Chapter 553: Auction Preview
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 553: Auction Preview
"Are you sure you're not coming, Sister Bai?"
I stood before a massive full-length mirror, swaying my body slightly as I studied my reflection.
Come to think of it, how long had it been since I’d taken a good look at myself like this?
"I want to go, but I can't. You know that, don't you, Xiao Han?" Sister Bai sighed softly, though her eyes remained fixed on me, reluctant to look away. "To keep the other Transcendent Academies stable, the Witch Academy cannot be the first to break the agreement."
Of course, the main reason was the Witch Contract that the Dean of the Witch Academy had signed on behalf of all Transcendent Witches.
"That really is a shame..." I looked at Sister Bai through the mirror's reflection and lightly pinched the corner of my skirt. "So, how about this outfit? It’s not overly flashy; it doesn't even quite look like a formal gown."
"Of course. You look beautiful in anything, Xiao Han."
"Is that so? And you're really comfortable letting me go out like this? Aren't you afraid someone might spirit me away?" I adjusted a corner of the bodice. The unique neckline featured a geometric cutout design which, paired with the sleeveless cut, managed to avoid looking too revealing.
In the mirror, the classic pure black, mid-length gown I was wearing actually looked rather conservative. The hem didn't even touch the floor.
In truth, this outfit was essentially a spell effect. I had chosen it because it was the most conservative option in this particular category of gowns. If I wanted other styles, I would have to personally own the physical set to record it as a spell—a process even more tedious than recording a weapon in the Book in the Box.
"Is that so?" Hearing my question, Sister Bai didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stepped forward, hooked an arm under my knees, and swept me off my feet.
"Eh? Hey! Put me down!"
"Tell me, Xiao Han... besides me, who else could you possibly have eyes for?"
"Alright, alright! I don't have eyes for anyone but Sister Bai!" I wrapped my arms around her neck to keep my balance before she finally let me down, one foot at a time.
"See? You said the answer yourself," Sister Bai said with a smile.
"Fine, fine. Let me check the time. I should be going now."
"Going so early? Don't you know that the more prestigious the person, the later they make their entrance?" Sister Bai asked when she heard I was leaving, though she made no move to stop me.
Upon learning that Xiao Han was attending the auction, Bai Yu had immediately looked into it, reviewing a vast amount of information. This included specific details about the venue's planning and arrangements. Naturally, she knew the auction's schedule, and she had already quietly shared all this information through the Tree of Knowledge.
"Well... habit. It's a matter of habit. It's my first time, so I'm naturally a bit curious..."
"Fair enough. It’s good to go out and see the world. It’ll save you from acting immature when things like this happen in the future—you've been preparing for days just for this," Sister Bai teased. Still, she had been right there by Xiao Han's side, helping her prepare until now.
Hearing Sister Bai say that, I realized she was right.
Even though I had been trying to act like I didn't care, ever since I received the invitation, I had been subconsciously worrying about what I needed to watch out for.
"Ugh... fine. Maybe the jump in social status was just too big, and my experience hasn't caught up yet."
"Then go see more of it. Life isn't just limited to the Witch Academy; there are plenty of exciting things waiting for you to discover."
After a final goodbye to Sister Bai, I left her residence.
The address on the invitation was within the Magic City territory, so it wasn't very far. In fact, the Witch Academy had a dedicated teleportation channel that led directly to that hotel. Since the place was nominally an asset of the Witch Academy, it naturally served as a liaison point between the academy and the outside world.
However, there was still a significant distance between Sister Bai’s residence and that teleportation channel.
Fortunately, having teleportation landmarks made things much easier. The landmark was located at another branch of the Jack-of-all-trades Club within the Witch Academy.
I had expected the place to be crowded, but when I arrived, I found very few people.
Thinking about it, it made sense. Most students chose to leave campus during the break, and most were likely just starting their journey back. I did, however, run into a group of girls carrying professional equipment, seemingly waiting for someone.
After a quick appraisal, I identified them. They were members of the Witch Academy's news clubs. This auction would be reported across various Transcendent Academies, though the information wouldn't leak to ordinary society.
Just as I realized who they were, their keen journalistic instincts kicked in, and their gazes swept toward me.
"Whoa—that girl is so pretty. Do you guys know her?"
"Wipe your drool. Stop looking like such a fangirl," a girl nearby said, nudging the first speaker with her elbow.
"That one? White hair... I've noticed white hair is really trending in the academy lately," another girl remarked, following their gaze.
"I don't care if it's a trend or not, I'm a fan of all of them!"
"Actually, the white hair aesthetic was probably started by Xiao Han. Those students in the Xiao Han Fan Club are just copycats. But speaking of white hair, every time I see it, I think of my great-grandmother..."
"It's mostly about the contrast... Hey, she's coming our way."
I walked past the girls, meeting their gazes as I brushed by.
I naturally heard their whispers; after all, my Five Senses cultivation made my hearing incredibly sharp.
However, since they didn't try to strike up a conversation, I didn't respond to their eager looks.
I walked straight toward a building that looked less conspicuous than the Jack-of-all-trades Club headquarters. This was my destination.
Because this location connected directly to the hotel hosting the pre-term auction, the Jack-of-all-trades Club had arranged for several members who hadn't left campus to act as receptionists.
Even though most students were away, the auction meant there would be many times more people passing through here than usual.
As soon as I arrived, a greeter approached to ask if I needed anything. Those attending the auction simply had to show their invitations, while special groups like news club reporters or staff were allowed through without hindrance.
Due to the high frequency of use, the teleportation channel had been stabilized for the duration using alchemy equipment interfaced with the curtain wall.
After I presented my invitation, one of the staff members enthusiastically led me to the teleportation channel.
I took a step forward.
In an instant, I was on the other side.
My toes touched down on a soft carpet, making almost no sound.
Once I had fully cleared the teleportation channel, the scene before me came into focus. I was in a hallway, with a deep red carpet stretching straight to the end.
The spot I had emerged from was a massive mirror mounted at the end of the hallway, its frame decorated with ornate patterns.
A row of receptionists in matching uniforms stood nearby. Upon seeing my attire, they quickly gauged my status, and the one in front stepped forward.
"Honored lady, welcome to the Transcendent Auction hosted by the Witch Academy's Jack-of-all-trades Club. I am your receptionist. Please present your invitation so we may verify your identity."
"Of course. Thank you."
I took out the invitation and handed it over. They seemed unfazed by my use of storage equipment.
Most of them were professional receptionists; their horizons were naturally much broader.
The receptionist took the invitation and immediately verified its authenticity. The screen in her hand quickly displayed the information.
One couldn't blame them for being so thorough. This was an invitation-only auction that countless wealthy moguls from the outside world were desperate to enter, whether through connections or other means. There had even been a bold individual who successfully sneaked in with a forged invitation once, so the verification process was mandatory.
Technically, since this portal connected directly to the Witch Academy, such a thing shouldn't happen here, but the procedure was still followed as a formality.
More importantly, they needed to confirm the guest's identity—especially for VIPs specifically flagged by the organizers, who required the utmost care.
As the receptionist looked at the generated information, her eyes widened, and she snapped to attention.
This girl before her—who had no intimidating aura, seemed very gentle, and even looked a bit youthful—was actually a Teacher!
For a moment, she felt a dizzying sensation, like she’d hit the jackpot. Those in charge of the receptionists had specifically instructed them on which guests required special treatment, and they had all studied the names and photos in advance.
But... the auction hadn't even started yet. The auction preview had only just been set up. Usually, at this time, the only people rushing in were club reporters, or wealthy socialites and nobles who had used their connections to get an early look.
She instinctively looked up at the girl. With her slightly green appearance, she looked like a student who had just enrolled, currently peering curiously at every corner of the hall.
But she didn't dare doubt the information. Even if it were wrong, she had to treat it as correct. It was better to be over-accommodating than to make a mistake. Besides, looking at that face, there was no way she could be wrong. She hadn't recognized her earlier only because she hadn't expected someone of her status to arrive so early.
Given the situation, her own rank was no longer sufficient to host this guest. She immediately called for the manager. However, until the manager arrived, she had to perform her duties to perfection.
"It is a great honor to serve you, Teacher Yang Yuehan. The manager in charge of this auction preview will be here shortly. Please allow me to introduce the specific arrangements for today's preview." She spoke with utmost warmth while maintaining a professional restraint as she guided me into the main hall.
I followed her in. This area was clearly off-limits to anyone not coming from the Witch Academy, but once we passed through the hallway, we entered the main venue.
As I crossed the threshold, I saw a familiar face. It was Xing Anlei, one of the Vice Presidents I had met at the Jack-of-all-trades Club.
She was currently giving instructions to several girls, but her gaze was naturally drawn to the opening door. That door didn't open often; when it did, it meant someone from the Witch Academy had arrived.
She had expected the early arrivals to be the invited news clubs, who usually came early to take close-up shots of the rare items while the crowds were thin.
But after a casual glance, her heart nearly skipped a beat. She was secretly stunned—why was this person here so early?
"My apologies, a distinguished guest has arrived. Let's stop here for now. Come with me to greet her." Xing Anlei cut her instructions short and jogged over without hesitation.
"Teacher Xiao Han! I didn't expect you to arrive so early!" Xing Anlei's voice reached me while she was still some distance away. The receptionist leading me immediately breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she no longer had to bear the responsibility of hosting this VIP.
The receptionist was also deeply shocked. The girl jogging toward them... was one of the presidents of the Jack-of-all-trades Club, the host of this auction!
She was a figure one usually never even got the chance to see.
The receptionist tactfully slowed her pace and fell behind, waiting for an opportunity to return to her post.
It wasn't that she didn't want to curry favor; it was that a person of this caliber was simply beyond her reach. Those who couldn't recognize their place had no business being receptionists here.
"Yes, I didn't have much to do at the academy, so I thought I'd come have a look around," I explained casually.
Looking at Xing Anlei, she clearly didn't think I was just "having a look around." As she approached, the girls who had been with her followed.
She enthusiastically introduced me to them.
These girls were also core members of the Jack-of-all-trades Club, responsible for maintaining the auction's operations, managing the schedule, and hosting special guests.
"Teacher Xiao Han, would you like me to lead you on a tour of the items in our auction preview? I'm sure there are many things here that will interest you."
"I'll just wander around on my own; there's no need to go to all that trouble. You looked quite busy just now, so don't waste your time on me," I said.
"Is that so? Very well. If you need anything, you can find me at any time. How about this—I'll leave her... she will be your exclusive receptionist. If you need to know anything or run into any minor trouble, just ask her." Xing Anlei pulled one of the girls forward and presented her to me.
"Hello, Teacher Xiao Han."
"Mm." I nodded and didn't refuse. Having an exclusive receptionist nearby would indeed save me a lot of trouble.
"Xiao Shuang, you will follow Teacher Xiao Han from now on. Do whatever she asks," Xing Anlei instructed the girl, whose name was Jiao Xiaoshuang. She then turned back to me. "As for you, Teacher Xiao Han, you are more than welcome to browse as you please. If you get tired... this is a hotel, after all, with full services. We will do our best to meet any request you have. I hope you have a pleasant stay. Now... if you'll excuse me."
"It's fine." I waved her off, maintaining a relaxed and easygoing manner.