the same woman who had remained silent before. Her tone was calm, but each syllable carried an invisible edge, as if by speaking she had challenged everyone present.

The only one who remained calm in the face of such a large sum of money was Kael. His expression did not change at all; his eyes watched the scene without emotion. While everyone present held their breath, he simply leaned forward and spoke in a clear voice.

"One million five hundred mana stones." His tone was calm, so natural that it seemed as if he were stating an insignificant figure.

For a moment, silence reigned in the room. Then, as if the air itself had broken, the murmurs began.

"One million five hundred...? Did I really just hear that amount of money?" someone said incredulously.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha... We are witnessing a truly historic event at this auction!" added another, with a mixture of amazement and euphoria.

And from the crowd, a trembling voice, almost on the verge of tears, rose:

"Oh, great Ancient Sun God! Thank you for keeping me alive... so that I could witness so much money in my lifetime. I have nothing left to regret."

Laughter, sighs, and murmurs filled the room like a bursting river.

Kael, however, remained unchanged. His face showed no reaction.

Amidst the general anticipation, he remained motionless, watching the auction unfold with patience. He was just a few steps away from obtaining the Soul Peach, a crucial piece for his plans and, even more so, for recovering a part of his soul.

The silence was heavy. The restrained breathing of those present mingled with the subtle sound of the transmission runes vibrating on the walls.

Then, the voice of the woman in the white mask rang out again, clear, firm, and melodious:

"One million seven hundred mana stones."

Amidst the tension, Kael smiled. It was not a broad or arrogant smile, but a slight curve of his lips.

"Two million mana stones," he said, his voice calm but with a tone that cut through the room like a silent knife.

For a few seconds, no one spoke.

[The gentleman in booth number 6 has bid... I have no words to describe how incredible this number is. Now the question is, does anyone else want to bid on this unique item from the entire Northern Frontier?]

Faced with silence, the woman in private booth number one said a figure that would go down in auction history and slightly damage Kael’s plans.

"Five million mana stones."