Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 500: New Moon Auction

From that point on, the team used their free time to get to know each other a bit better. Trenk and Freele knew each other well and somewhat knew Fulkar. Yeter and Oli had known each other for a while but had little to no idea of what their abilities were now compared to before. So, everyone took a turn to speak and introduce their skills and specialties. Trantor also took a turn despite not being a part of the team, just playing into the atmosphere of the room.

This helped everyone feel more amiable and approachable to one another, especially toward Fulkar and Oli, who by nature didn’t talk about themselves in front of others. But it was exactly what Oli wanted. Now, as team leader, he at least roughly understood everyone’s skill level and what he could expect from them as a team, which was a major help when considering the mystery first round they would soon face.

More time passed but it seemed to go by quickly thanks to their discussion. They soon ordered another round of food, but immediately after ending the call to the servers, the entire auction hall went quiet and the lights were dimmed.

The team watched as the stage curtains opened to display a man in a dazzling silver suit with icy blue embellishments. At his side were three carts, each with a blue cover. “Ladies! Gentlemen! It’s finally time, we’ve finally reached the beginning of today’s main event, the new moon auction in celebration of the upcoming, mid-year equinox! Brace yourselves! Because today we have a lineup that will have you all in a frenzy.”

As the crowd started to get loud again, the first cart was uncovered. “A mid-perennial scroll! We’re starting off hot, folks! But that’s not all...”

A few female assistants appeared on stage to uncover the other two carts, leaving the crowd in suspense.

“Three mid-perennial scrolls!” shouted the auctioneer. “One by one, we’ll sell these to start the auction off on the right foot! Third, we’ll be selling this dark-based battle art, Shadow Puppet! Second, we’ll sell an ice cultivation technique, Raging Blizzard! But first, we’re selling this rare light-base battle art, All-seeing Aura, which radiates light all around the user in order to reveal any hidden illusions that dare enter its projected aura!”

.....

The crowd erupted in fervor. In Oli’s booth, almost everyone was eyeing the stage with jealousy. Even Oli stared at the stage in awe. He knew all those items would come across the stage, but he had no idea they would be brought out all at once, and at the very start of the auction!

In their private booth were three people with dark essence, someone with light essence, and another person with ice essence. These first bids almost felt hand-picked to tempt Oli’s team. But it was easy to see that it was more of a coincidence. Of course, Icicle Palace would want to start off strong to rile up everyone. And they managed to do exactly that with just the first announcement of the auctioneer.

As the crowd stirred and got louder, the auctioneer lifted his mic yet again. “For this mid-perennial battle art, since it uses rare light essence, it would be wrong if we started any lower than fifteen thousand gold!”

“Fifteen-”

“Sixteen thousand!”

The race for the highest bid began as those in the private and lounge sections entered a bidding war. And just like that, the envy filling the team’s private booth vanished. It felt like they had been thrown out of a sauna and straight into one of their inn’s famous ice baths.

Fulkar was the only one to retain a hint of composure. How could he forget when the appraiser had mentioned Oli selling off a low-perennial art? And considering everything else he had been surprised to learn regarding Oli’s strange yet certain connections to so many powerful people, Fulkar wouldn’t doubt if Oli could afford such things.

“Oliver, can I ask for that technique?”

Everyone else nearly fell into deep shock from hearing Fulkar’s respectful yet casual tone. Trantor and Trenk struggled to believe that the proud Fulkar had dared to ask such a question. Freele was too astonished to say anything or coherently react. Yeter, as the only one unable to use any of the items on stage, just stared at Fulkar and Oli with an eagerly mischievous grin.

Oli blinked and sighed, scratching the back of his neck. “... What’s your current technique?”

“It’s only early-perennial grade. My family already has low and mid-perennial battle arts but we’ve struggled to find a better ice-based technique compatible with our current essence nature,” explained Fulkar, doing his best to sell his pitch. “Being able to have a mid-perennial technique would allow us to raise more, stronger cultivators and better contribute.”

“That’s true...” Oli nodded subtly. He would’ve asked for more fealty but the Libarn Family had already sworn absolute loyalty with the penalty of eradication upon betraying the Iron-body Clan. “... Alright.”

“Thank you!” Fulkar rushed to his feet in order to give Oli a full bow.

“SERIOUSLY!?!” Freele yelled and stood up in alarm. “But the bid’s at-”

“Twenty thousand!”

“Twenty thousand five-”

“Twenty-one thousand!”

The bidding was barely beginning to slow down, leaving the Forell brothers speechless. But Freele had already shouted through her shock and had only just begun. “Can you buy this light art too?! Can you!!?”

Sighing and shrugging, Oli replied, “I don’t know. Why would I want to?”

“YOU CAN??! ...” Freele fell back into her seat, at a complete loss of breath.

Trantor finally coughed and spoke up, “Oliver, if you can-”

“You already know the circumstances between me and Fulkar, Trantor. Though we just talked about your proposition, we still haven’t officially finalized anything. And you don’t have as much sway in your family as Fulkar does with his,” reasoned Oli. “If that’s wrong, then correct me. Otherwise, I don’t have a reason to try and win this bid, do I?”

“Twenty-four thousand five hundred!”

“... Finally, we have a bid sticky enough for me to address! Twenty-four thousand five hundred gold! What a steal! Going once!”

Everyone in the booth silently stared at Oli while the auctioneer began the countdown.