CHAPTER 300: WHO IS THIS GUY?

"With great pleasure," Davina said, her voice practically a purr, "we now unveil the final treasure of tonight’s auction. A relic that defies classification. An item not just of destruction, but of destiny!"

She pulled back the cover, and with a low hum, a heavy blackwood chest materialized beside her, bound in layered runes and metal latches that pulsed faintly with dark energy. And naturally, it had the trademark legendary glow around it, which did not leave any doubts as to what grade the treasure chest could be.

"A legendary treasure chest!" Davina finished her introduction with a flourish, her hand sweeping toward the chest like a magician about to perform her final trick. "Sealed in the ancient vaults until recently, this chest can only be opened by the one who wins the bid. What lies within? That remains a mystery even to us."

Everyone became silent with their eyes locked onto the treasure chest. The entire auditorium was pin-drop silent. The treasure chest was made of jet-black wood streaked with mana veins, six rotating sigil locks that looked more like seals than any real mechanism.

A legendary treasure chest was far rarer than even a named item. It was loot wrapped in RNG madness, a Pandora’s box that could contain anything from forgotten artifacts to broken-tier skills... or even something world-breaking.

It could even contain more than one legendary item!

If there was anything game-breaking and fate-altering, this was it!

In the VIP seat, Grigarion’s eyes widened in shock as the stone-faced man who was typically indifferent to the most seductive beauties started panting slightly. "An entire treasure chest... I need to get this!"

It was not just him. Many others had similar expressions on their faces.

Phoenix clenched the sides of her chair so tightly that her knuckles were white. Even Blood Wraith, who was usually a calm and casual person, looked seriously at the treasure chest with greed visible in his eyes. "We need to get it no matter what."

Daddy Brutal had already stood up halfway, one foot on his chair, the other on the table. Even his earlier bravado had been replaced with a rare solemnity. "Boys," he whispered into his guild chat, "prepare the reserves. I don’t care if we have to mortgage the guild hall. We’re getting that chest."

Meanwhile, all sorts of rumors were flying around among the crowd. Some speculated that it was a top-tier weapon, some speculated that it was a mythic-class skill scroll, and some speculated that it was a dragon egg that could be bound as a pet. Slowly, the speculations were becoming more and more exaggerated.

Damon casually leaned back in his chair, fingers laced behind his head. His gaze was fixated on the hidden group in the crowd, the group that had targeted him. The top-tier guild leaders were fine, but his real target was someone else.

Soon, Davina raised her voice once more. "We begin," she purred, "at one million gold coins."

"Two million!" came the first shout almost before she’d finished speaking.

All eyes turned toward the Titans of the New World. Thalor sat motionless, one leg crossed over the other, but his attendant had raised the bid paddle before anyone else could blink.

His expression was unreadable, as always, but Damon could tell that the strategist had already calculated the maximum bid every guild could afford tonight. And he had every intention of pushing them there.

"Three million!" Phoenix followed right after, her voice slicing through the rising noise like a blade. Her earlier frustration with Daddy Brutal was gone. Now she was laser-focused, eyes sharp and cold. Blood Wraith didn’t say anything, but a casual glance exchanged between the siblings said enough. This was war.

"Four point five!" Daddy Brutal bellowed, standing fully now. His guild chat was in chaos, but he didn’t care. "No way I’m missing out! That baby’s mine!"

"Six million," a calm, male voice responded from the second-tier booth. Damon’s gaze darkened as the cloaked figure from earlier lifted his hand lazily.

Gigarion finally joined in. "Eight million." His tone was deep and controlled, but even he couldn’t hide the edge of hunger. "Battle Crusaders are not leaving without that chest."

And then, for a second, there was silence.

Eight million. Already. No one even blinked.

The entire hall was like a battlefield with invisible weapons drawn. Everyone waited for the next shot. Damon smiled. This... this was his favorite part.

Behind the glamor, behind the names and prestige, it was always about power. How much are you willing to risk? How far will you go? He whispered, "Let’s see who will take the bait."

"Twenty million!" The voice that rang out this time was neither shrill nor booming. It was a soft, polite voice.

The room collectively tensed. Heads snapped toward the third-tier booths—yes, third-tier. A place where only mid-level guilds and hopeful upstarts usually sat. But now, the spotlight had shifted.

A single figure stood up, his avatar cloaked in an outfit so bland and system-default that it looked like a joke. No nameplate floated above his head. No guild badge. Just a simple, unassuming silhouette, as if a newbie who had just joined the game today morning had decided to speak.

Whispers spread like wildfire. "Who is this guy?" "I have never heard of him or seen him." "Wait, did he just outbid Gigarion and Thalor from the third-tier seats?!"

Davina, to her credit, only hesitated for a heartbeat. "Twenty million gold coins," she repeated slowly, her sultry voice filling the huge space. "We have a new highest bid."

Thalor’s lips twitched slightly. Phoenix narrowed her eyes. Daddy Brutal blinked in genuine confusion. And Gigarion... Gigarion didn’t say anything at all. He simply leaned back and stared at the mysterious bidder like he was studying a new boss mechanic.

Damon watched them all. The hunters had just realized they weren’t the apex predators in the room anymore. His gaze finally shifted to the one who had placed the bid and was currently under the spotlight. The next moment, Damon abruptly stood up.