On the day of the auction, David received a call from Liam saying he would come to pick him up.
An hour later, David emerged from his house in a dark, blood-red suit. It was the first time he had worn formal attire; he was always in armor or comfortable training clothes before.
"What a surprise! I thought you'd still be in armor. But you clean up well—still a bit less handsome than me, though," Liam joked, their friendship having reached a point where such teasing felt natural. His easygoing character helped David feel more at ease.
"You think you're the handsome one? Let's ask Emma. Emma, what do you think?"
David played along, turning to Emma with a smirk.
"I think David looks way better. Well, you're… average," she said, grinning.
"You two are ganging up on me! Just jealous. Anyway, let's go. My father came directly to the capital, so we can meet him before the auction starts."
They got into the car and headed toward the Universe Bank auction house, located near the Governor's Office—a zone of maximum security. Only someone truly insane would attack here, with an Immortal King presiding nearby and the Bank's own hidden safeguards.
David looked at the auction building: an ancient, cylindrical structure that seemed to hum with a timeless energy. Opposite it stood the Governor's Office, resembling an ancient royal palace. Suddenly, David felt a strange, magnetic pull toward it, as if something inside belonged to him. He quickly suppressed the feeling; even a slight shift in his aura could attract unwanted attention from powerful figures.
While he was distracted, Liam led him inside the auction house's VIP section. They entered a private room where five people were seated. David recognized three of them: Chris, Riya, and the butler, Gerth. The other two, he surmised, were Liam's parents.
"Hello, Uncle, Aunt. My name is David," he introduced himself respectfully. Juniors should always introduce themselves first to seniors, especially the parents of a close friend.
"Hello, David. It's lovely to finally meet you. I'm Sophie. Thank you for helping these two," Liam's mother said warmly.
Liam's father studied David for a moment. "Thank you, David. We are in your debt. My name is Robert. If you ever need anything, you can call me anytime." He shared his virtual network contact. David noticed a flicker of something in Robert's gaze—recognition, perhaps? But he dismissed it. Many people resembled members of his mother's clan; it didn't mean anything.
"I'm glad I was there. It also gained me a good friend," David replied.
"I heard you're planning to enter the battlefield. Isn't it a bit early? Wouldn't it be better to break through to the World Master realm first? It shouldn't take you long," Robert inquired.
"It's a task set by my master. I must undergo a life-and-death trial on the battlefield before I'm permitted to break through," David explained truthfully. Albert was, in every way that mattered, his master.
The room fell silent for a moment. They tried to imagine what kind of teacher would send a 20-year-old, still unfamiliar with the world's ruthlessness, into such a wolf den solely to teach survival.
Robert's expression turned thoughtful. "It's good to have a teacher who imparts the reality of survival early. It's the only way to learn how brutal the universe truly is. If the task proves too difficult, you can ask for our help. We are stationed at the battlefield barracks as well."
As they spoke, the central podium lit up.
A mature, elegant woman walked to the center, followed by four attendants carrying auction items. After placing the items, the attendants withdrew.
"Welcome, honored guests, to the Universe Bank Auction. I hope everyone obtains what they have journeyed far to find," she began.
"Our first item is a set of SS-Grade body armor, a recent masterpiece. The starting price is 100 million Universal Credits, with increments of no less than 5 million."
"105 million!"
"110 million!"
"120 million!"
The bids climbed quickly. SS-Grade armor was scarce, its manufacturing dependent on rare materials, making it a coveted prize for those outside the major powers.
Robert's voice cut through. "200 million."
"210 million."
"300 million."
Robert's final bid silenced the room. The armor was his for 300 million.
The auction progressed. David successfully bid on an SS-Grade facial modulator, crucial for concealing his identity on the battlefield.
Finally, the announcer reached the last segment. "Now, we present the final three lots of today's auction."
"The first is a token. Our appraisers believe it may be linked to an Immortal King's inheritance, though only the fortunate will unlock its secrets. We wish the winning bidder the best of luck. Starting price: 200 million."
David initially felt no interest—until Albert's voice suddenly echoed in his mind, transmitted from the inner world.
"Acquire that token. It belongs to a formidable existence. Its inheritance could be immensely beneficial for you."
Without hesitation, David focused on the podium.
"315 million!"
"330 million!"
"350 million!"
As the bids slowed, David spoke. "400 million."
The substantial jump gave the other bidders pause. With no guarantee of unlocking the inheritance, their interest waned. The token was David's.
Just as he thought his spending was over, the next item was announced.
"The second-to-last lot: one vial of Immortal King Dragon's blood. Its uses need no explanation. Starting price: 500 million, with increments of no less than 10 million."
David's interest was piqued. Although only a vial, the blood of an Immortal King Dragon could significantly aid his body tempering. The blood he had collected was nearly depleted.
"800 million!"
"850 million!"
"900 million!"
"1 billion!"
Without fanfare, David doubled the bid. "2 billion."
A stunned silence followed. To others, dragon blood was merely a potent but hard-to-utilize resource. For David, it was priceless.
"2 billion, once!"
"2 billion, twice!"
"2 billion, sold! To the guest in VIP Room Number 2."
"Now, for our final item: a Space Heart. This treasure can greatly enhance one's comprehension of spatial laws. The starting price is 1 billion, with increments of 50 million."
Even Liam's parents leaned forward intently. David realized this was likely the true reason for their attendance—the SS-Grade armor had just been a fortunate addition. This Space Heart could be vital for Sophie's breakthrough to the Immortal King realm.
"2 billion!"
"2.5 billion!"
"3 billion!"
The price skyrocketed. In the end, Robert secured it for a staggering 15 billion credits.
After the auction, they returned to the Myers estate for dinner. Robert and Sophie invited David to enter the battlefield alongside them, offering guidance through the initial, most dangerous phase. David agreed gratefully. Familiarity with the warzone was crucial for survival.
He bid them goodnight and returned to his villa; the group would depart in seven days, giving him time to refine the Dragon's blood.
As David's figure disappeared, Robert turned to Sophie, his expression solemn.
"Do you think he could be his son?"
Sophie looked puzzled. "The resemblance is uncanny… but there's no bloodline resonance. No one knows that bloodline better than we do."