The Secret Auction

This time Avin and Gill were sticking to me like glue, following me so I would not get lost again.

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"Do you have an invitation?" the muscular guard asks.

I respond, " Is this enough?" showing the Clades family crest.

His eye widen in shock, "Yes, s-sir, this is e-enough! Please enter." We encounter two women wearing masks and dressed in revealing dresses while accompanying us.

" Our important guests, please put on your masks before going in the Auction. It is for your own safety." one of them uttered out. There were three masks, one of the design is a wolf the other is a rabbit. The last design is a tiger.

I put on the wolf mask and help Aust with the rabbit mask. " Why am I wearing the rabbit mask!?" he then pouts.

"It looks good one you little one, that's why." I smile under my mask and notice Aust's servant Gill already have his mask on while trying to suppress his laughter. " Let's go!" The ladies keep their expression unchanged and continue to lead us.

"Aww" Aust reply sadly, though that emotion was short-lived. Once we enter the Auction, Aust keeps looking around like a lost child while being bewildered by everything.

I smile at his reaction as the ladies lead us to a luxurious room at a higher floor. One of the ladies spoke, " The Auction will begin shortly, please wait here patiently." before they walk away.

" Brother, what is an Auction?" I widen my eyes due to shock, Gill came to a my rescue and explain, " Auction is where people come to buy goods or property sold to the highest bidder, young master."

'Wait a damn minute, don't tell me little Aust came here not knowing that! My innocent little munchkin of a brother!' I shook my head side to side while putting my hand touching my temples.

Suddenly, a loud voice appears, " Ladies and gentleman, thank you for your patience! Auction of secrets presents to you the rarity will not disappoint you! Well, then our first item is~..." the same man wearing a suit and a cat mask, clap twice.

The audience stops talking look at him. A lady walk-in with her stiletto proudly while wheeling in the covered product.

CLACK! CLACK! CLACK!

Clacking could be heard throughout the audience hall. It was as if time has stopped, everything was still and suffocating. The tension finally releases when the lady executes the action of pulling the fabric off.

"This Mana Stone's purity is 8 out of 10, It is 1 in 1000 of the mana stones. The starting bid is 100,000 gold!" The auctioneer uses mana to enhance his voice.

The auctioneer is fantastic at his job, he can grab the audience attention. Many people start to raise their seat numbers and shouting.

" 120,000 from seat 22! " the auctioneer shouts while pointing towards his left.

"150,000 from seat 68! " the auctioneer points towards his right. These gestures keep ongoing until the bid is 300,000 gold.

"300,000 gold going once! twice! SOLD to number 292!" the crowd start whispering to each other once the Mana Stone was sold.

From the above seats where we are seated, it seems quite boisterous and fun to watch. Aust was watching intently the entire time as if waiting for something while holding on to Common Rainbow Bird. I took out my pocket watch from my pouch, I open it showing half-past five*.

A different lady walks in holding an egg. The egg has delicate characteristics of both wind and water elements mixed. It seems about two metres high. " This egg is laid by a Mer-Wolf which contains both wind and water elements. Our adventurers have many difficulties locating it, it took about 9 months trying to get that same egg. The bidding will commence from 500,000 gold!"

Aust turn to me, " Brother, can she fly around the room? "

"Who is she?" I respond to his question. "Her, " as he points down towards the conscious Common Rainbow Bird looking directly at me.

" Sure, just don't let her fly down to the audience," I reply with a smile and my hand instinctively play with Aust fluffy hair.

The Common Rainbow Bird stretch her sleepy wings and begin to flap up and down continuously. Aust let her perch on his left shoulder as it continue its gestures.

It slowly launches itself into the air as if it wasn't hurt from the start. 'Gill's familiar is very useful it seems. I hope to find a very compatible familiar as well.'

After a period of the auctioneer auctioning rare artefacts and antique, a few men walk in holding a seemingly injured demi-human. They hold both his arm even though they were cuffed. They made him kneel so that people can see his face as they roughly pull his head backwards. The beastman's eyes were covered by cloth and his hair is long and tied into a high ponytail. He wore clothes from the east, the long dress is similar to a robe.

" This will be our last auction item! This demi-human does not look like much as a child but this beastman had killed many of my men trying to capture him! He learned martial arts since his childhood, which make him a very good guard or an escort. Though beastman is supposed to be found in the west, this beastman is found in the east! This beastman's eyes is damage however his sense is extremely strong. He is still young so he has a lot more to grow. The bid will start with 700,000 gold!!" The auctioneer seems to be exhausted trying to entice people to buy this last product as his voice was shaken quite badly yet he still kept his posture professionally.

This time Aust is interested in the auction as I could see his eyes light up. " Little Aust do you want to get him?" His gaze quickly shifted towards me.

He hesitates and thinks deeply before nodding. " I think he could be a good asset for our family," he said in a silvery voice as he looks back at the beastman.

'I glad that Aust wanted something but the item he wants is kind of difficult to get. Though I am going to bid as much as I can to get him for Aust!' I nod as I hold my number up to challenge other people and increase the amount.

In the end the cost of that single demi-human cost most of our allowance. It became 1 million gold which is equal to 1 platinum. Thankfully I had saved up enough to put together at least 1 platinum and 500,000 gold.

We were walking down to the collection area Aust spoke up, " I'm so sorry, brother! I will pay you back that amount..." I could sense that he felt guilty for making me pay but I feel that it is worth the beastman. I replied, " It is fine, you don't have to pay me back that amount since it is a gift for you!" Aust gave me a small hug.

"Are you customer number 950?" the receptionist said. " Yes."

The receptionist looks at my number and said, "Please place in the amount in here", she took out a gold measuring mana item. I place my card as the beep stops after all my gold was gone as she leads us to the collecting station.

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*Half past five - 5.30 in terms of time.