"My name is Emma Watson, today's host for the Glorious Merchant Monthly Auction," she said with a bright smile. Then she added:
"Now, I know many of you already know the rules, but let me remind them once again in case we have newcomers."
She raised a finger elegantly.
"First, no one may threaten or force others to stop bidding."
A second finger.
"Second, only raise a bid if you actually have the money. If not… you'll become a servant of this auction house."
A few people laughed nervously.
"Third, any form of attack or skill usage is banned during the auction."
She clapped her hands lightly.
"With that out of the way, shall we begin?"
Two maids walked onto the stage, carrying a pedestal covered with a red cloth. Emma lifted the cloth with a graceful sweep.
"Our first lot is this."
On the stand rested a large, dark-steel-colored egg with sharp patterns carved naturally along its shell.
"This is the egg of a Rank 5 potential beast," Emma announced. "It is called the Dread Claw Behemoth."
Gasps rippled through the hall.
"Damn, they started with a banger," Mike whistled when he saw it.
"The opening price is 30 million Credits, and all increased bids must be no less than 5 million," Emma said as the bidding immediately began, one after another.
"Thirty-five million!"
"Forty million!"
"Forty-five million!"
Voices echoed like rapid fire.
Some people on the lower floors were sweating, while those in private rooms stayed calm, raising their bids through the crystal pads.
Mike leaned back in his luxurious VIP chair.
"Yeah… definitely not for me," he muttered.
The seductive attendant behind him giggled softly. "Sir, only the top nobles and big guild owners can afford this one."
"No kidding."
The price climbed fast.
"Sixty million!"
"Seventy million!"
Emma lifted her hand to quiet the room a little.
"Seventy million going once… going twice…"
A voice suddenly echoed from the highest VIP room.
"Eighty-five million."
The crowd erupted.
"Who the hell—?"
"That's the Royal Merchant Guild's Master voice!"
"They're buying a Rank 5 potential beast? Are they planning a new battalion?"
"No, I heard guild master son awakened the Tamer class"
Emma smiled brightly.
"Eighty-five million! Any higher?"
Silence.
"Sold!"
She struck the gong lightly, and the maids took the egg away carefully.
Mike exhaled.
"That was just the first item… if this keeps up, I need to mentally prepare myself."
Emma gestured as the next item was carried out.
"Now then, for our second lot…"
Two maids brought forward a long case, glowing faintly.
Mike leaned forward.
"What do we have next?"
Two maids placed the long, glowing case on the display stand.
Emma opened it slowly, letting the audience see the dark-purple light leaking from inside.
"This," she announced, "is an Epic-grade Skill Book."
The entire hall went silent.
Mike's eyes widened. "Epic… so early? Seriously?"
Emma lifted the book with both hands. The cover writhed faintly, like threads of shadow moving on their own.
"The skill is called Puppet Strings," she continued. "A high-tier Necromancy skill."
A murmur spread instantly:
"Necromancy?"
"Rare as hell!"
"That's an Epic skill… it'll go for a fortune."
Emma cleared her throat and began the explanation.
"Puppet Strings allows the user to bind a corpse, puppet, or construct and control it directly.
The number of controllable puppets depends on the user's mana and mastery.
At its peak, this skill can be used to control even fallen Rank 4 beasts or humanoid corpses."
Hearing this Mike nodded.
"No wonder they are selling it, Puppet Strings is an drop from one of the Dungeon boss controlled by the Reapers guild"
"Its rare but not that rare for them"
Emma continued, voice smooth:
"The opening price will be 25 million Dredits, with minimum increases of 3 million."
Immediately—
"Twenty-eight million!"
"Thirty-one million!"
"Thirty-four million!"
The auction house exploded in bids.
Mike leaned back, shaking his head.
"Not suitabel for me."
Emma raised her hand again as the bids continued.
"Forty-two million!"
"Forty-five!"
"Fifty-one!"
Mike whistled. "Called it."
Then, once again, from the highest VIP booth—
"Sixty million."
Silence.
No one countered.
Emma smiled. "Sold! For sixty million!"
She closed the case gently as the two maids carried it away.
"Now then," she said, turning gracefully toward the next pedestal, "let us move on to our third lot…"
Emma motioned for the next team to bring out the third item.
A steady rhythm formed—item after item, bid after bid.
A rare herb collection.
A defensive talisman.
A mutated ore.
A pair of enchanted boots.
A bottle of high-grade beast blood.
Mike watched them go one by one, fascinated but calm. Most of these weren't things he needed, and many were out of his budget anyway.
But then—
"Now," Emma said with a bright smile, "for our eighth lot."
Two armored guards walked out carrying a large metal chest.
Even from far away, Mike recognized the heavy aura coming from it.
" Now, time for my stuff" he mumbled as he watched the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Emma announced,
"This is the Black Mithril Knight Set."
"It is a newly discovered knight set from the Origin World, and it is Epic-quality gear," she added.
"Here are the specifications."
She snapped her fingers, and a long list appeared on the large screen behind her—showing detailed stats and effects for each piece of the armor set.
"Now then," Emma continued, "the starting price is 20 million Dredits, with each bid increasing by 1 million."
The room grew tense.
Dozens of eyes locked onto the black armor, as they all looked at the apraisal results on the screen.
Mike folded his arms.
"Alright… show me the money."
Emma lifted her hand.
"Let the bidding begin!"
Immediately—
"Twenty-one million!"
"Twenty-two!"
"Twenty-four!"
"Twenty-five!"
The pace was rapid; the crowd was aggressive.
The Black Mithril Knight Set was rare, powerful, and universally useful. Of course it would draw attention.
Then—
"Thirty million!"
People turned toward the middle VIP seats.
Mike raised an eyebrow.
"I wonder how much would it go for" He mumbled leaning back on chair relaxed.