Chapter 167
Beilan's huge central square, which could accommodate thousands of people, was overcrowded with huge crowds.
“Awesome. I expected it to be a hit, but I didn't expect it to be this much.”
Goldberg, the owner of the Midas Merchant Merchant, came directly from the head office to the Beilan branch to observe the auction. He murmured in amazement as he looked down at the roads full of people struggling to get a glimpse of this incredible spectacle from outside the controlled auction area.
“Quack. Awesome! Awesome! Goldberg-sama’s insight seems to have hit the mark.”
Bailan is a completely free economic city created by all countries. A neutral city-state in which no particular force dominates the city and maintains a precarious balance amid fierce checks and competition. As a result of revealing this ancient relic here, there were many people who pressured the Midas Merchant Under the Water, but no place showed any open movement to rob the relic.
“I guess so. It's nothing else, since it's an ancient relic, if you try to steal it, other countries will be willing to wage a coalition war, no matter how imperial the opponent is.”
Occasionally, depending on the situation, there were cases where people ignored the agreement and did whatever they wanted, but this auction was different. Even similar rivals and even ridiculously small kingdoms were aiming for this thing with their eyes turned upside down, so the risk was too great to engage in behind-the-scenes work.
“You'd better be prepared to lose your head, not your hands, the moment you touch the relic without permission.”
“Let’s bring it to the auction fairly. Go to Baylan right away and keep an eye on it. Are there any countries that do nonsense and do nonsensical things?”
“We have been granted unlimited funding. No one can beat the wealth of the empire, so make sure to protect the honor of His Majesty and secure the ancient artifact.”
Envoys from each kingdom and empire flocked to Beilan with such a determined will. All of them were sitting in their designated seats, fighting fiercely invisible nerves, dressed in luxurious and antique costumes.
“Wow, it seems there are more NPCs than I thought?”
“No, more than that, all the people over there are high-ranking nobles from the royal palace or empire. I don't think this is just an ordinary auction?”
“Is it because it’s a mythical weapon?”
“Are mythological grade items treated as precious even among NPCs?”
Adventurers who thought of competition among themselves. But when they took a closer look at these competitors who had come to attend the auction in person, they contorted and cursed.
“Chick show. Why did the financial manager of the Shoen Empire come here?”
“Uh, that person over there... Count Kybel?”
“Who is that?”
“The chief administrator who is in charge of the finances of the Sekhale Kingdom.”
“Wow... what is this. Why are all the contestants like this?”
Users who participated in this auction as guild masters who run only one guild or individuals who show off their wealth. However, the faces of those who confirmed the identities of their rivals, the auction participants, one by one for the first time on this day began to look hopeless.
“What is this? It wasn’t a competition between users... it was a competition with NPCs?”
Individuals or a small group of hundreds of people who competed fiercely to acquire this mythical weapon. However, as the giant kingdoms and empires in Arcadia directly participated in this auction, the fierce competition to buy gold that users had been engaged in so far has become too futile.
“No, how the hell do you beat this?”
“Damn gamers. Did you put this out as an event? There is no competition at all.”
“Chick show. This is a scam! How much money did you spend to buy gold this time?”
The price of gold soared by as much as 50%. Even though they knew how divisive this market price was, they couldn't give up on buying gold. Because of the fear that if this is not an opportunity, I will never be able to obtain this mythical item again, and the expectation that I will be able to gain more than I lost through this item. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't beat those here.
It was because the target they had to compete with, who were mere adventurers, was the country itself, which had accumulated a lot of wealth while living on this land for tens to hundreds of years.
“Heh heh heh. It's been a while, Count Case.”
“It's been a while, Marquis Maier of the Shouen Empire. How have you been?”
“I am doing well. More than that... This is surprising. Participating in an auction like this in the Faros Empire. I thought I couldn't afford it because of the recent drought. Apparently the rumors I heard weren't true.”
The powerful nations of Arcadia's Third Continent, the Shōen Empire and the Ferros Empire, always roaring and competing. The Marquis Maiel and Count Keith, who were present as representatives of the two empires, found each other and pretended to give each other compliments with smiles, but the Marquis Maiel cut them first with an invisible knife.
Earl Keith took a surprise blow. However, he did not change his complexion, and with a smile on his face, he deftly countered him.
“It is not a rumor. Many of the Empire's citizens were suffering from starvation because of that drought, but now there is some relief. Oh, I guess I should thank you for that. Thanks to the Shouen Empire's refusal to sell food at the time of the drought, we were able to dramatically increase our production by developing new farming methods by risking life and death to secure food.”
“Heh heh heh. I hope that's good news. I won't be able to see the Faros Empire struggling with food problems from now on.”
Marquis Maiel, who practices inconsistency by saying congratulations with a very regretful face and giving a good word. Count Keith tried to counterattack again.
“More than that... I was honestly surprised to see Marquis Maiel. I thought that I had nothing to attend this auction because I heard that the vicious pirates who had recently come over from that other continent were giving me headaches, but to come so far away... It's great that you can keep it. Heh heh heh.”
The two put a lot of thorns in their words and are fiercely engaged in dildo. It was no different from a fight between the two strongest in the Continental Hall, so the aristocrats who were waiting for the auction held their breath and listened to the fight between the two. And Marquis Maiel lost his composure at the words of Count Keith, who praised his composure, and said with a blushing face.
“What did you say now? composure? Are you crazy, Count Case?”
“No, do you have any problems? Marquis Maiel?”
He asks back with a kind face, as if he couldn't spit on a smiling face. However, Marquis Maiel spat at his proudly smiling face.
“The empire is making noise because of those fucking pirates, so how dare you bring up that story? There is a line to be followed to some extent, but what you said just now disrespects not only me, but also the Emperor of the Shouen Empire!”
The Black Pirates came from far away from an unknown continent. In the battle with them, the Shōen Empire completely lost its naval power and even its proud Poseia. They lost all influence in the northern seas and forcibly took away part of their territory. It was like that at the time..... It was too early to recall with a smile, so the effect of touching the reverse was properly manifested.
“Do you think you don’t know that you guys are laughing and cheering behind you! dare! Does something like the Faros Empire underestimate the power of the great Shouen Empire!”
“Something like the Faros Empire...? I've said it now, Marquis Maiel!”
In an instant, the two of them lost control of themselves and began to argue with each other, saying everything they didn't want to say. As if they had forgotten the dignity of aristocrats, they were fighting with all sorts of vicious threats and vicious words, but no one, including the Midas Merchant Merchant who was in charge of the auction, stopped the two.
Because no one wanted to be like a shrimp that got caught between these two huge whales and got its back blown out. But in the middle of that fun fight, a man intervened.
“Both of you, please stop.”
Startle.
Blazing red hair. A man with a green appearance who looks only in his 20s now. The two, who attended as representatives of the two great empires, hesitated involuntarily and shut their mouths at the huge intimidation they felt instinctively. Then he asked with an expression of bewilderment at the fact that he had been unknowingly overwhelmed by this young man.
“Who are you?”
“I am Baron Karben of the Kingdom of Bael.”
A polite way of speaking and demeanor. But at the same time, at the strangely confident words that felt arrogance, the Marquis Maiel gazed intently into the eyes of the aristocrat named Carben.
‘What is this... the interest is...?'
The endless red eyes. When you are feeling confused and feeling unknown subtle emotions from this strange nobleman you have never seen or heard of before. he continued.
“At this place, adventurers, nobles from other kingdoms, and citizens of Beylan are all gathered. We recommend that you do not delay the auction with actions that further damage the empire's honor, and resign for your own purposes.”
It was said in a roundabout way, but to put it bluntly, it was an admonition with the meaning of ‘Don't be fooled, shut up and sit down, even though there are many eyes on you.' It wasn't wrong, but the pride of the two of them and the fact that the other was a lowly rank like a baron did not allow it to remain silent after hearing that.
“How dare a baron or something like that rudely interrupt the conversation of the superiors!”
“The Kingdom of Bael? Heh heh..... How could someone from such a small kingdom dare to talk about empires...”
In the position of baron. And in the status of being a nobleman of the kingdom of Bael, a weak country.
These two tried to take down the powerful Imperial Count and Marquess easily, but Carben spoke faster.
“Two people...”
His voice came in low.
However, from that voice, the two of them felt a huge intimidation they had never felt before and shut their mouths tightly.
“When you say something nice, sit still and shut up.”
His eyes seemed to burn bright red. The two of them, who had been protesting and trying to press down just a moment ago, sat still without saying anything, as if they had become obedient children.
“.....”
“...?”
The onlookers look bewildered at the appearance of these two who have become too docile sheep. In the meantime, Tan and El said with confident faces.
“Right. That baby lizard for sure.”
“To use the dragon for such trivial things. Apparently, that dragon was also impatient.”
A special authority and ability that only dragons possess.
Watching the tremendous power that can twist all the laws and achieve what one wants simply by saying something is being used just to make two proud nobles stop trembling and sit down, Tan said as if it was absurd.
“Isn’t it possible to have strength like that? Is it really unfair to see lizards doing this? It's just that they're the official archers of the Arcadia continent.”
“It’s because they belong to this continent. Don’t you also have absolute command authority in the Demon Realm?”
“Heng, that’s not true.”
Tan and L chatting while watching the scene. And while the two of them were talking, Karven spoke to the manager of the Midas Merchant who seemed lost in the situation just now.
“I think the time is up. Shouldn’t we start the auction?”
“yes....? ah! yes!”
At those words, the staff hurriedly prepared something as if they had come back to their senses. And soon, it was announced through one of the top managers who stepped onto the podium.
“From now on, we will start the Midas Merchant’s auction for ancient artifacts.”
The beginning of the Kill the Dragon incident, which will be called a huge disaster in the Japanese continent.