Chapter 36. The mythical ring

The auction hall brimmed with a charged energy, with creatures from all races seated in private chambers, each eager to outbid the other for treasures that only appeared in legends.

The stage was illuminated by a golden light as the first item of the day was presented: a grandmaster dwarf escorted by a stunning elf hostess. The dwarf stood proud despite his weathered appearance, his beard braided with runic charms, a clear mark of his exceptional craft.

The elf began her introduction, her voice clear and musical, as if it carried the weight of centuries of tradition.

"Presenting to you: Master Grundle Ironforge! A grandmaster artisan of unparalleled skill. Known for crafting not just weapons, but relics that transcend time itself. Among his many achievements are blades said to have felled calamities, and armor that defied the ravages of even the harshest battlefields. Starting bid: 100,000 mana crystals."

The crowd murmured appreciatively. Dwarves of his caliber were rare—almost extinct—and to own his services meant adding a chapter to history itself.

I leaned back, the faintest smirk hidden beneath my Kitsune mask. "A dwarf like him could probably craft some magnificent statues for the city square," I mused.

The bidding war began immediately.

"1,000,000 mana crystals!" shouted a flamboyant elf in an adjacent chamber.

I decided it was time to make an impression.

"One dragon heart," I called casually.

The silence was immediate and deafening. The hall froze, and the auctioneer hesitated before regaining composure.

"One dragon heart bid! Are there any challengers?"

There weren't.

The dwarf was mine.

---

The next items didn't capture my interest—potions, enchanted trinkets, and high-grade weapons. All impressive, but none useful for my goals. Yin Xie informed me earlier that this auction operated on a seven-day schedule, with seven "grand items" highlighted each year. Today's grand item? An ancient, mythical storage ring boasting enough space to hold an entire kingdom.

I had been waiting for this moment.

When a high-grade advanced ring appeared halfway through the auction, my ears perked up. This ring, while not the mythical one, was still incredible, with 5,000 cubic square kilometers of space. I watched Brandi casually claim it for a cool 30 dragon hearts.

"So, she wasn't bluffing about the costs," I muttered.

Yin Xie shrugged beside me. "You still have no idea how valuable Storage rings are, do you?"

I ignored her, focusing on the final stretch.

---

Finally, the mythical ring was unveiled.

The elf hostess held it high above her head as the light refracted through the ancient inscriptions etched into its surface. Her voice took on a reverent tone.

"Behold! The mythical storage ring. An artifact of legend, with a storage capacity of 10,000 cubic square kilometers! This relic transcends the boundaries of space and time itself. Bidding starts at 100 million mana cores!"

I did some quick math. That was approximately 100 dragon hearts. A steep price, but the item was worth it. I decided to assert dominance immediately.

"100,000 dragon hearts!"

The air practically vibrated with shock. Whispers filled the auction hall as the crowd tried to determine the bidder's identity. Even in our private chamber, I could feel the weight of their stares.

I was already reveling in the thought of the ring being mine when the unthinkable happened.

"One live dragon," came a calm, smug voice from another chamber.

I froze, my mind struggling to process what I'd just heard. "A… a live dragon?" I stammered, turning to Yin Xie in disbelief.

She looked annoyed, her arms crossed. "That human. He has a peculiar way of summoning dragons from another world. They're free after the trade is finalized, so technically, they're not enslaved. The system guarantees it."

I gaped. "Why was that allowed?!"

Yin Xie shrugged. "We dragons objected, but technically, he's not violating any rules."

Furious and desperate, I shouted, "500,000 dragon hearts!"

The auctioneer hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "Dragons are priceless. No amount of wealth can compare to their freedom."

The hammer fell.

The mythical ring belonged to the dragon-summoning lunatic.

I sat back, defeated, my head spinning with anger and disbelief. "If he'd just let me win, I would've given him two rings," I muttered. "Idiot."

---

The auction ended in chaos, with whispers of my insane bid spreading like wildfire. But I wasn't done. I needed a consolation prize.

Walking with Yin Xie by my side, I approached Brandi, who had won the advanced ring earlier. Her alluring smirk greeted me before she even turned around.

"Ah, the bold bidder," she teased. "Come to outbid me again, or is this a… negotiation?"

"I want that ring," I said bluntly, gesturing to the one she'd purchased for 30 dragon hearts.

Her eyes glimmered with mischief. "Oh, do you now? And what are you offering?"

I hesitated. Her playful demeanor set alarm bells ringing in my mind. But the ring's storage capacity of 5,000 cubic square kilometers was too good to pass up.

Yin Xie sighed beside me, muttering, "Humans and their priorities…"

Brandi leaned back, her golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "You want the ring for what, exactly? Surely you don't think I'd just hand it over for free, little human."

I kept my tone firm but measured. "Lend it to me for four days, and I'll give you 100 dragon hearts."

She raised a delicate eyebrow, her smirk deepening. "100? That's hardly a fair offer for someone so eager. 1,000 dragon hearts."

My jaw tightened. This dragon woman knew exactly how to play the game. Still, time was precious, and I wasn't about to let negotiations drag on. "Deal," I said briskly.

Brandi handed over two rings with a flourish, her fingertips lingering on the edges as if to remind me of her upper hand. "Don't lose them," she teased, though her tone carried a hint of seriousness.

---

Back in my room, I wasted no time. First, I filled the smaller ring with 1,000 dragon hearts—enough to honor my end of the agreement. I returned it to Brandi quickly, her smug satisfaction palpable as she received it.

With one ring still in my possession, I allowed myself a moment to assess my resources. My dragon heart count had already soared past the one-million mark—a staggering achievement that no longer required constant upkeep.

It was time to pivot. Phoenix blood became my new focus, moving to Slot 1 for priority production. Meanwhile, the advanced storage ring took Slot 2, ready to house the resources that would further my plans.

I ran my fingers along the edges of the ring, marveling at its potential. "Just you wait," I murmured under my breath, the words carrying a sharp edge of determination. My thoughts were fixed on that dragon-summoning idiot who had outbid me for the mythical storage ring.

He had thrown away an entire dragon—a harem!—for the sake of one single item. The sheer lunacy of his decision sent a ripple of indignation through me.

"I want to eat that fool alive," I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief.

Then, a smirk of my own crept onto my face. "Is this what they mean by 'One man's trash is another man's treasure'."

---

(Just assume all gold was given to Lucia for easy management | (〒_〒)

Dragon heart: 1,020,658 units.

Boundless Wealth:

Slot 1: Phoenix blood vials

(242 unit. ) | [+121 unit the next day. ]

Slot 2: advanced storage ring

(1 unit. ) [+1 unit the next day. ]