Lan Qingyou’s two consecutive questions left Chu Yuan completely stumped.
Because this world possessed mana, everyone had assumed potion side effects were irrelevant. But now, it seemed that was far from the case.
“Elaborate on the side effects of mana potions and life potions,” someone demanded.
Hearing that the potions they frequently drank actually carried side effects, everyone instantly grew vigilant—especially someone like Li Huai, who relied on potions to sustain his high output.
“Don’t worry. Although side effects exist, alchemists do everything in their power to research ways to minimize or completely negate them.
“Besides, if I had to guess, the potion that woman created likely had its side effects unreduced—or even heightened—which led to its addictive nature.”
Although Lan Qingyou had not seen the physical item, her ‘years’ of alchemical experience allowed her to make an educated guess about its concoction process.
“I see. That’s a relief.”
Seeing that their own potions wouldn’t harm them, the group breathed a collective sigh of relief.
After all, nobody wanted to accumulate internal injuries from something like this.
“Alright, alright. What’s the point of talking about that loser? The Tower, didn’t you say you were going to tell us why you’re hosting this auction?” Vivian, who had zero interest in the topic, pointed at Lan Qingyou and shouted.
This immediately pulled everyone back from their intrigue.
Right! Weren't they supposed to hear the reason? How did they get sidetracked into random topics and just drop it?
And so, the subject circled right back.
Seeing Vivian, that master shit-stirrer, redirecting the heat back onto her, Lan Qingyou pouted, putting on a stubborn, unyielding front.
“Oh right, but it looks like there’s no need anymore.”
“Why?” Vivian froze.
“Because we’re at the final auction item now. Once it ends, you’ll find out from Bei Adolis’s mouth anyway.” Lan Qingyou effortlessly floated over to her side, sank into the sofa, and picked up an apple.
“Oh, I see. Well then! In that case, I might as well join this fun little bidding war!” Vivian thought, realizing that made total sense. With a sharp “Ha!”, she leaped off the sofa’s armrest, walked over to the glass window, and picked up a toddler-fist-sized, honeycomb-shaped device with a number on it.
Outside, the price war had plunged into a tense stalemate.
Ever since the price hit two hundred million gold coins, the rapid back-and-forth momentum had vanished.
The intervals between each bid were growing noticeably longer.
It was obvious why. Apart from a select few who could make independent calls, everyone else had to consult their superiors.
Even the representative sent by the Supreme Council was no exception.
Normally, Chu Yuan would have handled bidding for the Supreme Council. But because Chu Yuan was far too familiar with Lan Qingyou, certain council members felt uneasy and ultimately dispatched Shigeki Morikawa—a fellow with a rather strange accent—to Typhon City.
“Two hundred and eighty million gold coins!” Having obtained approval from Council President Durandal, Shigeki Morikawa tremblingly shouted into the honeycomb-shaped device in his hand.
This object was a microphone, which also doubled as the room’s bidding card.
Not only did it project the speaker’s voice outside, but a matching number would also light up on the outer wall of the booth, making it perfectly clear to Bei Adolis on the auction stage.
Back on Blue Star, Shigeki Morikawa had served as a politician in Sakura Country and accumulated a massive fortune.
Even so, spending such astronomical sums made his heart tremble.
In his fifty-plus years of life, he had never experienced spending money on this scale.
Others might not realize, but as a member of the Supreme Council, he knew exactly what this money represented.
Setting aside intrinsic value, just minting one hundred million gold coins took the Mint a full month of continuous work.
If converted into raw materials, the actual value would be even higher.
Unlike those foolish merchants who had tried to scalp prices from Lan Qingyou earlier, Shigeki Morikawa had spent years in politics and immediately read between the lines when Bei Adolis made the initial announcement.
Therefore, compared to the Supreme Council, which had the ability to print money, the other competing factions were far more terrifying.
Because if nothing went wrong, those organizations intended to offer high-grade materials to settle their debts.
‘Conversion’ simply meant offering items at a discounted rate.
As for how deep the discount was or how it was calculated, that was up to the seller to decide.
Even if the witches weren't greedy, discounting one hundred million gold coins by twenty or thirty million was perfectly standard.
“Two hundred and ninety million gold coins!” Just as Shigeki Morikawa finished speaking, a matching bid rang out from a booth on the right.
It was the voice of Lancelot from the Knights' Guild.
Unlike the others, as one of the Four Great Knight Commanders of the Knights' Guild, Lancelot possessed direct decision-making authority. He didn't need to consult anyone; if he felt it was worth it, he just raised the bid.
“Two hundred and ninety million! Two hundred and ninety million! Are there any higher bids?!”
“Three hundred million!” A female voice called out from the floor above. It was Victoria, the potion merchant.
Her tone was entirely placid, as calm as if she were taking a sip of water, without a single ripple of emotion.
In the main hall, the audience—who had voluntarily fallen silent—swiveled their gazes back and forth between the private booths.
“Three hundred million! Is anyone willing to go higher than three hundred million? This is the one and only regional protection magic circle outside of the Witch race, a limited-edition piece that Witch Queen Lan Qingyou has personally promised will never be sold again!” Bei Adolis held the microphone with her pinky finger raised in intense excitement.
Inside her booth, Lan Qingyou was left completely speechless.
When did I ever promise anything like that...?
Whatever. I can't really make more of these anyway. If it brings in extra revenue, Bei Adolis can talk as much nonsense as she wants.
“Three hundred and twenty million!” Sure enough, under the incentive of this “limited-edition” pitch, the price—which had been climbing by ten million—instantly surged by twenty million.
The bidder was Lester Giovanni, Clan Leader of the Soul-eating Vampires.
“Three hundred and thirty million!” Victoria followed up without a moment’s hesitation.
Lancelot refused to back down, pressing right behind her.
“Three hundred and forty million!”
“Three hundred and fifty million!”
“Three hundred and sixty million!”
“Three hundred and eighty million!”
It was back! Everything was back!
Listening to the rapid pace of bidding that rivaled when the first magic circle was auctioned, the onlookers felt their blood boil, even as they held their breath.
Everyone knew that exerting power at this critical juncture meant each party was determined to win at all costs.
They could only wonder how high the final price would soar.
Yet, right in the middle of this intense, breath-holding anticipation, an arrogantly loud voice that no one had ever heard before boomed out from the speakers outside a booth:
“Everyone, your bidding is far too boring. Let me kill this auction!”
Rate on N.U.
