Chapter 345
Chapter 345: Do You Like It?
The night unfurled across the sky in soft, gentle folds, a crystalline silver moon hanging high above, casting a tender radiance over the darkened canopy.
Stars glittered like brilliant diamonds, scattered across the velvet curtain of the night.
An ornate Carriage rolled over the cobblestone road and passed into the deep black Royal City.
Pitch-black, soaring towers stood upon the vast expanse of earth, like a dense forest of iron and steel.
The roads were filled with passersby bearing longswords at their hips, flowing in endless streams along the thoroughfares.
When the Carriage bearing the Balo Family Crest entered the city, the clatter of its wheels over the cobblestones drew the attention of those nearby.
They parted to either side, bodies dipping forward in slight inclines, as though offering their highest respects to the honored guests within.
This time, the escort surrounding the Carriage was noticeably fewer in number.
Only twelve diplomatic envoys rode in the Carriages behind, accompanied by a handful of mounted Knights and Demi-human guards.
And on this occasion, Auréliane had brought only two attendants with her.
Her faithful Maidservant, Xiangyilan, and the Knight sworn to protect her safety—Gwen.
Though Auréliane had insisted repeatedly that she had no need of Master Gwen accompanying her, that having Professor Viktor was more than sufficient.
But the ministers had argued vehemently against it.
With the Princess in a foreign land, the level of protection had to be adequate.
After all, in the eyes of those ministers—however powerful Viktor might be, he was only one person. Auréliane's safety could not be left to chance.
And so she had no choice but to bring Gwen along.
As for Grand Duke Balo—
This elder, who had long since ascended to the very summit of the Kingdom, naturally had no interest in attending this sort of social gathering among nobles.
By now, a great many luxurious Carriages had already been drawn up before the magnificent auction venue.
The Kingdom's nobles and wealthy elite had converged here.
Though rivalries existed among them, they maintained polished surfaces, exchanging pleasantries with one another and observing the expected courtesies.
Then, conversation among them gradually stilled.
Every eye was drawn—involuntarily—toward the two Carriages now arriving, surrounded by a retinue of Knights.
The foremost of those Carriages drew their attention most of all.
When Gwen reined in the horses and the Carriage came to a stop, she dismounted, stepped down fluidly, and eased the door open.
As all eyes fixed upon this newly arrived party, Gwen drew the Carriage door open with deliberate grace.
A figure clad in a pitch-black Coat stepped out from within.
Viktor's expression was composed, his indifference carrying no frost—only a quiet, settled calm.
He stepped onto the ground, stood to one side of the Carriage, and extended a hand.
A pale, slender palm settled into Viktor's.
Gwen dipped into a slight bow, utterly reverent, as she received this noble Princess.
Her bearing was elegant; her shoes, set with white jewels, seemed to tread upon starlight itself as she emerged from the Carriage with measured grace.
She was dressed in an immaculate white formal gown—like moonlight descending from the night sky into the mortal world, of supreme nobility.
The twelve diplomatic envoys also stepped down from their Carriages one after another, falling in behind Auréliane.
The very instant Auréliane's foot touched the ground, King Auguste, who had been waiting some time, stepped forward.
He led the lords behind him in a warm, enthusiastic welcome.
"We meet again, Your Majesty."
The twelve envoys offered their cordial greetings to Auguste.
The King gave a slight nod, his gaze drifting, unavoidably, to Auréliane standing between Gwen and Viktor—and he began walking toward her.
Seeing this, the diplomatic envoys naturally folded themselves into the crowd behind Auguste, blending into the ranks of the Kant Kingdom's nobility.
Upon spotting Viktor and Gwen, Auguste first turned to Viktor with respectful deference:
"Council Member Clavena."
Hilda kept close to Auguste's side like a loyal shadow.
Standing beside the King, she wore a faint smile as she gave Gwen a small nod.
Gwen responded with detached courtesy.
Viktor inclined his head in understated acknowledgment, the depth behind his eyes betraying nothing.
This place, Viktor knew well.
The Cassidra Auction—a grand event hosted by the world-renowned Cassidra Commerce Guild.
Indeed, much like the Mage Council, the Cassidra Commerce Guild was not a nation—yet it commanded an international standing equal to one.
This powerful financial consortium possessed wealth so vast it could rival entire kingdoms.
The Cassidra Commerce Guild hosted an annual auction in whichever partner nation they cooperated with, held on that nation's own soil.
The Empire, however, was not among them.
For reasons unknown, the Cassidra Commerce Guild had never, since its founding, entered into any cooperative arrangement with the Empire.
Auguste's gaze then shifted to Auréliane.
In truth, it was the Cat-girl Maidservant standing behind Auréliane who had caught his eye first.
He was visibly drawn by Xiangyilan's appearance, looking her up and down with a measure of surprise.
But quickly, he withdrew his gaze and turned back to Auréliane, his expression warm:
"Your Highness, I believe today's auction will have treasures to your liking."
Auréliane smiled with graceful composure:
"Then I shall look forward to it, Your Majesty."
Auguste turned slightly to one side and gestured toward the splendidly lit auction hall, extending a polite invitation.
Auréliane accepted without ceremony. Together with Viktor, Xiangyilan and Gwen flanking her on either side, they entered the brilliantly candlelit hall.
The entire hall was as magnificent as a palace of gold, enormous columns supporting a majestic vaulted ceiling.
The golden chandeliers lining both sides poured forth brilliant candlelight, filling the hall with brightness as radiant as midday.
Broad crimson drapes enveloped the entire auction chamber, veiling the pure silver moon outside.
In the various box seats and rows, a vast array of nobles and wealthy guests were already in place.
They sat in their respective positions, each holding a small wooden paddle in hand.
Auréliane and her party were escorted upstairs.
Before long, they were shown into a spacious private box.
Looking out through the window, every noble lord seated on the floor below was visible with perfect clarity—even the corners of the hall were in full view.
The group settled into their seats.
Auguste sat with them in the same room, Hilda standing at his back.
Gwen and Xiangyilan took their places on either side of Auréliane, standing in respectful attendance like sentinels.
At that moment, Auguste turned toward Auréliane and began making introductions:
"Your Highness, today's auction will feature the rare 'Soulcrest Spirit'—an exceptional magical material."
"I am told that even the 'Gaia Fine-Steel,' said to be the hardest material in the world for forging armor, will make its appearance in this auction."
"Ah, and there is also the 'Mahazak Tailspike.' You may find it of interest—it is a prized material for crafting staves."
The King spoke with enthusiasm, enumerating the items one by one for Auréliane.
As he said this, he glanced briefly at Viktor and Gwen, then gave a small look toward Hilda behind him.
Hilda understood at once and promptly produced a detailed catalogue of auction items for the King.
Auguste gave it a brief look-over, then passed it to Viktor:
"Council Member Clavena, if anything catches your eye, please do not hesitate to say so."
Viktor accepted it with measured courtesy and let his gaze pass over the catalogue.
When he reached the final item listed, he raised an eyebrow.
"Hm. There are indeed some interesting things here."
"Is that so? Then do keep your eyes open."
Auguste offered Viktor a polite smile.
The auctioneer—fair-skinned and striking—stepped through the crimson drapes in her resplendent gown and ascended the stage.
The surrounding candles flickered, the crowd's cheers rising to warm the atmosphere of the room.
Each of her steps carried elegant confidence. She dipped into a graceful bow, offering her respects to the noble lords and honored guests in the boxes.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the auction now begins!"
The crimson drapes on both sides drew slowly apart, and a slender elevated platform rose steadily up from the stage.
With her announcement, the crimson drapes parted fully, revealing a splendidly adorned dais.
A golden radiance from above suddenly flooded the entire auction hall.
"The first item: the Goddess of Abundance's Wheat Stalks! Starting bid—one million Geo, with a minimum increment of fifty thousand!"
After the auctioneer announced the rules, many noble lords scrambled to raise their wooden paddles.
The Goddess of Abundance's Wheat Stalks were well familiar to the Kingdom's nobles.
Imbued with divine power by the faithful of the Goddess of Abundance, these otherwise ordinary stalks of wheat carried within them a divine force capable of ensuring bountiful harvests across an entire territory for a full year.
Naturally, the Cassidra Commerce Guild had every reason to sell such a sacred object.
Viktor gave it a passing glance, then looked away.
This item was genuine, no question about it.
It did indeed carry the Goddess of Abundance's power of harvest.
However—
Viktor already possessed a true divine artifact of his own. He had no interest in this.
But the noble lords were practically losing their composure fighting over it, none willing to concede.
After all, every lord had land—and every lord needed to feed the people of their territory.
A divine object capable of guaranteeing yields—if used well, it could ensure that the people of an entire territory would want for nothing in food or clothing for a full year.
And so this fine divine object was ultimately driven up to five million Geo.
It was claimed by a powerful Marquess.
Yet in the heat of such a high opening sale price, the enthusiasm of the many wealthy guests and lords was now practically set ablaze.
Thereafter, all manner of auction items were introduced in succession under the auctioneer's melodious narration, and bid upon one after another.
Everyone had their eyes fixed on the items on stage, eager and impatient, dreading that something they desired might fall into another's hands.
Until a gleaming block of silver steel was brought forward—and the countless warrior lords in attendance were seized by frenzy.
Gaia Fine-Steel: the legendary hardest steel in the world.
Every warrior dreamed of possessing armor and weapons that could not be broken.
And this item, clearly, was capable of fulfilling that desire for every lord present.
They rubbed their palms together in anticipation, each determined to win it.
At that moment, Viktor glanced at the silver-white block of steel and raised an eyebrow:
"Gaia Fine-Steel."
He turned his head and looked at Gwen.
"Do you like it?"