After the entrance period, the auction officially started. Starting with some trinkets and enchanted artifacts, the auction went on smoothly for some time.

“Now, for the item you have all been waiting for.” The announcer said, making all the spectators excited. While the announcer talked about something, Miyu restlessly looked around to search for Kazal. All the seats around her is filled up with people except for the one beside her which she saved for Kazal. But if he doesn’t appear soon, the seat might be taken by someone else. That was how full the auction hall is right now.

“Where is he-”

Suddenly she heard a rustling beside her. She was about to jolt in surprise when she saw the dog demi human merchant sitting beside her.

“You! Where did you go? The auction almost ended.” Miyu hissed. Even though they were sitting on the very last row, Miyu wouldn’t want her voice to be heard by the people in front. “I was looking for you, you know?”

“Sorry, I got something to do earlier.” Kazal smiled apologetically at her after he situated himself on the seat Miyu saved for him.

Somehow, Miyu noticed that there is a glimmer of deep blue inside Kazal’s hazel eyes. She was about to comment on it when she saw Kazal holding a number card on his lap.

“Sire, don’t tell me you will participate?” Miyu’s eyes wavered in disbelief.

“Well…” Kazal dithered. “I guess you can say that.”

Miyu snickered. “I thought the sapphire didn’t catch your interest. So you ARE interested in it, huh?”

Kazal rubbed his neck. There is no way she would believe him if he said that the sapphire right now belongs to him. After thinking for quite awhile, the merchant made a resolute decision of making the jewel his. The reason was simple. He wanted to find a way to unbound himself from the sapphire so he could return it back to where it was or if push comes to shove, destroy the sapphire himself. Kazal didn’t expect himself, albeit as a national rank adventurer, to be able to destroy it, yet that was what he planned to do sooner or later.

“Now then!” The announcer’s loud voice blared through the speakers. “This is a sapphire named as Fragment of the Night. In additional to it’s beautiful deep blue hue, this jewel possessed some very powerful enchantments, that is [Immunity]…”

The hall turned noisy just from the mention of that skill.

“…a huge amount of mana equals to several continential level elixirs, and a blessing of prosperity to it’s wielders! Now, shall we start with the bid from 250 million gold?”

The bidding started. Even though the starting price for the sapphire was already that high—surpassing the starting price of any other artifacts—the biddng price kept on getting higher.

“3.5 billion gold!”

“3.6 bllion gold!”

Some of the people had started to use a communication device, presumably requesting an additional funds from anywhere they wanted.

“3.7 billion gold!”

“3.71 billion gold!”

The price increase range began to decrease, indicating the end of the bidding which is almost near. While the others were competiting in raising the price, Kazal the merchant calmly inspects them as he crossed his legs.

“…Just when are you going to place a bid?” Miyu asked. Just like others, she was also starting to get restless.

“Just a bit more.” Kazal answered. Even though by the looks of it, his tone is serene, no one knows how nerve wrecking he felt right now having to spend money on something he doesn’t want. The dog demi human swallowed nervously

“4.1 billion!”

“4.5 billion!”

“5 billion!” A person from one of the private stalls—which is reserved especially for royalties—stood up and stated that price. The whole hall broke into a chaotic bustling.

“5 billion gold everyone! Is there anyone willing to place another bet?” The announcer bellowed loudly to fight the bustling of the people. Even though the people were chattering loudly, no one seemed to have placed a bet higher than 5 billion. Suddenly at that time…

“10 billion gold.” Kazal lifted his number card.

The whole hall instantly went still.

“10…” The announcer’s voice trembled. “10 billion gold. Is there anyone willing to place another bet?” Even the announcer was stunned by the amount.

A few whispering could be heard as they sneaked a glance at Kazal.

“Hey, isn’t that…”

“It’s true. It really is him.”

“If he’s here then it would be hopeless.”

Some of the whispering reached Kazal’s ears. These are one of the reasons why he dislike going out in public, it was because a lot of people, especially the nobilities and the royalties, recognized his face. Some of the people highly praised him for his skills and his influence, while thee others stuck close to him in the hopes that he shared a speck of his wealth to them.

After all, Kazal is among the richest person in the entire world.

A few moments passed yet there was no one who placed a bid.

After hitting the gavel three times, the announcer announced that Kazal was the final owner of the sapphire. The hall clapped their hand for him, unknown of the reason whether to congratulate him or to mock him for boasting his riches.

Despite that, Kazal doesn’t care. Now that he had the sapphire in his possession, he needs to figure out a way to unbound the gem.

Suddenly the sound of a horn blared outside the auction hall.

“That horn…” The announcer mumbled, his expression slowly turned frightful. Frantically, he announced to all the people present inside the hall.

“Attention to all the people in this hall, a national level threat has been spotted near the auction house. You are all required to evacuate all at once!”

The entire hall started to panic. People were pushing each other as they ran out from the hall. Meanwhile, Miyu and Kazal stood side by side and looked up to the ceiling.

“Do you sense what I sense, Miyu?” Kazal asked. Him staring at the wall might make him look like a mad man, however, what he was looking at is more than just a ceiling.

“Yes, Sire.” Miyu answered. “A group of a dozen dragons are flying this way.”

Kazal gritted his jaw. What timing. He felt like everything had become strange since the first time he discovered the sapphire. It was as if a curse had befell upon him.

What prosperity if all he got was this.

“Miyu, help the people evacuate. I’ll follow you suit after I take that sapphire with me.”

“That is not what’s important right now!” Miyu hollered. “We need to get out of here and request backup. We won’t be able to handle that group of dragons with just the two of us national rank hunters.”

“I know! But I need to get that sapphire so it doesn’t fell on a wrong hands.”

Miyu clammed her mouth, seemingly doesn’t have anything more to say. And as if agreeing to Kazal, she stepped away to head to the exit.

Kazal went to the opposite direction and went to the now deserted stage to retrieve the sapphire casket. He then flipped open the casket and picked up the gem.

Out of nowhere, the hall rumbled. In a split second after that, the roof of the hall ripped open and a figure of half a dozen of a behemoth sized dragon peeked their heads inside the hall.

Kazal picked up his stance and held the sapphire tight.

If per chance the dragon decides to attack him as whole, Kazal might die then and there. But, he have to make sure the sapphire doesn’t fall to anyone’s hands now that it will be left unattended after he dies.

While Kazal was brainstorming for ways to request back up in his cornered state, suddenly the sapphire glowed. It’s glow—which is originally around it—started to creep up to Kazal’s body and slowly engulfing him.

Kazal widened his eyes in shock. What’s more shocking was that apart from ripping off the concrete roof, the dozen number of dragons remained still as they watched Kazal slowly getting engulfed in light.

“Wha-” Kazal couldn’t finish his words when he slowly felt his consciousness fading away. The surrounding was bright when he closed his eyes for the first few seconds, then turned dark soon after that.