NOVEL NEXT Chapter 146: The Final Slaves
It was a lot better than the Moonveil Locket, which sold for 5 High-Grade Crystals and 30 Mid-Grade Crystals!
Julia's eyes lit up.
She quickly turned to Judge with heated eyes... "I'll train twice as hard! No—three times! You can even keep the Choker for a week to check for problems or curses!"
Butler Judge hesitated.
The Archmage had instructed him to encourage Julia's magical progress. He could do anything as long as it was within reason.
After thinking about it, this was far more practical than the frivolous daggers and mirrors others were bidding on.
The auctioneer's voice then cut through his thoughts.
"Our Opening bid is 2 High-Grade Mana Crystals."
It was such a high starting bid, but it was reasonable considering that it could store a Spell. However, despite not being mentioned, there was certainly a limit to what type of Spell could be stored.
This detail was a bit complicated, as the Spell that could be stored would still depend on the resonance of the Artifact and the Spells. This was why the auctioneer didn't explain too much.
A merchant then raised his token that was showing his number before calling his bid. "4 High-Grade and 10 Mid-Grade!"
This bid continued and reached 10 High-Grade Crystals and 25 Mid-Grades!
At this time, Julia gripped Judge's sleeve. "Pleaaaaase?"
Butler Judge sighed and nodded… He then raised his number and called out his price. "15 High-Grades and 30 Mid-Grades."
The limit of this Artifact should only be 10 High-Grade Mana Crystals. If they were going to sell it to other nobles who hadn't attended this event or other large organizations, he would get at most 17 to 18 High-Grade Mana Crystals.
If he included his efforts or his labor, the profit would be too small.
The merchant scowled as he considered his options before he shook his head.
The auctioneer then confirmed that there weren't any more bids.
"Sold to Number 85!"
Soon, Julia trembled in excitement as the choker was brought to them after giving the payment.
Butler Judge then snatched it before she could, holding it up to the light.
"One week," he said sternly. "If I detect any instability in the enchantment, it goes to the Manor's vault."
Julia nodded so vigorously her braid bounced.
"Deal!"
In the meantime, Van's Ocularis Lens had already scanned the Magic Artifact. With numerous samples that he had already analyzed, his Lens was able to give a simple detail about it.
[ Enchantment Energy Stability: 98%.
Dual-Spell Matrix Confirmed.
No Detectable Malice. ]
'For once, Julia's impulsiveness might've paid off.' Van mused.
***
As the auction progressed, Van noticed three things:
The Luxe nobleman from earlier was watching them from across the hall, his Beastblood slave even seemed like it was itching for a fight…
He also noticed a silver-masked woman who had not bid once, and he had a feeling that she would be a strong competitor for the Subject Zero.
Finally, there was a hooded figure in the back row who kept glancing at Julia with unsettling intensity.
He wasn't sure if he had to tell it to the Butler Judge since, as a high circle magician, he should be able to notice it as well.
In any case, after selling off five other Slaves, the Auction then shifted to Magic Artifacts again.
This time, more and more people were participating in the bidding war.
This was especially true when a Spellbook bound in what looked like a dragon scale came out!
"The Codex of Shattered Stars," the auctioneer said. "Recovered from the ruins of the Skyrend Library. Contains seven lost spells—including one that manipulates time."
The hall erupted.
"However, that seventh spell that had traces of time magic was incomplete. Only about 20% can be salvaged." The auctioneer added.
However, it doesn't matter to many. They still wanted to get the book!
Bidding skyrocketed from 50 High-Grade to 200 High-Grade Mana Crystals in under a minute.
Julia gaped. "This is incredible… Time magic… So it's not a myth."
Even Judge looked tempted before shaking his head. "Too dangerous. And unusable... As for the other spells, they're targeted by Spell Researchers. If they're lost spells, they're Ancient Spells and should have comparable modern Spells."
Van gently nodded after hearing this. Lost Ancient Spells does not necessarily mean that they were better than the modern Spells created by the Archmages of the past.
Furthermore, these old spells normally have a longer incantation or process to cast. They could even require rituals or mediums to cast such Spells.
So, aside from enthusiasts, researchers, or collectors, they wouldn't target this Spellbook at all.
Still, the book sold to a hooded bidder for 300 High-Grade Crystals. It was such a high price, but there were only two people who had started bidding on it as soon as it reached 100 High-Grade Mana Crystals. Aside from the hooded man who had won, the representative of the large Merchant Organization called Golden Duck, tried to win it but stopped 280 High-Grade Mana Crystals.
In any case, as soon as this hooded person paid and obtained the item, he immediately left the building.
It was the right decision after paying such a huge fortune for the item.
***
After some time, the auctioneer finally raised her hands, signaling the beginning of the final slave lots.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we now present the crown jewels of tonight's auction—Subjects 3 through Subject Zero. These are not mere slaves. They are masterpieces forged by the Ashenveil Tower's finest hands."
The crowd then waited for the slaves to be introduced.
Soon, they ushered in a 15-year-old boy. His bare torso was also marked with jagged, lightning-like scars…
This mark was definitely not simple since they had deliberately removed his shirt to show it.
"Subject 3," the auctioneer announced. "He had a Stormborn Physique! His Aura is already at the Peak of the Trainee Stage, and with proper training, he may one day become a powerful vessel for your Lightning Magic because of his special physique!"
"The bidding started at 10 High-Grade Crystals!"