The interior of the building was definitely unusual. Actually, it wasn’t really a building—it felt more like a disguised structure. Inside, there was no spacious lobby or lounge; instead, every wall was draped in pitch-black fabric. The only thing visible was a dimly lit corridor stretching straight ahead.
The doorman’s guidance didn’t last long. Just as the path began to slope downward, a reception desk suddenly appeared before me. Standing there was a woman in a slightly provocative dress that left her shoulders bare.
“Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”
She placed her right hand over her chest, bowed slightly, and smiled gently.
Wait—they’ve been expecting me?
“The auction will begin shortly, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to get straight to the point. Is that alright?”
“Sure.”
“First, today’s auction will be conducted in a blind format. There are ten items on the list.”
“Understood.”
“Now, about your seat… We have VIP and general seating. Oh, and you do know you’ll need to pay for your seat again, right?”
“Of course.”
I flicked a jewel I had prepared in advance. The woman caught it with a graceful motion, examined it from every angle, then smiled with satisfaction.
“Wow, that’s a beautiful cat’s eye stone. It’s a bit much for general seating, but it fits perfectly for VIP.”
“VIP, then.”
“Thank you! I’ll assign you the seat at the far left of this floor. You may enter immediately.”
“Far left, got it.”
There was a subtle but deliberate pause when she said “far left.” I wasn’t stupid enough to miss that.
The reception desk then split in half, and the woman stepped aside. Behind her was a square hole about two meters across cut into the floor, with stairs leading down. Ah, so the auction is held underground.
“Thank you for attending. Please enjoy your time here.”
With the customary greeting, I stepped calmly into the reception area. Just before descending the stairs, a quiet voice whispered in my ear.
“…Don’t forget. The far left seat. You’ll know when you see it. Heh heh.”
I got it, I got it.
Nodding, I stepped down the stairs.
Of course, I was the only one entering the VIP section.
“Um? Aren’t you coming in?”
“I’ll take a general seat, please.”
“…Excuse me?”
“General seating, please. As far in the corner as possible. Oh! And I think you just charged me and him together for that cat’s eye stone, right? That stone’s worth about six hundred gold coins. Since you said it fits perfectly, that means the VIP seat costs three hundred gold coins each. So, after subtracting the general seat fee from the remaining three hundred, you’ll need to return the difference.”
“C-customer?”
“Sorry. I was going to tip, honestly, but seeing you flirting with my man like that kind of rubbed me the wrong way. You understand, right? We’re both women, after all.”
I chuckled quietly to myself.
The underground auction hall was arranged much like a theater—or more like a modern movie theater.
On the first floor, an oval stage was draped with red curtains, and about fifty meters away, roughly a hundred general seats were neatly arranged in ten rows. Nearly half the seats were filled.
After a brief glance downward, I made my way to the far left seat, just as I was told. The difference between VIP and general seating wasn’t huge. The floors were separate, and unlike the open general seats, the VIP area was partitioned on the sides and back.
They also offered various conveniences upon request, but that was about it. Think of it like the difference between first class and economy on a plane.
Inside the partitioned area, as expected, there were several amenities: a call button within arm’s reach, communication crystals for bidding, and a slightly elevated sofa bed that probably offered a clear view below.
But none of that was what mattered.
Before sitting, I pretended to stretch while carefully scanning the surroundings. I checked the ceiling, floor, and hidden corners but found nothing unusual. After all, anyone participating here was probably skilled enough not to overlook details.
“Hwajeong.”
“Do you feel anything off around here?”
“Like a faint flow of magical energy.”
“Not down there. I mean within two meters around me.”
Why ask? Because today’s success depends on how little suspicion I raise. If I’m seen snooping around, it could cause problems.
I muttered this silently, and Hwajeong grumbled, telling me to speak clearly.
Anyway, six, huh.
“That’s more than I expected.”
Just then, as I naturally picked up the communication crystal, the lights suddenly went out. Darkness swallowed the room.
But it lasted only a moment. Soon, the curtains rustled open rapidly, and the ceiling lights focused on the stage. A hush fell over the crowd, then a sudden loud noise pierced the silence.
Rrrrrrrr, rrrrrrrr!
After a moment, the rolling stopped, and the woman from the reception desk appeared from the right side of the stage.
Her face was initially stiff but soon softened into a pretty smile. A small communication crystal hung over her left ear like a headphone, and in her right hand, she pulled a manual cart covered with a white cloth.
So, it’s starting.
“Thank you for waiting. First, I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who came here today…”
I raised my magical energy to the max and flopped onto the sofa bed. Flicking gold coins back and forth, I activated my third eye.
Let’s see, ten items in total, right? I don’t feel short on funds…
“…Heh.”
No need to spend it all, after all.
Alright, let’s get this show on the road.
I moistened my lips.
“…That was a long introduction. I apologize for the delay. Now, let’s begin the auction!”
With that shout, the white cloth covering the cart was whipped away. Dozens of eyes immediately locked onto the item, but the woman never lost her smile. She knew these gazes weren’t directed at her.
The first item was revealed: a beautiful cross about fifteen centimeters long, set with a large gemstone in the center. It looked aged, with a slightly tarnished sheen, but the craftsmanship was exquisite, giving it a charming, antique aura.
“Oh, what a pretty cross!”
The woman widened her eyes and feigned surprise.
“Hmm… it looks nice, but the real value is in its effect, right? Ah, I almost said too much… Actually! This is top secret. I don’t even know the detailed effects of the auction items myself.”
She winked playfully.
But no matter how much she tried to hype it up, the response was cold—very cold. Occasionally, someone would mutter, “Is the host crazy or what?” or “Well, she’s kind of cute,” but most participants ignored her and focused solely on the item.
And there was a reason for that intense focus.
Normally, in a blind auction, all bidders reveal their prices simultaneously, and the highest bid wins.
But the blind auctions held in the night streets follow four rules:
Prices are revealed, but not simultaneously; the auction follows the traditional ascending format.
No starting price is set for any item.
Items can be inspected visually.
However, until the auction ends, any “gooze appraisal” (including related magic) cannot be revealed or used.
Still, it’s not entirely a gamble. Only items with some guaranteed quality are put up for auction. Think of it as a safety net.
In other words, if you’re lucky, you can snag a good item at a relatively low price. But if competition heats up, prices can soar to dozens of times the value. Ultimately, it all comes down to the bidder’s own discernment.
Just then, the woman glanced at the audience, placed her hand lightly on the communication crystal, and smiled suddenly.
“Starting bid: five hundred gold coins.”
“Oh, already up to a thousand? Five hundred gold coins, are you mad? You’re going to lose like this?”
“Whoa! Fifteen hundred gold coins just now. Hey, who was that lady? Her voice is so nice, it’s almost enviable.”
“Oh, three thousand gold coins? Really? Seriously? I love you!”
Three thousand gold coins was no small sum. But considering the clientele were mostly mid-level clans or higher, it wasn’t surprising.
The price steadily climbed, soon surpassing six thousand gold coins. The underground auction hall began to heat up. Most participants raised their magical energy to analyze the item.
Of course, not everyone was fully focused on the auction. About seven or eight people seemed distracted, pretending to watch but glancing downward furtively.
To be precise, I was secretly peeking at the crystal tucked inside my bosom, which cast a soft, gentle glow.
Meanwhile, the first item had already soared to a winning bid of six thousand two hundred gold coins.
“Six thousand two hundred gold coins! The opening bid is really something today, huh?”
“…Pardon? What was that? ‘First luck is dog luck’? Who just said that?”
“Just kidding~ Sorry for the casual tone.”
“Alright then, riding this momentum, let me show you the second item right away!”
And so, the early moments of the blind auction went smoothly. The second item, a violet potion, sold for four thousand five hundred gold coins, but the third item—a hundred arrows gleaming with a dark crimson hue—astonished everyone by fetching a staggering twelve thousand two hundred gold coins.
The woman, who had been fussing about how great the auction was going, suddenly peeled off her outer dress in a playful gesture (though, as usual, no one paid her any mind). Then, with a swift step, I came out pulling the fourth manual cart.
“Hey, everyone~”
The woman spoke with a heavy dose of charm.
“Yah!”
With a cute shout, she whipped back the cloth covering the cart.
“This time… oh?”
She seemed about to continue, but suddenly gasped and blinked rapidly. A sharp flicker of surprise flashed in her wide-open eyes.
“Uh… what is this?”
Slowly reaching out her hand, she suddenly froze. Unless a participant made a special request, touching the items was strictly forbidden.
At that moment, subtle twitches began to ripple through the audience.
Several users, who had been anxiously glancing between the stage and the crowd, abruptly fixed their gaze downward.
From the slightly parted folds of the woman’s bosom, the communication crystal emitted a soft, steady light. Through it, the scene showed a man who had been lying still until now, leisurely sitting up. He brought the crystal in his right hand up to his lips.
And then, it happened.
“Ah…!”
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Hallowin / I wanted to show the mermaid eating scene.
Ah… I actually planned to write that part, but then I didn’t. Just before the auction, on the street, the mermaid was still alive… hmm. Anyway, I intended to include that, but after thinking it through, it seemed like it would turn into an excessively brutal description. Still, I appreciate you remembering even the few lines that hinted at it, and it’s a bit surprising that you thought along the same lines as me. Haha.