The Five Hundred Sixty-Ninth Auction
As time passed, another day slipped away, and when the sun once again sank below the western horizon, night once more enveloped the sky over Moncala. Despite the arrival of night, the city did not quiet down much; instead, it presented a different lively scene.
During the nighttime hours, the bustling streets of Moncala remained brightly lit. At the heart of the city, the Feilong Theatre was particularly crowded and lively.
At the large crossroads, the towering theatre building stood prominently, with guards lined up on both sides of the open entrance. Carriages parked along the street, and men and women of various races, dressed in splendid attire, descended from them. They walked on luxurious carpets, engaging in witty banter as they approached the theatre’s entrance. It seemed they were about to enjoy a spectacular play, but the posters at the entrance had nothing to do with any performance.
What was taking place inside the theatre was not a regular show or play, but a grand auction. Moncala, originally a pirate city, had been a gathering point for countless pirates who sailed the seas. They brought treasures from all directions, trading among themselves. Greedy pirates displayed their spoils of war to merchants, openly bidding and selling them at high prices to showcase their wealth and power.
Thus, the auction industry in Moncala was born. After hundreds of years, although the noisy pirates were long gone, the auction industry remained. The treasure hunters from Northern Ufeiga… the great thieves from the main continent’s major cities… the bureaucrats trafficking public goods… various secretive societies… all these people needed a channel to launder their ill-gotten gains and convert their hard-earned “labors” into real profits. These demands fostered many industries in Moncala, including the auction business.
Nowadays, various legal and illegal, underground and above-ground, mundane and secret items from all around the Conquer Sea gathered in Moncala, providing a steady stream of goods for its auction industry. This attracted speculators and collectors from various countries to gather here, selecting goods that suited their tastes.
The Feilong Theatre was one of the oldest auction venues in Moncala. When Moncala was still a pirate city, this place was originally used for performances by prostitutes and slave girls for the pirates’ entertainment. However, due to the limited proper buildings in Moncala at the time, when there were no performances, this place was used as an auction venue. Even though Moncala has undergone tremendous changes, the original theatre has been separated, but people still call it the Feilong Theatre out of habit.
Currently, the Feilong Theatre was preparing for a new large-scale auction. Various viewers and collectors had been arriving steadily. Among them, the most notable was the recently arrived distinguished guest, Sister Vania, who had been the topic of conversation lately.
On the soft carpet, Sister Vania, dressed in a white nun’s robe, slowly moved forward under the escort of knights. Along the way, wealthy individuals from all walks of life greeted her and handed her their business cards. Many reporters tried to approach her with notebooks but were stopped by the guards on either side of the carpet. Large cameras mounted on both sides of the aisle flashed intermittently under the photographer’s operation, filling the air with the scent of burning light powder.
Under the constant flashes, Sister Vania kept smiling as she walked forward, greeting everyone who came to greet her. As this auction was one of the most important events during her visit to Moncala, Sister Vania naturally attended. Therefore, many people who felt they had some status chose to make their presence known to her at this moment.
Finally, after a slow walk, Sister Vania entered the venue. Before her eyes lay a brightly decorated grand theatre, seemingly larger than the Feiteng Theatre in Tivyán, and circular rather than fan-shaped. In the center of the circular stage, sloped seating encircled the area, and above each row of seats were luxurious VIP boxes, ensuring excellent viewing angles for every guest.
The central stage was currently empty, while the general seating was already full. Guided by a dedicated server, Sister Vania and her party ascended the stairs along the edge of the venue and reached their designated box. They then comfortably seated themselves. Once settled on the sofa, Sister Vania sighed softly, then glanced around the bustling venue before closing her eyes and beginning to whisper to herself.
“I’ve arrived at the box, Miss Dorothyia. Are you here too?”
“My physical form isn’t here yet. My puppet is in Box 23. Count five boxes diagonally to the right from there…”
In Sister Vania’s mind, Dorothy’s voice began to echo. Listening to Dorothy’s words, Sister Vania opened her eyes and looked in the direction Dorothy indicated. There, she saw a handsome young man standing by the window of her box, leaning against the railing and waving at her. Seeing this scene, Sister Vania felt a slight relief, but also a bit of concern.
“Miss Dorothyia… Are there really three red tiers in this venue? With so many people here, if something goes wrong…”
“Don’t worry. If something was going to happen, it wouldn’t be so busy here. Although the three red tiers look scary, they aren’t on the same side. As long as we handle it well, everything will be fine. Let’s just wait for the auction to start.”
From afar, Dorothy continued to reassure Sister Vania. After listening to Dorothy, Sister Vania relaxed her worries and composed herself, silently waiting for the auction to begin.
…
Meanwhile, in another part of the venue, in another box, a gaunt old man wrapped in a loose cotton robe sat on a sofa, surrounded by robust guards. Edward, holding a cane tightly with both hands, quietly gazed at the bustling venue, seemingly searching for something.
Without any public announcement, the ruler of Moncala secretly attended this auction, and nearby, Tonik, wearing a robe, stood there with a smile, waiting.
“When will the transaction opportunity mentioned by Sword Scale come?” Edward looked at Tonik and said seriously. Tonik responded respectfully and calmly.
“Please remain patient, Captain Edward. Lord Sword Scale only said for you to attend this auction. The specific transaction moment will occur at some point during the auction. When the moment comes, he will notify us again. As long as you complete your task, we will naturally fulfill our agreement.”
“Of course… I should also remind you, Captain Edward, not to try to forcibly find Lord Sword Scale. If your detection is sensed by him, this transaction will be void.”
“…”
Listening to Tonik, Edward did not immediately respond. Instead, after looking at Tonik, he turned his gaze back to the venue.
…
In another higher-level box at the other end of the venue, a white man with a neatly combed hairstyle, brown beard, and black tuxedo stood by the balcony, scanning the vast venue with a commanding gaze. His eyes were fixed on the box of the Moncala VIP church pilgrimage group.
As he scanned, he looked at the serpent ring on his finger, and behind him stood several servants awaiting his command.
…
In another slightly lower-level box, a man in a dark gray robe, with a thin and long face and dark circles under his eyes, sat alone in a chair, his gaze occasionally wandering around the venue, and at other times fixed on the clock on the wall of the box. Shaking his head slightly, he seemed to be silently calculating something, waiting for something.
“It’s not time yet…”
…
Finally, with all the audience seated, the theatre doors closed, and the band on stage played melodious music. The music echoed throughout the spacious venue, signaling the imminent start of the auction. The previously chaotic environment instantly quieted down.
After the venue fell silent, the floor in the center of the stage began to slowly open, and a well-dressed host emerged from the opening, rising gracefully. Upon reaching the ground, he spread his arms wide and loudly announced:
“Ladies and gentlemen! Art connoisseurs and collectors from around the world! All lovers of treasures! Good evening! Welcome to Moncala! Welcome to the Night of Treasures!”
Following the host’s call, a burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. After the applause subsided, the host began his opening remarks, introducing and explaining to the audience. Once he finished, he directly announced the start of the auction.
“Well! We’ve talked enough, and everyone must be impatient. Now, let’s welcome our first treasure tonight, Lot 1, the Latia Jade Neck Bottle!”
As the host spoke, the elevator beside the stage started again, lifting a small platform up from beneath the stage. On top of the platform was a silver bottle adorned with jade inlays.
“This precious silver vessel once belonged to the Latia family of Castia, who ruled the southwest of Castia three hundred years ago…” The host enthusiastically introduced the first item, detailing its origin, details, craftsmanship, artistic value, and historical value, and then directly stated the starting bid.
“…For more details, you can refer to the manual in your hands. I won’t go into further detail here. The starting price for this treasure is 8,000 Lir, with each bid increasing by no less than 1,000 Lir. The auction begins now!”
Under the host’s announcement, the auction officially commenced. The price of the first item skyrocketed with each bid, finally closing at 16,000 Lir, roughly equivalent to 700 to 800 pounds. For ordinary affairs, this was quite a high price.
After the first item was sold, the second and third followed. With the hammer falling repeatedly, applause echoed continuously. Artifacts and artworks were sold at varying high prices to different owners. Whenever a new record was set, the atmosphere in the venue reached a climax.
Finally, as time passed and the auction progressed halfway, a new item was delivered to the stage via the elevator. It was a holy emblem crafted into a necklace.
“Lot 12! The Necklace of the Holy Mother of Gentle Heart! This is one of the treasures lost from the churches destroyed by cultists during the Muddy Current War in Iwig. It was made by an unknown devout craftsman, combining gold and rubies to create this exquisite piece of art! It is perfect for pious women to wear, showcasing beauty while reminding them of their devotion to the Lord. Wearing it feels like being under the protection of the Holy Mother…”
The host continued to passionately introduce the new item on stage. Meanwhile, Sister Vania, who had been sitting in her box, couldn’t help but stand up as soon as the item appeared, walking to the balcony before the host even spoke, gazing at the stage in the distance with a look of desire in her eyes.
“Sister Vania… Are you interested in that item?”
Seeing Sister Vania’s reaction, Gaspare spoke frankly. Sister Vania replied awkwardly.
“Well… Yes, it does seem quite nice. But considering we’re on a pilgrimage, participating in the auction is fine, but actually purchasing something might not be appropriate…”
Sister Vania explained to Gaspare, who paused slightly after hearing this and thought for a moment before speaking.
“If it were any other item, it would be difficult to say. But this holy emblem, if what the host says is true and it’s a lost item from the holy war, then we can purchase it under the pretext of recovering lost holy relics for the church. The owner of Moncala has already given us a donation, which is perfect for this situation. As long as it’s not too expensive, we should be able to buy it.”
Gaspare said this, and after hearing his words, Sister Vania nodded with a smile.
“Then… let’s try to see if we can buy it…”
Following this, as the bidding for the twelfth item intensified, Sister Vania joined the bidding. Her box only quoted once, and upon seeing it was Sister Vania bidding, all other bidders withdrew, showing respect to the pilgrimage nun.
Finally, the Necklace of the Holy Mother of Gentle Heart was successfully purchased at a starting price of 9,000 Lir and a final price of 13,000 Lir, landing in Sister Vania’s hands.
“Congratulations! Sister Vania from Box 19 has successfully obtained this exquisite holy emblem! Things of the Lord ultimately return to the Lord!”
Amidst the thunderous applause, the man wearing the serpent ring in the upper-level box also clapped along with the audience. His gaze focused on Sister Vania, who stood at the edge of the balcony in the lower box. He had seen her immediate reaction when she first saw the holy emblem.
“Quite reliable… old man…”
With a faint smile, the man murmured. Then, he reached into his clothes, rummaged for a moment, and pulled out a tiny crystal bottle.
“Submit this, follow the normal procedure to send it up for auction.”
Handing the crystal bottle behind him, the man whispered. Behind him, a servant who was on standby immediately stepped forward and respectfully took the crystal bottle.
Next, the servant, who looked like a main continent white person, left the box, exited the venue, and walked to the front desk. Here, he found the auction house’s manager.
“Mr. Jacques, I am the owner of Lot 17, Gede. My item has finally been found. Please arrange for it to be put up.”
Facing the manager behind the desk, the servant, who went by the name Gede, handed over the crystal bottle. After receiving it, the manager carefully inspected it before responding with a smile.
“It’s good that it was found. Otherwise, the item listed in the handbook would have been missing, causing us losses and Mr. Gede to face fines. Now that it’s found, everything is fine. We’ll arrange it immediately.”
Saying this, the manager called two auction house staff members, handing them the crystal bottle to place it on the exhibition stand. After receiving the crystal bottle, the two staff members immediately left, turning into a long corridor heading towards the stage below.
And just as they were far from the manager and Gede, one of them smiled and held the crystal bottle up to his eyes, examining it closely.
Then, one of the staff members unscrewed the cap of the crystal bottle, taking a glass bottle from another staff member and pouring the seemingly ordinary colorless liquid inside into the glass bottle, leaving only a small amount in the crystal bottle.
Finally, he entered a nearby washroom, turned on the tap to fill the crystal bottle, tightened the cap again, and continued on his way.
