When it came to relics from ancient kingdoms or mysterious artifacts, Childe always found them interesting. Even if he couldn't personally figure them out, the Fatui certainly had plenty of researchers who could.
Especially Dottore—no exaggeration to say, his scientific genius was unmatched in the world.
If even he couldn't solve the mystery, then probably no one could.
After Childe's initial bid, a few more cautious voices joined in, though without knowing the item's true value, their bids remained hesitant.
"Three million eight hundred thousand!" Childe called out again.
After half a minute passed with no further bids, the auctioneer began to call the countdown.
"Three million eight hundred thousand going once!"
"Three million eight hundred fifty thousand!" Jiang Bai finally broke his silence.
As it stood, Childe was clearly his strongest competitor. But considering how heavily Childe had spent earlier, Jiang Bai was confident he could still outbid him.
"Three million nine hundred thousand." Childe's subsequent bids were noticeably more cautious—his pockets were nearly empty.
"Four million!" Jiang Bai called confidently, flush with the millions he'd just earned.
"Four million fifty thousand."
"Four million one hundred thousand!"
"Four million one hundred twenty thousand!"
"Four million one hundred fifty thousand!"
The entire hall listened impatiently as these two bidders slowly drove up the price, causing frustration to bubble among the crowd.
Recognizing Jiang Bai's voice, Childe turned to Zhongli. "If I recall correctly, isn't that the voice of the undertaker from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"
He didn't know Jiang Bai's name, but Zhongli certainly would.
"Yes," Zhongli nodded lightly. "If it's not urgently needed, perhaps you could concede this one to him?"
"Well, since you suggest it, Mr. Zhongli, fine." Childe shrugged with exaggerated resignation.
He supposed it didn't matter much—the auctioneer had only hinted at its connection to an ancient kingdom. Whether it actually held any secrets was still uncertain.
"Four million five hundred thousand!" Jiang Bai raised his bid again.
Finally, Childe conceded, and Jiang Bai successfully obtained the artifact for 4.5 million Mora.
Watching the vambrace being carried backstage, Jiang Bai had the urge to rush down immediately and claim it.
But he restrained himself.
It's mine now anyway—it won't run away.
The next items didn't hold Jiang Bai's interest much, until the final, star attraction of the auction was brought on stage.
Everyone's gaze immediately fixed on the item beneath the red cloth.
"I'm sure many of you have been eagerly awaiting this final item, so I'll skip any suspense." With dramatic flair, the auctioneer whipped away the cloth, revealing a refined and majestic wine vessel beneath.
The vessel had a sturdy, square shape, carved from stone yet glowing with a golden brilliance. Despite millennia of history, its dignity and elegance had not diminished in the slightest.
Even from afar, one could sense an unusual power emanating from it, as though the Geo energy nearby surged in its presence.
"This wine vessel is known as the Chan Yan Zhuo Su Zhi Zun, forged by Rex Lapis himself. He took stone from thousand-foot cliffs, using jade tablets as its bones and sacred mountains as its heart, carving this majestic vessel personally. Its value needs no further explanation!"
Breaths quickened throughout the hall, anticipation thick in the air as bidders nervously awaited the starting price.
"The starting bid is one billion Mora!"
"One billion one hundred million Mora!"
"One billion five hundred million Mora!"
In an instant, bids shot up, staggering numbers called out without hesitation.
Jiang Bai had long lost any desire to comment on how ridiculously wealthy these people were; he'd already done it too many times tonight.
His own funds couldn't even scratch the starting bid.
"Director, this might actually be made by Rex Lapis himself. I can feel the Geo element around it reacting strongly," Jiang Bai whispered excitedly.
He was certain—if he had that artifact, his mastery of Geo would double immediately!
"What, you want it?" Hu Tao gave him a sideways glance.
"Who wouldn't want something this great?" Jiang Bai grinned shamelessly, tugging on Hu Tao's sleeve pleadingly. "Director, my dear Director, do we have a shot at buying this?"
Hu Tao didn't budge. "Nope. Can't afford it."
A billion Mora as a starting bid—did he expect Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to starve for a century? Where would she get that much Mora?
Forget Jiang Bai—even if Rex Lapis himself wanted it, she'd still have to decline!
"If you really want it, go buy it yourself. Then sell your soul to the Feiyun Commerce Guild and spend the next hundred or thousand years repaying your debt." Hu Tao lifted her chin, gesturing toward Xingqiu, subtly nudging Jiang Bai toward the Guild's young master.
"The Feiyun Commerce Guild doesn't do loans," Xingqiu chuckled lightly. "If you really need money, Northland Bank might be a better option—their interest rates aren't too high."
"Forget it," Jiang Bai slumped miserably into his wheelchair. "Even if I sold myself, no one would lend me a billion Mora."
He deeply felt the harshness of poverty in that moment.
The profits from auctioning his Adeptal texts didn't even come close to the fraction of the cost of this vessel.
Yet he refused to entirely let go. "Do treasures like this show up often?"
Xingqiu shook his head. "One or two a year at most, and always for astronomical prices. Even my family has never owned one."
Zhongli gazed at the wine vessel below with a nostalgic expression. Indeed, it had been ages since he last saw this particular artifact.
Childe, too, was interested in the vessel, especially if it contained remnants of Rex Lapis's power. But having drained his finances already, he could only watch helplessly as the bids rose higher.
"Two billion Mora." Zhongli blew gently across his tea cup, his quiet voice briefly freezing the entire hall.
Upon hearing Zhongli's bid, Hu Tao leaped from her seat, gripping her [Staff of Homa], and stormed out of their booth.
Murderous fury blazed in her eyes. She vowed she wouldn't be Hu Tao if she didn't make Zhongli shut up today!
Jiang Bai and Xingqiu exchanged alarmed glances, quickly chasing after her to prevent bloodshed.
Jiang Bai sped forward in his wheelchair, arriving just in time as Hu Tao violently kicked open Zhongli's private booth door.
Holding her staff in one hand, she stormed in, seized Zhongli by the collar, and snarled, "Oh, Consultant Zhongli—you're quite wealthy, aren't you?!"
"?"
Zhongli, caught off guard, stared blankly. He remained frozen mid-sip, his eyes unfocused from shock.
Hu Tao's murderous aura intensified, her staff gleaming ominously.
Jiang Bai and Xingqiu quietly slipped into the booth behind her, politely closing the door.
"Director Hu, perhaps there's some misunderstanding…?" Childe nervously interjected, breaking into a sweat.
When he stepped forward to mediate, Hu Tao shot him a fierce glare. "Mind your own business!"
Childe backed off immediately, wisely holding his tongue.
"Director, what is the meaning of this?" Zhongli still hadn't processed the sudden turn of events.
Hu Tao yanked him forward by the collar, grinding her teeth audibly. "Are you trying to bankrupt Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?!"
Two billion Mora—how could he even dare to utter such a figure?!
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T/N: powerstones rewards will be tomorrow, uhhh prob no extra chaps tomorrow