“Five gold!” Amara shouted from next to me.
With that, the annual Grand Auction had begun!
<Five gold?!> Kaelira cried inwardly. She couldn’t read the staff’s ability as I could, after all, only I had primordial eyes sitting in my eye sockets, but even then, she could tell that it was already overpaying for the staff.
While some artificers could examine items to gain this same information (name, rarity, imbued spells) – like the old man in Braedon who sold me my sealed Soul Reaper saber – they needed a closer look and cast a spell, which was an audible action as they had to mouth the incantation out loud.
The auctioneer’s failure to outright state the imbued spell but describe it with very colorful words was a borderline fraudulent act on the organizer’s part, but I wasn’t surprised.
The seasoned collectors and those with trained eyes could tell when he was spouting bullshit, just like my Kaelira could, but there were also rich losers who were ready to throw a fortune at the organizers – like the cold brat on my right.
<This staff has the [Frostbind] spell in it. What do you guess its value to be?> I asked curiously from my sexy Head Craftswoman. She was the only crafter I had, but that didn’t deter me from promising her the position of lead craftsman.
<I thought so, the description made me think of that spell…> She nodded as she pondered my question for a few moments. I knew that she did a lot of research on the artifact prices of the human lands after swearing her loyalty to me, so I thought her opinion to be very valuable. <I would say that 3 gold would be a fair but perhaps a bit cheap price, 5 gold is pushing it very strongly.>
Back when we bought our Rare-rarity gear with no imbued spells in them, we didn’t pay a single gold coin for them as most were in the 50-80 silver coins range. This went to show how valuable imbued spells were.
In a world where one was locked into their class and its spells, gear provided a way to circumvent those limits and enable people to bolster their arsenal in unique and unexpected ways.
<So the brat is just throwing money at people to showcase her self-perceived superiority.>
<No wonder this bitch wanted to buy me so that she could break my spirit or whatever. She must have severe mental issues.> Seraphiel joined in on the conversation.
<Yeah. I’m very happy with you two, by the way. A lot of people in your position would’ve started worrying if I was going to accept such a deal even if they knew me as well as you two do.>
Seraphiel giggled, <Heh, you exchanging your sexy elves for sweaty combatants? The possibility didn’t even occur in my mind.>
<Lord Quinlan, what if the combatant in question was someone like Lilith, Black Fang, or Queen Morgana? Or what if the gold involved was in the four digits?> Kaelira asked a rather good question.
<…>
<Hey! Why are you silent?!> Sera cried with great alarm.
<I would understand it, my lord…> Kaelira quickly added.
<Can I order the strong combatant I get in this hypothetical situation to instantly kill the one who I made the deal with to get you back?>
<… No, my lord.> Stay connected through empire
<…>
<Open your mental lips right this moment, primordial entity Quinlan Noir!> My sexy elven healer demanded using my full name while addressing me as if it was the Soul Records itself speaking to me, showcasing the severity of the situation.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer; I slapped Jasmine’s alluring thighs as I erupted into a burst of mental laughter, eliciting a shocked yelp from my alleged noble wife. She was not [Subjugated] by me, so Jasmine was not privy to conversations taking place using [Master’s Link].
It was time to clear things up before Sera began a mental assault on me.
<Of course I wouldn’t go for such a deal, who do you two take me for? You’re mine and mine alone, never forget that. The mere thought of someone else touching you makes me feel a nearly irresistible urge to start a great bloodshed. Women like Lilith and Black Fang will be mine once I become stronger than all mortals – should fate wish me to have more to do with them, that is. Thus, I don’t have to trade anything of mine away. As for gold… While money can buy a lot of things, it can’t buy everything. For a thousand gold, I could buy a whole army of young, virgin, elven sex slaves, but I would rather just have the two of you. I’m a quality-over-quantity type of guy.>
My declaration made Kaelira strongly squirm in place where she stood, while Sera scoffed, <Hmph! Your sense of humor needs to be worked upon, master. I didn’t find your silence funny, not one bit. Also, your arrogance knows no limits… Black Fang and Lilith, huh?>
<My sense of humor is good as it is, thank you. As for your accusation of my being arrogant with my goals, you’re plain wrong, but you have a point. Instead of shooting for the stars, I should focus on the more imminent steps, such as making my cheeky elf spread her legs to let me into her century-old untouched folds at long last.>
<Hmph!!> Another cute scoff sounded in my mind before Kaelira ceased her squirming and asked, <But my lord, what if instead of Lilith or Black Fang, it was the Goddess herself?>
<Kaelira, I appreciate your curiosity, I truly do, but one more question like this and I’ll reach behind myself, grab onto your waist, bring you into my lap where I’ll spread you on my thighs as if you were a misbehaving daughter of mine, after which I’ll lay waste to your butt in front of the princess herself and the thousands of people in the audience. The auctioneer will have to shout from the top of his lungs to speak over the perpetual thunderous slaps you’ll be the recipient of.>
<Kya!!!> She yelped while straightening her spine and bringing her arms defensively to her perky behind.
With my misbehaving women put into their places, I could refocus on the ongoings of the auction.
A muted silence followed Amara’s declaration of 5 golds. I felt a heavy tension envelop the back of the building where the masses were herded. Most of them only had 3 or so gold on them, it gave them an ominous feeling when the very first item’s very first bid was already over their entire budget.
“Sis!! Papa didn’t give us infinite money! We need to conserve coins for when they bring the sexy slaves out!” Vivienne hissed mutedly, but my acute senses picked her words up perfectly.
Did this brat’s entire life revolve around hot women?
“We have more than enough!” Amara hissed back. While Vivienne was just a full-blown spoiled pervert, this woman seemed to have some serious issues about her image.
Let’s just say that I didn’t think this to be a positive trait to have in an open auction.
“Five gold going once! Going twice!” The auctioneer began counting down with a giant grin. He eyed Amara as if she were a whale he caught on his fishing rod, a dumb piggy bank if you will.
A smug expression emerged on the haughty woman’s face, but it wasn’t meant to last.