The Frenzy of the Auction
ChadOnam, a member of the Hamel Guild, grinned as he watched the bidding price for the surging black longsword climb.
Nice, the mood is perfect.
The starting bid had been 1,000 gold.
Five minutes in, it had only just broken 3,000 gold.
“3,100 gold!”
Suddenly, the bid jumped by a full 100 gold.
ChadOnam checked the chat.
He replied and headed toward the user who had called 3,100 gold.
Cautiously, he spoke from behind.
“Excuse me.”
“Hm? Who...?”
“I'm from the Hamel Guild.”
“H-Hamel...!”
“If you bid again, the alliance—made up solely of top guilds—will issue a kill order on you.”
“What...?”
“If you're prepared for that, go ahead and bid again.”
Leaving those words behind, he returned to his seat.
“3,110 gold.”
He raised it by 10 gold.
“3,200 gold!”
ChadOnam turned his head. Someone from the alliance was already nearby. He approached the user who had bid 3,200 gold, and ChadOnam smiled as he raised his paddle again.
“3,210 gold.”
The plan was proceeding smoothly.
*
The auctioneer's brow furrowed. The atmosphere felt off, but he pressed on with his excited act to drum up responses.
“Looks like plenty of you are still eyeing your chance! Of course! A longsword of this value demands holding your breath. True beasts strike at the perfect moment!”
A few nodded in agreement.
Thinking his words were landing, the auctioneer tried to push further when a paddle went up.
“Ah, right on cue—3,110 gold from bidder 7. Bidder 7 at 3,110 gold. Anyone higher? If you're waiting, now's the time! Bidder 51 at 3,200 gold! If no more bids, we'll close after three calls. Ah, bidder 7 again.”
The auctioneer's expression soured.
This is driving me crazy.
But he had to feign excitement.
“3,210 gold! Is a fierce battle brewing? Jump in now—this sword could be yours! 3,210 gold! 3,210 gold! If no more, three calls and we're done. 3,210 gold! 3,210...”
That was the moment.
A powerful bid splashed cold water on the dragging auction, slamming into the room.
“7,000 gold.”
Even the auctioneer blanked out for a second.
What...?
He shook his head and shouted belatedly.
“Ah, 7,000—7,000 gold!”
The mysterious man who had bid 7,000 gold.
ChadOnam approached him from behind.
“Excuse me.”
“Hm?”
“I'm from the Hamel Guild.”
“Hamel?”
“If you bid again, our alliance—composed only of top guilds—will issue a kill order on you.”
The mysterious man let out a scoff.
“A kill order? You're issuing a kill order on me?”
“Yes...”
“To me, a duke of the Hemil Empire?”
“Uh...?”
It felt like he'd heard a word he shouldn't have.
ChadOnam tilted his head.
“Who might you be...?”
The knight guarding the mysterious man answered instead.
“This is Duke Amur of the Hemil Empire.”
“Uh, uhh...”
“Even for an outsider, that's no manners.”
As the knight furrowed his brow, ChadOnam felt an odd pressure bearing down on his shoulders.
Regardless of level, the man's presence was overwhelming. Honestly, with that kind of aura, his skills had to be exceptional.
A special NPC...?
It was already common knowledge that there were more special NPCs with terrifying power than expected.
Most of them were in the empire, so picking a fight with imperial nobles was a no-go.
Not a kingdom—a full empire.
ChadOnam gave an awkward smile.
“S-Sorry.”
“I'll forgive it once. Get lost.”
“Y-Yes...”
As he retreated, ChadOnam quickly typed.
At that moment, the 7,000 gold bid got its first call.
“Two calls left. 7,000 gold! 7,000...”
ChadOnam worried the auction might end like this.
What do I do? Bid or not?
As he pondered, a voice rang out.
“7,100 gold!”
“Yes! Bidder 39 calls 7,100 gold!”
A leader from another allied guild had broken the pact first.
ChadOnam grinned and raised his paddle.
“7,500 gold!”
“Ah, bidder 7 comes in strong this time! 7,500 gold! Bidder 29 at 7,600 gold! Bidder 71 at 7,700 gold! Bidder 79 at 7,800 gold! The price is skyrocketing. For speed from now on, raise paddles for 200 gold increments! Yes—bidders 3, 5, 6, 45! Bidder 46! It's shot up to 8,800 gold in a flash! Bidder 2 at 8,500 gold! Bidder 6 at 8,700 gold! Alright, 300 gold per call now! 9,000, 9,300, 9,600, 9,900—ah, we've hit 10,000 gold!”
The atmosphere ignited in an instant.
*
Most of the allied guilds were scrambling to grasp the situation.
“What the hell's going on?!”
“No idea. Someone bid 7,000 earlier, but it seems out of control.”
“Ha, are they messing with us? They proposed the alliance just to backstab?”
“Likely.”
“Those bastards are playing dirty. How much gold we got?”
“Well...”
“Dump it all. Buy it no matter what. Got it?”
“Yes, Guild Master!”
Rumors started twisting.
“What? Betrayal?”
“Yes!”
“Fuck these guys...!”
It stung their pride.
They just wanted to win.
No thought of later losses.
“10,900 gold! Now 400 gold per call!”
As the bizarre momentum built, Mu-hyuk eyed the mysterious man who had shouted 7,000 gold.
Who is that guy?
Too far, only his back visible—no identifying him.
The vibe was clearly not intentional escalation. Amid certainty of top guilds colluding, someone had jumped in and shaken the board.
Not Min-woo.
Unable to hold back, Mu-hyuk left the VIP room.
The public auction hall.
He wove through the crowd of users.
Finally arriving, he stood beside the mysterious man.
“Excuse me...”
“Hm?”
Mu-hyuk's eyes widened upon seeing his face.
“Duke Amur?”
“Oh, it's you.”
“How in the world...?”
“I told you at the banquet, didn't I? We'd meet soon.”
“Here?”
“Exactly. I mentioned a good item at public auction before?”
“Yes.”
“Curious about your skills, I joined. Honestly, I'm impressed. Didn't expect this level. Anyway, meet at the restaurant across after—got a personal request.”
“Understood.”
Mu-hyuk turned back.
The situation was... something.
He couldn't help but chuckle.
He could picture it.
The colluders' panicked faces.
*
At 14,000 gold, the mood shifted.
Excitement cooled; reality set in.
“14,000...”
“Ha, I'm out.”
Some gave up.
“What now?”
“Tricky...”
Some hesitated.
“Still good.”
Others, with reserves, watched eagerly. They eyed each other, inching the price up.
“15,000 gold!”
It rose slowly, leisurely.
Most judged it nearing the end.
Just a bit more.
The sword would be theirs. They mentally reviewed their limits, scanning surroundings cautiously.
Swoosh.
Duke Amur raised his paddle.
“18,000 gold.”
Silence fell.
Except for one—the auctioneer.
“Bidder 1! 18,000 gold! No more? Three calls and done! 18,000 gold! 18,000 gold! 18,000...”
“19,000!”
“20,000 gold!”
“21,000!”
As if drawn by something.
Some participants shattered their limits.
*
The final bid settled at 36,000 gold.
“Excellent, truly.”
Duke Amur stroked the blade, smiling contentedly.
“Worth every coin.”
“Glad you like it.”
In a separated room on the restaurant's fourth floor, Duke Amur and Mu-hyuk sat facing each other.
36,000 gold.
Mu-hyuk was simply delighted at exceeding expectations. Duke Amur had been admiring the sword for a while too.
Time passed.
“Ah, got carried away.”
Both snapped to.
“It's fine.”
“Got a personal favor.”
“Speak.”
“Outsiders are coming from other continents. Know why?”
“Hm, that's...”
“To claim the hidden power on Forma Continent.”
Mu-hyuk felt like a hammer to the head.
What...?
Main Episode 2 was clearly 'Hidden Powers of Each Continent.' That meant Forma had one too.
Why didn't I think of it?
He felt like an idiot.
Stupid.
“I don't want it going to outsiders.”
“I see.”
“So, I ask you. My info's limited, but use it to find the hidden power. Don't know what it is, but bring it to me—I'll reward accordingly.”
Mu-hyuk pondered.
Kairon Continent's hidden power absorbed instantly upon discovery.
Couldn't hand it over.
Forma too?
Likely similar.
Hm, sort it out.
Rank 1 Dark got Kairon's.
Revealed weeks before Mu-hyuk's suicide attempt. No info after.
So, hidden powers on Forma and Grakan too, but Kairon revealed first.
Fact: Prioritize Kairon.
Get it first, then others. Logical order.
Another reason to hurry.
Duke Amur, waiting, asked again.
“What say you? Accept?”
Mu-hyuk shook his head.
“Sorry. Priorities now—can't. But later, if possible... I'd love to.”
“Hm, alright.”
“Yes.”
Duke Amur fell silent.
Five minutes passed.
“No helping it. Without seeing your skill, I wouldn't wait. But confirmed with my eyes—you're the most trustworthy. Understood. Won't be forever, but I'll wait a bit. Come when done.”
“Got it.”
Duke Amur's Waiting
Kairon and Forma.
No more time wasting here to claim both hidden powers. Time to head to Kairon Continent.