Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Gehenna Auction House (3)
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All Might.
Diablo Volpir had given it the epithet "Unyielding Pride" when he created it.
A stone that nullified all physical forces. Simply owning it boosted one's defense, and the moment the artifact was activated, it granted a state close to invincibility against physical attacks.
It was the ultimate artifact that, alongside Perfect Cell, had played a pivotal role in elevating Diablo Volpir to a flawless existence.
It wasn't something to be wasted on powering a mere territory's energy supply.
'No competitors?'
Everyone gathered here belonged to the upper echelons, yet not a single one dared to raise their paddle carelessly.
Five hundred million gold was that kind of sum.
Even a grand territory like Hayes only required a bit over one hundred million gold for a full year's operations.
Considering Hayes dominated the eastern region of the Sellam Kingdom, there weren't many territories worldwide on par with it.
And yet, five times that amount—a fortune that could run Hayes for five years—had been bid solely to claim that beautiful stone.
"...Beyond the big spending, this feels a bit off."
Siegfried seemed baffled as well.
Even if it held enough power to supply a grand territory's energy for ten years, it made more sense to opt for cheaper, more efficient sources.
If it were merely a concentrated energy source, Siegfried's reasoning would hold water.
Even the grand magus who had reigned as a genius before Jamie couldn't discern All Might's true value just by looking at it.
'I'll snag it easily...'
That was the moment Jamie thought so.
"Five hundred and ten million."
Someone spoke up.
In the hushed auction hall, that voice rang crystal clear in everyone's ears.
Jamie instinctively checked the bidder.
It was a man wearing a black silk hat and an ornate mask depicting a duke.
'Damn. Thought it'd be a walkover.'
He hadn't expected competition.
The auctioneer, who should have reacted immediately, stood frozen with a stunned look. If his assistant hadn't shaken him, one might have thought he'd turned to stone.
"Ahh, I apologize for my unprofessional stutter. Truly sorry."
The auctioneer cleared his throat as he said this.
He had served as Gehenna Auction House's auctioneer for many long years, but this was a first.
Bidding competition over five hundred million? It felt utterly surreal, like a dream.
But dream or not, as a professional, he had to help bring this historic auction to a close!
That was his duty!
"Five hundred and ten million bid! Any further offers?!"
Vena looked slightly flustered.
She glanced briefly toward Jamie's seat.
-Master, what do we do?
'Raise it bit by bit.'
There was no limit to their budget anyway.
He didn't know how Kiriel would react later, but for now, they had no choice but to bid whatever it took.
"Five hundred and twenty million!"
"Five hundred and thirty million."
"Five hundred and fifty million!"
"Six hundred million."
Vena flinched.
But she opened her mouth again.
"Seven hundred million!"
This time, the man recoiled.
He clearly hadn't expected a jump of one hundred million at once.
His masked face hid his expression, but Jamie's eyes weren't fooled.
The subtle tremor in his shoulders, his legs that seemed ready to buckle, pressed down firmly by both hands. Yet the tension in his arms betrayed his state.
'He's pushing his limits. But he won't back down.'
-Looks that way.
Someone who bid six hundred million wouldn't quit over that.
Even with the added hundred million, he undoubtedly had the means to go higher.
The hesitation was likely him calculating All Might's value. And that calculation didn't take long.
"Seven hundred and thirty million."
That clinched it for Jamie.
'Up to eight hundred million.'
"Eight hundred million!"
Vena spat it out as instructed.
"Eight—eight hundred million bid!"
If the auctioneer hadn't been wearing a mask, spit would have flown to the front row.
Jamie eyed the man again.
He pondered briefly, then shook his head and tossed his paddle.
"Eight hundred million! The ultimate stone, All Might, sold for eight hundred million gold!"
Bang, bang, bang—
The wooden gavel rang triumphantly through the auction hall.
Jamie sighed in relief and slumped into his chair.
Siegfried tilted his head at the sight.
"Why does the young master look so drained?"
"Dunno, maybe because I just witnessed something unimaginable. It's exhausting me."
"You're no fun, young master."
"Don't call a kid boring."
"Well, it did have me gripping my seat too."
He raised his gloved hand. The palm was indeed slightly damp.
"Saw you spill your water earlier."
"Ahem."
Siegfried coughed awkwardly and lowered his hand.
Then he grinned.
"Shall we head out? I'm starving—let's grab something delicious."
"Sounds good."
They had no more business here.
The man and woman seated diagonally across still nagged at him, but securing the item came first.
Just as the two rose to leave, the next item was introduced.
"This next piece is a relic unearthed near the great volcano in the Kelton Mountains. I took a look myself—quite the peculiar thing. Looks like a key, but not quite. Anyway, feast your eyes!"
The auction item placed on stage.
It was a small golden rectangular prism, its surfaces engraved with ancient script.
Jamie's keen eyesight easily deciphered the engraved ancient tongue.
[Sleep here. Never to awaken again.]
And then, every light in the auction hall went out.
"Wh-what's happening... Whoa!"
The auctioneer's panicked cry echoed, as if shoved by someone.
Simultaneously, crashing sounds erupted from all around, accompanied by a cacophony of footsteps.
"Kyaaah!"
"Uwaaaah! Run!"
Screams burst nearby, with frantic movements to flee the darkness.
Siegfried effortlessly grasped Jamie's hand even in the pitch black.
"Stick close to me."
Moving rashly in this chaos would just sweep them into the mess and cause injury.
Siegfried deployed a spherical barrier.
And created light. The area brightened instantly, revealing the scene at a glance.
Siegfried frowned as he spoke.
"Good grief, what a mess."
In that brief moment, the auction hall had been wrecked.
Chairs where participants sat were smashed to splinters littering the floor, and doors leading to exits were torn off and ragged.
A few still inside scrambled out through half-ripped doors.
The auctioneer stood blankly on stage.
"Wh-what just...?"
He removed his mask and surveyed the ruined hall.
His mustache quivered—he looked furious.
"What the hell is this?!"
The lights had suddenly gone out.
Gehenna Auction House was one of the continent's premier secret auctions. A blackout like some petty glitch was impossible. And right after, those noisy footsteps.
"Who the hell could... Huh?"
The pedestal meant to hold the auction item stood empty.
He roughly lifted the premium cushion where it had been placed, but no item below either.
"Wh-what? Where did it...?"
"Mijoo sir!"
A staff member rushed over, calling the auctioneer's name.
The staff whispered urgently in Mijoo's ear with a deeply flustered face. Mijoo stared in disbelief, then parted his trembling lips.
"The remaining items were stolen?!"
Siegfried, who had been watching silently, spoke up.
"Son of a bitch."
The mana around him began to surge.
"Damn it all!"
A woman spat the words like venom, slamming her fist into the wall.
The man behind her gently patted her back with hollow eyes.
"This wasn't in the briefing!"
The woman, Braha, brushed off his hand as she snapped.
Braha's ears were pointed, her skin like fine porcelain.
Her limbs were slender and elongated, her form exquisitely beautiful overall. She was an elf, the race hailed as the most beautiful.
"Why were my kin enslaved and put up there?"
"...Alex can't know every single item, Izaya."
The man, Izaya, shook his head with a regretful expression.
Alex handled intel for their team and was tasked with scouting secret auction listings.
But no elf slaves had been on that list.
Braha recalled her kin being sold off before her eyes.
Her teeth ground together.
She wanted to ditch the mission and rescue them, consequences be damned.
She was furious at her own helplessness. Her limbs trembled, an urge rising to slaughter the buyers and everyone at Gehenna Auction House.
"Alex is working hard to track the elves' location—news will come soon. For now, we need to pull out."
"Damn it... "
She was still angry, but Izaya was right.
The items already claimed by buyers were beyond saving, but they'd swept all the remaining auction pieces.
Among them were the "Shadow Sheep's Heart" and the ultimate stone "All Might."
"This is just insane~"
Then, a man crouched on the floor, alternating glances between the Shadow Sheep's Heart and All Might, spoke in a delighted tone.
Izaya and Braha's teammate, Ramu.
"Ramu, sightsee later."
"Yes~ yes~"
Ramu repacked the items and stood, slapping the gloomy Braha's shoulder.
"Don't worry, Braha. Haha!"
"Shut up, you tactless idiot."
Braha swatted his hand away and strode forward.
Ramu just shrugged.
Izaya spoke to Ramu as they moved ahead.
"There was a Master Class."
"Whoa, this'll be a life-risking escape then?"
Master Class.
Ramu licked his lips.
The figures of the two men and one elf vanished with a pop.
And watching them from the sky were two others.
"Those damn bastards are making off with our stuff."
Siegfried spat coldly.
Space warped once more.
"Not on my watch, you punks."
Space contracted in an instant.
Jamie beside him swallowed a dry laugh at the display of spatial magic.
'This guy's skill...'
The rapidly shrunken space
"...Who are you!"
"Braha, back up."
"He's insanely fast?"
deposited Siegfried and Jamie right before Braha, Izaya, and Ramu.
Siegfried crooked a finger at them with a grin.
"Hand over my items. Before I kill you all."
Space expanded.