Chapter Sixty: Once in a Decade

If other banners could be considered dispensable or even counterproductive, longevity was an irresistible temptation for certain families. Driven by greed, humans hunted the dark elves to the brink of extinction, forcing them to flee into the sunless depths underground, where they became worshippers of evil gods.

The opening of the auction was undoubtedly exhilarating. Those who had been wary of Siwana immediately shifted their attention to the captive prey within the cage.

Prices soared rapidly, the clamor rising and falling, and even if not valued as an instrument of inheritance, a dark elf was still an exquisite companion who could accompany one for a lifetime.

“What a vile institution—slavery,” Chu Yun thought to himself, having no intention of bidding and simply awaiting the auction’s conclusion.

In the end, the first lot was purchased by a guest on the second floor for a total of three thousand three hundred gold coins—a sum diminished only by the dark elf’s weak abilities, which could adversely affect her offspring. Otherwise, the price would have been even higher.

The guest who bought the dark elf opened the one-way glass, but the bidding had been done by a slave within the box, so no one could discern the true buyer’s identity.

It was much like someone used to buying clothes for seventy or eighty coins, who, after emerging from a boutique where garments cost thousands, would no longer find three or four hundred coin garments expensive. The first sale set a precedent, making subsequent buyers more liberal in their spending.

For Chu Yun, the first auction was valuable in that it revealed the myriad races of this continent—most of whom were demi-humans, with a bewildering variety of subtypes.

The more powerful civilized races—humans, elves, and dwarves—were rarely sold as slaves and only under special circumstances, such as committing grave crimes or being banished from their clans.

Soon, the most anticipated item of the night came up for auction: the dragonborn girl.

The auctioneer dared not conceal anything, laying out the crimes committed by the dragonborn girl and the fact that Siwana had fled and remained at large.

“Although this slave comes with her share of trouble, her value is in no way diminished,” the auctioneer began, presenting the details.

This dragonborn girl possessed the innate abilities of her kind, including the frost breath of the ice dragons. Unlike Siwana, she was not a warrior, but a first-rank ice mage.

Though only first-rank, when combined with the formidable traits of the dragonborn, she could still provide significant support in battle—not just a mere ornament.

“The starting bid is five hundred gold coins, with minimum increments of ten gold coins per bid!”

The auction began, but no one was willing to make the first offer.

Chu Yun found the ice mage intriguing; combined with fire magic, they could unleash a chilling hell upon their foes.

The auction hall fell silent. There were clearly many tempted, but none wished to be the first to bid, their minds weighed down by hesitation.

“I bid five hundred and ten gold coins.” At last, a bold soul stepped forward.

The bidder was Haig, commander of the Blackstone Knights. As a fourth-rank knight, he neither feared Siwana nor shied from her tracking him down. In fact, he hoped she would.

Moreover, a white dragonborn ice mage would be a valuable squire, full of potential.

He had been the one to capture the dragonborn girl, and to compensate the noble family, he had agreed to put her up for auction. As commander of the Blackstone Knights, he was still entitled to take her back.

Haig’s bid warmed the atmosphere a little, but the price crept up slowly, rising by ten or twenty coins at a time.

“I bid seven hundred gold coins!” When the price reached six hundred, Haig suddenly raised his bid to seven hundred.

Seeing Haig’s determination, some local nobles withdrew from the bidding. Offending him could be disastrous—should Siwana attack, Haig might well delay his response on purpose.

Moreover, no one wanted to antagonize Haig; not only was he formidable, he was heir to one of Blackstone’s most distinguished families—a man one met at every gathering.

“Since Commander Haig desires her so much, I’ll withdraw,” the last noble to bid said with a faint smile.

He had never truly intended to buy her; currying favor was reward enough.

“My thanks.”

With that noble’s withdrawal, the rest also fell silent.

Haig’s influence held sway in Blackstone, but it meant little to those from other regions.

Attending this auction were not only Blackstone’s elite, but passing adventurers, merchants, and others. Many were just passing through, unlikely to cross paths with Haig again, nor did they fear Siwana’s vengeance.

After some deliberation, someone finally spoke up.

“Seven hundred and fifty gold coins.”

“Eight hundred gold coins!”

...

Bored, Chu Yun mused idly in his box—if he dropped a fire elemental here and now, with so many people present, how much experience and loot would he gain?

But Chu Yun was a man of principle; he might flout the rules of the world, but he still held himself to a certain standard.

As he pondered, the auction neared its conclusion. In the end, the wealthy and bold Haig bought the white dragonborn girl. Others may have been able to outbid him, but as the price soared to three thousand coins, they lost interest.

More importantly, they noticed that the hall was filled with well-armed knights, apparently awaiting someone’s arrival. If they bought the girl but failed to leave before Siwana showed up, they would be in serious trouble.

It was clear Haig was uneasy as well; after purchasing the dragonborn, he promptly left the hall to sign the contract in the back.

The intermission auction was much livelier, featuring magical creature materials and all manner of rare treasures—famous paintings, artwork, collectibles, and more.

Each auction took considerable time to complete, with nobles and wealthy merchants the most active participants, while professionals looked forward to the third auction: magical equipment.

Following a flurry of bidding, it was finally Chu Yun’s turn around ten o’clock in the evening.

The auctioneer approached the lot covered in a red cloth, curiosity in her eyes as she lifted the cover. Though she knew what lay beneath, each viewing filled her with wonder.

The skin of the thunderwater ray had been thoroughly cleaned and treated by the auction house. Now, it hung from the display, a fine mesh as light as gauze.

The auctioneer stood behind the ray skin and blew gently. The skin floated up, as light and delicate as a dandelion seed, ready to drift away at the slightest breeze.

“Now we present a rare treasure seen only once in a decade!”

“This is the hide of a second-rank elite thunderwater ray. Despite its size, it weighs less than one hundred grams. It is exceptionally tough, yet supple and beautiful.”

“It can be used as material for close-fitting garments, reducing weight and burden, and its strong enchantment properties make it ideal for crafting magical items.”

This time, the introduction was strictly professional, without any hyped language, for it was clear that only true connoisseurs would bid on this treasure.

The ray’s hide was large and nearly intact, so the starting price was set high—one thousand gold coins.

“I bid two thousand gold coins!”

After much observation, Chu Yun was the first to call out a price. If no one else competed, so much the better—he would not only pocket three thousand gold coins for free, but also reclaim the thunderwater ray’s hide.