Aurelion — Golden Palace Hotel
Morning sunlight entered through the enormous windows of Noah's premium suite.
He stood on the balcony, looking down at the busy streets of the capital.
Aurelion was already awake. Magical carriages moved through the roads, merchants opened their shops, and adventurers gathered near the association buildings.
Noah stretched his arms.
"Three days here should be interesting."
He returned inside and opened his system interface.
[SUPREME DRAGON SYSTEM]
Name: Noah
Race: Primordial Origin Dragon
Level: 1
Evolution Points: 92,500
System Gold Coins: 1,702,000
Personal Dimension: 20,000 km²
Noah glanced at his newly acquired skill manual.
"Let's learn this first."
[Advanced Spatial Movement — Legendary]
Learning Requirements: Compatible spatial affinity.
Compatibility: 100%.
Would you like to learn this skill?
[YES]
Noah selected YES.
The manual transformed into countless golden particles and entered his consciousness.
Immediately, complex spatial principles appeared in his mind.
He could now perceive the structure of space more clearly.
Previously, his spatial steps had been relatively simple. He would briefly distort the space between two points and move through the resulting gap.
The new technique was considerably more refined.
It allowed him to create stable spatial pathways, chain multiple movements together, and control the exact position where he emerged.
Noah raised his right hand.
A tiny golden distortion appeared above his palm.
He took a step.
His body disappeared and reappeared several meters away.
Then again.
And again.
He performed ten consecutive spatial steps without losing balance.
"Much better."
He smiled.
"Now I won't accidentally appear inside a wall."
[Skill Successfully Learned]
Advanced Spatial Movement — Legendary
Proficiency: Beginner.
Noah spent another hour practicing before heading downstairs.
The Royal Auction House
While exploring the capital yesterday, Noah had noticed advertisements for an upcoming auction.
The Royal Auction House was one of Aurelion's most prestigious institutions.
It held auctions for rare magical artifacts, ancient treasures, legendary equipment, monster materials, noble collections, and occasionally items recovered from forgotten civilizations.
The building was located between the Merchant and Noble Districts.
It was an enormous structure constructed from white marble and golden stone.
Four statues stood near the entrance, representing the four historical guardians of Valtherion.
A large sign displayed today's event.
ROYAL AUCTION HOUSE
Grand Monthly Auction.
Starting Time: 11:00 AM.
Registration: Open.
Noah approached the reception desk.
A well-dressed woman greeted him.
"Welcome to the Royal Auction House. Are you here to participate in today's auction?"
"Yes."
"Certainly. May I see your identification?"
Noah handed over his adventurer guild card.
The woman examined it.
Her gaze briefly paused on the recorded race.
"Dragon..."
She quickly returned to her professional expression.
"Welcome, Sir Noah. We offer several seating categories."
She displayed a list.
Auction Seating Categories
- General Hall Seat: Free registration.
- Premium Seat: 10 Gold Coins.
- VIP Private Room: 100 Gold Coins.
- Royal Suite: Invitation only.
Noah pointed towards the VIP option.
"One private room."
"Certainly. Your room is number 27."
He paid the fee and received a golden access token.
"Today's auction contains several particularly valuable items. You may also submit bids through the private bidding crystal."
"Understood."
Noah entered the auction hall.
The Grand Auction Hall
The interior was magnificent.
A massive circular hall contained several thousand seats, with a raised platform at its center.
Above the main floor were multiple private rooms, each protected by soundproofing and magical privacy barriers.
Noah entered VIP Room 27.
The room contained comfortable seating, a viewing window, a refreshments table, and a magical bidding crystal.
He sat down.
A transparent display appeared.
[Auction Bidding Interface]
Registered Bidder: Noah.
Room: VIP-27.
Available Payment Methods: Bank Transfer / Auction Deposit.
Noah had already linked his local bank account during registration.
He had approximately 228 Gold Coins remaining in his Silverbrook account, but the auction house also accepted deposits from verified merchants and other institutions.
His System Gold was not ordinary currency, so he would not use it for routine purchases.
Noah leaned back.
"Let's see what they have."
The hall gradually filled.
Nobles arrived with their attendants, wealthy merchants occupied premium seats, and several powerful adventurers entered the building.
Noah noticed representatives from different races.
An elf wearing elegant green robes.
A dwarf with a heavy beard and expensive jewelry.
A beastkin merchant surrounded by guards.
Even a few foreign nobles from neighboring countries.
A bell rang.
The auctioneer stepped onto the platform.
He was an elderly human with silver hair and a confident smile.
"Honored guests, welcome to the Royal Auction House's Grand Monthly Auction!"
The audience applauded.
"We have prepared thirty-two exceptional items for today's event. Some were acquired from distant continents, while others were recovered from ancient ruins."
He raised his hand.
"Let us begin!"
First Item — Moonlight Crystal
A transparent crystal appeared inside a protective case.
"Moonlight Crystal, Grade: Epic. It can strengthen moon-element spells and improve mana recovery."
Starting Price: 50 Gold Coins.
Bidding quickly increased.
Final Price: 180 Gold Coins.
Noah watched without much interest.
The next few items included enchanted swords, defensive accessories, rare herbs, and monster cores.
Several were valuable, but nothing particularly interested him.
Seventh Item — Ancient Elven Crown
The auctioneer revealed a silver crown decorated with green gemstones.
The crown attracted considerable attention from the elven representatives.
Starting Price: 300 Gold Coins.
Final Price: 1,450 Gold Coins.
Noah observed the item through the viewing window.
It was certainly old, but he couldn't detect anything extraordinary about it.
The auction continued.
Twelfth Item — Abyssal Blacksteel Ore
A large metallic fragment appeared.
"This material was extracted from an underground deposit near the southern volcanic region. It possesses exceptional durability and can withstand powerful magical energy."
Starting Price: 500 Gold Coins.
Final Price: 2,800 Gold Coins.
Noah considered bidding.
However, the material wasn't particularly rare compared to the ores he had collected from the First Architects facility.
He decided to wait.
Eighteenth Item — Ancient Spatial Compass
A small bronze compass appeared.
"An artifact believed to originate from a civilization predating several modern kingdoms. Its original function remains uncertain."
Noah immediately became interested.
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS]
Object: Ancient Spatial Compass.
Classification: Ancient Artifact.
Origin: Unknown Ancient Civilization.
Condition: Damaged.
Spatial Energy: 12.4%.
Function: Spatial Direction Detection.
Additional Information: Contains traces of dimensional engineering.
Compatibility With System Archive: 76.2%.
Noah's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Interesting."
The compass wasn't powerful, but its construction was unusual.
It used a spatial mechanism that differed from modern magic.
The bidding began at 200 Gold Coins.
Several merchants participated.
Noah entered a bid.
250 Gold Coins.
Another bidder raised it to 300.
Noah entered 350.
The competition continued briefly.
Finally, the other bidders withdrew.
[Auction Result]
Ancient Spatial Compass ×1.
Winning Bid: 350 Gold Coins.
Noah completed the payment using his registered bank account.
The compass was delivered to his private room.
He examined it carefully.
It was approximately the size of his palm, with a dark bronze casing and a needle made from an unusual crystalline material.
Noah stored it inside his spatial ring.
He would analyze it later.
Twenty-Third Item — Dragon Relic
The auctioneer's expression became more serious.
"Now, honored guests, we present one of today's most unusual discoveries."
Several assistants carried a large sealed container onto the stage.
The container was opened.
Inside lay a black scale.
It was approximately the size of a human hand, with faint golden patterns running across its surface.
The entire hall became quiet.
"According to the research conducted by our specialists, this scale belongs to a dragon."
Whispers spread throughout the audience.
"A dragon?"
"Is that genuine?"
"Where was it discovered?"
The auctioneer raised his hand.
"Please remain calm. The scale was recovered from the ruins of an ancient battlefield in the Northern Mountains. Its estimated age exceeds six hundred years."
He continued.
"Although its original owner is unknown, the material has retained an extraordinary amount of magical energy."
Noah stared at the scale.
[SUPREME DRAGON SYSTEM — ANALYSIS]
Object: Ancient Dragon Scale.
Race: Ancient Dragon.
Estimated Age: 1,800–2,200 Years.
Grade: Legendary Material.
Condition: Preserved.
Bloodline Signature: Ancient Dragon.
Residual Energy: 18.7%.
Special Properties:
- Exceptional magical resistance.
- High physical durability.
- Compatible with dragon-related crafting techniques.
Additional Information: The scale is genuine.
Noah remained silent.
The scale belonged to an ancient dragon.
It wasn't connected to him, but it was still a valuable historical object.
He was interested in learning more about the ancient dragons that had once lived in Aetherion.
The auctioneer announced the starting price.
"Starting Price: 2,000 Gold Coins!"
The bids immediately increased.
2,500.
3,000.
4,000.
A wealthy noble raised the price to 5,000.
A dwarf merchant followed with 5,500.
Noah considered the item.
He could easily afford it through his System Gold if the system offered a conversion method, but he preferred not to reveal unusual financial resources.
His ordinary bank balance was limited.
He decided against bidding.
The price eventually reached 8,000 Gold Coins.
A merchant from the western territories won.
Noah watched the scale disappear into its protective case.
"Well, someone else can preserve that piece of history."
Twenty-Seventh Item — First Architects Fragment
The next item was considerably more interesting.
A small rectangular object made from pale silver metal was placed on the platform.
The auctioneer explained:
"This fragment was recovered from a buried structure near the eastern border. Our researchers believe it may have belonged to an ancient civilization."
Noah immediately recognized the material.
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS]
Object: First Architects Technology Fragment.
Classification: Ancient Technology.
Origin: First Architects.
Condition: Inactive.
Compatibility With Ancient Knowledge Cube: 98.9%.
Potential Function: Unknown.
Noah's expression changed slightly.
The First Architects.
The same civilization whose underground facility he had discovered at Greywatch.
This fragment could contain information related to their technology.
The bidding began at 100 Gold Coins.
Several collectors participated.
The price rose to 300 Gold Coins.
Noah entered a bid.
350.
Another bidder raised it to 400.
Noah entered 450.
Then another bidder entered 500.
Noah raised it to 600.
No further bids appeared.
[Auction Result]
First Architects Technology Fragment ×1.
Winning Bid: 600 Gold Coins.
Noah completed the transaction.
The item was delivered to his room.
He carefully examined it.
The fragment was approximately fifteen centimeters long, with several tiny symbols engraved on its surface.
The engravings were almost invisible.
He placed it inside his spatial ring.
The auction continued.
Several more items were sold, including rare potions, magical weapons, and an ancient manuscript.
Finally, the auctioneer announced the final item.
Thirty-Second Item — The Sealed Dragonheart
A large crystal container appeared.
Inside was a dark red crystal, roughly the size of a human fist.
It pulsed faintly.
"Honored guests, this final item was recovered from an ancient underground chamber. Our researchers have been unable to identify its complete origin."
Noah immediately focused on it.
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS]
Object: Ancient Dragonheart Fragment.
Classification: Mythical Material.
Origin: Ancient Dragon Era.
Condition: Severely Damaged.
Residual Dragon Energy: 4.8%.
Bloodline Signature: Ancient Dragon — Incomplete.
Potential Uses:
- Dragon-related artifact crafting.
- Ancient bloodline research.
- Dragon energy restoration.
Additional Information: The fragment is not a complete dragon heart.
Noah's interest increased.
It was much rarer than the previous scale.
The auctioneer continued.
"Due to its unusual properties, the starting price is 5,000 Gold Coins."
The bids began.
5,500.
6,000.
7,000.
8,500.
The price climbed rapidly.
Noah considered the item.
He wanted to examine it properly, but he didn't need to spend an enormous amount of ordinary currency.
The bidding reached 12,000 Gold Coins.
A noble from the western territories raised it to 13,000.
Noah entered a bid.
13,500.
The hall became quiet.
The noble responded.
14,000.
Noah raised it to 15,000.
The noble hesitated.
After a few moments, he withdrew.
"Fifteen thousand gold coins! Going once... going twice... sold!"
[Auction Result]
Ancient Dragonheart Fragment ×1.
Winning Bid: 15,000 Gold Coins.
Noah leaned back.
"That was expensive."
He wasn't particularly concerned about the price, but he preferred not to spend carelessly.
The item was delivered to his private room under strict security.
Noah opened the protective container.
The dark red crystal pulsed faintly.
He could feel a small amount of ancient dragon energy inside it.
However, there was something else.
A faint spatial resonance.
[SYSTEM ANALYSIS — ADDITIONAL INFORMATION]
Detected: Ancient Spatial Imprint.
Source: Unknown.
Compatibility: 63.5%.
Possible Connection: Ancient Dragon Sanctuary.
Location Data: Incomplete.
Noah's eyes narrowed.
An Ancient Dragon Sanctuary?
That sounded worth investigating.
He stored the Dragonheart Fragment carefully.
Auction Completed
The auctioneer thanked the audience.
"Thank you for participating in today's Grand Monthly Auction. We look forward to welcoming you again."
Noah left his private room.
A staff member approached him.
"Sir Noah, your purchases have been prepared."
He received the following items:
[Auction Purchases]
- Ancient Spatial Compass ×1 — 350 Gold Coins.
- First Architects Technology Fragment ×1 — 600 Gold Coins.
- Ancient Dragonheart Fragment ×1 — 15,000 Gold Coins.
Total Paid: 15,950 Gold Coins.
The auction house provided secure transportation for the items to his registered storage.
Noah confirmed the delivery and left.
Outside, the afternoon sun illuminated the marble streets.
He walked towards the hotel, thinking about the three items.
The First Architects fragment could provide valuable information about the civilization whose facility he had discovered.
The spatial compass might help him locate ancient structures.
But the Dragonheart Fragment was the most interesting.
An Ancient Dragon Sanctuary.
If such a place still existed, it could contain records, treasures, and perhaps knowledge about the ancient dragon race.
Noah smiled.
"Looks like Aurelion has already given me something worthwhile."
[SUPREME DRAGON SYSTEM]
New Discovery Registered:
Ancient Dragon Sanctuary — Incomplete Location Data.
Optional Exploration Mission Unlocked:
Investigate the Ancient Dragon Sanctuary.
Current Progress: 0%.
Potential Rewards:
- Evolution Points ×15,000.
- System Gold Coins ×250,000.
- Ancient Dragon Treasure Chest ×1.
- Additional Rewards Based on Discovery.
Noah closed the interface.
He wasn't going to rush into another expedition.
First, he wanted to understand the fragment.
And there were still several places in Aurelion worth visiting.
He looked towards the distant Royal District.
"Tomorrow, the Royal Mage Academy."
He smiled and continued walking.
The capital had only begun to reveal its secrets.
End of Chapter 16