Chapter 369 - 368: VIP

Chapter 369: Chapter 368: VIP

Beneath her feet was a carpeted path of light, flanked by light screens designed to protect customer privacy.

’This kind of treatment...’

Seraphina mused internally as she walked forward.

At the end of the light path was a golden Lightgate swirling with complex runes.

Seraphina cautiously raised her hand, passed through the Lightgate, and the scene before her opened up.

It was like a tranquil platform floating above a sea of golden clouds. It wasn’t large, but its overall decor was exceptionally exquisite.

The floor was made of translucent, golden Crystal Stones, through which one could faintly see the blurry outline of the magnificent hall below. There were no walls, only a flowing, soft golden halo that formed a boundary, ensuring privacy without feeling oppressive.

’Honestly, I don’t really understand the emphasis on privacy,’ Seraphina thought. ’Didn’t the rules say fighting is forbidden here?’

Despite her confusion, she figured it was better to have it than not and continued to observe the room.

In the center of the platform, a holographic light screen floated, with a comfortable-looking chair made of light beside it.

Seraphina walked a circle around the room before tentatively sitting down in the chair.

[Welcome, valued guest. You may conduct all auction operations here and enjoy privileges such as priority information delivery, enhanced anonymity (requires an additional fee), exclusive customer service consultations (requires an additional fee), and small, short-term loans (requires an additional fee).]

The guide information appeared again.

Seraphina quickly skimmed it, and only four words stood out: "requires an additional fee."

She had originally thought this damned place rolled out the red carpet based on one’s assets—the richer you were, the better the treatment. Who knew it just meant that being rich gave you the *opportunity* to buy these things.

Seraphina’s lips twitched. Her Black Fog Coins didn’t grow on trees; she couldn’t just spend them carelessly.

She closed the page and went to check the actual auction house functions.

[Welcome, valued user!]

[The Golden Auction House is open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, a full twelve hours! Two auctions are held daily at fixed times. The morning session starts promptly at 10:00 AM and lasts for one hour, officially ending at 11:00 AM. The afternoon session starts at 3:00 PM and lasts for three hours, officially ending at 6:00 PM! Admission tickets to The Golden Auction House are difficult to obtain. If you arrive at any other time, please wait patiently!]

’Some "patient waiting" that is.’

Seraphina checked the time. It was just past eleven, meaning the morning auction had just ended.

If she were to wait, it would be until three in the afternoon.

But the reminder on the page wasn’t wrong. The chances of getting an admission ticket for The Golden Auction House or a special Zone were incredibly low.

Even with all the fragments Seraphina had collected, she had only managed to synthesize this single admission ticket to the auction house.

As for the special Zone admission ticket... she had snatched that from Rex Shaw.

He hadn’t meant well, either. If she hadn’t struck first, she might have actually become a puppet.

Thinking of this, Seraphina’s mind went to the B-level item, the Puppet Paperman.

The item was restricted to use on survivors only, and once a survivor became a puppet, they would only be gradually eliminated as The Black Mist World progressed.

Besides... Seraphina was genuinely reluctant to use a B-level item on someone else.

She suppressed these jumbled thoughts and continued to review the detailed rules of The Golden Auction House.

The details on the light screen were comprehensive, covering everything from bidding rules and commission descriptions to transaction guarantees and penalties for violations.

Seraphina noticed that there were additional explanations for "Privacy Protection" and "Enhanced Anonymity."

The auction house provided a basic blurring effect for participants by default—the golden silhouettes she had seen—but certain special items could easily penetrate this blur. Enhanced Anonymity, however, was a paid service that offered stronger information masking, preventing any item from locking onto the user.

The cost was calculated based on the level and duration of the masking, and it was quite substantial.

"So that’s how it is..." Seraphina murmured thoughtfully.

’Just because you can’t fight here doesn’t mean you can’t be tracked, hold a grudge, or be plotted against after leaving the auction house.’

’Flaunting your wealth invites trouble, and owning a treasure is a crime in itself.’

The Golden Auction House brought together all sorts of powerful individuals and rare treasures. Protecting the identity of who won what was sometimes more important than winning the item itself.

’That must be the point of the privacy services.’

’But...’

Seraphina was still a bit confused. "Aren’t Arena Proofs only usable on players from the same Zone? Even if you lock onto someone, how are you supposed to get revenge once everyone returns to their own Zone?"

She had assumed she was alone in the room and, continuing the habit she’d developed in her mobile cabin, had muttered her thoughts aloud.

But the moment her voice faded, the so-called VIP guide for the auction house suddenly answered her question:

"After the auction concludes, VIP guests who participated will receive a one-time temporary access pass. This can be used to complete in-person transactions or to attend small networking events after certain special auctions. Participants may choose whether or not to attend the networking event. If they choose not to, the temporary access pass might be used for... other purposes."

Seraphina’s heart skipped a beat. Her body tensed instantly as she looked warily at the floating light screen and the flowing golden halo around her.

She hadn’t expected the guide system to have such an intelligent interactive capability, able to pick up on her muttering, which wasn’t even a direct question.

’And... why does that voice sound a little familiar?’

Seraphina frowned, thinking for a long time, but couldn’t recall where she might have heard that voice before.

She said nothing and went straight to checking the consignment and purchase request functions.

For both consigning and requesting items, VIPs enjoyed faster review speeds and a wider broadcast range, though Seraphina didn’t understand why an auction house would even have a "broadcast" function.

After getting all this squared away, there were still several hours until the afternoon auction began.

Seraphina glanced toward where the voice had come from and asked, "Are there any privileges for VIPs that don’t cost money?"

The other party seemed surprised that she would be so bold as to ask a question that some might be too embarrassed to even voice. While marveling at her thick skin, it formulated a response.

To Seraphina, it just seemed like the voice went silent for a few seconds before responding in a near-monotone:

"VIPs may use the basic item appraisal service once per day for free, but this is limited to B-level items and below. A-level and above require an additional fee."

"VIPs may enjoy one complimentary basic Spirit-Soothing Beverage per day."

Seraphina’s eyebrows rose slightly.

They were just small perks, but it was better than nothing.

The free appraisal function, in particular, might come in handy.

But the guide system wasn’t finished. "VIPs may also immediately initiate one auction of the lowest specifications per day—that is, the one-hour format of the morning session."

"Immediately initiate an auction of the lowest specifications?" Seraphina repeated. "Does that mean I can request to start an auction right now? Without waiting for the afternoon session?"