NOVEL NEXT Chapter 170: The Romero House
I never liked auctions.
They're loud, filled with shallow people pretending to be deep, and worst of all—everyone smells like desperation masked with expensive cologne.
Still, I was here.
Not for the artifacts, no. I had a reputation to keep, appearances to maintain. The Lapui Head personally invited me, asking that I make a statement about unity and the so-called "New Age World." His words, not mine.
I would've declined—gods know I wanted to—but recent events forced my hand.
Pixie.
Even now, the girl haunted my thoughts. That Hollow blood awakening, the chaos, the... loss of control. It reminded me that the world was shifting far too fast for me to stay idle.
So here I was.
Standing in this overdone palace of an auction house, acting interested in jewels and weapons when all I wanted was quiet.
Then the elevator chimed.
Ding.
I turned.
And fate, in all her twisted humor, delivered four headaches directly to me on a silver platter.
Dario.
Aurelia.
Seraphina.
Erza.
And in the middle, wearing that ridiculous oversized coat like he was trying to cosplay as an undercover agent—
Noah.
My grandson.
The expression on Dario's face was priceless. Wide-eyed panic, like a squirrel who just realized it's being watched by a lion. I almost laughed.
Almost.
Instead, I gave them the look.
The kind fathers and generals have perfected over centuries. The kind that makes grown men reevaluate their life choices.
They froze.
Even Aurelia stopped mid-toss of her hair.
I didn't speak yet. Silence is the best seasoning for dread. Let it simmer.
Noah, to his credit, didn't flinch.
He raised an eyebrow. That smug little spark in his hazel eyes, like he wasn't caught, but merely seen.
Gods, he was so much like his father sometimes, it made my bones ache—
I took one long step forward.
"Interesting," I said, tone smooth as chilled steel. "I wasn't aware the Romero House was expanding its diplomatic branch with... a field trip."
Dario visibly gulped. "Grandpa—uh, Lord Venus—I swear, we weren't—"
"I'd hope not," I cut in, eyes narrowing. "Because if you were here without authorization, that would be... problematic."
Aurelia stepped forward, and bless her chaotic little heart, she didn't even try to lie.
"I had authorization," she said, nose in the air. "I got us VIP tickets. Personally. Through legal means."
"Legal means?" I tilted my head.
She gave me a defiant look. "I may have called Father."
Ah. That explained the sudden diplomatic favor the Lapui House extended this morning. Her father must've pulled a string or three to get these four into the upper floors.
"And you used..." I paused, already knowing the answer would hurt. "The baby voice?"
Aurelia's lip twitched. "I don't wanna talk about it."
I did laugh then. Quietly. Just once.
"You charmed the auctioneer last time, didn't you?" I asked.
She blinked. "How did you—?"
"Because I got the complaint letter."
Erza stifled a giggle behind her gloved hand. Seraphina looked like she wanted to disappear into her shawl.
Dario had gone full statue.
Noah, though, just leaned against the elevator wall. Watching. Silent.
Calculating.
He wasn't scared. He was amused.
So I turned my attention to him directly.
"Noah."
"Grandpa."
The way he said it.
Calm.
Measured.
Like we were in a chess match and he already moved his knight into position.
"You planning something?"
"Aren't I always?"
I didn't answer.
Instead, I gestured for them to step out of the elevator. They obeyed, quietly, like kids caught sneaking cookies before dinner.
I began walking down the hallway, and they fell in step behind me, reluctantly.
"Room 7 has already been prepared," I said without looking back. "But since you're here, I might as well make use of you."
"Use us?" Dario asked. "How?"
I stopped, just before the massive obsidian double doors of the private auction lounge.
"To observe.
To learn.
And to remind the others here that the Romero House doesn't just sit on thrones. We raise monsters."
A moment of silence followed.
Then Noah grinned, just a bit. "You really know how to set a mood."
I opened the doors.
Inside, the room shimmered with crystal, velvet, and polished gold.
The kind of place that screamed power in a thousand silent ways.
I let them in first.
And for once, I didn't feel the weight of the world on my shoulders.
No. Not here. Not now.
Because for the first time in years, I wasn't standing alone.
I had heirs behind me.
And this auction?
It was no longer just a political favor.
It was the start of something far greater.
Let the world watch.
The Romero House had arrived.
***
P/S: This is the bonus chapter for 15 Golden Tickets, I know I haven't been consistent in uploading the chapters the past 4 days but the response and support I'm getting from the readers isn't getting any better.
This chapter is all thanks to Forsaken_ and DaoistP5ZNDv. I really owe this explanation to you guys… See, I legit have an outline of almost 500-800chps ready for this book, its just that except the 2-3 of you loyal readers, there's no new readers coming.
And less readers means that I'm almost earning money or attraction of other reads.
I still haven't given up on this book.
I WANT TO FINISH IT.
All I need is the support of the few of you to help me push it forward.
Give me Golden Tickets to improve my ranking and I swear if we are in the Top 80 in GT Ranking I'll mass realease 10 Bonus Chapters.
The same goes for gifts, the same format as usual.
Help me make this world of Noah something that reaches new readers as well as satisfies you all, my privileged readers!!
I am also thinking of donations on patreon or some site for uploading more bonus chapters on Webnovel since my book is in a premium contract with it.
Do comment if anyone of you if interested, if yes, then I'll make a donations page which is comparatively more reasonable than the other ways to obtain a bonus chapter.
Also I'm giving the book a last shot, will be uploading atleast 3-4 chapters a week around until the reader base increases.
Please help me make Noah's world so you can be satisfied as a reader and I can complete my duty as a writer.
Regards,
Bearateme!!