The auction hall was filled with a tense but excited atmosphere as the auctioneer stepped forward, a polished smile on his face. He raised his hand, signaling for the attendants to bring out the first item.
A well-dressed woman in a flowing crimson dress, clearly a trained assistant, walked onto the stage, pushing a cart which contained an object draped in a velvet cloth. She placed it at the center of the stage, then stepped back. The auctioneer turned to the audience, his voice carrying a confident, practiced cadence.
"Ladies and gentlemen, to start off tonight's auction, we have a truly rare treasure." He gestured toward the item, gripping the edges of the cloth with both hands. "A relic from one of the most powerful creatures to ever walk the lands…a dragon!"
With a dramatic flourish, he pulled the cloth away.
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the audience as the object beneath was revealed, a massive dragon scale, at least the size of a large basin. Its surface gleamed a deep crimson under the hall's enchanted lights. Even from a distance, Arthur could feel the raw, condensed mana radiating from it.
He leaned slightly forward, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the scale's properties. While he had seen an emerald dragon from afar when he first arrived on the planet, this was the first time he was so close to a part of such a being. Even after being separated from its original body, the scale retained an incredible amount of magical energy.
The auctioneer let the audience marvel for a moment before continuing.
"This is a scale from a Red Tyrant Dragon, one of the rarest subspecies of fire-elemental dragons. Known for their incredible resistance to heat and devastating breath attacks, their scales are nearly indestructible to elemental attacks. They can be used in high-tier blacksmithing, alchemy, or even as the core material for enchanted armor. A treasure fit for the most powerful of mages and warriors alike!"
The crowd buzzed with hushed discussions, clearly interested but well aware that an item of this caliber was beyond the reach of common merchants or low-ranked mages.
The auctioneer straightened his posture. "The starting bid for this exquisite item is one thousand platinum coins. The minimum increment for bidding is fifty platinum coins."
Silence fell over the common area. The price was simply too high for most of the attendees seated here. Only those in the VIP lounges had the wealth to compete.
As expected, a calm but firm voice came from one of the private booths. "One thousand two hundred."
Arthur glanced up as Finn leaned closer to him and Leon. "That seems like Lord Vance of the Goldbrook Merchant Alliance. He runs some of the biggest trade routes in the western territories. Word is, he's got his hands in everything: spices, artifacts, rare materials, you name it."
Another voice, this one smooth and elegant, echoed from another booth. "One thousand three hundred."
Finn nodded toward the direction of the voice. "That would be Lady Rosella Valtine. She's from one of the noble houses in Brightwater. Her family has deep ties to high-level enchantment and artifact crafting. If she's bidding, she probably wants to use the scale for some magic project."
The bidding continued, the price climbing steadily as more VIPs joined the competition.
"One thousand six hundred."
"One thousand nine hundred."
"Two thousand platinum."
Finn pointed subtly toward another booth. "That's Count Reinhardt. He's not as rich as the merchants, but he's got some serious military influence. My guess? He wants the scale to forge some top-tier armor for himself or his knights."
Arthur listened quietly, taking in the information. The bidding war intensified as the price surged past two thousand platinum. The voices from the VIP booths remained calm, but the competition was fierce.
Eventually, the scale was sold to House Luthier, a high-ranking Count family, for two thousand nine hundred and fifty platinum coins.
Finn whistled low. "Damn. That's enough money to buy a whole mansion in the capital. Must be nice."
Leon just shook his head. "People have way too much money."
Arthur remained silent, committing the names and factions to memory. Every bid was a glimpse into the power structure of this world.
…
The auctioneer clapped his hands. "A marvelous first round! Now, let's move on to our next item."
Another assistant walked onto the stage, carrying a small velvet box. She placed it on the podium, and the auctioneer carefully lifted the lid, revealing a sleek silver bracelet.
"This, dear guests, is a spatial bracelet, an item of both convenience and necessity for adventurers, traders, and warriors alike," he announced. "Crafted with advanced spatial magic, it possesses an internal storage space of twenty cubic meters, large enough to store multiple weapons, equipment, or valuable goods while remaining as light as a feather!"
[A/N: For simplicity purposes I have kept the measurements the same as what is acceptable by us.]
A noticeable shift rippled through the crowd. Unlike the dragon scale, this was an item that even the more affluent members of the common area could afford.
The auctioneer smiled. "The starting bid is fifty platinum coins, with increments of five platinum coins."
Unlike the previous item, voices immediately rang out from the common seating area.
"Fifty five!"
"Sixty!"
Arthur watched as a few mages and merchants engaged in a rapid bidding war. Unlike the VIPs, who bid in careful, calculated jumps, the common-area bidders were more eager and animated.
The noble families, mages and merchants in the VIP lounge were at the top of this kingdom and they even had better storage items than the one being auctioned so they didn't bid.
Finn nudged Arthur. "See? This is more our level. Well, maybe not yours, but you get what I mean."
Arthur chuckled but didn't place a bid. While the bracelet was useful, he had no need for it; his personal storage solutions were far more advanced thanks to the Spear of Heaven.
The bidding continued, the price steadily climbing until it reached one hundred five platinum coins. The final bid came from a young mage in the common area, his excitement barely contained as the auctioneer declared him the winner.
"Congratulations to our lucky bidder!" The auctioneer gestured toward the next item being prepared. "And now, let us move on to our next item!"
For the next half an hour the auction went on and Arthur even won a spell scroll containing the spell Mana Shield which does not require elemental affinity to learn. There were not many mages with blank affinity in the whole of Arkanis, and in the auction most of the mages attending already have the spell, so Arthur bought it easily with just fifty five platinum coins without much competition.
…
The auction hall was abuzz with murmurs as the auctioneer clapped his hands, signaling for the final item of the night to be brought forth. That sent a ripple of anticipation through the gathered bidders.
Arthur's eyes narrowed as the attendants wheeled out a sturdy, rune-engraved chest, covered in thick layers of enchanted cloth. Even through the coverings, he could sense the sheer density of mana radiating from within.
With deliberate movements, the auctioneer stepped forward, grasped the cloth, and pulled it away with a grand flourish.
Gasps filled the hall.
There, resting on a black velvet cushion, was a glowing dragon core the size of a human head.
Arthur had read about dragon cores or generally called dragon heart, and their extraordinary effect from the books in the library.
The spherical crystal pulsed with an inner glow, shifting between hues of deep crimson and molten gold. Its surface was flawless, smooth as polished glass, yet it emitted a heat that seemed to distort the air around it. The overwhelming concentration of mana made even experienced mages in the VIP lounge shift in their seats, eyes gleaming with greed and reverence.
Arthur used 'Analyse' on the dragon core.
//--------------------//
Object: Red Tyrant Dragon Core
Grade: A
Mana Capacity: 7th Circle Mage
Potential Uses: High-grade artifact crafting, alchemical enhancement, direct mana absorption (Caution: Can cause mutation)
//--------------------//
[A/N: Treasures are divided into grades from F to SSS similar to monster ranks.]
Arthur's expression remained unreadable, but internally, he was intrigued. The core was a grade A item, which means when the dragon was alive it was comparable to a 7th Circle Mage. And this dragon core, if used correctly, could grant extraordinary powers of a dragon.
The auctioneer allowed the crowd a moment to process what they were seeing before speaking, his voice carrying an air of flair.
"Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you have guessed correctly. What you see before you is the core of a true dragon." His eyes swept across the eager faces in the hall.
"As you all know, a dragon's core is one of the most prized materials in existence. Whether used in forging legendary weapons and artifacts, in alchemy to concoct magical potions, or absorbed directly in an attempt to gain the strength and resilience of a dragon itself, this is a treasure beyond comparison!"
The excitement in the hall escalated instantly. Nobles and merchants leaned forward, exchanging hurried whispers. Even the more stoic and composed individuals in the VIP section had hunger in their eyes.
The auctioneer gave a knowing smile. "Now then, let us begin. The starting bid for this magnificent core is five thousand platinum coins, with a minimum increment of two hundred platinum coins."
Silence reigned for a moment before the first bid rang out.
"Five thousand two hundred."
"Five thousand six hundred!"
"Six thousand!"
As expected, only the VIPs participated, and the bidding quickly escalated.
"Seven thousand four hundred!"
"Eight thousand!"
The atmosphere had changed. Unlike the calculated, measured bids of the earlier auction items, this was a battle of dominance. The bidders were no longer simply raising their offers, they were testing each other, pushing the limits of their rivals' wealth and resolve.
Arthur considered his options. He could outbid them all easily. Money wasn't an issue, he could replicate platinum coins whenever he wanted. However, doing so would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention. Then again...
'Why should I care?'
If anyone came after him, they would only serve as stepping stones for his growth. A slow smirk formed on his lips as he casually raised his hand.
"Ten thousand."
The entire auction hall went silent.
Even the VIPs, who had been locked in their competitive bids, froze.
"Did he just say ten thousand?" someone whispered.
The last bid had barely reached eight thousand five hundred, and yet Arthur had raised it by more than one thousand five hundred in a single move. The brazenness of it left even the wealthiest attendees momentarily speechless.
A slow, cold voice spoke from one of the VIP booths trying to intimidate Arthur.
"Kid, this isn't a place for jokes. If you're just bidding to cause trouble, you'll regret it."
Arthur turned his gaze toward the speaker, an older noble with sharp eyes and a haughty expression. Arthur replied "And why do you think I am trying to cause trouble?"
The person who spoke earlier scoffed and tried to say something but he stopped on his track as Arthur reached into his dimensional pocket and, with a flick of his wrist, dropped a heavy sack of platinum coins onto the ground in front of him.
The impact was loud in the hearts of the onlookers.
The bag was huge, clearly containing well over ten thousand platinum coins. The shimmering metal glinted under the enchanted lights.
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.
"Who the hell is this kid?!"
"Where did he get that kind of money?"
"He's too young to be a high-ranking noble… Could he be an illegitimate royal?"
"Or maybe the heir to some hidden powerhouse?"
Even Finn and Leon were staring at Arthur, mouths slightly open.
"Arthur…" Finn whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. "I knew you were rich, but this… Damn."
Leon crossed his arms. "Yeah. You're gonna have to explain this later."
The auctioneer, sensing the tension, quickly intervened with a practiced smile. "Ladies and gentlemen, let us continue the bidding! We have confirmed that the bidder has the funds, and the current highest bid stands at ten thousand platinum coins. Do I hear any counteroffers?"
One of the VIP nobles finally snapped out of his stupor. "Twelve thousand!"
Another voice followed immediately. "Thirteen thousand!"
Arthur remained calm, waiting.
"Fourteen thousand five hundred!"
"Sixteen thousand!"
The intensity of the bidding war escalated. Each bid was made with clenched jaws and tense expressions. This was no longer just about the dragon core, it was also about their pride.
Arthur leaned back in his seat. He waited. Let them fight among themselves.
The bids climbed higher and higher.
"Eighteen thousand six hundred!"
"Twenty thousand!"
By now, only three bidders remained, two influential nobles and a merchant leader. They were visibly frustrated, their expressions dark. But Arthur could tell that twenty thousand was close to their limits.
That's when he struck.
Raising his hand once more, his voice rang clear through the hall.
"Twenty two thousand."
A sharp silence fell over the room once again.
The last three bidders exchanged looks. They hesitated.
The merchant leader clenched his fists but ultimately sighed, shaking his head.
"I'm out."
The two nobles grit their teeth, but neither made another bid.
The auctioneer smiled broadly. "Going once… Going twice… Sold! To the young gentleman for twenty two thousand platinum coins!"
The auction hall erupted into whispers and murmurs as Arthur casually leaned back, as if he hadn't just spent a fortune in a single bid.
Finn exhaled slowly. "Arthur… You're insane."
Leon smirked. "Who would have thought we would be walking out of here with a dragon core."
Arthur simply closed his eyes briefly, a slight smirk on his lips. Now he just had to wait and see if anyone would come after him.
***
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