Chapter 449: First Treasure

Conversation faded as the curtains behind the stage opened and Master Orwin stepped forward.

The grey-haired auctioneer wore a dark coat with silver embroidery and carried the confidence of someone who had spent nearly twenty years separating wealthy people from their gold.

He reached the podium, surveyed the audience and struck his wooden hammer once.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Warriors, merchants, honored representatives and anyone who came here merely because they heard something expensive was being sold, welcome to the first Grand Auction of the Adventurer Guild."

Orwin allowed the scattered laughter to settle before continuing with an easy smile. "My name is Orwin Pell, and for tonight I have been entrusted with the dangerous responsibility of encouraging all of you to make decisions your accountants may question tomorrow morning."

Garen immediately laughed and clapped.

Orwin lifted one hand toward him. "Master Holtweiss appears prepared already."

Garen placed a hand against his chest and proudly replied, "Master Orwin, my accountants stopped questioning me years ago."

From several seats away, Boren muttered loudly, "They probably surrendered."

Garen turned toward him with delight. "Brother Boren! I didn’t see you!"

Boren immediately looked away. "That was intentional."

Laughter spread through the hall before Orwin struck the podium lightly and regained everyone’s attention. "Before Brother Boren is forced into another family reunion, allow me to explain tonight’s rules. Every item placed upon this stage has been inspected and recorded by the Adventurer Guild. Rank, known properties and important restrictions will be announced before bidding begins. All bids are binding. If you raise your number and I acknowledge your bid, do not suddenly discover that your purse has developed a mysterious illness."

Several merchants chuckled.

Orwin’s expression became slightly more serious. "Payment must be confirmed before any treasure leaves Guild custody. Threats toward another bidder, intimidation of Guild employees or attempts to settle disagreements with swords will result in immediate removal. Your family name, wealth and Warrior Rank will not change those rules."

Lucan leaned over his railing and called with an amused expression, "That sounds suspiciously directed toward nobles."

Sage folded his arms. "Only nobles who think rules are optional."

Lucan smiled. "Then fortunately I have nothing to worry about."

Leon looked toward Lucan from below and remarked, "You tried to buy Adventurer Rank."

Lucan’s smile disappeared. "I attempted to support the Guild financially."

Mina, sitting beside Sage, immediately protested, "You tried to buy it."

The hall laughed again while Lucan shook his head in betrayal.

Orwin allowed the mood to settle before raising his hammer. "Then with our rules understood and Lord Auremont’s reputation sufficiently damaged, let us begin."

The first lots moved quickly.

A White-Rank hunting spear sold to an independent Warrior. Two Blue-Rank swords attracted several smaller mercenary groups.

A Silver-Rank breastplate created the evening’s first serious competition and eventually sold to the representative of a minor noble House.

Rare monster claws, hides and magical plants followed, and the amounts being exchanged steadily increased.Then four Guild employees walked onto the stage carrying a long black case.

Sage immediately felt the atmosphere change.

Even before the case opened, the Warriors among the audience were watching.

Orwin waited until the attendants placed it upon the display table. He slowly released the clasps and lifted the lid.

A dark longsword rested inside.

Its blade appeared almost black, yet countless silver specks lay within the metal like stars scattered across a moonless sky.

Leon straightened in his seat.

The Iron Fang representative stopped whispering.

Even Edmund Krail leaned forward.

Orwin carefully lifted the sword with both hands. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have finished warming our purses. Now we begin tonight’s major treasures."

The remaining conversations vanished.

Orwin turned the blade beneath the lights. "This weapon is called Starfall Severance. Rank: Gold. It was recovered during one of the Adventurer Guild’s expeditions into ancient ruins."

A murmur immediately spread through the hall.

Orwin continued, his voice carrying over it. "Starfall Severance was forged primarily from Fallen Star Blacksteel, an exceptionally rare ore found within ancient stones fallen from the heavens and saturated with mana over centuries. The metal is naturally heavy, but when a Knight circulates mana through theblade, that weight decreases dramatically in the wielder’s hands."

One of the independent Knights stood slightly and asked, "Can we see that demonstrated?"

Orwin looked toward Sage.

Sage nodded.

A Guild Knight stepped onto the stage and accepted the weapon. His arm visibly lowered when Orwin first passed it to him. Then mana flowed through his hand.

The sword rose effortlessly.

The hall erupted in whispers.

Orwin waited before explaining, "Fallen Star Blacksteel is prized for more than its unusual weight. It can endure enormous amounts of Knight mana without cracking, warping or losing its edge. For a Warrior whose techniques place considerable strain upon ordinary weapons, Starfall Severance is not merely a sword. It is a weapon capable of following its master much further along the Warrior path."

Leon stared at the blade without blinking.

The representatives of three nearby noble Houses began whispering urgently among themselves.

Orwin returned Starfall Severance to its stand.

Then he smiled. "The opening price is 3 million gold coins."

Silence lasted barely a heartbeat.

"3 million five hundred thousand!" a noble representative shouted.

"Four million!" another voice immediatelyanswered.

A Knight near the front raised his number. "Four million five hundred thousand!"

The Iron Fang representative lifted his paddle. "Five million."

Boren’s mouth slowly opened.

"Six million!" someone called from the rear.

Orwin pointed toward the bidder. "Six million from Master Veldran. Do I hear six million five hundred?"

A representative from a minor noble House raised his paddle. "Seven million."

The room became louder.

"Eight million!"

"Eight million five hundred!"

"Nine million!"

Lucan was now sitting forward.

Leon had one hand against his chin.

Garen’s eyes were shining.

Orwin swept his gaze across the hall as another paddle rose.

"Ten million gold coins!"

For the first time that evening, Boren didn’t make a joke.

And before Orwin could even ask for another bid, someone else raised their number.

"Eleven million!"

Sage leaned back in his seat as the Grand Auction House erupted once again.

The bidding had only just begun.