“Ladies and gentlemen. May I get your attention, please?”
As the sound of the young man echoed inside the room, the lights dimmed, and the room hushed.
Focusing on the stage, there stood a young man with lights focusing solely on him. It was as if he was the main character of this event; he was smiling broadly while looking at the crowd before him.
His attire consisted of the most famous and expensive brand in the world, and his shining green eyes were like a snake.
The dark chestnut hair and incredibly handsome features raised his charisma to another level, coupled with the faint pressure he was releasing. 𝔬𝒱𝓛xt.𝑪𝐎𝐦
He was a person that Irina was quite familiar with.
A person who was close to the boy she liked. His older brother.
Kaiser Blackthorn.
The current face of the Blackthorn family and the person who is said to have the highest chance of winning the inheritance.
‘His features are certainly like him.’
Irina thought as her eyes wandered around to see her ‘crush.’ However, she couldn’t find him at the end.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Kaiser began, his voice resonant and engaging. “It’s an honor to have you all here tonight. As many of you know, the Blackthorn family has always been at the forefront of innovation, particularly in the field of dungeon mining.”
As the young man spoke his words, suddenly, a special phenomenon made from pure mana occurred on the stage.
A holographic presentation appeared. There could be seen a special structure that looked like a three-dimensional print of a surface.
“This is a special type of dungeon that is under the supervision of our family.” He stated as he looked at the structure of the dungeon. “And, today, I will unveil the latest technology that our team has been working tirelessly on.”
He went on to explain the new technology they had developed, a cutting-edge method to extract stones and ores from the dungeons with increased efficiency and precision. The room listened intently, impressed by the advancements in this age-old industry.
It was the same with Lilia and Irina. They were both engaged in the industry of dungeon mining since their families also owned some small companies. Thus, they were able to see how effective this new method was.
“It is crazy, right? If they are telling the truth.” Irina mumbled to Lilia as she looked at the figures shown.
The fact that the Blackthorn Family claimed at least a %12 increase in efficiency itself was groundbreaking and something that every power in the world needed to be aware of.
“Indeed, though that is if they are telling the truth.” Lilia agreed, though she looked skeptical.
“But tonight, I bring you even more exciting news,” Kaiser continued, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. “Through our latest efforts, we have uncovered a new, mysterious ore within the dungeons. This particular one holds immense potential and could revolutionize various sectors of our world.”
-CHATTER!
The crowd erupted into murmurs and whispers, the excitement palpable. Lilia, her curiosity piqued, leaned closer to her friends, her eyes fixed on Kaiser.
Kaiser’s gaze swept across the audience. “This one, which we’ve named ‘Nexirium,’ possesses unique properties. It is not only stronger and more durable than most known materials, but it also has exceptional magical conductivity. We believe it holds the key to groundbreaking advancements in both technology and magic.”
His eyes were shining as the small module of the Nexirium appeared on the hologram. It was a material that had a silver-white color shining.
Everyone’s eyes lit up at the mention of magical conductivity.
The stabilization and durability of the material were important, but nothing could go past the magical conductivity.
For Awakened people, having a weapon that enabled them to use mana was a lot more important.
“Our researchers are tirelessly studying Nexirium to unlock its full potential,” Kaiser continued. “We anticipate its utilization in forging stronger weapons, more durable armor, and even as a catalyst for advanced magical spells.”
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
As the applause for Kaiser’s presentation subsided, he concluded, “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention. We are truly excited about the future that Nexirium promises. Now, as a token of our appreciation for your support, we are pleased to announce the usual ending event for tonight—the Blackthorn Family Auction.”
The room buzzed with anticipation as the attendees settled into their seats, eager for what was to come. The Blackthorn Family Auction was known for offering unique and valuable artifacts and materials, and one of the things that people were drawn to this banquet.
“It is finally here.”
Irina mumbled. Even though the presentation was good and Kaiser’s unique halo was effective, in the end, she got bored since half of the talks were actually praising their product and word plays. And she hated those wordplays. It made her want to puke.
Kaiser gestured to a set of assistants who wheeled in display cases showcasing the auction items. “We have an array of remarkable items for you to bid on, all sourced and crafted with great care by our family. From enchanted jewelry to rare magical artifacts, you’ll find something that piques your interest.”
Ethan, Lucas, Julia, Carl, Irina, and Lilia had already examined the catalogs and discussed the potential acquisitions. So for them, they were already prepared, but that wasn’t the case for all the people here.
As Kaiser gestured towards the display cases where the items were kept, hidden behind the glass, some of the attendees exchanged eager glances and leaned forward, anticipating a closer look at the items that would soon go up for auction.
“The auction will commence shortly,” Kaiser announced a tinge of excitement in his voice. “But first, we’ll need to distribute the bidding numbers. Our esteemed waitstaff will be assisting with this.”
Attendees began to murmur amongst themselves, their excitement growing as they anticipated the items that were about to be revealed. The anticipation was palpable, the air buzzing with excitement and intrigue.
As the waiters began to move through the audience, distributing the bidding numbers, each attendee received a small plate with a unique number inscribed upon it.
The bidding numbers were essential for participating in the auction, allowing everyone to place their bids.
While everyone was getting their numbers, Irina was busy looking around to see any remnants of Victor.
He specifically invited Julia, and even though this made her blood boil, it also made her sure that he would appear here.
And just as she was looking around, suddenly, she felt a stinging pain in her arm.
“Hmm?”
Looking at the front, she saw the waiter who would give her number before her eyes and was looking down.
“Ah, I am sorry.”
The waiter said with an apologetic tone.
Irina understood he probably mistakenly touched her skin with the sharp part of the envelopes.
“It is fine.”
Normally, she would get angry and reprimanded, but seeing the guy bowing his head immediately, she decided it would be a waste of time.
However, as she dismissed the waiter, she noticed that Lilia’s gaze was on him.
Irina’s curiosity was piqued by Lilia’s sudden interest in the waiter. She knew her well enough to sense when something was amiss.
“Hey, can you look for a second?” Lilia asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
The waiter, startled, looked up, meeting Lilia’s inquisitive gaze. He seemed a bit nervous under the scrutiny.
“What’s your name?” Lilia asked, her tone polite but direct.
“Uh, it’s Leonard,” the waiter stammered, glancing nervously between the two.
“Do you mind showing us your identification as proof?” Lilia continued, her observant eyes now fixated on the young man.
Leonard hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He reached into his pocket and carefully retrieved his identification card, offering it for inspection.
Irina also leaned closer to get a better look at the ID. As she did, thanks to the small lighting, her eyes caught sight of a small black bracelet on his wrist.
It was a thin, unassuming accessory, but for some reason, she felt familiar with the bracelet.
‘Where did I see this?’
She asked herself. The bracelet didn’t look too showy, but it still had its own charm and uniqueness.
‘Whatever.’
However, she immediately brushed it off.
For a random waiter to occupy even this amount of place in her mind was something he should be grateful for.
-THACK!
Just as Lilia was about to say something, suddenly, the lights were once again focused on the stage as the first item of the auction was being displayed.
“You can go.”
Seeing this, Lilia also dispersed her thoughts and decided to let it be since the chatter had long subsided, and causing a scene in the Blackthorns’ banquet had the chance to provoke them, which wasn’t something she preferred.
At that exact second, a woman appeared on the scene.
Kaiser’s assistant, a poised young woman in a sleek black dress, stepped forward onto the stage. The anticipation in the room was almost tangible as she began to introduce the first item up for auction.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we begin tonight’s auction with an extraordinary piece—an Enchanted Sapphire Pendant,” the assistant announced, unveiling the delicate jewelry in a glass display.
As the bidding started, the room was filled with the hum of voices, the excitement growing as attendees placed their bids with their unique bidding numbers.
Not everyone here was people with renowned families. There were some who didn’t make any name or someone who was just talented; thus, they were also trying to enter the world of rich people in such works.
Meanwhile, the waiter also seized the opportunity to slip away quietly.
He had completed his task of distributing the bidding numbers and didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to himself.
His departure went unnoticed in the bustling atmosphere of the auction.
Irina, though still slightly intrigued by the bracelet and the fleeting memory it had stirred, refocused her attention on the auction. The bidding continued, each item presenting a new wave of excitement and competitive offers.
One by one, the items were presented—a set of enchanted rings, a rare spellbook as the loot of a dungeon, and a pair of mana-engineered boots.
The bidding grew more intense with each item, and the auction hall was abuzz with both the fervor of competition and the anticipation of what would come next.
Until, suddenly, the banquet room that was slightly dark shone for a millisecond.
-BOOM!
Followed by the sound of an explosion.