Chapter 53: The Head of House Ataraxia (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 53: The Head of House Ataraxia (2)
"One hundred million... One hundred million?"
"Are they out of their mind? Spending a hundred million on that?"
"This is insane."
The spectators, who had been watching with amusement, were now staring in sheer shock at the astronomical figure.
It would be one thing if it were the main attraction of this auction, the 'Heart of the Fish Dragon', or some other unrevealed treasure. But for a mere chessboard, the amount was utterly absurd.
"Ugh!"
Cadric let out a low, frustrated groan.
And for good reason.
Just moments ago, when he had checked Jinhyuk's balance, Cadric had been absolutely certain of his victory. All that was left was to take that piece of junk and trade it for the information Jinhyuk possessed.
Yes. That was how it was supposed to go.
But he never expected a random brat to trip him up like this.
Is she not a normal human?
There was no way she was normal. Not when she raised the bid to a hundred million in one go, skipping past one million or ten million entirely.
But no matter who his opponent was, he couldn't back down now. He had already squandered seventy million dollars buying up useless junk. If he stopped now, all of that would just be money thrown down the drain.
Never. He could absolutely... never let that happen.
"One hundred and ten million!"
"One hundred and fifty million."
"What?!"
This was insane. Raising the bid by forty million dollars in a single breath? Who the hell bids like that?
The massive jump in price made it clear she intended to utterly crush him.
Cadric's face turned a dark, muddy shade of purple. His sky-high pride had been thoroughly trampled.
"O-One hundred and sixty million..."
"Two hundred million."
Every time he desperately tried to catch up, she instantly widened the gap. And by an amount that was nearly impossible to match.
"M-Master! We can't go any further..."
"Shut up! If we lose to a brat like that, what will become of our reputation?"
It would be the ultimate humiliation. Not only would the mission fail, but it would also drag the Demonic Human Association's name through the mud.
"Fine. You want to play? Two hundred and ten million!"
"Three hundred million."
"Three hundred and ten million!"
"Five hundred million."
"F-Five hundred million?! Stop talking out of your ass! This isn't game money! Do you honestly expect us to believe you have five hundred million dollars?!"
Unable to contain himself any longer, Cadric leaped to his feet. His chest heaved violently. His face was flushed beet-red, his fury refusing to subside.
This is a total popcorn-worthy show.
Watching the spectacle unfold, Jinhyuk barely managed to hold back his laughter.
Honestly, even if Alice hadn't stepped in, he was confident he could have won what he wanted.
It would have been a bit of a waste, but the fragment of Merlin's staff I got from the Corridor would have been more than enough.
After all, it was one of the sacred relics. If he brought out Merlin's staff, it would have made everyone in this room lose their absolute minds.
But then again, a bidding war is always best fought using someone else's money.
That was why he had let Alice interact with those Demonic Humans in the first place. Alice was the type to speak her mind regardless of whether her opponent was a Demonic Human or the president himself. And Cadric certainly wasn't the type to take a provocation lying down.
He had calculated that if sparks flew between the two, it would naturally lead to a clash like this. And his prediction had hit the bullseye.
He knew the Demonic Human Association was powerful and filthy rich, but...
Well.
Could they really have more wealth than the head of the Ataraxia Family, one of the Nobles of the Night who ruled the upper floors of the Tower of Trials?
Jinhyuk casually crossed his legs.
Right then, the host chimed in.
"Ahem! Cough! As the elderly gentleman suggested, would you mind providing proof of your funds? We certainly do not doubt you, young lady, but we must ask for the smooth progression of the auction."
Five hundred million dollars was an astronomical sum that even executives of famous conglomerates couldn't hope to touch in a lifetime of work. Yet, a girl who looked no older than a middle schooler was throwing it around so casually. It was only natural that people found it hard to believe.
"Proof?"
"Yes."
"Fine. It's not like it's hard."
Alice lightly waved her hand.
Instantly,
Whirrr!
The space above Alice's shoulder began to distort. A crimson mist swirled and surged.
"A subspace... inventory?"
Indeed. It was the subspace inventory, often called the ultimate storage.
"Is that girl a Player?"
"To open one of that size, she must be quite high-ranked."
"Well, we're seeing some rare sights today."
The guests couldn't help but marvel at the unexpected display.
A moment later, Alice reached into the rift and pulled something out. It was an incredibly ornate crown, lavishly adorned with countless sparkling gems.
"Didn't you say this auction accepts precious metals and gems, not just dollars or whatever?"
"That is true, but..."
The host scrutinized the crown with a doubtful gaze. He seemed highly skeptical of its authenticity.
"First, we will have our appraiser examine it."
They had hired a Player with appraisal skills just in case such a situation arose.
The appraiser's fingertips glowed faintly. He was activating his skill.
However, as the appraiser examined the crown, his pupils suddenly dilated.
"T-This can't be..."
His voice trembled violently. His hands shook as if he had palsy.
"What is it? Is it a fake after all?" the host asked urgently.
"No. It's... it's genuine."
"Thank goodness. So, what is your appraisal? Do you truly believe this crown is worth five hundred million dollars?"
"Well... I don't think I can answer that."
The appraiser shook his head, looking deeply troubled.
"What? You can't answer? What do you mean by that?"
"The craftsmanship used on this crown is not something that can be replicated with modern technology."
Replicated with modern technology? Did that mean...?
"Is this from inside the Tower...?"
"Without a doubt. Furthermore, the seven-winged eagle engraved on the crown... it is the sacred beast symbolizing the Felshtain Kingdom."
A single word of confirmation. And the ripple effect of that single confirmation swept through the entire amphitheater.
"It's from the Tower?"
"That thing?"
"Wait, isn't the Felshtain Kingdom one of the most famous unrevealed ruins in the Tower of Trials?"
Ever since it became known that information about the Tower was highly lucrative, the people gathered here had been greedily collecting every scrap of data they could find. At least, as far as their power and money could buy.
"A ruin that can only be entered if you possess a treasure symbolizing the royal family. I've heard of it. Archaeologists who played [Tower of Trials] in the past found documents related to it."
The forgotten kingdom, Felshtain.
A place where the entire kingdom vanished beneath the sands due to a divine curse, burying countless treasures along with it. Located on the lower floors of the Tower, it was considered a jackpot ruin, making it one of the places countless players had desperately tried to find.
Yet, a clue to that very kingdom had just appeared right here.
"W-What is its value? How much is it worth then?!" the host demanded, half-crazed.
His calm, composed demeanor was completely gone; he had even forgotten his manners and dropped his polite honorifics entirely.
"If I had to estimate... it could easily fetch three billion dollars."
"What?!"
"Three... three billion dollars?"
"This is insane. Just the crown alone is worth that much, even without a map to the kingdom?"
"My god..."
The appraisal result completely shattered their sense of reality. With this, the owner of the chessboard was decided.
"Grrr!"
Cadric's face turned completely pale, ashen as death.
Who on earth was this brat to possess such an astronomical treasure? If the appraiser's words were true, even the Demonic Human Association couldn't compete financially. After all, the total funds they had brought here amounted to a mere seven hundred million dollars.
I completely miscalculated.
A fatal misjudgment. His habit of looking down on others had led to this disastrous outcome.
But the one more dangerous than that girl is Kang Jinhyuk, the man who is treating even her like a subordinate.
Cadric stared at Jinhyuk, who was currently patting the girl's head as if praising a pet.
Perhaps. Just perhaps. An enemy far more troublesome than the masked Player had just appeared.
* * *
"C-Congratulations! In that case, the 'First Chessboard' goes to the young lady who bid with the crown!"
The host loudly offered his congratulations to Alice.
Rattle!
A staff member in a black suit wheeled in the chessboard, sealed inside a glass case.
"Don't give it to me. Give it to him."
"Understood."
Receiving the chessboard in her stead, Jinhyuk put on an apologetic expression. He wasn't actually sorry, of course; it was purely for the sake of keeping up appearances. Still, to survive in society, one had to offer at least this level of fan service.
"I'm grateful, but wasn't that a bit much? Now I feel kind of bad."
Ah! That expression just now. He hadn't seen himself in a mirror, but it must have been a solid 95 out of 100. With his teeth lightly biting his lower lip and his head tilted at a precise 13.785-degree angle, he was certain his deep sincerity had been perfectly conveyed.
"It's a shame to break up my full collection, but there are several treasures symbolizing that kingdom anyway. More than that, I absolutely refuse to let those bastards who spoke down to my contractor have the last laugh."
"..."
This girl. She actually knows how to say something touching.
She's acting like it's no big deal, but she literally gave up a prized possession just for me.
Honestly, he was a little touched. It was a pretty good feeling.
He felt he should improve Alice's treatment just a tiny bit from now on.
Maybe I should put a cushion inside her ring. A cheap one from a five-day market, though, so she doesn't get too spoiled.
While Jinhyuk was smiling warmly, Cadric watched the two of them from afar. His eyes were filled with a singular, desperate determination to salvage this disastrous situation by any means necessary.
Of course, it wasn't as if he was completely out of options. He still had one final card up his sleeve.
Cadric placed his hand on Alex's shoulder.
"I must leave now to prepare for the boss raid."
He had gone out of his way to attend this auction just to make contact with Jinhyuk, but he could no longer afford to waste time here. Therefore,
"The moment the auction ends, kidnap Kang Jinhyuk."
"Me... sir?"
"Yes. You are more than capable. Besides, aren't there plenty of high-quality corpses you can make right here?"
No matter how strong an S-rank Player was, they couldn't easily deal with a fully prepared Necromancer. No matter how formidable one was in single combat, they would ultimately be powerless against the black magic that commanded an army of undead soldiers.
On top of that, Alex, who had been a surgeon before the Tower appeared, possessed a unique talent for manipulating human bodies.
Of course, if word got out that they had turned powerful figures from various nations into undead, the backlash would be severe. But that was only a concern if there were survivors left to testify.
Dead men tell no tales—that was an eternal truth.
"What about the girl?"
"Eliminate her."
"I was waiting for you to say that."
A sinister smile spread across Alex's lips. Finally, the opportunity to avenge his past humiliation had arrived.
* * *
About three hours later, the final item of the auction was sold.
It had been a highly successful auction—in more ways than one. If nothing else, this 175th auction would go down in history for recording the highest bid ever made.
"Thank you all for joining us for such a long time. When you depart, please use the vehicles provided, just as you did when you arrived... Aaack?!"
Just as the host was about to bow deeply,
Rumble!
A massive tremor shook the entire amphitheater.
Crash! Boom! Ba-ba-bang!
Cracks spiderwebbed across the ceiling, and massive pillars began to collapse.
"Aaaaargh!"
"H-Help me!"
"What's going on?!"
"Get out of the way! Just run!"
No one knew what was happening. In truth, the cause didn't matter. The only thing that mattered right now was survival.
They had to move. Forward. Even a little bit. Just a second faster!
Driven by their survival instincts, everyone scrambled desperately to escape.
However, where they ran was not an exit. If anything, it was closer to hell.
Slash!
A spray of blood erupted alongside a flashing blade.
"Gurgle... Cough...?"
The man at the very front clutched his throat with both hands. Naturally, since a gaping hole had just been carved into his neck.
"Where do you think you're going in such a hurry? You precious sacrifices are supposed to be my raw materials."
Alex stood at the entrance, greeting the fleeing crowd. Beside him stood monsters of a grotesque, horrific appearance unlike anything they had ever seen.
"Kieeeek!"
"Kiiik!"
With all other emergency exits blocked by the half-collapsed pillars, the amphitheater had been transformed into one giant prison. A prison from which there was absolutely no escape.
But right then,
"I was actually quite enjoying this party..."
Jinhyuk appeared before Alex, radiating waves of pure, suffocating bloodlust.
"Your little prank has gone way too far."
He had crossed the line. And by a very wide margin.