HBWnovel Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 138: Grandoak Auction
Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 138: Grandoak Auction
Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 138: Grandoak Auction
Great palaces of oak with black tiles adorning the roofs gave off an ancient feeling with their antiquated wooden beams, polished with a shining coat. These structures were large, and mass tides of people went to and from the buildings' large entrances.T/his chapter is updat/ed by
These buildings were the great hosts of the Exalt markets built in one of the three inner districts, the Bazaar District. The three inner districts were for Exalts, consisting of the Guild District, which held the Alchemist and Fabricator Guilds; the Brawl District, where Exalts could fight in combat and hone their skills; and the Bazaar District, which was the marketplace for Exalts.
The one pillar in the center was the Lord District which was home to the City Lord of Artomos. From the central pillar, the City Lord would watch over Artomos and relay their orders.
Oscar's destination was the Bazaar District to find an auction to sell his mutated Wendigo's core.
"There's only one auction in the Bazaar District, the Grandoak Auction," Frederick explained. "We can put the core up for bids there, and everyone would surely bid for it."
Frederick led the charge into one of the large wooden buildings, an assembly of wooden cubes connected into a non-symmetrical building. There would be places where it should have been a flat wall, yet it was missing a large block or protruding out a block.
Oscar compared it to how a baby might assemble some toy blocks into an incoherent shape that would tumble over. But this building stood perfectly firm and had a large sign on its entrance. This strange place was the Grandoak Auction.
"Welcome to Grandoak Auction. May I know the purpose of your visit?" The receptionist welcomed Oscar with a bow. She had brown hair with green eyes, wearing a yellow dress.
"I would like to place something up for auction."
"May I know what you wish to put up for auction? Please write it so we can upload privacy and safety." The receptionist passed a sheet to Oscar.
Oscar wrote down the information and returned the paper to the receptionist, whose eyes brightened after reading. A mutated Exalt Beast core!
"Please follow me." She nodded and turned around.
Oscar and the others followed the receptionist into another room. Oscar looked at the ceiling; it was the sky and two suns beating down and illuminating the room with warmth. Oscar focused his third eye and activated the Prinstyct to confirm a suspicion he had.
The world distorted around him as if the boundaries between objects were nonexistent. His Ein flowed in droves to maintain the purple ring's glow on this third eye. Above, the scene of the two suns and clear blue skies started to go away like a burning piece of paper.
He saw a wooden ceiling reveal itself under the effects of his Prinstyct. His suspicions were confirmed; the two suns and blue sky were an illusion placed on the ceiling.
"Sir?" The receptionist noticed Oscar had stopped moving and was looking up. Realizing something, she said, "Oh, you must be intrigued by our special ceiling. It puts our clients at ease and helps the rooms have an open feeling."
"That's a great idea." Oscar praised.
"Our appraiser should be coming in shortly. Please make yourselves comfortable and enjoy the refreshment." The receptionist bowed and exited.
The jug of water and small cookies on the table were nice and sweet. Emily ate the cookies with her eyes closed and curled down in satisfaction. Frederick, at her side, rolled his eyes at her actions.
Oscar focused on recovering his Ein from the use of his Prinstyct. He looked at the purple ring on his third eye, admiring its ability, but he knew it was not wise to maintain it for a long time.
'Maybe it's because I am still an Apprentice Exalt. Perhaps when I become an Elite Exalt, it will become easier.'
"A mutated core!" The audience rose in a clamor, trying to look closer at the black core. The auction guards stomped their feet in a show of force.
"We guarantee this is a mutated core. Now, as for the beast's features...." Ellie explained the details of the beast's powers.
"Hey, cauldron bastards. This one is ours. The qualities of this Wendigo are well suited to complement a set of armor and weapons by melding it in." The leading fabricator warned the alchemists, who merely snorted coldly.
"The expansive strength of the beast and its resilience will be perfect for an amazing strengthening elixir. We may replicate its properties if we can research its intricacies. Though I do not expect hammerheads like you to know about fine research."
"The strengthening can work for our weapons and armor as well! The arrogance of you herb-smelling liquid brains to believe you're the only ones who can provide such means."
"Hoh?" The alchemists were furious.
"Ho? Ho what? Are you owls or something? Go back and suck on the elixir from your mother's teat." The fabricators were exceedingly foul-mouthed.
"Please calm down!" Ellie maintained her composure, showcasing her professionalism in this pressing moment. "The bidding will start at 3000 gold."
"3000???" Oscar choked on his water from the starting amount.
But even more shocking was the amounts bid by the two guilds. They screamed and howled at each other as they raised the price higher. Oscar's hands shook as the price reached 40000 gold.
"Going once! Going Twice! Sold! The mutated core will go to the fabricator's guild!" Ellie announced the winner.
The fabricators cheered as the alchemists looked on with grim faces.
"If it were a core from a stronger Exalt Beast, we could have gotten a far better price." Frederick said. "But 40000 is still very good."
"Hello. We have your gold here." A servant came in and passed them three purple cards. "These are purple gold cards. If you take them to a location of the Platinum Reserves, they will give you the amount in them. There are 12000 gold coins in each."
Oscar held the purple gold card with trembling fingers. He had never seen an immense value in a single small object.
The rest of the auction was just as bombastic. The next were rare items from Grade Three Exalt Beasts and Grade Three plants and fruits. Even the core of a Grade Four Exalt Beast was sold for a mindboggling price that made Oscar go limp.
"That was fun!" Oscar exclaimed. "But would it be that expensive when we get into higher realms?"
"That is why you see few wanderers past the Elite Exalt realm. Those who manage to become Knight Exalts can find good compensation by coming under the thrall of a power like the Pavilion. If not, then how could they afford their needs?" Frederick explained.
"That's far from today. For now, let's get back to the Pavilion and focus on the Elite Exalt realm." Oscar shrugged.
"About that." Emily looked at the two. "Do you mind if we take a detour?"