Colin did not handle matters carelessly. I heard that Adras and his group had been handed directly to the guards and put on trial for using my name and deceptively selling ordinary water.
Apparently, the charge for using my name was far heavier than the charge for selling ordinary water. Should it not have been the other way around?
And at last, auction day arrived. Including Mother’s trust fund, my final funds totaled two hundred and sixty thousand baht.
The average winning bid for a Grade 3 monster the previous year had been one hundred and fifty thousand baht. With two hundred and sixty thousand, I had more than enough money. I could even dabble in other items.
I rode in the four-horse carriage Lily had rented by tightening the palace’s belt and entered the auction house with confidence.
“Your Highness, Young Master Iden Esterji, it is an honor to attend you.”
Servants stood on both sides of the road where the carriage entered and welcomed me. Guided by them, I headed through the VVIP-only corridor. The VVIP area, where red carpets had been laid out, felt as though it merely imitated the decorations of a ducal House.
“This is my first time entering an auction house through the VVIP corridor.”
When Viten shared his trembling impression,
“Please carry yourself with confidence. Do not forget that Senior’s behavior is Young Master Iden’s face.”
Thalia sharply warned him.
At the end of the corridor was a space reserved for special guests. In darkness as though blackout curtains had been drawn, small candlesticks barely illuminated the round tables.
There were quite a few people, but perhaps because of the darkness—or the unspoken rule of an auction house—there was no atmosphere of people making acquaintances.
What was unusual was that not everyone was an adult. They were not as young as I was, but there were quite a few youths in their mid-teens.
“Young Master Iden’s seat is Table 2.”
Thalia whispered.
“Table numbers are assigned according to a guest’s importance. Since you are not at Table 1, it is possible your other brothers are participating in the auction.”
I stretched my neck and looked over the tables placed in front. I could not see anyone who looked like Brother Mabel or Chris.
“...Or they may have sent proxies.”
A crow-like man sat at what seemed to be Table 1. He was so black from head to toe that I initially thought he was part of the background.
“Was that Stanis?”
“Yes. He is Lord Chris’s close aide.”
I had an unpleasant feeling.
If this were a place where superiority was determined by force, it would be one thing, but this was a place where people fought with money. A place where I, who barely lived on an upkeep allowance, could not help but be weak.
For the moment, I went to Table 2 and sat down. I liked that they had prepared the fruit drink I enjoyed. Such small consideration was what won people’s hearts.
Since the auction had not begun yet, I sipped my drink and looked toward the nearby tables. I could not help paying attention to a likely competitor.
The crow bastard showed no interest in the refreshments or drinks before him and radiated a gloomy aura in every direction, just like his master.
“Young Master Iden.”
The man seated at Table 3 suddenly called to me.
He was dressed as lavishly as any noble. The dazzling jeweled accessories over his silk clothes seemed to advertise how wealthy he was.
However, he did not seem to be a noble. I had a vague feeling that the people accompanying him were not knights.
He appeared to be in his late twenties. His handsome features were greatly diminished by a smile overflowing with enough confidence to make him unpleasant.
“My name is Lucian Gray. There is something important I would like to discuss with you. May I have your permission?”
The man’s attitude was utterly relaxed. It was as though he and I had known each other for a long time.
However, Viten and Thalia reacted strangely. The moment they heard the name Lucian Gray, they looked as though they were desperate to tell me something.
I told the man to wait a moment, then listened to my two accompanying knights.
“You must not speak with that man.”
“I want to punch that shameless face of his.”
“Who is he?”
“He is the chairman of the Gray Trading Company. The Adras Trading Company that became entangled with Young Master Iden two days ago is merely a branch of the Gray Trading Company. They use different business names and dispatch subordinates to minimize legal risk.”
“He is a merchant without blood or tears. He suddenly appeared in the city several years ago, grew rich by running every sort of filthy business, and likely even bought his title with money.”
So he was the leader of the scammers.
I could not show someone like that respect.
After making up my mind, I spoke to Lucian.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“Why not listen first and judge afterward? It is a proposal that will benefit all of us.”
“I already heard that proposal from your subordinate. I rejected it too.”
“Young Master Iden, the auction is beginning.”
Thalia announced the beginning of the auction. Our conversation ended there. A host dressed in a uniform walked briskly to the front of the platform.
“Honored guests, thank you sincerely for giving us your valuable time today. We hope you fully enjoy our trading company’s astonishing goods and special experiences. Now then... Let us introduce our first item!”
Strong men wheeled a display case out from behind the platform. On top of it sat an egg the size of a human head, wrapped in velvet.
“This egg was obtained deep in the Northern Forest by the ‘Golden Arrow,’ a four-person adventurer party that has recently gained great fame. It is a treacherous place where monsters below Grade 4 cannot even set foot. Even we do not know what will hatch from this egg. It could be an Owlbear, a phoenix, or even a dragon egg! Is anyone willing to challenge the unknown? A bold step may return incredible fortune to you!”
His speaking ability was no joke. He made me want to buy an item I had never even considered.
The unknown egg began at two hundred baht. However, the starting price was merely a starting price. Once competition began, the price snowballed.
“Two thousand!”
“Two thousand has been called! Does anyone offer more than two thousand?”
“Two thousand five hundred!”
The ones showing interest in the egg were mainly younger people. Those who seemed more experienced merely watched with their arms crossed.
I chose to watch as well. I could not be optimistic about the course of today’s auction.
Even after the egg, unfamiliar items continued to appear. The trading company’s boast that it would provide a special experience had not been empty.
Some items made me want to open my wallet despite my clear goal of obtaining a Lava Elemental.
In particular, a unicorn horn and wyvern membrane did not attract much competition, and I thought they could produce decent results through alchemy.
Even so, the only reason I restrained myself was the crow bastard seated beside me.
Stanis remained silent no matter what item appeared, as though occupying Table 1 was the entire reason for his existence.
The scammer bastard seated on the opposite side was equally quiet. The two men with the most money here surrounded me on both sides and demonstrated their power through silence.
After many items passed by, the moment I had been waiting for finally arrived.
“Now, everyone. At last, the moment you have awaited has come. We know well that the most distinguished people here watched every auction solely for this one creature. The one you are about to meet is not a mere product. It is legend itself! The nightmare of the depths, guardian of the burning earth, Lord of Magma! Allow me to introduce a Grade 3 monster, the Lava Elemental!”
When the host’s grand introduction ended, crimson curtains were drawn open to both sides. Accompanied by booming drumbeats, a muscular attendant stepped onto the platform carrying a small basket.
...Huh?
I had not seen it incorrectly. It really was a basket. Inside the small iron basket was a tiny, red-glowing thing no larger than my palm.
“What is that?”
“Was the final item not a Lava Elemental?”
The auction house began to grow noisy.
“Now, please calm down. The creature you see is indeed a Lava Elemental, only it is a hatchling rather than an adult. Why are the goods we provide special? Because we have obtained a Lava Elemental juvenile that you could not find anywhere else!”
When the commotion did not easily settle, the host tried to calm everyone again.
“We stand here solely on the strength of our reputation. We pledge upon the honor of our trading company that this little demon will soon grow into the terrifying monster you all know!”
“Viten.”
I turned and glared at Viten. Like a guilty man, he avoided my gaze.
“What happened? You said it had grown so fat it was nearly protruding through its cage.”
“Uh... I am sorry. I definitely heard that... I did not think the bastard called the Guild Master would lie.”
“He may not have lied. That may simply be what it looks like when it has grown fat.”
There was no rise or fall in Thalia’s tone, so I could not tell whether she was mocking Viten or reprimanding him.
“So what should we do? Should we buy it or not?”
“The core is too small to even see. At the moment, the product has no value at all.”
“If we raise it well, will it not grow larger?”
“...Senior.”
Thalia’s tone grew even lower.
“What? They said they guarantee it on their honor.”
“Do you know what Lava Elementals eat, Senior? Even if you did, could you raise one? What Young Master Iden needs is a monster byproduct he can use immediately, not a burdensome creature that cannot even communicate.”
Her words were right one hundred times over. However, I did not want just any monster byproduct. I needed the core of a Fire Elemental with a fire attribute.
“Let us buy it first and think afterward.”
Receiving my signal, Viten raised his hand.
“Ten thousand!”
“Ten thousand has been called! Does anyone offer more? It is a Lava Elemental juvenile! Where else will you find such an item?”
Then it happened. Stanis, who had been as quiet as a dead mouse until now, slowly raised his hand.
“Eleven thousand.”
“Eleven thousand has been called! Is there anyone offering higher than eleven thousand?”
I gave Viten another signal. Viten confidently raised his hand.
“Twenty thousand!”
Stanis followed.
“Twenty-one thousand.”
“Thirty thousand!”
“Thirty-one thousand.”
Stanis did not even look at me. Every time I called a price, he merely increased it by one thousand baht.
When the bid passed one hundred thousand baht—
“Give up.”
He spoke without even turning his head.
“What did you say, you bastard?”
Viten raised his voice in anger. Stanis murmured in a tone as flat as Thalia’s.
“I came here under Lord Chris’s orders. No matter how much Young Master Iden bids, I will always bid one thousand baht higher. So give up.”
I knew this would happen. I had felt something ominous from the moment I saw that bastard’s face.
Then again, the entire town had heard that I gained strength by consuming monster materials. There was no way they would not try to restrain me.
However, I had no intention of giving up so readily. Having watched the auction proceed from the start, I realized this was unexpectedly a battle of momentum.
“You should be the one to give up. No matter how much you bid, I will always bid ten thousand baht higher.”
“Do as you please.”
“You probably have not heard that I received support from House Rain. Go on. Try to keep up.”
The price began to soar toward the heavens. Viten tirelessly raised his arm in my place.
“Two hundred thousand! Two hundred thousand has been called! An incredible sum! Will the bid end here? Will the Lord of Magma gain a lord of his own?”
“Two hundred and one thousand.”
“Two hundred and one thousand! Everyone, two hundred and one thousand!”
Only the host was excited. While he jumped around the platform in delight, I struggled to control my expression. My true limit was now approaching. My bluff was about to collapse, and my balance was one step away from being completely exposed.
“Viten.”
“Yes.”
“Let us go with two hundred and fifty thousand.”
If this did not work, there was no other way. As though drawing upon the last of his strength, Viten called two hundred and fifty thousand in a booming voice. Stanis moved his lips again with a calm expression.
“Two hundred and fifty-one thousand.”
...Damn that Chris bastard.
He truly was of no help in life. It seemed he intended to obstruct me in every matter because I had humiliated him last time.
Wait, this did not mean only this auction had been ruined. That crow bastard would interfere every time I tried to buy something from now on.
“Young Master Iden.”
The man from Table 3 spoke to me again.
“May we speak for a moment?”
“This is not the time.”
“If you give me one hour, I will pay the price of the Lava Elemental for that one hour of conversation with you.”
I doubted my ears. He was willing to spend hundreds of thousands of baht for only one hour of conversation?
“Does anyone offer more than two hundred and fifty-one thousand? If no one does, I will count to ten and close the auction! Ten, nine...!”
“...All right.”
I reluctantly nodded.
“Exactly one hour. On the condition that you win the bid.”
The count reached three. The man smiled in satisfaction, then snapped his fingers to draw the host’s attention.
“Five hundred thousand.”
The auction house began to stir. Five hundred thousand was twice the expected winning price. The host was so stunned that he could not even repeat the man’s bid.
Stanis frowned. He had been told to interfere with me, but it seemed he had not prepared a response for a situation like this.
“Hey.”
Lucian tilted his chin toward Stanis.
“I am doing this for Young Master Iden, so give up or try to compete. Do as you please.”
“...What?”
“For reference, no matter how much you bid, I intend to bid one hundred thousand baht higher.”
An attendant tilted a bottle and poured wine into Lucian’s glass. He raised the glass with an easy gesture.