Chapter 514 - 402: Raylo’s Special Auction
Chapter 514: Chapter 402: Raylo’s Special Auction
"Antonio, an envoy from the Mage City and a Domain Level Mage."
Marquis Orlando’s voice grew somber.
"I didn’t expect them to be drawn here as well."
Raylo’s expression also turned serious.
He had, of course, heard of the Mage City’s prestigious reputation.
It was a transcendent power composed entirely of Mages, independent of and superior to all nations.
Previously, guests from the Mage City had visited his territory. They had captured a Red Dragon and passed through the Black Stone Territory on their way back.
"And that one over there."
Marquis Orlando pointed in another direction.
A burly man in black Heavy Armor, with a ferocious scar on his face, was surrounded by a group of merchants, laughing and talking loudly about something.
"The head of the Black Sails Trading Company, ’Blood Axe’ Aurum."
Marquis Orlando explained.
"A Pirate Leader who made his name by burning, killing, and plundering on the Endless Sea. Later, he was granted amnesty by the Kingdom and, in a sudden transformation, became the head of the largest shipping company in the Southern Territory."
"Don’t be fooled by his respectable appearance now. At his core, he’s still a pirate through and through. He’s ruthless and unscrupulous. You need to be careful of him. If he sets his sights on something and can’t get it openly, he’ll resort to any dirty trick in the book behind the scenes."
Raylo silently committed this information to memory.
’It seems this auction is far more complex than I had imagined.’
The banquet continued late into the night before finally ending.
Back in their room, Avril was so exhausted she had collapsed face-down on the bed.
Raylo walked out onto the balcony alone.
The sea breeze blew, carrying the cool of the night.
The night view of Baisha Port was beautiful.
In the harbor, countless ships were lit up, resembling a starry sky floating on the sea’s surface.
Baisha Port, the most dazzling pearl of the Duchy’s Southern Territory, was hosting an unprecedented grand event today.
The Baisha Trading Company, an enterprise of the Orland Family and the largest auction house in the entire Southern Territory, was bustling with activity.
Ornately decorated carriages were parked in the square out front. Without exception, the people alighting from them were major figures, well-known throughout the Southern Territory and even the entire Duchy.
They were either immensely wealthy merchants, nobles who held dominion over their own lands, or reserved Mages with restrained auras.
Raylo sat in the most luxurious private room on the third floor, looking down through a Crystal window at the bustling auction hall below.
The room was carpeted with soft wool, and a faint, calming fragrance drifted from an incense burner in the corner.
"I really didn’t expect so many people to show up."
Raylo was a little surprised himself as he looked down at the nearly packed hall.
"The month of advance publicity was one reason, but more importantly, the items you provided are just too alluring."
Marquis Orlando sat in the host’s seat, holding a glass of red wine with a smile on his face.
"Materials from Domain Level Magical Beasts are rare enough on a normal day to fetch exorbitant prices on the black market. But you went and brought out so many at once. It’d be strange if those Mages who’ve spent their entire lives dealing with materials didn’t go crazy over them."
Raylo smiled.
Most of what he had put up for auction this time had been acquired by trading Weapons in the Giant City-State.
But these Domain Level Magical Beast Materials, which the Giants traded away so easily, were treasures that countless Mages and Alchemists in the Human World could only dream of obtaining.
Just then, there was a knock on the door of the private room.
"Come in," Marquis Orlando said.
The auction house’s chief auctioneer, a fat man named Falek, walked in with a beaming smile.
"Lord Marquis, Count Raylo, the auction is about to begin. This is the final item list for today’s auction. Please take a look."
Falek respectfully handed over a beautifully crafted booklet.
Raylo took it and flipped through it casually.
The list of items was even longer than he had anticipated.
In addition to the Magical Beast Materials he had provided, Marquis Orlando had also contributed many treasures from his family’s collection. There were even some items consigned at the last minute by other nobles and merchants who had heard the news.
’Looks like we’re going to make a fortune this time.’
Soon, the lights in the auction hall dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight on the high auction stage in the center.
Chief Auctioneer Falek walked onto the stage, his round belly preceding him.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Baisha Trading Company!"
Falek’s voice, amplified by a magic device, reached everyone’s ears clearly.
"I declare this auction officially open!"
The hall erupted in enthusiastic applause.
"Now, let’s see our first item!"
With a grand wave of his hand, Falek gestured for two tall serving women to wheel a small cart covered with a red cloth onto the stage.
Falek whipped off the red cloth.
An exquisitely designed Long Sword appeared before everyone.
The scabbard was wrapped in the leather of an unknown Magical Beast and inlaid with several blue Gemstones that glittered under the lights.
"The ’Siren’s Song’!"
Falek announced loudly.
"Painstakingly forged by a Sword Master! The vocal cords of a Tier Three Magical Beast, a Siren, have been integrated into the blade. When swung, it emits a sound that can bewilder the mind. The starting bid is one thousand Golden Dragons!"
"One thousand one hundred Golden Dragons!"
"One thousand two hundred Golden Dragons!"
...
The very first item sparked a small bidding frenzy.
Raylo had no interest in the sword. He just watched quietly, observing the bidders’ reactions below.
In the end, the sword was sold to a minor noble from the Southern Territory for two thousand Golden Dragons.
The next few items were also decent pieces of Magic Equipment and Alchemy Potions. Although valuable, they weren’t enough to capture Raylo’s interest.
In the private room, Marquis Orlando appeared very relaxed. He sipped his wine while explaining the origins and backgrounds of the main bidders below to Raylo.
"That fat man in the purple clothes is a merchant who specializes in iron ore. Half of all the iron ore in the Duchy’s Southern Territory is in his hands."
"The man next to him is the head of the Grain Merchants Association. Don’t let his shifty looks fool you; his heart is black. During the great drought in the Southern Territory last year, he hoarded grain and raised the price threefold, making a fortune off people’s misery."
...
Raylo listened attentively, committing every piece of information to memory. ’This is all intelligence that might be useful when I govern the Duchy in the future.’
Just then, a new item was brought onto the stage.
It was a jet-black scale, about the size of a human head.
The scale was covered in arcane patterns and emanated a heart-pounding fluctuation of Magic Power, thick with a destructive aura.
"A Black Dragon’s Reversed Scale!"
Even Auctioneer Falek’s voice had become excited.
"From an adult Tier Five Black Dragon! This is an exceptional material for crafting top-tier Shadow Element Magic Equipment and Cursed Artifacts! The starting bid is five thousand Golden Dragons!"
The moment this item was revealed, the atmosphere in the entire hall ignited.
Raylo vaguely recalled where this Black Dragon’s Reversed Scale came from. A middle-aged Giant in the Giant City-State had been competing with someone for a Long-Handled Giant Hammer. When offering two sets of Tier Five Magical Beast Materials still wasn’t enough to win the Weapon, he had finally brought out this Treasure that he’d cherished for many years.
Down below, the Mages were all breathing heavily, their eyes shining.
Even among Tier Five Domain Level Magical Beasts, materials from a Giant Dragon were worth at least twice as much as those from other beasts of the same tier.
"Six thousand Golden Dragons!"
"I’ll bid seven thousand!"
"Eight thousand five hundred Golden Dragons! The Purple Crystal Commerce Association is taking this!"
Cassandra, the curvaceous woman from last night, shot to her feet and shouted.
Raylo noticed that Antonio, the envoy from the Mage City sitting in the corner, had finally opened his perpetually closed eyes, his gaze fixed on the Dragon Scale.
But he didn’t make a bid. He just watched quietly, as if waiting for something.
Cassandra’s bid brought a moment of silence to the auction hall.
Although the Purple Crystal Commerce Association couldn’t compare to the top-tier powers, it was still considered quite wealthy and influential in the Southern Territory.
Eight thousand five hundred Golden Dragons had already exceeded many people’s expectations.