Chapter 56 Auction (3)

Ethan's POV"The starting price of this dagger is 300 Lifeblood Crystals, and a minimum increase of 50 crystals is necessary if you wish to bid."

The whole hall quieted down at this outrageous leap in price, and I turned to see that it was Lucien from our table who had bid the price. But Victor and Virelle remained quiet and uninterested in this artifact.

As for the Drakovar siblings, I could guess that they didn't have that much fund as they hadn't planned for this impromptu auction.

The price kept going and finally, Lucien purchased it for a whopping 3000 Lifeblood Crystals. He had been given a tough fight but it seems being a prince of a dukedom had its many privileges.

Many more artifacts and natural treasures were sold like the Stygian Bloodroot, Duskwraith Orchid and many more.

Many of these were acquired by Victor and Virelle, but I didn't need any of these as they couldn't help me in getting stronger and also, I didn't have any Lifeblood Crystals which was a currency unique to the vampire clans.

I had thought to borrow it from Virelle but only for exceptions.

"The second special item announced today by Lord Arbiter is also a unique artifact with unknown origins, the Ebon Veil Cloak and its ability appraised is that it grants the wearer a certain degree of invisibility but Sky Realm beings of darkness affinity and Heaven Connection Realm beings of any affinity can detect it easily."

I was amazed, as this was the first time I was truly realizing the power and variety of magical artifacts. Previously, I hadn't had much exposure to artifacts, whether in my early days in the Mistborn castle since my birth or the training period in the Dark forest and Ebonspire peak later after my awakening.

I was a child who hadn't undergone his awakening and my master being a dark dragon, focused primarily on her strong body and magical abilities. She placed less importance on magical artifacts and taught me little about them.

From what I knew, all magical artifacts had drawbacks that its user had to cope with and failing to do so could result in serious consequences such as split personality, madness, memory loss or in rare cases, even death.

"The base price is 400 Lifeblood Crystals, with a minimum increase of 50 crystals required for a new bid."

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An elegant voice caused the crowd to fall silent. It was Virelle and from the determination in her tone, she seemed intent on purchasing it.

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A similar cool voice echoed from a table at the farthest corner. It appeared to be a woman sitting alone at that vast table.

But Virelle didn't relent. After a bidding tussle during which even Victor helped Virelle, she procured the cloak for an astounding 4200 Lifeblood Crystals.

I was shocked at the outrageous price but kept my composure and congratulated Virelle via sound transmission.

"The next item is what many of you patrons have been waiting for. It's a Blood Thrall and it's none other than a member of the Moon Elf race."

Like always, Virelle supplied me with background information about the situation before us.

'Among all the myriad races of the Agate Star World, us vampires love the blood of Moon Elves the most and in return they are our sworn enemies.

Due to the constant conflict between the Blood Veil and Bloom Haven Continents, members of both vampires and moon elves are captured or killed regularly. The reasons behind our conflict are numerous but one of the primary causes was their close alliance with the werewolves of the North.'

I listened intently, as such intricate dynamics between races were rarely available elsewhere. Soon, two maids dragged in a ten-year-old child and my eyes widened as I struggled to discern the child's gender. The child was in chains, wearing a simple torn robe.

The child had long, dishevelled silver hair and long pointy ears, each adorned with two silver rings. It's silver-coloured pupils gleamed with anger, despair and numbness at the same time.

I felt uncomfortable as I had never seen such a sight in either of my lives. But I sighed, understanding that this new magical world had its own dynamics, with its own power struggles and societal issues like slavery and slaughter.

Though I was a bit upset at the sight, I wasn't going to blow my cover by impulsively acting out or preaching for the elf's independence. That would be too foolish.

It would also draw unwanted attention from all sorts of shady and mysterious figures in this room, figures who would surely oppose my intervention as they had came here tonight for this purpose.

It would also arouse suspicion, as a vampire was supposed to hate the Moon Elf race. I wasn't acquainted with the child, so making such an obvious mistake on its behalf would be reckless.

Though it bothered me, I knew that not every injustice could be stopped. If I had the strength of my master then perhaps I would have tried but the real world didn't have the place for 'what ifs.'

"This elfling is a side branch member of the Lunaris Veil Clan of the Moon Elves. Her capture circumstances are a secret but despite being a branch member, she is still part of the royal clan of the Moon Elves and that should tell everyone of her value."

"The buyer will have to swear a blood curse oath never to divulge the existence of this thrall or the place they obtained her from."

"The base price is 2500 Lifeblood Crystals, with a minimum increase of 500 required for a new bid. You may begin bidding."

'10,000,' a sinister voice rang out from the right corner of the hall, belonging to an old woman. The sound of her voice scraped my nerves, making it feel like nails were being dragged on stone.

Just hearing it gave me goosebumps not from fear but from disgust, a reaction akin to an allergy.