After consecutively auctioning military-grade crossbows and magical armors, items akin to forbidden treasures, the atmosphere of the auction had successfully been pushed to its climax.
Many who had previously lost out during the fierce bidding rounds now glared at the fairy-like auctioneer on stage with bloodshot eyes, like beasts starved of satisfaction, seemingly resolved to reclaim their glory in the next phase of the auction.
Noticing this, the fairy auctioneer's smile grew even more enchanting and alluring. With a light clap of her delicate hands, a new round of items was brought onto the stage.
However, this time, the item bearer was no longer a scantily clad, seductive maiden as before, but a burly man clad in pitch-black heavy armor.
The hulking man carried a cylindrical metal container in his hands, its surface covered with intricate and mysterious runes, as if something within it was being sealed away.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the next item is one of the grand finales of this auction—”
The fairy auctioneer's delicate fingers brushed lightly across the surface of the metal container. The enigmatic runes glowed faintly, and the sound of mechanical parts grinding together resounded.
The container slowly opened, revealing at first nothing more than a pitch-black crevice.
Instantly, an oppressive and terrifying force washed over the crowd, as though a massive, ferocious beast was breaking free from the container, roaring furiously at everyone present.
"This is…"
In one of the private rooms, Moen felt the suffocating pressure bear down on him, his entire body uncontrollably pressed back against the sofa. A fine sheen of cold sweat quickly formed on his forehead.
Through the window, he could almost imagine the gaze of the creature inside, looking down at him as though he were nothing more than an ant.
But when he snapped back to reality, there was no sign of any creature—only the unassuming metal container, now gradually revealing a crystalline interior carved with intricate precision.
Inside the crystal, a scarlet liquid flowed, reminiscent of amber shimmering in the sunlight, breathtakingly beautiful and utterly mesmerizing.
"This item needs no lengthy introduction; I'm certain all of you, with your vast knowledge and experience, can recognize it immediately."
The fairy auctioneer smiled faintly, watching the entranced expressions of the audience. She herself had been just as astonished when her boss had first shown it to her.
“—The Heart Blood of an Ancient Dragon. Ten drops. Starting bid, one million. Let the auction commence!”
As her words fell, the entire auction hall went utterly silent for a fleeting moment.
It was the stillness before the storm.
And then, the thunder erupted on cue!
“One million one hundred thousand!”
“One million two!”
“One million three!”
“Two million!”
The feverish bids erupted like a tidal wave, roaring through the auction hall, as if the very roof might be torn off by the chaos. The bidding war surged uncontrollably, like a rocket propelled by an explosion, its price climbing higher and higher!
“Could this really be the Heart Blood of an Ancient Dragon?”
Staring at the crimson liquid swirling within the crystal, Moen's eyes gleamed with fervor.
Who said I have bad luck?
See, all this good fortune is coming my way now!
However, Moen wasn't in any rush to bid. He knew all too well that those throwing out bids so hastily were probably swept up in the fervor of the atmosphere and seduced by the rarity of the dragon's blood.
The real competitors for the Heart's Blood, those with actual clout, were likely still sitting back, observing.
No need to hurry.
Moen swirled the glass of his fine, expensive red wine, leisurely taking a sip as he waited out the storm.
When the storm subsides, only those with the capability to cross to the other side will remain.
…
…
“Heart Blood… of an Ancient Dragon?”
Elsewhere, in a more modest corner of the auction venue, Ariel nearly spat out the poor-quality, free coffee she'd fetched for herself.
What the hell?!
Heart? Ancient Dragon? Blood?
Did I mishear? Is this kind of item even supposed to appear in an auction of this caliber?
One moment, they were playing around with contraband items of questionable novelty, and the next moment, they leaped to auctioning such an awe-inspiring artifact.
Did the tone of the auction change too quickly, or is it just me?
“Buy it. You *must* buy it!”
Her master’s voice rang in her ears, flushed with excitement.
“Ariel, if you can secure this, not only will your martial arts breakthrough perfectly into the third tier, but your physical body will also undergo immense enhancement!”
“All that sounds great, but…”
The corner of Ariel's mouth twitched as the auction price in the hall instantly skyrocketed to three million, leaving her with an expression of pure despair.
“…but where am I supposed to find that kind of money?”
“…”
Her master fell briefly silent.
“In that case, how about selling your Heaven Flame Great Sword?”
“…Get lost.”
…
“Heart Blood of an Ancient Dragon?”
In the corner of the hall, under a wide, concealing black robe that could not disguise her stunning figure, a figure toying with the auction paddle marked with the number fifty muttered to herself with curiosity.
“Well now, this feels strange. If they had such a high-caliber auction item, why wouldn’t they release any information beforehand to draw in the rich?
“Anyone who knew this item was going up for auction would surely bring out the truly wealthy and powerful figures who wouldn’t be able to resist.”
Her sharp eyes scanned the crowd around her.
With deliberate manipulation pushing the frenzied momentum forward, that same fervor was now rapidly fading. Once the price hit the three-million mark, the number of bidding participants dwindled sharply.
After all, the high stakes had been laid bare. Among these people, there weren’t many who were genuinely wealthy.
“Could it be that the auction house’s owner is naively counting on some hidden golden goose among this crowd of broke wannabes who can’t even afford simple gemstones?”
“Or is there some entirely different purpose behind this auction itself?”
…
…
“What the hell is going on?!”
Inside a secluded private booth, a brutish, fierce-looking man bellowed furiously at a server.
“Didn’t your boss promise to hand the Heart’s Blood of the Ancient Dragon directly over to us, the Red Flame Gang? Why is he putting it up for auction?! This is breach of contract—blatant breach of contract!”
“Our boss says there’s been no breach of contract,” the server replied courteously, not flinching even as the man's angry spit splattered onto his face.
“The Heart Blood belongs to you; our boss has no objection to that. However, given the nature of such an artifact, conducting the transaction through proper private channels carries substantial risk. Considering these sensitive times, with stricter oversight from above, this is the best method to ensure delivery of the item into your hands.”
“So this so-called delivery just means putting it on display here for us to fight for in the auction?"
Lorenzo laughed derisively.
“What was the point of all the costs I incurred and the massive price I paid your boss upfront if I still have to compete for it here?”
“Rest assured, all of it was meaningful,” the server replied calmly, his expression as impassive as though carved into an icy mask.
“Before this auction began, no one was informed in advance about the Heart Blood of the Ancient Dragon. Thus, every attendee here assumes this is just a typical black-market auction, where the items available are likely the usual contraband and restricted goods not fit for public markets.
As a result, no one came here specifically for the Heart Blood, nor is anyone here adequately prepared to fight for it.
Save for one attendee… you.”
