Chapter 56 - The Black Market Auction

"The auction shall begin shortly!" A man dressed in a golden jacket with a black hat on his head exclaimed loudly as he stood in the middle of the stage. 

Everyone's attention was immediately drawn towards him and Hecathe also looked over at the man as he waited for the man to begin the auction. 

There were a few chattering noises coming before this but after the man had announced that the auction would begin shortly after, everyone simply fell silent as they settled down and waited in anticipation together. 

The man also seemed to be waiting as he looked down at his watch. 

A few more minutes passed and the announcer finally picked up his mic once again, "Since it's time and all of you have already arrived, we shall now begin the auction!" 

The atmosphere was dead silent and cold, giving off an eery vibe as everyone listened attentively to the announcer. 

"We have brought you a lot of precious things from around the world! Priceless treasures that you shall take home if you wish to!" As the man announced this, Hecathe couldn't help but feel that the man looked more like an announcer in a circus than an announcer in the black market. 

"I'm sure many of you have already heard about the special item today!" 

The special item... Hecathe wasn't sure what the special item for today was but when he saw everyone's ears perking up, he could guess that most of the people were here for that special item. 

This place loved a sense of order and it was only natural that the items for auction were also arranged in an order. 

At first, they would introduce the less valuable items and in an order, they would start introducing more rare and expensive items. Every time an auction was held, there would be a special item that would be introduced in the very end. 

This special item was something that you would normally not be able to find anywhere else. It was not only the most rarest item the black market would have to offer but it would also be highly priced. The starting bid in itself was something that most people would never be able to afford even if they saved up their money for a lifetime. 

However, even though the special item was rare and expensive, Hecathe had no interest in it. 

He had clearly come here for one purpose. He wanted to sell the mutant beads he had collected when he was testing the wild mutants roaming the nearby jungle. 

No matter what this place had to offer, Hecathe would not be interested in buying it unless he actually feels like the item was worth it, after all, in the black market, most things were simply too overpriced. 

"You have waited a lot and we wouldn't want to keep you waiting anymore,' The man in the middle of the stage looked up at all the balconies and announced, "I'm sure some of our regulars are already aware of how this auction works but in case some of you are new here, I would kindly like to inform you about the basics." 

Even though Hecathe was new here, he already new all the basics thanks to the written explanations and records Alphius had left behind. 

"When an item is announced, you shall be able to place your bids. The one that bids the highest price would naturally take the item." 

"If there is anything that you want to auction off, you are more than free to contact the staff." 

It was quite common for people to come here to buy stuff and it was also common for them to come here to sell stuff so the man informing them about this didn't seem out of place at all. 

"With that said, the first item we have brought you today is this special fire from the bottom of the east wood lake!" 

As soon as the man announced it, everyone looked up to see the item suspended in mid air with no support, however, such a sight wasn't uncommon for anyone and maybe Hecathe was the only one who was a bit surprised even though he already knew that the place would display the items in such a manner. 

"This rare item can save you in a dire situation. It can only be used once but you can rest assured that it is worth the purchase!" The man sounded enthusiastic as he explained the use of the item and the chattering among the people present soon began as they started discussing it. 

"Even if you suffer from life-threatening poison polluting your body or wounds that won't stop bleeding, no matter what dire situation you are forced to go through, just use the item and you will be saved. The poison would simply burn and dissapear from your body while your wounds would all be healed up." 

Hecathe's eyes narrowed down on the bright coloured flame that was captured inside a clear glass jar floating in mid-air. He was certainly not interested in buying it, but he would be lying if he said that he wasn't a bit interested after hearing the specifications of the item. 

A flame that could save you from the clutches of death? 

If Hecathe was here to waste money than he would have immediately brought such an item just for future security reasons. 

"The starting bid for this eternal flame is hundred thousand Lenix!" The man announced and the place seemed to have become lively all of a sudden as everyone started placing their bids. 

Hecathe who heard the name of the item almost choked on empty air as he found the name to be familiar. 

Eternal flame...? There was no way... Right? 

Hecathe couldn't help but question himself as he wondered if this flame was the same one that he had. 

Before leaving, Xanie had given him an eternal lamp and the flame inside that lamp looked to be the exact same as the one that he was currently seeing. 

Even the names of the items were same so Hecathe really wondered if this was the flame used to make the eternal lamp. The possibility of such a thing happening was quite high. 

Hecathe didn't know if he wanted to laugh or cry as he realized that perhaps... Alphius had been using such a precious item to create a lamp that could only provide light if necessary....