Chapter 55 Auction (2)

Ethan's POV'Thank you, Ethan. Lucien is very clingy and annoying. But be careful, he holds grudges even for such trivial matters', Virelle's sweet voice carried a rare hint of laughter. Discover more content at empire

Her tone which was usually indifferent sparked a genuine smile from me. I nodded slightly, appreciating her subtle show of trust.

A comfortable silence settled over us until an authoritative voice echoed through the hall.

"Good evening, fellow clansmen. I am your host, The Blood Arbiter and I will be presiding over tonight's auction in the Crimson Cellar. I'm certain you all are eager for the proceedings but let me assure you tonight's event will be unlike any other. Two items up for auction tonight will leave you astonished and eager."

Turning my head, I spotted a figure emerging onto the expansive stage. Dressed in a black suit with crimson trim, the man wore a peculiar hat and an unsettling clown mask. Its grotesquely stretched mouth radiated an eerie smile while blood-red light emanated from his eyes.

At first glance, the mask seemed simple, but the longer I stared the more unsettling it became. A strange pull drew at my soul sense and consciousness like a whirlpool. With significant effort, I broke free from its influence and turned my gaze elsewhere.

'The Blood Arbiter is a very dangerous man. No one knows his true identity and that clown mask is said to be a cursed artifact from a bygone era. You should avoid staring at him for too long and try not to draw his attention. The rumours surrounding him are horrifying.'

Virelle's warning came through sound transmission laced with genuine concern though it was a little late.

Unbeknownst to her, I had already nearly succumbed to the mask's effects. Heaving a quiet sigh, I refocused on the stage.

"As always, tonight's currency will be Lifeblood Crystals. Intimidation or underhanded tactics will not be tolerated," the Arbiter declared, his voice mocking yet commanding.

Despite his attempt at levity, the hall's atmosphere grew solemn.

"Now, now, don't be so serious you all. Enjoy your time here and may you all obtain what you desire. May the Eternal Night bless us all," he concluded with a flourish vanishing in a flash of blood-red light.

The room buzzed with muted whispers as a voluptuous woman entered the stage. She moved with deliberate grace, her every step causing her ample mounds to shake and her hips to sway enticingly.

Her thin and skimpy upper garment seemed barely sufficient to contain her abundant assets, drawing audible gulps from the audience.

I recognized her as the bar lady from the Euphoria Lounge. She bowed slightly and the reaction from the crowd was instantaneous. Heads turned and hushed conversations erupted across the hall.

Shaking my head, I acknowledged her undeniable allure though her high-ranking position within the Blood Chalice Tavern intrigued me more.

It seems she's not just managing the lounge but also serving as the auctioneer of the Crimson Cellar, I mused, my curiosity piqued as the auction finally began.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the first item is a Moonlit Crimson Lotus, and as many of you might know about its details, it's a rare flower that blooms only under a rare full blood moon and is renowned among families whose power mainly stem from their bloodline. It is known to enhance vitality and bloodline purity and especially valuable for vampire clans.

The base price is 100 Lifeblood Crystals. Keep in mind that a minimum increase of 20 Lifeblood Crystals is required if you wish to bid for this item."

As soon as she finished speaking, many bids sounded from all corners:

'120 Lifeblood Crystals,'

'150 Lifeblood Crystals,'

'180 Lifeblood Crystals.'

I even heard one from Rendell, and from his excited voice, I could tell that he was very keen on this item.

Though I had read about this lotus and its popularity, especially among vampire clans who faced the regular problem of bloodline thinning and how all their abilities and powers stemmed from their bloodline.

Finally, Rendell obtained the lotus for a good amount of 210 Lifeblood Crystals.

Then her expression grew solemn and she announced in a serious voice.

"The first special item of this night is the Soulreaver Dagger. Its origin is unknown, but according to our best appraisers, it's a blade that drains the essence of its victims upon being struck but risks corrupting its wielder's soul over a period of long-time use," the bar lady emphasized while a fox girl in a black and white maid uniform with a swishing orange tail came over with a tray in her hand.

The bar lady picked a foot-long dagger, its edges gleamed with a surreal purple light and its hilt seemed to be made from an unknown black wood with a devil face carved on it.

She twirled the dagger effortlessly and whispered something to the fox girl who nodded and walked back to the backstage.

Soon, a black boar double the size of a wild boar from my previous life was brought in a wheeled cage. It was tightly bound by black chains and didn't even have the leeway or strength to struggle.

The bar lady mercilessly stabbed the side of the black boar and in a few seconds, the big fat boar withered and was reduced to skin and bones with all its life and vitality absorbed by the devil face,

which had started to open its mouth and laughed evilly as it absorbed the blood-red life energy of the boar before quieting down again as if it were a stationary object though none of us were fooled having seen its true face.

I could even sense the fear of the little girl Ivanna, who sat on my other side. Rendell helped her in calming down while all of us continued to stare at it.

I was also tempted to buy this dagger but the sanity problem discouraged me as I knew the importance of intelligence and critical thinking and no amount of unique ability could replenish a person's lost sanity.