Chapter 81 - Auction (2)

“Actually, there isn't just one map of Bastian.”

The auctioneer's shocking declaration.

Immediately, complaints from the people erupted.

“What! Did you gather all these busy people here just to play a prank?”

“So, are you saying the Abyss scattered multiple copies of the same map?”

“Explain yourself properly!”

Before the bidding could even begin, the atmosphere had already turned hostile.

As if he had expected such a reaction, the auctioneer calmly brought up a prepared presentation screen and continued his story.

“I understand why you are all so agitated. However, we, the organizers, would like to state that we are delivering all information related to this item without addition or omission. To summarize, no one yet knows what this [Bastian] is, but it is certain that all four maps that have appeared in the world are originals.”

As the auctioneer spoke, four identical maps appeared on the screen.

A red circle was drawn around the fourth map, with the words ‘Auction Item’ displayed.

“Does that mean the other three are already in someone else's possession?”

“That is correct.”

“Who on earth are they?”

“Before I answer that, I will first explain why four of these maps have appeared in the world.”

To summarize the auctioneer's words, there was a message from the Abyss that went as follows.

What the map indicates is a noble item that should not be acquired by just anyone.

Thus, to verify the qualifications of the challengers, the Abyss has released a total of four maps into the world, and only the final victor in the competition will ultimately receive the reward.

“Therefore, even if you win the map in today's auction, please keep in mind that actually obtaining the item depends on your own capabilities.”

The once-raucous atmosphere of the auction house had quieted down.

Everyone must have been deep in thought.

Just how incredible must the hidden item be for the Abyss to make such a fuss.

At that moment, someone raised a question.

“How are we supposed to believe the story you just told?”

It was certainly a valid point to address.

There was no way for the auction participants to confirm the Abyss's message.

“To vouch for the explanation I have just provided, we have invited a special guest to this event.”

“Who on earth is that?”

“It is Commander Heo Jeong-ah of the Taeseong Sword Family. She is also the owner of another map of Bastian.”

In that instant, a sigh swept through the auction house.

It also meant that the identity of one of the competitors they would have to face, should they win the item, was now revealed.

‘It's understandable they'd feel burdened.’

I did not know the extent of her swordsmanship.

However, the mana I could see from her was clearly on an extraordinary level.

If I were to find someone similar around me, it would be my second older brother, Seo Ji-won.

A moment later, Heo Jeong-ah rose from her seat, and everyone's attention focused on her.

And the verification began immediately.

The format was simple, consisting only of questions and answers.

“Commander Heo Jeong-ah. When you acquired the map, did you ever receive a message similar to what we, the organizers, have described?”

“I did.”

“I will ask once more. Your answer holds the power of a guarantee. Is your answer still the same?”

“Yes.”

With this, the credibility of the auction item was as good as proven.

Heo Jeong-ah, representing the Taeseong Sword Family, would not have spouted nonsense at such a risk.

“Then who on earth are the other two who have the maps?”

Since they had to compete, this was also an important matter.

“Unfortunately, the other two have not been identified.”

That must have meant those two were confident in the competition.

Sighs erupted from all over.

One revealed competitor was the eldest daughter of the Taeseong Sword Family, and the two who remained veiled would surely be no pushovers.

“Then let us now proceed with the auction. The starting price is 500 million.”

The Shallok's Ring I bought for Ho-joong was 500 million. A starting price is just a starting price.

If it came down to it, I was willing to pour out all the capital I had.

The more I heard about this map, the more certain I became.

That the Bastian here was likely my beloved sword from my days as Johan Raven.

“2.2 billion!”

“2.6 billion!”

“3 billion!”

The bid price instantly surpassed 3 billion.

For now, everyone had the heart of a warrior.

Even though it was revealed that one of the competitors was Heo Jeong-ah, they were bidding blindly.

I had not yet participated in the bidding and was just silently watching the proceedings.

“Commander, did you perhaps overextend yourself by spending money on me?”

Choi Ho-joong asked in an uncharacteristically timid voice.

“And what if I did?”

“Are you serious? Then you should return the Shallok's Ring right now….”

“You know that’s impossible, don’t you?”

“No, sir. How do you see me.”

While Choi Ho-joong chattered away, the bid price continued to rise.

“5 billion!”

“5.1 billion!”

“5.2 billion!”

“Commander. The price is rising frighteningly! It's already in the 5 billions!”

“Of course. It’s today’s main event.”

But it was true that the increment of the bids had decreased.

It was slowly reaching a burdensome price.

If the map guaranteed a definite reward, it might be a different story, but the risk was beginning to dominate everyone's minds.

“5.25 billion!”

“5.3 billion!”

It seemed the warriors' hearts were shrinking in real time.

The time for me to step in was slowly approaching.

“The current bid is 5.3 billion! Are there any more bids?”

“7 billion!”

I raised the bid by a large margin all at once.

“Co-Commander!”

Choi Ho-joong, startled by my sudden entry.

I did not think 7 billion was an overpayment.

Even if I had not stepped in, the bid price would have crept up little by little.

It was only a matter of speed; the bid price for this map was destined to reach this amount.

But the effect of bidding this much in one go was certainly significant.

The gazes of everyone in the auction house were focused on me.

I just stared at the map in front with an indifferent expression.

I showed a silent will to crush anyone who followed with a higher bid with money.

“The highest bid is 7 billion!”

If there had been only one map, even 10 billion might not have been enough.

The fact that there were four maps added to the aura of the veiled reward, but the uncertainty of the reward was an overriding negative factor.

“Are there any more bids?”

Only silence lingered.

I still had more in my pocket, but from the atmosphere, it seemed to be over.

“Then I will count to three.”

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

Thwack!

The auctioneer's gavel struck the table, confirming that I had become the owner of the map.

“Commander! But do you have the money?”

“Why? Are you nervous?”

“Our Chamryongdan is still a fledgling sword unit on a tight budget, isn't it.”

In truth, 7 billion was not a small amount of money even for a commander of the Haewon Sword Family.

However, if this map truly told the whereabouts of the Holy Sword Bastian, it was practically chump change.

And I had won it for a much cheaper price than I had originally anticipated.

“Stop worrying about useless things and let's go collect the item.”

“Yes, Commander!”

Ho-joong, too, had a smile full of glee at the thought of receiving the auction item.

***

I had achieved all my initial objectives.

The Shallok's Ring and the map of Bastian.

By the time the auction ended, both items I wanted were in our possession.

However, if there was one thing that bothered me, it was the words Heo Jeong-ah had spat at me, ‘You bad bastard,’ which echoed in my head.

“Ho-joong, I'm not the type to care about what other people think, am I?”

“Absolutely not, sir. It seems like you wouldn't bat an eye even if the whole world cursed you.”

“Am I that bad?”

“Commander, your mentality is basically ‘in all of heaven and earth, I alone am supreme,’ isn't it?”

Did the Shallok's Ring also have a function to make one more perceptive?

Perhaps it was just my imagination, but as soon as he put on the ring, Ho-joong seemed somewhat sharper.

“By the way, do you know anything about Heo Jeong-ah of the Taeseong Sword Family? Since she has the same map, it seems we'll have to prepare to compete with her side.”

“Are you still bothered by what she called you earlier? Seeing you ramble on like this, so unlike yourself, sir.”

This guy had really become sharp.

“Enough, just tell me if you know anything.”

“Among female swordmasters our age, she's probably the strongest. If the 10 great sword families were to produce their first female family head, she would be the most likely candidate. I think that says it all, doesn't it?”

It was a sufficiently convincing story.

Heo Jeong-ah seemed stronger than any other female swordmaster I had met on Earth.

“And the Taeseong Sword Family and our Haewon Sword Family don't get along, right?”

“Yes. I heard the family heads from two generations ago were at each other's throats. The current family head is so gentle that it's not that bad now, but since they were once rivals, it's true that things are still awkward.”

“So, we cannot lose this competition.”

Heo Jeong-ah of the Taeseong Sword Family aside, the identities of the remaining two were also a key issue.

I was confident I would not lose no matter who the opponent was, but I could not help but be curious.

***

Lee Chi-hoon, a promising talent of the Taeseong Sword Family.

Following Heo Jeong-ah's order, he followed Seo Ji-han.

‘He seems to be having a great time.’

The voice of the guy who had come along as Seo Ji-han's confidant was extremely grating.

He did not like his loud laughter or his way of speaking.

Watching their backs, Lee Chi-hoon felt a sense of rivalry bubbling up for no reason.

Although he had never had any contact with the Haewon Sword Family, there was no way he could have good feelings for them.

He had heard tirelessly from his seniors about the hostile relationship between the Taeseong Sword Family and the Haewon Sword Family.

Furthermore, the Taeseong Sword Family had one very important ironclad rule.

That they must never lose to the Haewon Sword Family.

Hearing such stories constantly, it was only natural for a sense of animosity towards the Haewon Sword Family to develop.

By the time he closed the distance with Seo Ji-han, the confidant guy turned around first.

And then he asked.

“Who are you?”

He thought he had completely concealed his presence, but he was found out immediately.

In truth, it did not matter.

He had not come to fight.

“I am Lee Chi-hoon of the Taeseong Sword Family.”

“The Taeseong Sword Family? What business do you have tailing us?”

The confidant's voice was grating, and the words he used were also very disagreeable.

“Tailing? You have the nerve to spew such rude words.”

“Then why were you following us.”

“I came to deliver a message from Commander Heo Jeong-ah.”

At those words, even Seo Ji-han finally turned around.

Now was the time to come on stronger.

There was no reason to be intimidated by Seo Ji-han's status.

After all, the two families did not acknowledge each other.

“Heo Jeong-ah has something to say to me?”

“That's right!”

For starters, he spoke informally, naturally.

“Go on. What is it?”

The message Heo Jeong-ah wanted to convey was a warning to Seo Ji-han.

Thus, Lee Chi-hoon put a murderous glint in his eyes.

He intended to properly convey her intentions, to intimidate and scare him with his own gaze.

“I'd recommend you keep the map of Bastian safely tucked away in your closet. If you don't want to get hurt.”

Then, he slightly drew the sword from its scabbard before sheathing it again.

This too was a warning.

It was a movement he was satisfied with himself.

“Is that what Heo Jeong-ah said?”

“That's right.”

But strangely, Seo Ji-han was too calm.

He was not scared at all.

He had heard he was a frail weakling, but something did not quite match the existing information.

In any case, the stories the media spouted about Seo Ji-han were just an image created by the Haewon Sword Family. That was what Lee Chi-hoon thought.

“Is that all?”

“If an unavoidable situation arises, I might have to cut your throat.”

“Did Heo Jeong-ah also tell you to relay those words?”

“That's right.”

“I heard you. If you have nothing more to say, you can go.”

That nonchalant tone.

It felt like things were not going as intended.

Just leaving like this would be a blow to his pride.

In that moment, Lee Chi-hoon thought of a good idea.

A way to make Seo Ji-han's blood run cold without crossing the line.

It was a very plausible plan.