Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 183: Best Auction of All Time (4)

The renowned chef Hunter from England was just the beginning of a long list of outstanding guests. Among them were royalty from the Middle East, Presidents of African nations, top-ranked hunters from South America, famous hunters from the United States, and even the boss of a Mexican cartel. It was truly a diverse composition of guests from all around the world.

However, what surprised Han-Yeol the most was Scarlett's interpretation skills.

‘Amazing, she’s able to interpret every single language.’

It was impossible for him to determine if she was telling the truth or not, but she explicitly mentioned that she did not possess any translation skills like Han-Yeol. She claimed to be exceptionally talented when it came to languages.

"Amazing... You're truly amazing, Scarlett," Han-Yeol whispered.

"Thank you. I think it's the first time I've been praised for my linguistic abilities," Scarlett replied.

"What? Why wouldn't anyone praise such an incredible talent?" Han-Yeol asked in disbelief.

"Heh," Scarlett let out a soft laugh upon hearing Han-Yeol's words.

After exchanging brief greetings, Han-Yeol followed the hotel's general manager to the designated waiting room prepared for him as his personal space. It was already five in the afternoon, and he had spent most of his time greeting the guests. There was only one hour left before the auction was scheduled to start.

As Han-Yeol sat on the plush sofa in the waiting room, watching the live footage of the main hall on the monitor, a hotel staff member approached him.

"Han-Yeol Hunter-nim, Mujahid-nim has just arrived on the first floor of the hotel," the staff informed him.

"Tsk, I told him there was no need for him to come here personally," Han-Yeol grumbled.

"Oh, and he also wanted me to let you know that he came here out of sheer boredom, given your response," the staff member added.

“Sigh, is he protesting just because I won't entertain him?" Han-Yeol said, annoyed, shaking his head, puzzled by Mujahid's unpredictable behavior.

"Hyung-nim!" Mujahid shouted as he arrived at Han-Yeol's waiting room, which was located on one side of the main hall.

Creak… Creak…

An object covered in cloth was also wheeled in behind him.

“I told you that you didn’t have to personally come here,” Han-Yeol said.

"Haha, I thought about it as well, but today I felt like spending time with Hyung-nim rather than hunting. Besides, it's been a while since I've watched an auction," Mujahid said.

"Are you participating as well?" Han-Yeol asked.

"Of course not. Hyung-nim has clearly stated that an individual can only control one monster pet apart from yourself, the skill user. Besides, I have Furion, and it's more than enough," Mujahid said.

Mujahid was deeply fascinated by the Korean language and studied to become incredibly proficient in it. On the other hand, Tayarana was not interested in anything other than Han-Yeol.

Han-Yeol was impressed with Mujahid's efforts. The prince would regularly watch Korean variety shows and dramas to practice his pronunciation, and he would carry around a vocabulary book to memorize words while hunting. His progress was remarkable.

One could say the biggest reason for his improvement was mainly due to the guidance and support of highly skilled Korean teachers who were generously compensated for their services. The privilege of constantly receiving top-tier private tutoring undoubtedly played a significant role in his rapid progress.

"I'm only here to enjoy the show. Besides, the atmosphere of the auction house is always refreshing," Mujahid said.

"Well, do as you please," Han-Yeol said.

"Oh, by the way, you haven't forgotten about going hunting after the auction, right?" Mujahid asked.

"Of course not. I'll take you to the hunting ground of your choice after this is over, so you better be prepared," Han-Yeol said.

"Hehehe, understood," Mujahid laughed, wearing a satisfied smile after obtaining a firm promise from Han-Yeol.

Han-Yeol's amplification skill provided a euphoric sensation to Mujahid, akin to that of a drug. Although he had never used drugs himself, the descriptions he had read about the experience people felt while under the influence seemed familiar to the feeling he experienced when he received the amplification skill from Han-Yeol.

"Uhm... By the way, hyung-nim, just who is this beauty next to you?" Mujahid asked.

"Oh..." Han-Yeol said.

"Hello, my name is Black Swan. I am a Black Agent from the Secret Hunter Organization of the United States. It's an honor to meet you, Mujahid-nim," Scarlett said.

"Amazing... I guess even the mighty United States wouldn't let someone like Hyung-nim slip away. And being a Black Agent means you're a top-tier agent operating with full autonomy. It's quite impressive that they've assigned a Black Agent just to keep an eye on one person. You're certainly better than me in every possible way, Hyung-nim!" Mujahid said.

One could argue that it might seem like Mujahid was praising the United States a bit too much, but he was not someone who cared about political issues. He was simply sincerely admiring Han-Yeol. He loved his country, but complicated matters like politics and diplomacy were not something he cared about.

‘Well, politics is something that my father or the other politicians can take care of,”?Mujahid thought.

He believed that his sister, Tayarana, should become the next in line to be the president. Neither of them were particularly interested in inheriting the position of the presidency from their father, and Mujahid always felt that it was only right for his sister to inherit the seat of power since she had a more formal lineage than him.

Of course, there would be a referendum among the royal Hunters to choose the next president, but that wouldn't matter much as Phaophator had an overwhelming approval rating of 83%. So, the candidate he supported was likely to become the new president.

The only thing Mujahid was interested in was fighting, and fighting alone. In fact, he only ran his companies as a hobby and as another means to amass wealth that would allow him to hunt more monsters.

“Ughh…”

Plop…!

Mujahid nestled himself on the comfy sofa next to Han-Yeol, and then a hotel staff member approached him.

"Would you like to have some tea?" the staff member asked.

"I want a cup of strong cappuccino with a generous amount of whipped cream, okay?" Mujahid replied.

"Yes, it will be ready in a minute," the staff said.

"Thank you," Mujahid said.

"By the way, thank you Mujahid. Thanks to you, I was able to reduce some of the tedious work," Han-Yeol said.

"Haha, don't mention it. I did it because I was already hunting anyway. I don't think it's something to be praised for," Mujahid said.

The cloth-covered object brought by Mujahid contained the monster egg, which was the main attraction of today's auction. Initially, Han-Yeol had only planned to auction off the ownership of the monster pets. However, he thought it would be more impactful to show the process of hatching the monster egg in real-time. Therefore, instead of just resting, he asked Mujahid, who was fighting inside the hunting ground, to obtain the nutritional fruits and monster eggs for him.

Of course, he paid Mujahid for the trouble, as he believed that the closer the relationship, the more thorough the monetary relationship should be.

Knock… Knock… Clack…

Secretary Kim entered the room after knocking on the door while Han-Yeol was leisurely drinking his tea and chatting with Mujahid.

"Han-Yeol Hunter-nim, the auction will begin in ten minutes," Secretary Kim said.

"It's already time?" Han-Yeol said.

The waiting room where Han-Yeol was staying had six CCTV monitors that displayed the main hall where the auction would take place. His task was simple: hatch the egg once the bidding had closed, as the auction would be conducted by a veteran auctioneer.

The main hall was illuminated by a state-of-the-art lighting system, but the room still maintained a slightly dim atmosphere. People who attended these types of events preferred not to expose their faces too much.

Murmur… Murmur…

The main hall was filled with approximately three hundred and ten VVIPs, accompanied by their entourages, with only five minutes remaining before the auction began. Some guests, who wished to keep their identities concealed, wore masks and sat in the darker areas of the hall.

As the time for the auction approached, the lights in the hall dimmed, and a spotlight illuminated the stage with a flash.

Beeeeep…!

The microphone was turned on, and the veteran auctioneer recruited by Secretary Kim stepped onto the stage.

"Greetings, my name is Choi Jin-Ki, and I will be in charge of today's grand event. It is an honor for me to personally stand in front of esteemed guests," Choi Jin-Ki said.

He primarily spoke in Korean, but each of the guests wore earpieces that directly translated every word into the language of their choice to assist them in the auction.

“...”

Normally, when the host appeared and introduced themselves, people would give a round of applause. However, this auction was no ordinary event where wealthy individuals came to purchase expensive toys. No, this was another battlefield that would determine whether the top-tier Hunters would be able to acquire a monster pet that was expected to become a trend in the near future.

Everyone in the hall understood the importance of these monster pets. Those who did not possess one would be at risk of being left behind by their competitors. That was why the atmosphere in the hall was heavy and serious from the start.

A typical person might have been flustered and embarrassed by the deafening silence. But Choi Jin-Ki was a veteran auctioneer who had undergone rigorous training and experienced various situations throughout his career. He knew exactly what to do in these kinds of situations, and that was to dispel the tense atmosphere by clearing his throat.

“Ahem. Without further ado, I will proceed with the auction right away. As you all know, this auction will feature the ownership of ten monster pets. Please consider the price carefully and bid accordingly. Now, we will commence the first-ever Monster Pet Ownership Auction! The starting bid will be one hundred billion won, with a minimum bid increment of one hundred billion won as well," the auctioneer explained.

The starting price and bidding increment were set at an astonishing one hundred billion won, which was unprecedented in any other auctions organized by a single individual. This alone indicated the immense value of the monster pets possessed by Han-Yeol.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The attendants brought by the VVIPs hurriedly raised the paddles they held as soon as the auctioneer finished speaking. The competition was so intense that some people didn't even bother lowering their paddles.

"One hundred billion, two hundred billion, three hundred billion, four hundred billion, five hundred billion, six hundred billion, seven hundred billion, eight hundred billion... We are about to surpass one trillion! One trillion and one hundred billion, one trillion and two hundred billion...!" Choi Jin-Ki dramatically exclaimed as the bidding heated up.

The bidding was intense right from the start. Only the ultra-wealthy, who had amassed their wealth from mana stones, could participate on this scale.

In a matter of seconds, the price tag of one trillion won spent by the Egyptians was quickly surpassed. Han-Yeol watched the intense bidding from the monitor in the waiting room, his mouth agape in astonishment.

‘Finally, the time has come for my dream of becoming a Chaebol?is coming true,’?Han-Yeol thought as he imagined himself becoming a Chaebol very soon.

Then, a slight wave of sadness washed over him as he realized he didn't have any siblings. He couldn't help but imagine how wonderful it would be to have someone to share this moment of joy with.

Yoo-Bi held a special place in his heart, like a younger sister figure, but having a blood-related sister would undoubtedly be a unique and cherished experience.

‘Hmm, well, I've heard that father's relationship with that woman hasn't been good since I was born, so I guess it can't be helped. Maybe I should ask him to remarry and give me a sibling,’?Han-Yeol thought to himself.

Han-Yeol's father was now leading a much happier life compared to the past. There were times when his father seemed downcast whenever he saw a young couple at the billiard hall. These couples often came to support their aspiring child who dreamed of becoming a professional billiard player. Han-Yeol could see the shadow that would occasionally fall upon his father's face as he watched those happy families.

Having personally witnessed his father's loneliness on numerous occasions, Han-Yeol felt a strong desire to ensure his father's happiness for the rest of his life. He didn't want his father to be alone.

‘Father has lived a life full of suffering, and he deserves happiness from now on. I won't let him be alone for the rest of his life. And as his son, I know there will be no shortage of suitors,’?Han-Yeol thought, not intending to sound arrogant.

He understood that excess in anything, including humility, was not beneficial. However, he was well aware of the respect his father commanded wherever he went, as he was the father of the soon-to-be wealthiest man in all of South Korea.

Considering all these factors, Han-Yeol couldn't help but think that his father would soon become the most eligible bachelor in the country. He knew how much his father meant to him and believed that everyone else recognized his father's worth as well.

‘Hmm, should I start building a new mansion for my father’s honeymoon?’?Han-Yeol was already letting his imagination run wild.

In the meantime, the auction price continued to rise until it reached an astonishing three trillion won. This bid came from a Hunter from the United States.

As time passed, the VVIPs began to give up one by one. While they were undoubtedly extremely affluent individuals at the pinnacle of wealth, spending a staggering three trillion won in a single auction was undeniably burdensome even for them.

“Three trillion and two hundred billion… Three trillion and three hundred billion…!” the auctioneer went on…

Whoosh…!

Then, an attendant next to a masked Hunter raised the paddle once again.

“Three trillion and four hundred billion!” the auctioneer said.

The bid eventually surpassed the three trillion won mark and instantly reached an astonishing four trillion. In the end. Master Gordon won the bid for four trillion and two hundred billion won.

‘Hoho, spending over 4 trillion may seem excessive for a monster pet, but when you consider the fact that it can help me establish a good relationship with Mr. Lee, this four trillion and two hundred billion won is not really a waste,’?Master Gordon thought.

Even for someone as exceptional as Master Gordon, four trillion and two thousand won was not a small amount. However, the reason he invested a fortune was not solely for the monster pet, but also to establish a good relationship with Han-Yeol.

The reason many VVIPs were not actively participating in the auction was due to one key factor—the randomness of the monster that would hatch. While they desired to own a monster pet, these wealthy individuals, with fortunes worth trillions, were extremely cautious about overpaying.

Contrary to the public belief that all wealthy people are reckless with their money due to their immense wealth, in reality, they were more strategic and disciplined in their spending than the general public. Most billionaires achieved their wealth through meticulous financial management, not through lottery wins or lucky real estate investments.

“Four trillion and two hundred billion! Final call! Four trillion and two hundred billion! Three calls and the auction will be closed. Going once! Going twice! Sold!” Choi Jin-Ki exclaimed as he slammed the gavel.

Bam!

1. Chaebol basically means someone that’s uber-wealthy in Korea. Think something like an oligarch except it’s in Korea.