[Location: The Golden Tower - VIP Auction House]
[Time: 08:00 PM]
[Event: The Annual Grand Auction]
[Entry Fee: 1 Million Credits]
The Golden Tower stood in the center of the capital like a monument to greed. It was a needle of pure gold piercing the clouds, protected by S-Rank magical barriers.
Tonight, it was the most exclusive place on the continent. Only the top 1% of humanity could enter. Guild Masters, Corrupt Politicians, Tech Billionaires, and Secret Society Leaders.
They gathered here not just to drink thousand-year-old wine, but to buy power. Rare artifacts, monster parts, illegal spell books—anything could be bought here if you had enough zeros in your bank account.
Security was tighter than a maximum-security prison.
At the diamond-encrusted entrance, massive S-Rank Guards in power armor scanned every guest.
"Invitation, please," the Head Bouncer grunted, stopping a nervous-looking man in a tuxedo.
The man smiled calmly. He didn't pull out a paper invitation. He handed over a black card made of pure obsidian. The card pulsed with a cold, necrotic energy that made the air around it freeze.
The Bouncer's eyes widened behind his helmet. His hands trembled as he took the card.
[System Card: VIP Guest - The Lord of Shadows]
"V-VIP Guest?" The Bouncer stammered, stepping aside and bowing low. "Apologies, Sir! Please, right this way! The private elevator is waiting!"
The man walked in, adjusting his cufflinks.
It was Ryan.
He looked nothing like the "Trash Recruit" or the "Fugitive" on the wanted posters.
He was wearing a custom-tailored black suit (stolen from General Ironwood's private wardrobe before blowing up the plaza). His hair was slicked back. He radiated an aura of arrogance that screamed "Old Money."
On his arm was Annabelle, dressed in a cute, frilly pink dress with a matching bow. She looked like an innocent doll, except for the fact that she was hiding a poisoned dagger behind her back and whispering, "So many necks... so little time."
Behind him walked a tall figure in a hooded cloak.
Kelly (The Shadow Lich).
Ryan had disguised his strongest summon as a silent bodyguard. The death energy leaking from Kelly was suppressed, but it still made people nearby shiver instinctively.
They entered the Grand Hall on the 100th floor.
It was breathtaking. The ceiling was a magical illusion of the night sky. Chandeliers made of raw mana crystals lit the room. Waiters floated in the air using levitation magic, serving drinks.
"Smells like money," Ryan whispered, taking a deep breath. "And corruption. My favorite mix."
He was escorted to Table #1. The best seat in the house, right in front of the stage.
The other guests whispered as he sat down.
"Who is that kid?" whispered the fat Guild Master of the Merchant Alliance. "Is he a Prince from a foreign land?"
"I don't know," replied the CEO of a Magic Tech company. "But look at his bodyguard. That hooded guy... his aura feels like a graveyard. Don't make eye contact."
Ryan sat down and snapped his fingers. A floating waiter brought him a drink.
Ryan pulled out a juice box from his pocket, poked a straw in it, and poured it into the crystal wine glass. He sipped it elegantly.
"Classy," Ryan muttered.
The lights dimmed. A spotlight hit the stage.
The Auctioneer walked out. She was a stunning woman with a snake tattoo winding up her neck. Madam Viper (No relation to Instructor Viper).
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Monsters and Magnates!" She announced, her voice magically amplified. "Welcome to the Grand Auction! Tonight, we sell dreams... and nightmares!"
The auction began.
"Item #1: A Dragon Scale Shield! Extracted from a Red Dragon! Bidding starts at 10 Million!"
"15 Million!"
"20 Million!"
"Sold for 25 Million to the Bald Man in the back!"
Ryan yawned. "Boring. My Dragon has better scales than that."
"Item #5: The Heart of a Golem! Infinite energy source! Sold for 80 Million!"
Ryan watched the numbers fly. These people were throwing money around like it was trash.
"Good," Ryan grinned. "They have deep pockets. That means I'm going to be very rich tonight."
Finally, after an hour of boring items, the lights turned deep green. Fog machines pumped mist onto the stage.
The atmosphere grew cold.
"And now," The Auctioneer announced, her voice trembling slightly. "The Highlight of the Evening. Provided by an anonymous seller. A weapon of mass destruction."
Two guards struggled to carry a long case onto the stage. They opened it.
Inside lay a staff made of polished white bone. At its top was a human skull that was screaming silently. Green smoke leaked from its eyes.
[Item: Staff of the Eternal Winter (S-Rank)]
[Origin: The Lich King of Zone Z]
[Effect: Boosts Necromancy/Ice Magic by 500%. Can summon a localized blizzard. Requires 500 Intelligence to wield.]
The crowd gasped. Chairs scraped as people stood up to get a better look.
"That... isn't that the Lich King's staff?"
"Impossible! Nobody has ever defeated the Lich King!"
"The magical energy coming off it is suffocating!"
Ryan sipped his apple juice.
He had looted this staff after defeating Kelly. Since Kelly was now a Shadow Soldier, he didn't need a physical focus anymore. His magic came directly from Ryan.
So, the staff was just a billion-credit paperweight.
"Bidding starts at... 100 Million Credits!"
Instant chaos.
"150 Million!" shouted the Guild Master of the Fire Guild. "I'll use it as a toothpick!"
"200 Million!" screamed the Merchant Alliance.
"250 Million!"
The price skyrocketed.
Ryan watched the counter go up.
"300... 400... 500 Million."
Suddenly, a cold, smooth voice cut through the noise like a knife.
"1 Billion."
The room went dead silent.
Everyone turned to look at the VIP Balcony.
Standing there, holding a glass of red liquid (definitely not wine), was a man in a crimson suit. He had pale, marble skin, fangs, and eyes that glowed red.
Count Dracula.
The Leader of the Blood Clan. A Vampire Lord who controlled half the city's underworld.
"1 Billion Credits," The Vampire Count repeated, looking down at the crowd with disdain. "I will take it for my collection."
The Auctioneer gulped. "Count Dracula bits 1 Billion! Do I hear—"
"Going once..."
"Going twice..."
Nobody wanted to offend the Vampire Lord. They all sat down.
Ryan sighed. "1 Billion? That's barely enough to build the walls of my castle."
He stood up. He adjusted his tie.
And he raised his hand.
"2 Billion."
The crowd exploded.
"WHAT?!"
"He doubled it?!"
"Who is he? Does he have a death wish?!"
Even Count Dracula looked surprised. He leaned over the balcony railing, his red eyes locking onto Ryan.
"Boy," The Count hissed. "Do you know who I am? I can buy your entire family tree."
Ryan smiled. He looked straight at the Vampire.
"I don't have a family tree. I have a root vegetable. And 2 Billion is my offer. Are you poor, Count? Should I lend you some change?"
The insult hit the Vampire like a slap.
Poor? Him? An Immortal Lord?
The Count's aura flared. The glass in the windows cracked.
"You dare mock me? Fine. You want a war of wealth?"
"3 Billion!" The Count roared.
Ryan pretended to think. He tapped his chin.
"Hmm. 3 Billion is a lot. But that staff is really shiny..."
"3.5 Billion!" Ryan shouted.
The Count was shaking with rage. His fangs extended.
"4 Billion! And not a penny more! Beat that, human trash!"
Ryan stood there for a second. The tension was unbearable. The Auctioneer looked like she was about to faint.
Then, Ryan smiled. A bright, cheerful smile.
He sat down.
"Okay. You win. It's yours."
The Count blinked. "What?"
"Sold!" The Auctioneer slammed the hammer down fast, before the Count could change his mind. "Sold for 4 Billion Credits to Count Dracula!"
Ryan leaned back.
He wasn't bidding to buy. He was the seller.
By bidding against himself, he had forced the Vampire to pay 4x the starting price.
It was the oldest scam in the book: Shill Bidding.
[System Notification: Auction Complete.]
[Transaction Fee: 10%]
[Net Profit: 3.6 Billion Credits.]
Ryan's phone buzzed.
[Bank Balance Updated: 3,600,025,000 Credits.]
He was rich. Not just rich. He was "Build an Army" rich.
"Pleasure doing business," Ryan stood up to leave.
But the Count wasn't done.
Realization dawned on the Vampire's face. He saw Ryan's smirk. He realized he had been played.
WHOOSH.
The Count jumped from the balcony, landing softly in front of Ryan's table.
The floor cracked under his feet.
"You played me," The Count hissed, black veins pulsing on his face. "Nobody humiliates the Blood Clan and lives."
He reached out a clawed hand to grab Ryan's throat. His speed was blinding. An S-Rank attack.
SNAP.
A skeletal hand caught the Vampire's wrist in mid-air.
It stopped the attack dead.
Kelly (The Shadow Lich) stepped forward. He lowered his hood.
A skull wreathed in blue flames stared into the Vampire's soul.
The temperature in the room dropped to absolute zero.
"Touch... My... Lord... And... Die."
The Vampire froze. He felt the power difference. This wasn't a bodyguard. This was a Monster.
"You..." The Count trembled. "You are the Lich King! The Ruler of Zone Z! Why?! Why are you serving a human?!"
Ryan stepped out from behind Kelly. He dusted off his suit.
"Why?" Ryan chuckled. "Because I offer better dental insurance."
Ryan leaned closer to the terrified Vampire.
"Enjoy the stick, Dracula. You paid enough for it."
He turned to his team.
"Annabelle, Kelly. Let's go. We have a fortress to build."
They walked out of the Golden Tower, leaving a room full of stunned elites and a humiliated Vampire Lord.
Ryan stepped into the cool night air.
He checked his balance again. 3.6 Billion.
He opened the Guild Management System.
[Quest: Guild Base Construction.]
[Budget: Unlimited.]
[Objective: Build a fortress capable of withstanding a Demon Lord.]
Ryan looked at Grog, who was waiting in the limo outside (eating the leather seats).
"Grog," Ryan grinned. "Call the contractors. We are going to buy a mountain."