Chapter 241: The Grand Auction

They had spent longer than intended talking with Sol, discussing Earth and its current state. Sol had expressed relief at the Aegis Coalition holding together as well as it had, as this stability granted him valuable time to prepare and unify Earth.

During the conversation, Sol brought up the possibility of additional mercenary work if the first contract went well. The proposed targets, however, were more morally ambiguous than the Everrest Sect. Despite that, the offers were intriguing enough that Alistair told Sol he’d give them proper consideration after discussing it with Riseth through the Akashic Link.

Riseth had admitted she wasn’t particularly keen on working on Earth or Neshan specifically, but she was open to the idea of mercenary work overall.

Alistair didn't outright oppose getting involved in Earth’s affairs. At this point, he had acclimated to their new reality and long overcome most of his reservations from before the Initiation.

Alistair had shoved the question of morality aside for the time being, focusing instead on enjoying their last free day before the start of the truly significant auctions. They spent the day exploring the sights, visiting merchants, and indulging in the Tok’eall’s public entertainment centers. The creative holographic arcades, with their absurdly fun obstacle courses, rhythm games, and countless other minigames, stood out as a highlight. They even discussed sharing some of the concepts with the Administrator of the Platijum Lily Dungeon.

By the end of the day, they decided to turn in early and rest. With the next stage of the auctions being held under slight time dilation, Alistair fully expected the event to be both exhilarating and exhausting, breaks or not. It was better to be prepared than let exhaustion dictate the coming days.

The next morning, Alistair, Riseth, Nessyra, and Denodia made their way to the auction house together. They weren’t alone—countless hovercraft sleds glided through the sky highways, converging on the massive domed structure where the event would take place. The excitement in the air was palpable, almost electric, and Alistair could swear he could taste the anticipation hanging over the city.

Once they reached the auction house, they didn’t linger in the bustling entrance halls. The throng of people grew denser by the moment, and they swiftly navigated to their designated booth. A collective sigh of relief escaped them as they settled into their seats, releasing their summons. Dexter trotted toward a plush alcove resembling a dog bed, while Fluffy and Viv curled up comfortably in Riseth’s and Alistair’s laps, respectively. The booth’s enchantments muted the noise of the crowd, leaving them with a sense of quiet reprieve. From their vantage point, they watched as the stands and other booths steadily filled with attendees.

Alistair’s gaze lingered on the overwhelming number of Natural gods and incredibly powerful individuals present. He couldn’t stop himself from making comparisons, noting that, in some cases, the gap between his own strength and theirs had only widened. His senses picked up more Grade 7 individuals than he had anticipated, many of them already deep into the grade, their auras refined and powerful. These weren’t people who had recklessly advanced, sacrificing their foundations—they were the true elites of their universe.

He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of titles, trials, and worlds they must have encountered to grow so steadily and maintain such balance in their power. Then again, he had spent much of his time building and supporting their clan, refining techniques, and filling gaps in knowledge with Sotarr’s invaluable guidance. Now, with Nivareth, they had access to a reliable way to tackle a variety of challenges. Alistair was certain that the true elites present must have found their own equivalent—a dungeon or realm that allowed them to sustain their growth even after the trial’s conclusion and the loss of its conveniences.

As he looked around the grand hall, he was reminded of the sheer scale of the universe and the endless potential it held. While many individuals here could likely crush him, they were the exception rather than the rule. The vast majority of those present would struggle to match him. His frankly cracked abilities and steady growth placing him far ahead of most. Alistair felt confident in his standing and was satisfied with the position he had carved out for himself—one built on strength and the bonds he had formed along the way.

Wrapping his arm around Riseth, Alistair watched as the murmurs in the hall gradually quieted. All eyes turned to the stage, where the same gold-skinned demon from before stepped confidently into view. This time, he was dressed in an elegant burgundy Victorian-style suit, complete with a gleaming top hat that somehow added to his theatrical flair.

“Esteemed guests, travelers, and seekers of the extraordinary,” the demon’s voice rang out, rich and commanding, “welcome to the proper start of our universe’s very first Grand Auction!”

The hall erupted into thunderous cheers, whistles, honks, claps, and countless other sounds of excitement from the diverse gathering of beings. It was clear this was what everyone had been waiting for—the appetizers of smaller auctions and exchanges were done; now came the true treasures and prizes that had drawn such a crowd from across their universe.

"The Aegis Coalition welcomes all its allies and members and extends its gratitude to the Tok'eall Empire for hosting such a grand event—give it up for them!" the demon declared enthusiastically, clapping his hands.

Alistair couldn't help but notice how much overlap the demon had with Earth's culture in terms of expression and attire, though he found himself somewhat glad for the familiarity.

"My name is Zermos Valthor, and I will be your host for this auction," Zermos announced with a flourish.

The crowd broke into another round of applause as Zermos gave three low bows, one to each section of the massive hall in front of him, his movements deliberate and theatrical.

"Without further ado," Zermos continued, his voice brimming with excitement, "let’s begin this auction with something truly special!"

As Zermos spoke, a small group of strikingly attractive individuals—comprising various alien species, including demons and humans—wheeled out a large, richly decorated oval mirror. Its surface rippled faintly, almost as though it were alive. Alistair’s attention sharpened as his Dungeon Sense immediately pinged it—this wasn’t just an artifact; it was a dungeon.

The presenters, dressed in a way that was both revealing and yet somehow modest, caught the eyes of many in the crowd without crossing into tastelessness. They stood to the side gracefully. Alistair noted this only briefly before focusing entirely on the dungeon.

"This will be the first of only a handful of dungeons to be auctioned during this auction," Zermos declared, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. "Worry not—the core is unclaimed and has expressed its indifference as to who may claim it, provided more delvers challenge its depths."

A wave of murmurs and excitement swept through the room, and Alistair found himself at the edge of his seat.

Zermos raised his hands to settle the crowd before continuing. "This dungeon’s personality, while not hostile, is quite indifferent. It’s not the type to strike bargains unless they’re clearly in its best interest. It reflects its very nature—highly diverse, yet unpredictable. As its mirror-like surface implies, this dungeon crafts illusionary worlds shaped by the thoughts, personalities, dreams, and even moods of its delvers."

Alistair’s mind whirred with possibilities. A dungeon capable of crafting such unique challenges wasn’t just rare—it was potentially invaluable.

"That dungeon is ridiculously valuable," Nessyra remarked, her tone laced with admiration as her eyes lingered on the mirror.

"They certainly wanted to kick this auction off with a bang," Riseth added, crossing her arms. "There’s no chance in hell we’re winning the first bid of the auction, right?"

Denodia shook her head with a wry smile. "As incredible as it is, it doesn’t match the needs of our clan. And you’re right—" she paused briefly, glancing toward the increasingly animated crowd, "—I don’t even need to use my powers to know this one’s going to be far too rich for our blood."

"The starting bid is set at 50 million USC," Zermos declared, his voice ringing clearly across the grand hall. "Bidding increments will begin at a minimum of one million USC, but for those feeling particularly bold, don’t let that limit you." He adjusted his burgundy suit with a flourish, his golden eyes sweeping the crowd as he let the anticipation build.

With a charming smile, he continued, "Now, who will be the first to stake their claim on this extraordinary dungeon? A marvel of both mystery and opportunity awaits! The floor is officially open for bids!"

Alistair watched in astonishment as rapid-fire bids poured in, the price skyrocketing to ridiculous heights within moments. Some of the larger factions wasted no time, leaping into the billions as if the initial starting price had been mere pocket change to them. Blowing out a long breath, Alistair shook his head at the astronomical sums, wondering if some of these factions were on the verge of emptying their coffers on the very first lot of the auction.

His gaze drifted to the booth beside them, where Nomura sat. Their eyes met, and she mirrored his amazement with a subtle gesture, signaling her shared disbelief at the sheer amount of wealth being thrown into play.

"Thank god we already have a realm that covers our need for such a dungeon," Alistair remarked, his tone relieved. Watching the dungeon being sold off for an astronomical price would have stung a lot more if they didn’t already have Nivareth to fulfill that role.

"Such dungeons are priceless for any faction without a comparable one," Nessyra commented, her expression carefully measured. She had even actively competed for it in the early billions, making a show of eagerness that matched the other bidders. They all displayed visible disappointment when the price began to soar beyond what could be considered reasonable for them, maintaining appearances and ensuring no one suspected they already possessed something akin to it.

While the Blackmarket Syndicates likely assumed they owned Nivareth due to the raid, the Syndicates couldn’t be certain whether the Realm had been retained by one of the New Light Alliance factions or handed over to the Coalition. Moreover, they had no intention of letting others within the Coalition grow any wiser about the truth either, maintaining an air of plausible ambiguity around their possession.

"311 billion 238 million USC going once... going twice... Do I hear another bid? No? Going thrice—sold to the Korteross Empire for 311 billion 238 million USC!" Zermos declared with a flourish, his golden eyes gleaming as he clapped his hands together. "Congratulations to the Korteross Empire for securing the first major bid of the grand auction!"

Alistair shook his head in astonishment, still processing the enormous sum. He couldn’t fathom how the Korteross Empire had managed to gather such an absurd amount of Universal Credits, though he reminded himself that an empire with control over multiple worlds could easily pool trillions in funds through trade enterprises, military campaigns, and other lucrative ventures. Even his own faction had managed to build a substantial coffer from their trade enterprises, bounties, and dungeon earnings, though they weren’t yet in the realm of hundreds of billions, let alone trillions.

Still, Alistair suspected that at some point, even the Korteross Empire had to weigh the price against their priorities. While this dungeon was incredibly rare—one of only a handful available at the auction—it was clear that the empire's competitors had decided the price tag was too high despite its immense strategic value.

"Are we even going to be able to buy anything?" Riseth asked, idly stroking Fluffy's feathered coat as she watched the Korteross representatives celebrate their victory.

"We will," Nessyra replied confidently. "We’re not exactly poor ourselves, and this was an outlier—a truly unique treasure. While there are certainly some factions that can outbid us, USC isn’t something you throw around carelessly unless what’s at stake is absolutely vital. This was a significant expense for their empire, and I’d be surprised if they made another bid of this scale. In fact, I half expect the majority of their representatives to leave now that they've secured what they came for."

"The larger empires also do not wish to make enemies within the Coalition," Denodia added. "Aside from the big-ticket items, they’ll likely hold back quite a bit to avoid painting a target on themselves, whether from other factions within the Coalition or outside it."

Alistair nodded thoughtfully, his gaze shifting back to the stage as Zermos announced the next lot. The presenters wheeled out what appeared to be a monkey’s paw, its fingers curled in a sinister gesture. Alistair leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued despite his knowledge that they probably wouldn’t purchase too many items from the auction. The atmosphere was electric, and he found himself enjoying the spectacle, even if only as an observer.

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