The auction took place in a spacious room, where tiered rows of seats faced a stage at the far end. The room was filled with people cloaked from head to toe, their identities concealed except for the numbers displayed on their chests, indicating their status as representatives.
Marlene, Broken, and Subaru were the only three from their group attending the auction, with the number 63 on Marlene’s chest signifying that she was the bidder for their team. As more attendees arrived, they began to take their seats.
Given that many of the participants were demons, their sizes varied greatly. Some were the size of ordinary humans, while others were clearly massive creatures. One particularly large demon, despite being cloaked, couldn’t fully hide its size-its enormous red arms still protruded visibly from beneath the fabric.
That night, Broken deliberately brought a bag, placing it in front of his feet. Inside the bag, he put the demon egg, curious to see if it would react to any of the items being auctioned. Even though he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to bid successfully-since auction prices often soared- he wanted to be prepared just in case.
He had money, plenty from his earnings in Hell, but he was determined to be cautious. His plan was to hold back and only bid on something he could truly afford and genuinely needed. Maybe a blueprint or an artifact he wasn’t sure yet. But if the egg reacted to something, he might have to rethink his strategy.
As more guests began to arrive, Broken felt a strong urge to use his Perception skill on them, just to gauge their levels or statuses. But he quickly reminded himself that he had no idea who these people were some of them might even be able to detect if he was probing them. The last thing he wanted was to cause a scene in front of such a crowd, especially since the attendees were likely influential individuals with wealth far beyond the average.
After all, anyone participating in the auction would certainly have deep pockets, right? Even just to enter, there was a mandatory deposit of gold coins as a guarantee, something Marlene had already taken care of for their group.
The auction began, and the host—a demon dressed in a sharp suit with the head of a frog- greeted the guests with the typical enthusiasm of an auctioneer. Soon, the attendants brought out the first item from behind the curtain. It was something encased in a glass box, and inside, it looked like a stone or perhaps a heart, still beating, and nearly the size of a human head.
“A dragon-though they’ve nearly vanished from the surface of Yunatea, everyone knows that some dragons hold incredible power even after death. And here, I present to you, a Royal dragon heart,” the host announced.
A wave of awe and gasps rippled through the audience at the sight of the item.
Meanwhile, Broken and the others continued their conversation via chat group to keep their discussions private.
[Broken: “What’s the difference between this and something like a soul stone?”]
[Marlene: “Similar, but with some differences. Most likely, it’s a crafting material or an ingredient for a powerful potion. Its value will definitely be high.”]
The host continued, “This is the heart of a dragon that lived for over 3,000 years before its death, having cultivated immense magic power within it. Now, place your bids.” free𝑤ebnovel.com
The bidding began, with the starting price set at 600 gold coins-a hefty sum. The bids quickly escalated, climbing steadily until they reached 900 gold coins, and finally, the hammer fell at 1,380 gold coins.
But, damn! That price? Broken couldn’t wrap his head around what this item could be used for —maybe crafting a Legendary-grade item? But if he didn’t know exactly what it was for, it would be a waste to spend so much on it. Still, despite the high final bid, it seemed fairly typical for an auction like this.
Actually, the price was relatively normal, considering Broken had crafted a Unique-grade armor piece for Princess Alora, and the kingdom had valued it at 360 gold coins. But still, he was curious about an item like this, especially since it came from a dragon. He had expected the price to be even higher.
The next item was brought out, a crystal glowing with a vibrant blue energy that illuminated even the large room.
“This is a Faery Soul Stone,” the host announced.
Faery Soul Stone?!
Broken immediately focused on the item being offered. It was exactly what he needed to craft the Unseen Universe Necklace. Although it wasn’t a required component, it was part of a hidden feature in the blueprint he had. This was a rare opportunity for him to acquire it.
[Marlene: “Do you want it?”]
Broken glanced at Marlene and gave a slight nod.
But seeing how high the bids had gone so far, he knew he’d have to spend a lot to win this one. The auctions here were truly intense. While Soul Stones were already hard to come by, here he was, staring at the exact one he needed.
The bidding started at 200 gold coins, and people quickly began raising their offers. Broken hesitated, seeing how much interest the Faery Soul Stone was generating. He had the money, but he couldn’t justify spending all of it on a single item.
[Subaru: “Broken, the price is skyrocketing-it’s driving me crazy too. But I’m sure this soul stone is incredible, especially if you have a blueprint that fits it.”]
The final bid came from a woman’s voice, ending at 750 gold coins. No one else bid higher after that.
Damn, Broken wanted it badly, but there was no way he could outbid that. He glanced over at the woman who had won the auction, sitting several rows above him. For a moment, he felt as if she was looking back at him from beneath her cloak. He quickly shifted his attention back to the host on the stage.
Broken had initially considered using his Perception skill to check her status, but something inside him warned against it. He’d had enough of getting caught after the incident with the elf who had noticed him snooping on her status before. He wasn’t eager to repeat that
mistake.
The auction continued with more items that, while tempting, were far too expensive for Broken to seriously consider. He couldn’t help but feel that, despite all the money he’d managed to accumulate, he still wasn’t on the same level as the people bidding here.
At one point, Marlene won an item-a Legendary-grade cape imbued with shadow elements. It was surprising to see her willing to bid on something so expensive. But then again, it made sense. As a Gluttony Champion and a key figure in the Shadow Wolves guild, she likely had considerable wealth. Beyond that, she could probably generate even more income through her in-game profile, possibly through sponsorships, endorsements, or similar opportunities. The next item was brought out a small vial containing a red liquid that looked almost like blood. The host’s excitement was evident as he prepared to reveal the identity of the item. Broken’s attention was suddenly drawn to something else—the bag at his feet shifted. The demon egg inside it stirred the moment the vial appeared.
Could it be that the demon egg was reacting to that vial? Did it want whatever was inside? But what exactly was that liquid? Blood?