Chapter 215: The Boring Auction!

[Skill: Track!]

Rarity: Gold-rated skill

Skill Type: Passive

Effects: Marks one selected target and the User becomes aware of the target's location within 500 meters from the user.

Cooldown: No Cooldown.

[A skill used by veteran scouts to keep track of their targets!]

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[Skill: Lighten 1!]

Rarity: Gold-rated skill

Skill Type: Active

Effect/s: Increase Agility of User by 20%.

Duration: 5 minutes.

Cool Down: 30 minutes.

[A skill used by messengers to ensure fast delivery of letters!]

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[Skill: Instant Defense 1!]

Rarity: Gold-rated skill

Skill Type: Passive

Effect/s: Instantaneously blocks sneak attacks to User for 1 time.

Cool Down: 2 Days.

[A skill used by nobles and high ranking people to avoid instant death!]

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Pedro could not help but force out a smile deep inside. His attention was focused on the [Instant Defense 1] skill on his hand. He thought, 'The three skills that Sordal Larkas gave were exceptional in different ways... Especially the [Instant Defense 1] Skill! Although it could only block one attack... and it has an absurdly long cool down, its effect would be a lifesaver against sneak attacks and 'one-hit delete' critical attacks!'

Then, Pedro glanced to the other skill shards in his hands and thought, "As for the other two skill shards... One of them is an active skill that directly enhances my agility by twenty percent—which would consequently increase my movement speed and attack speed, while the last skill shard is a target locking skill that is often useful in hunting. Nevertheless, these skills were good despite being gold-rated. Not too overpowered... But useful enough for me to personally use them!'

Pedro smirked in response and nodded in satisfaction. Then, he crushed the skill shards on his hands and said, "These are truly great skills with good effects that would be useful in my journey! And… It is definitely worth the price!"

Auction Guide Weese simply smiled in response. She was happily bowed towards Pedro and said in a slightly trembling voice, "I-I am glad to know that young master liked the skill shards that we prepared! It is our great honor to have another satisfied customer like you, young master!"

Pedro simply raised his hand in response—wanting Auction Guide Weese to lift her head. Then, he smirked as he shifted his attention to his player interface and said, "It seems like it would be a good idea to look around the Minor Auction Area after the Grand Auction. Who knows… There might be several goods waiting to be purchased by me!"

Pedro burst into laughter, consequently making Auction Guide Weese force out a smile in response. She was glad that Pedro was interested to look around and buy more goods, but... At the same time, she felt a bit troubled deep inside thinking about the work she needed to do later on. Thus, Auction Guide Weese could only gather herself and do her best to accompany Pedro while he was in the Auction Den.

She bowed once more to Pedro and said, "Then… I would gladly accommodate you along the way."

"Thanks!" Pedro said as he nodded towards Auction Guide Weese.

However, before anyone could utter another word, a small bell was rung by Duke Albert himself—consequently attracting the attention of everyone that would participate in the Grand Auction. Then, in the next second, Duke Albert coughed several times as he awaits everyone to settle.

It took almost a minute before the noise inside the Auction Mansion had settled. It was replaced by the whistle of the breezing wind that brought a relaxing cold air to everyone else.

At this moment, Duke Albert smirked to everyone else and said, "Welcome, esteemed guests! I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for participating in this Grand Auction Event on such short notice! On behalf of my Auction Den, I would like to ask for my sincere apology regarding that matter and I hope that you would all like the goods that I prepared."

Duke Albert glanced around before saying, "I know that most of you are busy, especially in this time of crisis! So, I won't take much more of your time... Let the Grand Auction begin!"

Some of the guests shouted out of excitement, while some of them are like Pedro—who remained calm and quiet. And since the number of guests who are participating in the Grand Auction is limited, the Auction Managers were able to proceed smoothly with the first item.

A golden cart was pushed to the middle of the open area with a golden box located on its top. Then, the Auction Host stopped a few meters away from the bluish-colored sword before lifting the golden box. And when the golden box was lifted a chunk of shiny black stone was revealed inside.

Some of the guests could not help but gasp in response. In fact, even Pedro raised his brows and was seemingly interested in the chunk of shiny black stone. Of course, the Auction Host did not let such an opportunity be wasted.

She smirked and said, "This is one Hilo of Divine Black Ingot! It is a super rare material that was mined and transported from the Divine Continent! Not only was it difficult to obtain, but, it is said that once this ingot was forged properly, swords and armors would weigh as light as paper—while being as strong and sturdy as titanium! There's no buyout price, and the bidding price starts at thirty gold coins!"

In the next second, the other guests had started to bid for the rare material. The price of the Divine Black Ingot constantly rose and soon it already reached fifty gold coins as its last bid price.

At this moment, Pedro could not help but to frown and rub the back of his head, while thinking, 'Oi, Oi! Divine Black Ingot? Around one kilogram on top of that? Who in their right minds would pass on this?! Such a rare material… but the wolf transformation skill page was a more important thing? I really cannot understand the tastes of NPCs.'

"Sixty Gold Coins and Fifty Silver Coins… Going once…" The Auction Host shouted that made Pedro frown. Although he knew that it was a rare material, he knew the risks and losses he would gain from buying that rare material. Thus, he could only grit his teeth and thought, 'I won't deny it that it is indeed a rare material! But…'

"Going twice…" The Auction Host shouted.

"It is not something that can easily be handled!" Pedro grumbled to himself while trying his best not to bid for the rare material. At this moment, Pedro's face was filled with sweat and seemed like he was someone who is constipated—consequently making Auction Guide Weese smile.

"Going thrice… Sold!" The Auction Host said in a glad manner.

In the end, another guest was able to purchase the divine black ingot for a staggering amount of 60 Gold Coins and 50 Silver Coins. And since the rare material was already sold, Pedro was able to sigh of relief and said, "That was close! That ingot was really tempting! But… In order to be able to successfully craft a weapon or equipment using that rare material, it requires a blacksmith to be at the Grand Master level at the least. Else… it would just end up a waste."

This, in turn, made Ragas smirked and said, "I did not know that young master would be this knowledgeable about ingots. Perhaps… You were able to try forging such rare ingot in the past?"

Pedro simply forced out a smile in response and said, "No, I did not! It's just common sense… If this material was as strong as titanium… Then it only means that it needed the same skill in handling titanium ingots? And based on common knowledge, titanium ingots can only be successfully handled by Grand Master Blacksmiths!"

"I see…" Ragas murmured as he gazes back at the ingot—making the atmosphere inside the room a bit awkward.

Pedro did not mind this atmosphere much because they were still part of a battlefield where coins are being used as weapons. So, it was only natural for him to be focused and in a cold demeanor.

Unfortunately, the following goods sold at the Grand Auction were not able to catch his attention. Most of them are Gold Rated Weapons and Equipment that usually boast 'godly' effects. It was good enough to deceive the other NPCs—making some of them pay up to a hundred gold coins on some of the items, but it won't be able to deceive Pedro at the least.

Soon, his wolf transformation skill page—the main item for the Grand Auction, was being brought to the center of the open area for introductions. And at this moment, Pedro noticed that the vampires—who were with a rich looking NPC, stood seemingly interested and filled with anticipation for the main item.

It was a normal reaction for an auction participant to look forward to what would be sold as the main item. But Pedro, Ragas, and Clara knew that the vampires had other motives.

Ragas and Clara could not help but glance towards Pedro—seemingly waiting for his command. That said, Pedro kept a calm demeanor and even laid his chin comfortably to his palm. In the next second, Pedro pointed his left hand to the rich man that was with the vampires and asked, "Auction Guide Weese… Perhaps you know that gentleman, over there?"

"Hmm?" Auction Guide Weese raised her brows as her gaze followed Pedro's hand. Then, she said, "Do you mean Duke Kleon? The Duke of General Governance of the Kingdom?"

"Duke Kleon?" Pedro asked with a frown on his face.

Auction Guide Weese simply nodded in response and said, "Yes, young master! Perhaps you have seen him somewhere?"

Pedro simply shook his head in response and said, "Nah… I was just wondering who was behind those suspicious men. It turns out to be one of the highest-ranking officials here in the Tarala Kingdom! Now… It all makes sense! I was wondering how those monsters were able to enter the stronghold. It turns out to be that there's a rat inside, creating a hole! No wonder such a powerful stronghold was easily infiltrated by those monsters!"

At this moment, Auction Guide Weese could not help but frown in response. She can't understand what was Pedro saying, so, she could only ask, "Infiltrated? Monsters? What do you mean by that, young master?"

Pedro simply smirked in response and said, "You would know very soon!"