Chapter 8

On the next morning, Arias headed toward Bernier City again.

“Have you heard the rumor? Lady Sophiar broke off her engagement with that Arias.”

“I heard about it as well. It makes sense, you know? How could a goddess marry a loser?”

“I’m so glad that my beloved goddess had finally been set free. I’m starting to feel a little hopeful.”

“Stop daydreaming, you fatso. A goddess like her would never be interested in a guy like you, hahaha!”

“…”

Bernier City was full of hustle and bustle as usual. However, the topic of his annulled engagement seemed to have inevitably become the talk of the town. The source of this rumor was none other than the Hobson. Seemed like they had already announced the news of the annulment to the whole town. Announcing the news like this brought quite a disgrace on the Scarcia. Although Arias was not too happy hearing the insulting remarks people made about him, he let it go and regarded it as some nonsense gibberish.

Arias finally came to a stop in front of a large building. It had a distinct location inside the central part of Bernier City. The area surrounding the building was busy with the ceaseless movement of the people walking in and out. Above the entrance was a large, beautifully engraved wooden board. The middle section of the board was inscribed with large letters that read, “Haze Auction House.” This was Arias’ destination today.

This auction house was one of Hargen’s businesses. Auction houses served as a middleman between buyers and sellers. If anyone would like to put their items up for auction, they could contact an auction house. Once the item was out for bidding and was purchased by a bidder, the seller would receive the amount of money the item was sold for minus the commission fee which would be paid to the auction house.

“We have a lot of precious treasures up for auction today. If you wish to enter, that’d be two hundred Crystal Coins!”

Arias, who was about to enter the auction house, stopped his footsteps. Puzzled, he looked at the two men in silver armor who stood in his way and prevented him from entering. They were guards in charge of Haze Auction House’s security. ‘Two hundred Crystal Coins as an entrance fee!? Where would I find that kind of money.’ Actually, two hundred Crystal Coins was not a lot of money, but Arias did not have a single Crystal Coin on him at the moment.

“I am here as a seller, I’ve got no interest in any of those treasures. And I have no Crystal Coin on me, I only have the items I brought for the auction.”

Arias stated simply and directly. His only goal was to sell the Moon-bathed elixirs. He did not have any interest in the treasures they mentioned.

“Hahaha, a mere neophyte covering his face and acting all mysterious, doing all this to claim that he came to Haze Auction House with something to offer? Do you think I wouldn’t see through that little scheme of yours, boy? Do you know that only items worth three thousand Crystal Coins and above can be put up for auction? You, who haven’t got a coin, claiming to have items for this auction was just ridiculous. Now, get out of my sight before I lose my patience!”

The guard in silver armor laughed scornfully. He had met dozens of people like this today, those who claimed they had items to put up for auction so that they could go inside and have a look at the treasures. In the end, they were thrown out of the auction house.

“I received an order from my master, a potion-brewer, to put these elixirs up for auction. Would they be valuable enough to be put up for auction here at the Haze? If this auction house does not want them, I will go somewhere else.”

Arias stated in a calm voice as if he did not pay much attention to what the guard had said. He nonchalantly took out one of the Moon-bathes elixirs from the dimensional ring as if it was just an ordinary item he was used to having in possession.

“This is…a high-level elixir!”

The two guards gaped at the elixir in shock. The herbal fragrance exuding from the elixir alone was enough to make them feel refreshed as if their bodies had rested and had been rid of fatigue. They stared at the boy in the grey hood once again with a different look on their faces. Potion-brewers were honorable figures. While the boy was just an apprentice, having been tasked with handling a high-level elixir such as this must mean he was a remarkable one. The guards had no idea who this young man’s master was, but they were sure that he or she must be a high-level potion-brewer, maybe even a master level. Cold sweat started to trickle down their backs. If the Hargen Clan knew they dismissed a potion-brewer’s apprentice who came here bearing a high-level elixir for sale, and that they might have upset a high-level brewer, they would definitely be punished.

“Young man, I must apologize for my misunderstanding. However, this is not the place to talk. Come inside, I will show you the way.”

The guards’ manner clearly shifted to a more polite one. Arias did not utter anything in response and continued to play the role of a mysterious brewer’s apprentice. He followed one of the guards to the other side of the auction house until they reached a room. Inside, there was only an elderly man and a dark green bird perching on his shoulder. This man wore dark red attire underneath a brown magical cloak. On the man’s cloak was the Hargen’s insignia. His right hand was holding a pitch-black staff covered with the scales of a certain serpentine beast. It seemed to be a mid-level weapon. ‘This must be the auction house’s important figure,’ Arias thought.

“Who have you brought here?”

The elderly man asked the guard.

“Master Morle, this is a brewer’s apprentice. He had brought a high-level elixir for the auction.”

“Huh? A high-level elixir? Are you certain you were not mistaken?”

Morle narrowed his eyes and looked skeptically at the young man who wore a concealing attire. From what he saw, this young man seemed too incompetent. He was probably fifteen or sixteen already but was still a fifth-level neophyte mage. How could someone like this be a potion-brewer’s apprentice and have a high-level elixir in his possession?

Seeing Morle’s incredulous look, Arias did not utter anything in response and instead reached for his dimensional ring before taking out the Moon-bathed elixir. It was better to show than tell. The best way to convince this man was to let him see it with his own eyes.

The elderly man looked at the elixir Arias was holding in mild disbelief.

“This is the Moon-bathed elixir, a high-level elixir made by my master. It helps restore magical power and can be used to treat injuries as well.”

Seeing the way Morle stared at the elixir questioningly, Arias began to explain.

“Not only is this a high-level elixir, but it also has the ability to restore magical power and treat injuries? Your master was not exaggerating, were they?”

After hearing about the elixir’s properties from Arias, Morle was still a bit skeptical. It was not like there were no other elixirs with restorative or healing properties. However, those elixirs were only low-level or mid-level elixirs. Moreover, there were no other elixirs that contained two remarkable properties such as this one. That was why Arias’ explanation seemed a little exaggerated for Morle.

“Inspect it yourself then.”

Arias handed the Moon-bathed elixir to Morle. This was becoming a bit tiring for him.

After receiving the elixir from Arias, Morle immediately used his magical power to inspect it. A moment after, Morle was still looking at the elixir in disbelief. Both the level and the properties of the elixir were just as Arias had said. In Bernier City, there were scarcely any high-level elixirs on the market which was why he did not believe Arias at first. His impression of the young man started to change.

“A high-level elixir, and with excellent properties too. What would be the starting bid?”

“That would be for the Haze Auction House to decide.”

“If that is so, then I would set the starting bid at ten thousand Crystal Coins. Young man, if I was not wrong, I believe that this Moon-bathed elixir was not the only one your master had asked you to put up for auction. Is that correct?”

Morle raised a smile and looked at Arias cunningly as if he could see what was inside of Arias’ dimensional ring. He knew that Arias would not have brought just one elixir to sell.

“You’re a wise man. I have twenty-one Moon-bathed elixirs with me.”

Arias raised a smile as he replied. He actually had twenty-three moon-bathed elixirs with him, but he did not want to sell all of them. He wanted to keep some in case he ever needed them.

Hearing Arias’ answer, Morle became quite surprised. To brew a high-level elixir would need a great number of precious herbs, not to mention the amounts of herbs that were needed during the process of trial-and-error. In Bernier City, there were fewer than five potion-brewers who could make a high-level elixir. Moreover, none had been able to make an elixir such as this one before. ‘Perhaps this was some potion-brewer who invented a new type of elixir.’ Although he was quite surprised, Morle was still able to maintain his calm composure.

Morle told Arias that the Moon-bathed elixirs would be divided into seven sets of three. The starting bid for each set of the elixirs would be thirty thousand Crystal Coins. Morle had also arranged a seat for Arias at the VIP zone so he could watch the auction from there since his master had told him to be discreet. Once Morle heard that it was an order from the mysterious potion-brewer, he immediately offered a special spot for Arias.

It seemed like this potion master character that Arias created had somewhat raised his status. He was seated in an exclusive zone that was occupied by him alone. It was like a small glass room, its exterior inscribed with protective magical circuits to prevent those outside from being able to see who was inside. The Haze Auction House had twenty rooms like this which were normally reserved for members of the great clans and a few powerful mages.

Arias looked around, observing the auction house. It was like a large hall with thousands of chairs set in a circular pattern from the lower ground to the higher ground. Attached to every chair was the number for each bidder and at the center of the hall was a large, luxurious platform.

Suddenly, Arias’ brows furrowed like he was considering something important, and the corner of his mouth lifted into a cunning smile.

“Why did I forget about something like this…I haven’t named this master of mine!”