There were still a lot of items waiting in the queue, so Twilight immediately proceeded to start calling for the music box.
“The auction for our 100th item shall begin, starting at a thousand magic crystals. All raises should be 50 or above.”
People went silent again.
Twilight looked at her screen with an uncertain look. It was almost half a minute but nothing was shown yet.
Twilight felt herself in an embarrassing situation again. She did not believe that there was no one who was interested in the music box. Their appraisers already reviewed the item as something relatively useless, but with great artistic value. There were definitely people who liked such things.
Besides, they already knew that the number one Gold VIP ‘Flaming Lotus’ Lydia would come. The lady was known for her great taste in music. Why was she not bidding?
Twilight was not the only one worrying. Angor, as the creator of the music box, was getting anxious as well.
Just a little though. He was not the item’s seller anyway.
A woman who wore tree veins and branches over her body frowned. She was sitting at the back on the first level, and she muttered in a small voice, “No one called? No way.”
A sexy-looking woman wearing thin silk beside her removed some tears around her eyes after experiencing the beautiful illusion.
“Maybe people from more flourishing regions will appreciate such a creation. But here, people usually want to make their magic crystals worth as best as possible. The music box is beautiful, sure, but these people don’t find it practical enough to spend money.”
“Will you buy it, Anna?”
The woman in silk called “Anna” was the one who broke Angor’s smoke illusion yesterday.
“I…” She hesitated for a bit and shook her head. “No. Before turning a formal wizard, I’ll not use my resource on pleasure.”
“Pleasure? Actually, I think the floating island at the end hides some more secrets in it. Maybe it can help wizards cultivate their minds,” Daichese mumbled.
“That’s still too far for me,” Anna thought about the floating island again as well as the memories she was reminded of. But she got over her emotions soon and spoke to Daichese in a teasing tone, “Why would you care anyway? It seems you’re getting more worried than Twilight.”
Daichese sighed.
“Because I’m the seller.”
Anna widened her eyes in shock. “THAT is the ‘secret treasure’ you mentioned to me?!”
Daichese rolled her eyes. “Silly. Why else would I worry about something that has nothing to do with me?”
As they talked, Twilight was still trying to endure the great awkwardness on the auction stand. A minute already passed, and she received no bid yet.
“Ahem. Since no one is calling, this item is now bought-in.”
Angor felt a mixed emotion when seeing such a result. For one, a bought-in meant the item remained the possession of Toby’s “new friend”, and once they returned to Brute Cavern, they could confront whoever it was that brought the music box here and hopefully get it back.
However… as the item’s creator, Angor felt embarrassed that his item had no buyer.
There was something else he could do, which was to buy the music box himself. However, the materials he used barely cost him 20 crystals. Should he pay 50 times more money to get it back? No way. That would be too stupid.
Dave put a hand on Angor’s shoulder. “Don’t get it wrong. It’s really nice. But none of these people are someone who knew how to appreciate art.”
Twilight suddenly announced in a joyful voice, “A thousand crystals, called by Number 186!”
Someone offered a bid!
Most people here had enough money to afford the music box. The problem was, they did not really want to spend their hard-earned money on something like this. Now that someone made the first move, people started to exchange whispers again.
Dave was 185, while Angor was 187. Upon realizing this, they looked at Prome at the same time.
Prome smiled brightly. “I quite love it.”
He did not speak like this to flatter Angor this time—he truly wanted to get the music box. Besides, the item might provide him with new alchemy inspirations, so why not?
“One thousand going once! One thousand, twice!”
Despite her plain tone, Twilight was feeling pretty depressed. Their appraisers estimated a bid of at least 1,500 out of the item.
It was such a pity that Lydia seemed not interested in buying it.
Twilight carefully glimpsed at Chamber 1. Well, at least Lydia did not mention any sarcastic comment this time, which meant the lady did not hate the music box.
Before Twilight could strike her gavel and give the victory to Number 186, something surprised her on her screen.
Three new bids appeared almost at the same time: 1,100 by Number 35. 1,500 by Number 19, and 2,000 by Number 1.
Twilight felt her heart skipping a beat. Three Gold VIPs just joined the fray.
She took a deep breath to hide her great excitement. “We just received three bids from Number 35, 19 and Number 1. The current bid is two thousand, called by Number 1!”
The participants started their heated discussion again. Three Gold VIPs? And Lady Lotus just joined the auction! She was still showing her discontent at the auction house just a while ago!
Also, the Blood Witch competed? And who was Number 19?
Twilight had no idea who was inside Chamber 19. As she recalled, the room was not booked at all. But that was not important now. Lydia just offered to double the reserve price, which was higher than their estimated price.
“Two thousand, going one!” Twilight yelled.
“Twenty-one hundred,” A charming woman’s voice came about.
“Oh my, I never took you as someone who knows elegance,” Lydia’s voice sounded as sarcastic as ever. It was Flora who just bid higher.
“Please don’t mock me, Miss Lydia. I believe you noticed something hidden in the illusion as well, right?”
“So what? The music is more important to me,” replied Lydia. She then looked back at Twilight and said, “Twenty-two.”
“The illusion might be a valuable research subject for my professor. Twenty-three.” Flora did not stop here.
“Is that so? Then I’ll be the one conveying the item to Mister Sunders.” Lydia did not back down. “Twenty-five!”
“Really, someone as powerful as you would go out of your way to compete with me? Twenty-seven.”
“Compete? Oh, come on. Are two thousand crystals too expensive for you?”
The music box was neglected just a moment ago. No one could have seen such a high price coming so quickly.
Also, they wondered what Flora meant by “something hidden inside”. What exactly? The illusion did affect their memories a little, but it was not something too special.
Dave was as puzzled. “Did you hide something inside the illusion, Angor? A treasure map? Or a clue that leads people to a secret vault or something? Oh I know, that floating island is the treasure vault, right?”
Angor put a hand on Dave’s forehead. “Weird, no fever. Then why are you talking nonsense? Something damaged your brain?”
“Quit it!” Dave shook off Angor’s hand. “I’m serious!”
“That’s the problem. There’s nothing in the illusion. No treasures, no nothing.”
“Then why did Lady Flora speak like that?”
“How should I know?” Angor was getting frustrated again. He did not come to sell the music box. He would not mind spending some time making another one for Flora if the woman had requested for it. There was no need for price wars.
The competition between Flora and Lydia was getting out of hand. Their raises became bigger and bigger. Twilight was calling five thousand now.
It was still an acceptable price for other useful items, but definitely not for a mere music box. People could find a mid-tiered alchemy weapon or something even better with such money!
A lot of people expressed their disbelief when they saw someone wasting money like this. Even Angor felt a bit sorry for Flora.
Daichese, on the other hand, was getting more and more excited. She thought she would not be able to sell music box tonight. However, the truth proved her wrong so fast, and she was glad for it.
Five thousand magic crystals! She was planning to buy an ordinary-quality White Orchid Potion, but she realized she might have enough money to buy a bottle of Greater Orchid Potion.
“You’re rich!! Aw god, I’m jealous!” Anna exclaimed beside her.
“Aha! The spirits favored me tonight!” Daichese smiled big.
Anna groaned and put an arm around Daichese’s shoulder. “Hey, tell me, where did you find ‘Land on the Sky’? I should try my luck too!”
Yesterday on the steam train, Daichese mentioned how she got her hands on some kind of treasure, but she did not say how. Now Anna was eager to learn something about it.
Daichese was still smiling at her fortune as she said, “That’s… a secret.”
For some reason, there was a hint of anxiety hidden behind her smile.
…
The war between Flora and Lydia continued.
Also, they each expressed a different reason for buying the music box. Lydia claimed that she simply loved great music, while Flora said she would give it to Sunders as a gift. No one knew whether they spoke the truth, though.
The two women fell into a stalemate and began to announce their bids without minding Twilight. Twilight was glad she could catch some breath. It seemed those two were the only ones-
Wait. Twilight suddenly noticed several new bids on her screen from different participants.
Twilight cleared her throat to catch their attention before saying, “We have eight thousand magic crystals, called by Number 19. Ladies, please start from there if you wish to continue.”