Reincarnated as the Lady Prodigy

Thirty-Five

The Auction

THIRD PERSON'S

Blake glanced at the four people on the side of his Master. The only man is named Alarkson, Siren is the name of the silver-haired lady while Vana has fiery red hair and Kiera has soft brown hair. They are undoubtedly strong. Even a blind man can tell, can feel the power emitting from them. They are new faces; it was his first time seeing them when Master Jozine introduced them to him the day before the opening.

"Elise, is everything ready?"

"Yes, my lady. The hosts are both ready and the items are all in place."

"Blake, the security?"

"We intensified the security from the teleportation circle room to the auction hall. It also helped that Faceless Shop is close because the employees working in the shop are helping with the auction and security. There are also guards around the mansion in case something happens."

Jozine smirked. "Great. Because something will definitely happen."

Eufema is still in the control room overseeing the entire mansion and is mainly focused on the auction hall that is now slowly filled with bidders from wealthy families and noble houses.

The auction hall's structure is similar to that of a theater. There are seats that are about the same level as the stage. These seats are placed in a U-shape manner so that the hall can accommodate numerous bidders. The farther seats are elevated so that bidders will still have a proper view of the stage even from afar. On the second floor, the balconies are also placed in the same shape and manner, these seats can accommodate at least five people per balcony. These seats are for the auction house's most valued guests.

Right now, three balconies are occupied.

It isn't a secret that three important figures in Griselda are attending the auction, they are also not hiding that fact especially with how elaborate their surnames are written just below their number.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we thank you for your patience! We will now begin Faceless Auction House's first-ever auction. I believe that you read your brochures, however! We added two items as a special surprise for all of you. Now then, let us begin!"

The crowd clapped and cheered, all are excited for the items they are anticipating to own written in the brochure. Yes, all are excited, especially those with hidden agendas.

Jozine smirked. She's watching the auction from the third floor which oversees the entire hall, from the stage to the last seat. She can see everything.

She couldn't help but chuckle. The bait is ready, the stage is set, the actors are on standby, let's get this started.

"Congratulations to the bidding number 32, the handsome Young Sir, you won the dagger, Grieving Blade!" Series of applause can be heard before the host glance at his side.

Finally, it's now down to the item on the number 10 in the list.

"Now, our next item is the ingredients and procedure for this potion! Vial of Moonlight is a potion known only in legends but this recipe was acquired in a nomad tribe in the far south. This potion is said to be effective in replenishing and cleaning the body. It can also help in circulating the magic around the body and remove negative energies in the magic base which will then lead to a stronger magic base. Everyone here knows how difficult it is to train a person's magic base but with this potion, even an ordinary person will be able to use magic once the body is revitalized and magic users will be able to strengthen their magic base! The possibility of reaching the peak for magic base is no longer a pipe dream!

Additionally, because of this complex procedure, an alchemist who is said to be able to accomplish in creating this potion is enlightened by the Goddess of Night and they are able to create an even more powerful and effective potion. Surely! This is killing two birds with one stone!"

Vial of Moonlight originated in the west, rumors have it that an old alchemist was able to retrieve a diary owned by a young apprentice alchemist of ancient times. One of the potions recorded there is the Vial of Moonlight, a potion that performs miracles in the body. It can indeed clean and revitalized the human body, aside from that, it also helps in increasing the chances of being able to awaken one's magic even at an old age. It is a miracle potion for those who want to use magic, not only that, the enlightenment of the alchemist who can create the potion is also true. The reason is that the potion can only be done in the night with a special state the moon will be.

The said special state of the moon is what gives an alchemist the enlightenment.

Aya told her that it was safe to release the ingredients and would also be helpful for the future so she agreed.

"Starting bid of 100 gold coins!"

"110!"

"130!"

"140!"

"160!"

Not only are there hunters, mages, and wealthy personalities there are also alchemists who attended the auction. The main reason is this recipe. Vial of Moonlight might be a legend to common people but for alchemists, it's a treasure. The recipe of Vila of Moonlight is unknown that's why it's deemed fiction, but because of records regarding the usage of this potion from ancient times, alchemists believed it is real, and the very proof of that is the recipe scroll being auctioned off right now.

"200!!!" Yelled the lady with auburn hair. She's gasping and staring at the stage almost boring holes on it. She needs to have the recipe for that potion no matter what!

"250!" Stated the man with red-brown hair.

"270!!!"

"300!"

"Ugh... 350!!!"

"400."

The alchemist lady tried to outbid the man but failed. "5,000 gold coins! Going once, going twice... sold to number 51! Congratulations once again Young Sir!"

The other bidders are astounded and curious about the identity of the man. It seemed like he is not acquainted with any of the wealthy bidders or noble because all are whispering who he is, even the nobles. Meaning, he is a mysterious man that traveled from somewhere just to attend the auction.

He's bought 5 items from the auction so far outbidding all other bidders. He spent thousands of gold on a single item but he doesn't look bothered by the amount of gold he has spent. Not only that, he would pay for every item he won. Is he flaunting his wealth? Yes. Paying for the item he won and not paying for the complete amount after the auction, not only does he flaunt his wealth but it also shows that he is not a scammer trying to run away from his bid because he doesn't have the money. It's like he wants to shove on the faces of everyone that if he wants it, he can have it. He has the money to do so.

'Nice...' Jozine thought. A prospect regular bidder. She smirked while the auction continued.

And finally, the most awaited unknown items are now to be presented.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for waiting and we would like to apologize for the delay." The hosts disappeared for almost ten minutes.

"Finally, the first surprise item. Phoenix's feather!"

The auction hall is then filled with audible gasps and murmurs from the bidders.

The host then chuckled. "I know, I know. Everyone must be wondering how we are able to procure this precious feather of a legendary being that symbolizes rebirth. Honestly, I would like to know too! The client wishes to keep the information confidential and we here in Faceless Auction House respect our client's wishes. Now then everyone, I know you are all aware of how valuable this feather is! Starting bid, 2,000 gold coins!"

Phoenix. A being that symbolizes fire and rebirth. A being associated with the sun. The symbol of renewal.

Even a small and part of a feather from a phoenix holds unimaginable worth, from alchemy, magic practice, and magic item creation. A single strand from a feather can make a drastic change.

The bidding started and the bidders started to grow a little wild. The bidding skyrocketed from 2,000 gold coins to 5,000 gold coins but still continued rising.

The final bid is 100,000 gold coins won by a noble staying in Griselda but originally from the capital.

"Going once... twice... sold to number 115! Congratulations!"

"Heh, so he doesn't want to bid anymore huh. Maybe he doesn't want to stand out now that the auction's almost." Jozine muttered while watching the auction.

"The next item is dragon's scale!"

To be exact, an ancient dragon's scale. But the audience need not know about that, at least not for now. Once again, the bidders went insane, wild with their bidding especially the artisan, blacksmith, and artificers who want to use the scale as their material. The scale is of a dragon is sturdy it's almost close to being indestructible, no wonder these people would want to get their hands on it. In the end, an artificer won the bidding, the blacksmith who badly wanted the scale even cried. He was an old man who devoted his entire life as a blacksmith.

Jozine looked away. It's her greatest weakness seeing old people being emotional. However, she can't let her emotion get the best of her. It's an auction, money speaks, not background. It's unfair but it's how society works, more importantly, she's doing business, not charity.

When she looked back at the old man, he's still staring at the stage even though the auction has ended and the scale is already taken away in the room where the bidder who bought it is waiting.

"Blake,"

"Master," She glanced at Blake, and then she caught sight of Elise smiling at her.

She sighed. No good, huh. She already lost.

"Take that old man in one of the rooms. I would like to offer him a job."

Blake bowed, "Yes, Master," he then left the room silently.

Now that the auction is done, it's time for the second phase of this plan. Inside the room where she, Duke Franklin, Marquess Rolfe, and Head Vicar along with Lady Suri, Lord Geubert, and Hunter Odalf, gathered.

"Well then, how was Is, ehem, Lady Jozine?" she couldn't help but chuckle. The Duke is still not used to calling her through her real name but her pseudonym.

"Well, the target bit the bait quite nicely. It was unexpected, meaning, the target is confident that all their actions done during the auction are not noticed." She stated.

They look at each other upon hearing that. "But I didn't notice anything off, Lady Jozine." It's the duke's son, Lord Geubert.

"That's true because he never did anything suspicious. All he did was bid for the items, it's only natural." She answered while smiling.

"Then..."

"It's not about what his actions were, it's about what he was after. I caught him through the items that he bid for."

And so, Jozine started explaining.

"I'm sure you're all aware of the incident in Kalghaya. These plans, my actions, and my decisions up until now are all because of the clue from that incident." 

After listening all the others could do is stare at her, dumbfounded and wondering just how she came up and think of that, more importantly, they realized one important thing. 

Jozine Vesaurius is a dangerous enemy. She plays her cards too well. All too well...

To be continued...