Is this really a Game?!

Chapter 1034: The Grand Auction and the Powerful Items

The auctioneer's voice rang through the grand hall, the anticipation palpable among the attendees.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we now present the final items of the evening."

"These rare treasures have been sought after by many, and now, they are within your grasp."

The first of these final items was unveiled: a crystal orb, shimmering with an inner light. The auctioneer's voice took on a reverent tone.

"This is the Orb of Celestial Insight."

"It is said to grant visions of the future to those who possess it, however, the visions can be a bit too speculative and not exact, so we shall go low for start, the starting bid is 50,000 S Coins."

The room buzzed with excitement as the bidding commenced. The orb's potential was significant, and several factions immediately entered into a fierce bidding war. Reign and his team watched intently, observing who showed interest and at what price they were willing to pay.

The bids climbed quickly, reaching 200,000 S Coins before slowing. The man in the golden suit made a final, decisive bid, pushing the price to 250,000 S Coins. There was a moment of hesitation, and then the auctioneer's gavel came down.

"Sold! To the gentleman in the golden suit."

Reign noted the purchase. The orb was powerful, but its use was speculative at best. It indicated that the buyer valued knowledge and foresight highly, or perhaps sought to manipulate others into believing he did.

Still, the orb was ranked as a Rank SS item, and the system didn't lie about its powers. The one that had placed it in the auction was Ishtamar, and Reign had no idea why he would do so.

Next, the auctioneer introduced a pair of gauntlets, gleaming with a silvery sheen.

"These are the Gauntlets of Titan Strength. Forged in ancient times, they enhanced the wearer's physical power to extraordinary levels. The starting bid is 75,000 S Coins."

The bidding was swift and aggressive, with factions eager to secure such a tangible boost to their combat capabilities. Wolf leaned forward, intrigued by the competition. The cloaked figure entered the bidding, their eerie, distorted voice sending chills through the room. The bids escalated rapidly, finally settling at 300,000 S Coins, with the cloaked figure emerging victorious. Discover exclusive tales on m,v l'e-NovelBin.net

"That's two significant items, one for each of them," Wolf remarked. "They're certainly making their presence felt."

The auction continued, the tension in the room mounting as each item was presented and sold. Finally, the last item was revealed: a golden chalice, adorned with intricate runes that glowed faintly.

"This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Chalice of Eternal Renewal. It is said to possess healing properties that can restore vitality and cure any ailment. The starting bid is 100,000 S Coins."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the chalice's potential sinking in. Then, the bids began to pour in, each one higher than the last. The woman Reign had identified earlier, the one who seemed to be hiding her true strength, entered the fray. Her bidding was strategic and calculated, driving the price up to 400,000 S Coins.

She was, of course, allowing the man who was disguised as the leader to bid for the item.

The man in the golden suit and the cloaked figure both hesitated, exchanging glances across the room. It was as if an unspoken agreement had been reached: they would let the woman have this one. The auctioneer's gavel came down again.

"Sold! To the respected gentlemen in the 3rd booth."

Reign and his team exchanged glances. Three of the four strongest individuals had each secured a powerful item, and even though there were more to be sold, did they truly need the items that much, to actually pay so much S Coins for them?

As the excitement of the last successful bid settled, the auctioneer's voice filled the grand hall once more. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have just two more items to present before the grand finale. These items, like the ones before, are of exceptional rarity and power."

The first of the remaining items was brought forth: an ancient, intricately carved staff. The wood gleamed with a dark luster, and runes etched into its surface pulsed with a faint, otherworldly light.

"This, esteemed guests, is the Staff of the Abyssal Whisperer. It is a relic of ancient times, said to grant its wielder minor control over shadows and the ability to communicate with the denizens of the abyss."

"Be warned, however, that even though the staff allows for one to talk with denizens of the abyss, it will mostly be weaker entities, with some more powerful ones."

"If one is not strong enough and possesses a lot of willpower, they might be in danger."

"The starting bid is 150,000 S Coins."

A murmur of awe rippled through the audience. Control over shadows and communication with abyssal entities were powers not to be taken lightly. The bidding began at a fervent pace, with several factions eager to lay claim to such a formidable tool. The cloaked figure, who had previously won the gauntlets, entered the bidding almost immediately, driving the price up with swift, decisive bids.

Reign noted the cloaked figure's determination, sensing a deep, personal interest in the staff.

The woman who had won the chalice joined the fray as well, her bids pushing the price higher and higher. It quickly surpassed 300,000 S Coins, then 400,000. The intensity of the bidding war captivated the entire room. Finally, after a prolonged exchange of escalating bids, the price reached a staggering 500,000 S Coins. The cloaked figure made one final, emphatic bid.

"550,000 S Coins," the cloaked figure's eerie, distorted voice declared.

A hushed silence fell over the hall. The woman hesitated, then nodded to herself, seemingly conceding this round. The auctioneer's gavel came down with a resounding thud.

"Sold! To the esteemed guest in the second booth."

Reign and his team exchanged glances. The cloaked figure's acquisition of the staff hinted at either a deeper connection to the powers of the abyss or the willingness to have a connection with the abyss, a factor that could have significant implications for the future.

The penultimate item was then revealed: a crystalline amulet, glowing with an inner light that shifted through a spectrum of colors.

"This is the Amulet of Elemental Mastery. It is said to enhance the wearer's ability to control and manipulate elemental forces, those with abilities that are elemental will find themselves quite happy with such an item."

"The starting bid is 120,000 S Coins."

The bidding for the amulet began, and once again, the competitive fervor took hold. The man in the golden suit showed interest, as did a new contender—a burly man in battle-worn armor, representing a lesser-known but evidently wealthy faction. The bids climbed steadily, each increase punctuated by the auctioneer's rhythmic calls.

Reign's team watched closely, particularly intrigued by the man in the golden suit. His demeanor remained composed, yet there was a subtle tension in his posture. The bidding reached 350,000 S Coins, then 400,000, and the man in the golden suit made a final bid of 450,000 S Coins.

The armored man hesitated, then nodded in acceptance. The auctioneer's gavel struck once more.

"Sold! To the distinguished gentleman in the golden suit."

With the conclusion of the bidding for the amulet, a sense of anticipation filled the air. The auctioneer's voice took on a tone of heightened excitement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached the final item of the evening, a surprise that has been kept under wraps until this very moment."

A collective gasp of anticipation ran through the crowd as the final item was brought forth. It was a saber, sheathed in an ornate scabbard adorned with precious gems. The hilt, visible above the scabbard, was crafted from a strange, dark metal that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.

"This, esteemed guests, is the Saber of Eternal Dawn, a Rank SSS item of unparalleled power. Forged in the heart of a dying star, it is said to possess the ability to cut through any material and channel the very essence of creation. The starting bid is 700,000 S Coins."

The room erupted into a frenzy of whispered conversations and incredulous exclamations. A Rank SSS item was a rarity of the highest order, and the sheer power it promised was beyond anything seen before.

The bidding began at a furious pace, quickly surpassing the starting bid. The cloaked figure, the man in the golden suit, the woman, and even the burly man all entered the fray, their bids soaring ever higher. The price reached 1,000,000 S Coins, then 1,500,000. The atmosphere was electric, the tension palpable.

Reign's team watched in awe as the bids climbed to dizzying heights. The cloaked figure made a bid of 2,000,000 S Coins, only to be countered by the man in the golden suit with a bid of 2,500,000. The woman hesitated, then made a final, decisive bid of 3,000,000 S Coins.

Just as the auctioneer was about to end the auction, a fourth person spoke.

"Four Million."

Reign and the others stared at the man in the fourth row that Reign had previously identified as one equal in strength to the other three. He had kept quiet the entire auction and didn't bid at all, only to suddenly do so now, and in such a fashion.