Chapter 52: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Even the Absolute One Is New to Fatherhood - Chapter 52
The morning of the auction.
The hotel lobby was bustling with an overwhelming crowd, filled with noise and excitement.
From prominent figures in politics and business to foreign press reporters—everyone had gathered.
"Hey, why do you look so stiff?"
Kang-jun, dressed in an immaculate suit, glanced at Bong-gu, who responded with an awkward smile.
"I guess I'm just... nervous."
Just then, the auction agent, Kagon, suddenly interjected.
"According to the intel we gathered, the Rothschild family has prepared extensively to secure the Elixir."
"How so?"
"Rumors say they've been liquidating stocks, bonds, and even real estate under the Rothschild name at an alarming rate."
Kang-jun raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Kagon continued in a hushed tone.
"Not only that, but they've also been borrowing massive sums of cash from multiple financial figures under absurd conditions."
At that, Kang-jun subtly shifted his gaze toward Bong-gu, whose face was rigid with tension.
This kid's got too much weighing on him.
For Bong-gu, the Elixir was the dream and goal of a lifetime—now shimmering right before his eyes. It was only natural for him to be trembling.
Family.
A mere two syllables, yet for Kang-jun, it had somehow become the softest, warmest word in the world.
Family in pain...
He couldn't even begin to imagine how it must feel to watch one's own family wither away day by day, slipping deeper into unconsciousness.
"Don't worry."
Kang-jun patted Bong-gu's shoulder with a calm assurance.
"Just trust me."
Bong-gu's eyes widened.
Hyung...
This was the first time Kang-jun had ever referred to himself as hyung—older brother.
"Let's go."
With that, Kang-jun took the lead, striding forward. Bong-gu nodded once and followed closely behind.
"Yes..."
Then, after a pause, he added:
"Hyung."
Kang-jun's back looked unshakably dependable.
Meyer Rothschild was wound tight with tension.
Are they not even planning to bid today...?
The one known as Immortal, who had swept up every item in the pre-auction, hadn't made a single bid attempt in the main event.
Had his fear that this man was after the Elixir been nothing but baseless paranoia? He had gone to extreme lengths to secure vast sums of cash, but what if it was all for nothing?
No matter what, I must obtain the Elixir...
Meyer recalled the conversation he'd had with a high-ranking member of the Brotherhood who had visited him recently.
"Prove your worth by securing the Elixir."
"If you bring it to us, we will deify you."
"But fail, and we will take your life."
Just then, the auctioneer's voice rang out again.
"-Now, we begin the auction for the legendary panacea—the Elixir!"
Meyer's gaze snapped back to the stage.
"Finally..."
Inside a crystal vial, a liquid shimmered with seven shifting colors.
Gasps of awe rose from the crowd, enchanted by its ethereal, iridescent glow.
"-As you all know, a single dose is said to cure any disease..."
The auctioneer continued his lengthy explanation before finally taking a breath and announcing:
"-The starting bid for the Elixir is 100 million dollars."
Converted to Korean won, that was well over 100 billion KRW.
The moment the auction began, heated responses erupted from all corners.
"150 million dollars!"
"Double—200 million!"
"Double again—400 million!"
Not only were several prominent Jewish magnate families participating, but even royalty known for their vast wealth had joined the fierce bidding war.
"Double, double, double, double—"
In the blink of an eye, the price skyrocketed into the trillions.
Meyer Rothschild, too, threw himself into the fray, escalating the stakes dramatically.
"The Rothschild family doubles again—128 billion dollars!"
Then—
"Immortal has doubled once more—256 billion dollars!"
Meyer still had plenty of budget left.
"Double."
The price surged again—512 billion dollars.
Roughly 50 trillion KRW—now matching the annual defense budgets of some nations.
Immortal, let's see how far you can keep this up...
Meyer had scraped together every last resource—liquidating stocks, bonds, real estate, even priceless artworks at fire-sale prices—to amass a war chest nearing 300 billion dollars.
He could not lose.
No—
He must not lose.
Then the auctioneer's voice trembled.
"Immortal... doubles again."
Another "double" was called, and the Elixir's price shattered past 1 trillion dollars—matching the record set at the last auction.
It's still fine...
Assuming Immortal had now hit his limit, Meyer decided to shift tactics. No more reckless doubling—he would inch the price up carefully, aiming for a reasonable closing bid.
"1.2 trillion."
But—
"The Rothschild family bids 1.2 trillion dollars!"
"I—I can't believe it! Another double!"
"The Elixir's price soars to 2.4 trillion dollars!"
Meyer's face twisted.
The total cash I raised by liquidating the family's assets was roughly 2.8 trillion...
His chances were dwindling fast.
"2.5 trillion."
He prayed Immortal wouldn't double again.
This is insane...
Even his current bid matched the annual defense budget of the United States.
If Immortal doubled now, the price would leap to 5 trillion dollars.
No individual could possibly hold that much liquidity.
He must be hitting his limit too...
Meyer assumed Immortal would only raise the bid by increments now—perhaps another 10 billion at most.
But—
"I—I can't believe this..."
"Another double!"
"The bid is now 5 trillion dollars!"
Meyer's eyes bulged. He turned to his secretary and barked in a near-hysterical voice:
"Suspend the auction immediately! Verify whether he even has the funds to pay this!"
Meanwhile, in a private room not far away, Kang-jun remained utterly relaxed.
"See? I told you to trust me."
Kagon, however, wore a grave expression.
"Great Immortal, I regret to inform you that the organizers have suspended the auction."
"Why?"
"They wish to... verify your ability to pay the bid amount."
Kang-jun nodded.
"By all means."
How much time passed?
"-We apologize for the delay, esteemed guests. The auction will now resume."
Meyer Rothschild's face turned ashen.
That could only mean one thing—
Immortal had the funds.
"H-How...?"
This auction, which his very life depended on, was ending in defeat.
He muttered weakly, shaking his head.
But he still had 300 billion dollars left.
If he could somehow steal the Elixir with this money...
He might still survive.
That night.
Meyer Rothschild sat on the sofa in his hotel suite, his face pale with terror, waiting for someone.
Then—
Movement stirred in the darkened room as several robed figures emerged.
"You failed to secure the Elixir."
The speaker was the Brotherhood executive who had promised to accept Meyer if he succeeded.
Meyer dropped to his knees, desperation clawing at his voice.
"Th-There's still a way!"
"A way?"
"W-We could use force—"
The Brotherhood member shook his head.
"Hmm. I believe we made it clear—you only had one chance."
"P-Please—"
"Die with dignity, as promised."
Then, in a flat tone, he added:
"Dispose of him."
The robed men behind him silenced Meyer Rothschild for good.
"With your permission, we will retrieve the Elixir from this 'Immortal.'"
The leader of the group shook his head.
"First, we must investigate him further."
"But—"
"Our contact with Amanda, who interacted with Immortal, has been severed."
He continued grimly.
"And the god I serve has given a prophecy."
"A prophecy?"
"Turn your gaze away from him—for now."
This man, a high-ranking member of the Brotherhood scattered across the globe like hidden cells, was also one chosen by the gods.
"Immortal..."
He clicked his tongue in frustration.
Though he couldn't discern the man's true nature, one thing was clear—
Even the gods were watching him.
"Soon, I shall descend myself and deliver divine punishment upon the one called '■■■'—Immortal—from the depths of the Abyss."
"I have already lost my loyal vessel, the Frost Giant Hrimthurs."
"And with the destruction of the Norns, who governed the fate of Yggdrasil, the divine order of Asgard has crumbled."
The being speaking was a noble and exalted god of Asgard—the Giant with the Sewn-Shut Mouth.
"Soon, my giants will trample and burn his domain, and he will pay for his sins by losing all he holds dear."
With such a divine decree, all he could do now was wait, biding his time.