Chapter 173: Calming Bell
In one of the private boxes, a man wearing a silver mask and a matching formal suit stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, exuding an air of authority as he gazed down at the scene below.
Tickets to the Navi Auction weren’t easy to come by. Without sufficient power, one might not even know the auction existed.
Therefore, many of those attending the Navi Auction came not only for the desirable items but also for the networking opportunities.
Even if they couldn’t win the items they desired, just getting to know a few influential people made the trip worthwhile.
This was especially true for those in the private boxes, who were either powerful and influential or incredibly wealthy and distinguished.
The man’s eyes immediately fell on Moira Lynch below, who stood out from the crowd. He turned to the subordinate beside him and asked, "Whose child is that?"
The subordinate stepped up to the window and glanced down.
Although Moira Lynch was wearing a mask and hat, people like him had undergone professional training. They could quickly identify someone—no matter how well-disguised—from their silhouette, a look in their eyes, a single movement, or even the rhythm of their breathing.
"I haven’t seen any files on this girl. Shall I investigate?"
’Although he didn’t know why his master was interested in a young girl,’ the subordinate still replied dutifully.
"There’s no need," the man replied coolly.
’To have tempered one’s physique to such perfection... only a few families in the entire galaxy could accomplish such a feat.’
’I just wonder why such a treasure would be here all alone, without a single person for protection.’
’Isn’t she afraid of being targeted by someone with ill intent?’
Just then, Moira Lynch finished a piece of cake. An elegant teapot flew over on its own, poured her a glass of water, and then swiftly flew away.
"Was that an Artifice Beast?"
Patience replied, [There are many types of Artifice Beasts. The one you just saw was a domestic type. They are the most common among all Artifice Beasts and possess no combat ability.]
Of course, when Patience said they were the "most common," it was only relative to the Artifice Beast species as a whole.
"I see."
Just then, the lights around the hall suddenly dimmed. A moment later, a single white spotlight illuminated the auction stage.
As all eyes turned to her, a woman with a lovely face and a captivating figure slowly walked onto the auction stage.
The once-bustling hall fell silent the moment the woman appeared.
Seeing this, the woman on stage offered a polite smile and said, "Good afternoon, esteemed guests. Welcome to this year’s Navi Auction. I am Lily, and I will be your auctioneer."
"And now, I declare the auction officially open!"
Moira Lynch watched Lily on stage. ’I wonder what the first item for auction will be?’
All items at the Navi Auction were kept secret until the moment they went on the block; even the auctioneer herself didn’t know what she would be selling.
There was one exception, however: the guests in the private boxes. Each box was furnished with a small booklet containing pictures and even detailed information about all the items up for auction.
As for how Moira Lynch knew this, she had naturally overheard it in the conversations of those around her.
The person talking about it claimed to have been in a private box once during last year’s auction, thanks to a family connection. He said the experience was completely different from being down on the main floor with everyone else.
"Next, I will introduce our first item." As soon as Lily finished speaking, a circular opening appeared on the stage, and a round, metallic display stand rose slowly from within.
Atop the stand, beneath a hemispherical protective cover, lay an exquisitely crafted crystal wind chime.
Lily’s voice rang out once more. "Our first item is an Artifice Beast."
The moment she spoke, Moira Lynch heard a ripple of sharp intakes of breath from the crowd around her.
Someone even whispered, "An Artifice Beast for the very first item? It looks like the quality of the Navi Auction is much higher this year."
Lily seemed to have anticipated this reaction. She paused after her announcement, waiting for the hall to fall silent once more before continuing:
"This Artifice Beast is named the Calming Bell. As its name suggests, its chimes can soothe agitated creatures. It is a support-type Artifice Beast."
"Furthermore, it is a rare Spiritual System Artifice Beast."
At this declaration, the hall became so quiet that even the air seemed to still. Moira Lynch could clearly hear the thumping of the hearts around her.
She had learned from Patience that Spiritual System Artifice Beasts were extremely rare.
’But don’t Artifice Beasts imprint on the first person they see after they’re created? This Calming Bell can’t have already bonded with a master, can it?’
’Then again, an auction as prestigious as the Navi Auction would never do something to ruin its own reputation.’
Lily was very pleased with the crowd’s reaction and immediately announced the starting bid for the Artifice Beast.
"The starting bid is ten million! Each subsequent bid must increase by no less than one million!"
The words had barely left her mouth when someone raised their number paddle. "Fifteen million!"
"Twenty million!"
"Twenty-five million!"
"Thirty million."
...
The bids came in one after another, each more aggressive than the last, with every new offer increasing the price by at least five million.
Almost as soon as one price was called, another, higher bid would immediately overwhelm it.
Watching the price continue to climb, Moira Lynch felt conflicted about whether to join the bidding.
’Setting aside its ability, I really love the appearance of this Calming Bell. Plus, it’s an extremely rare Spiritual System type, which is a perfect match for my own talent.’
’A Spiritual System Artifice Beast can have unexpected effects when wielded by someone with a Spiritual Talent.’
’And research shows that contracting an Artifice Beast with the same Attributes as your own can help improve your talent.’
’For instance, after she acquired Moon Wheel, even though it consumed nearly two-thirds of her spiritual power each day, she could distinctly feel that her training speed had increased considerably.’
While Moira Lynch hesitated, the price of the Calming Bell had already reached a staggering eighty million.
By now, only a handful of bidders were still in the running.
A Spiritual System Artifice Beast was rare, but this was only a support-type, after all. Eighty million was already pushing its limit, especially since it was only the very first item of the auction.
If they spent a huge sum on the first item, what would be left for the rest of the auction?
Lily, seeing that no one else was bidding, was just about to close the sale when a slightly youthful voice called out, "Ninety million!"