Chapter 36: SkyHigh Auction 2

Chapter 36: SkyHigh Auction 2



The auctioneer's flamboyant announcement echoed through the grand hall. "Here comes our first item!"

The accompanying drumroll and lively orchestra amplified the drama of the moment. The host, adorned in a peculiar star-shaped mask, twirled around, his arms wide open in a theatrical gesture as the curtains behind him parted to reveal a large cage.

"Does he really need to be so dramatic?" I muttered, bemused by the spectacle. But considering this was as much a show as it was an auction, the entertainment aspect made sense. Glancing at Seo, who seemed thoroughly captivated by the host's antics, I had to admit it added to the experience.

GROOAGHHHKKKK!!!!!

Suddenly, a loud, primal roar echoed through the hall, startling the audience. It sounded like a lion, but there was an unfamiliar undertone to it. The host made a grand leap and gestured toward the cage behind him.

"Tada! A baby tamed manticore!" he proclaimed with a wide, gleeful smile.

The crowd erupted in excitement and murmurs. Even as a baby, the manticore, about the size of a fully grown lion, commanded attention. Its appearance was impressive: a fearsome blend of lion, scorpion, and bat, with a serpentine tail tipped with venomous barbs.

"What is that?" Seo asked innocently while curiously looking at the baby manticore with interest.... I guess even if it was a monster, its baby state was still somewhat cute?

"Manticore.... It's considered an A-rank monster once fully grown," I whispered to Seo. "Some even become dungeon bosses. They are a very rare monster to come across with. so, capturing one, specially as a baby, is a rather impressive feat, and rare occurrence"

Seo nodded, her eyes wide with fascination.

The baby manticore prowled within its cage, its muscular form exuding latent power.

The host continued his spirited pitch, emphasizing the rarity and potential value of the creature.

The auctioneer's voice boomed through the hall, his excitement palpable.

Since it was still a baby and fully tamed at that, the manticore would imprint on its owner as it grew, forming a bond stronger than most knights' loyalty. It would become a fierce bodyguard, far more reliable and powerful than many human protectors.

Almost immediately, a symphony of buzzing noises filled the air as bidders pressed their crystals.

The desire to own such a rare and powerful creature was universal. I couldn't resist joining in, pressing my crystal just for the thrill of it.

Who knows? I might get lucky, right? But deep down, I knew the odds were against me.

Such wishful thinking.....

"We have 150,200 over there!" the auctioneer shouted, his voice rising with the escalating bids.

The price skyrocketed into the hundreds of thousands within seconds. Damn, just how wealthy were these people? The realization hit me hard-this was only the first item, and already the bids were astronomical.

The chances of winning this auction seemed slimmer with each passing second.

My heart sank a bit.

The bidding war continued fiercely, with numbers climbing higher and higher. Wealthy collectors and influential figures were relentless, each determined to outbid the other for the prized manticore.

Among the most aggressive bidders, Boseman Yuliel stood out, his expression calm but his intent clear. He pressed his crystal with a practiced ease that spoke of experience in high- stakes auctions.

"200,000 gems!" the auctioneer announced, the crowd's excitement palpable.

I glanced at Seo, who seemed equally captivated by the proceedings. Her eyes sparkled with interest, and I could tell she was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

'Well at least, I'm glad that she's having fun'

Even though we were here for a different reason, the energy of the auction was infectious.

"250,000 gems!" Another bidder raised the stakes, and a murmur of astonishment rippled through the audience.

"300,000 gems!" Boseman's butler, Fred, calmly pressed their crystal, signaling their bid. Boseman nodded approvingly, his eyes never leaving the stage.

I sighed inwardly. At this rate, there was no way I could keep up.

The bidding war for the manticore finally settled at an astounding 500,000 gems, won by an anonymous bidder from one of the VIP balconies. The auctioneer's gavel came down with a decisive thud, and the room buzzed with excitement and chatter.

"Congratulations to the winner!" the auctioneer exclaimed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Now, onto our next item!"

This was only the first item of the day.... And already 500,000 gems were expensed.

And what I wanted was something that was labeled as a unique item.... Haha no matter how you looked at it I'm cooked....

After the intense bidding war for the baby manticore, the auction continued with its usual flair.

The next item up for bid was a stunning, ornate sword, its blade glimmering under the auction house lights. The auctioneer's voice rang out, expertly building anticipation.

"Next, we have this magnificent sword, crafted by the legendary blacksmith Ardentis. Starting bid: 100,000 gems!"

The crowd buzzed with excitement. Within moments, the bids skyrocketed.

"150,000 gems!"

"200,000 gems!"

"300,000 gems!"

Finally, the hammer fell at a staggering 350,000 gems. The winning bidder, a middle-aged man with an air of quiet confidence, seemed pleased as the sword was brought to him. And so it went, item after item, each fetching prices well into the hundreds of thousands. Exquisite jewelry, rare potions, enchanted artifacts-the auction was a parade of luxury and power. Each new item seemed to push the limits of extravagance further, and the bidding wars grew more intense.

'Hahaha, was coming here a mistake?' I muttered under my breath, feeling the weight of the situation.

In the game, the value and rarity of items up for auction depended on luck. Sometimes, you could walk away with incredible treasures at a steal, while other times, you had to compete fiercely. But I didn't expect this randomness to reflect so accurately in real life.

I glanced at my status screen briefly.

[Luck: 0]

Fuck me....

with anticipation.

Just as Clara was about to place another bid, she noticed the principal, Boseman, and Liany watching the exchange intently from their VIP rooms.

The fact that they hadn't entered the bidding yet made her cautious.

She didn't want to overextend herself for an item she wasn't sure about.

"100,000 gemsss!!!!!"

But then the bidding reached a hundred thousand gems, Clara's curiosity peaked.

She couldn't fathom why a knight student would be so invested in what seemed like a simple cauldron. Was he perhaps acting as a proxy for someone else?

Clara was familiar with the concept of proxies, where anonymous individuals bid on behalf of others to manipulate prices. It was a common tactic in auctions, used to either drive prices up or down depending on the situation.

Observing the young man's demeanor, she sensed a genuine interest in the item. His indifferent gaze belied a seriousness that intrigued her. There had to be more to this cauldron

than met the eye.

Driven by instinct and a hint of skepticism, Clara pressed her crystal, joining the bidding war.

It was a calculated gamble, but if the young man truly represented someone else's interests, then the cauldron held far greater value than anyone realized.

As Clara's bid of 200,000 gems was declared, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation.

All eyes turned towards her balcony, where she sat with an air of confidence, meeting the gazes of curious onlookers.

In response to her bid, the young man's demeanor shifted. There was a flicker of intensity in his gaze, a silent acknowledgment of the challenge she presented. Without hesitation, he pressed his crystal, raising the bid to 300,000 gems.

The auctioneer's voice rose with excitement, amplifying the tension in the room. It was clear

that this battle of bids was far from over.

With each increment, the stakes grew higher, and the determination of both participants

became palpable.

As the bidding war intensified, Clara remained composed, her focus unwavering.

She was determined to claim the cauldron, driven by a combination of curiosity and a desire

to unravel the mystery surrounding it.

With the young man's bid hanging in the air, Clara prepared herself for the next move.

This battle of wills was just beginning, and she was ready to see it through to the end, no

matter the cost.

The auctioneer's voice reverberated through the grand hall, brimming with enthusiasm.

"300,000 gems for the young man at the back!!!" His excitement was palpable, perhaps even

surpassing the initial estimation for this supposed "trash" item.

My stomach churned at the mention of the exorbitant price.

Three hundred thousand gems....

I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh under my breath. I was utterly screwed. I didn't have

even a fraction of that amount.

"Riley...?" Seo's concerned voice broke through my thoughts, accompanied by a subtle gesture towards me.

Despite her probable willingness to help, I knew the harsh reality of our financial situation. This auction item might as well have been sold to Clara already.

I tried to shrink into the shadows, hoping to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention.

But it seemed futile, her eyes were practically glued to the item and me now. "350,000 for our dear VIP!!!" The auction host's announcement signaled Clara's next move. I

knew I should back down, but... I was already in too deep.

As I glanced up at Clara's smug expression from her balcony, a surge of irritation coursed

through me.

She was the epitome of someone who stopped at nothing to obtain what she desired, especially if it held value.

If she was determined to snatch this item from me, I knew I had to push back.

I also know she was just being competitive about all this but...

"I'll at least increase it near your budget," I resolved silently, drawing upon my gaming

experience to gauge Clara's spending limits for the day.

Although, in the real world, those limits were subject to change.

"400,000!!!! At the young man in the back!"

The crowd erupted into a cacophony of cheers and excitement as our bidding war escalated.

Each moment intensified our silent duel, all while concealing the turmoil brewing deep

within me.