Well, all the other parents would have liked to use such a tactic had they thought about it before Duke Vantari did.

But in all this, Duke Leander thought that if there was anyone who should be able to legitimately claim such a thing, it would be him! His eyes trembled at the injustice, but this time, instead of being able to wail once again, Luca, who sat next to his father, spoke with the solemn tone of someone who had just uncovered the secrets of the world.

"I see, so that's how it is."

Then, out of nowhere, he said, "One hundred and five billion."

The hall froze.

If the people below had been shocked at hearing a voice that clearly didn't belong to one of the old geezers, the ones inside the booths of House Nox and House Kyros were even more bewildered.

Didn't Luca just say not to buy it? That it would be a waste of money?

Then just what in Solaris was happening?

"Luca? Is everything alright, son? A-are you really going to buy that?" Duchess Amelia asked, her voice tinged with sudden worry.

Even Duke Leander, who had been mid-breakdown, stopped to stare at his son, his sorrow momentarily forgotten.

Meanwhile, Duke Vantari leaned over his booth's railing to peer down, only to see Luca rise slightly, channeling his spiritual energy so that his voice carried with gentle clarity across the hall.

"Apologies, Duke Vantari. I was enlightened by your words." Luca bowed politely, his golden eyes sincere. "If there would be a person who needed to atone, I believe it should be me for worrying my parents for a very long time. And while attempting to buy this wouldn't be enough to change things, I still hope to express my sincerity."

He smiled softly, an apologetic smile that somehow managed to pierce straight into the hearts of everyone watching.

"Although," Luca added shyly, "since I'm buying this with my own money, I'm not sure if it's possible to win, but I will try my best."

He then respectfully bowed to Duke Vantari, an act of sportsmanship that stunned the entire hall.

Gasps erupted instantly.

Right before Duke Vantari could blurt out a retort, the realization struck him like lightning. Unlike him, this child actually had a reputation that made such words believable.

And believe they did.

The people below exchanged wide-eyed looks. Luca, that boy who once carried such a scandalous reputation, did not seem like that person anymore. How could anyone associate this calm voice, this gentle face, this sincere demeanor with the rumored philanderer of the past?

Worse, he had once been dismissed as nothing more than a flower vase, yet who in the Empire didn't know of the child's achievements now?

And if House Kyros had gone so far as to hide him away in the past… then perhaps it was true. Perhaps the Duke and Duchess had only been protecting a child whose brilliance could have drawn too many enemies.

And look at him now—standing proudly in front of them all, even wanting to buy such a weapon for his parents, with his own money?!

How many children would do such a thing?

More importantly, how many students even had their own money to begin with, let alone be willing to spend it like this?

The word formed in the minds of nobles and wealthy commoners alike.

What filial piety!

On the other hand, Luca visibly paled after making that bid. His lips thinned, his golden eyes wavered, and for a moment, it looked like he might collapse right then and there. Xavier rushed behind him immediately, one hand hovering just short of his back, ready to catch him if he so much as tilted.

While he was sincere with bidding and buying, it didn't automatically equate to having an easy time dealing with the fact that he was about to buy his own product. But Duke Vantari must really be a wise man because Luca thought he was right about his priorities.

And Luca thought about how his parents didn't deserve to suffer like this when they had all suffered for a long time. Even now, his parents were still dealing with the aftereffects of his prolonged absence.

Duke Leander panicked outright. His face drained of blood as he stared at his son in horror. Their precious boy was not only bidding absurd amounts of money but looking as if the effort itself might make him sick.

On the other end of the still-open line, even the blonde froze in alarm. Minister Kordell's face went from disbelief to bafflement as he tried to process what was happening. So were they all supposed to bid for it now? Because that cadet—that very cadet—was bidding for it!

At first, he thought maybe it was some kind of strategy. A strategy for what, even he could not say. But after seeing everyone's faces, he was certain this was something even they didn't expect.

Heck, even the flashbang sitting between him and Eve looked every bit surprised that something like that would happen!

Sure enough, the blonde's voice cut through, loud and worried. "Oh no! Brother! Are you all right?"

"Ah, yes, brother. I just thought that Duke Vantari was right," Luca said with a smile that was far too calm for someone who looked like he was about to keel over. And then, as if to drive everyone else into madness, he raised the bid again.

"One hundred and fifteen billion."

The auction hall lost its collective breath.

"Why are you doing that, brother?!" Ollie cried, speaking for everyone in the room—especially Duke Leander, who could not even form the words himself. The poor man's jaw worked soundlessly because all he could see was his son, pale as paper, smiling through the nausea.

"Ah, because I realized my priorities might not be right," Luca explained softly. "I just figured that while the other families were bidding to make it up to their children, my own father is out here hurting just because I wanted to save money."

"!!!"

It didn't sound like much, just a simple statement. Yet the entire room reacted as though struck by lightning.

Minister Kordell was stunned as he looked at the people's expressions. Everyone looked utterly taken by those words. Obviously, any parent would feel something if their child said such a thing, but to this extent? The Duke of Kyros was trembling, looking like he was on the verge of a breakdown.

What in Solaris is going on? Minister Kordell thought in disbelief. He even turned toward his wife, only to find her looking touched. Her eyes were soft with the kind of sympathy that made no sense whatsoever because how did she even understand what was happening?!

"???"

While that one booth was caught in the middle of an accidental family drama, two patriarchs elsewhere were on the verge of death. They were down to their last breath as they continued to bid, voices hoarse and cracked.

They were already known as heartless in the figurative sense, but if they failed to get this last item, they would soon be remembered as heartless in the most literal way possible.

And so they bid.

Much to the growing ire of everyone else in the Empire.