"Finally, the Star Anise is here", said Althea.
"This top-quality Star Anise is a very important ingredient for refining earth grade pills. Using top-quality star anise could improve the quality of the pill. I am sure many alchemists here are waiting for star anise, the starting price is one thousand five hundred rizas" said the auctioneer.
"One thousand six hundred rizas'
" One thousand eight hundred rizas"
"Two thousand rizas"
Many Alchemists started to bid for the Star Anise. Althea didn't make a move, she was waiting for the right time to bid.
When the price for Star Anise was reaching three thousand rizas, a young man joined the bid.
"Three thousand five hundred rizas"
That young man was Walion Mori. Right after he made a move, many people frowned because three thousand five hundred rizas is too much for star anise, the price had already exceeded the value of the herb.
Many people looked towards the private room trying to figure out the identity of the bidder because no one from the private room had made a move yet and everyone sitting inside the private room was an important figure in the southern region.
Meanwhile, on the stage, the auctioneer was grinning from ear to ear. To be honest, with the appearance of the Golden patterned energy revitalizing pill, he didn't expect the price of star anise to cross three thousand rizas.
Just when everyone thought that there would be no one foolish enough to bid more, someone from another private room made a move.
"Four thousand rizas"
That was Althea.
"We can never compete against these wealthy people"
"It's better not to offend these people, every one of them comes from a distinguished background"
"if I am not mistaken, the first bidder from the private room is Walion Mori, son of the Mori clan's leader"
Many people in the general hall started to discuss among themselves.
"Four thousand three hundred rizas" shouted Walion Mori.
"Four thousand five hundred rizas"
"Four thousand seven hundred rizas"
"....
The bid went on and it cross five thousand rizas. Inside the private room, Walion Mori frowned and said to one of his guards, "Go and find out the identity of the lady, daring enough to go against the Mori clan, this lady is not a simple character"
After one of the guards went out, another guard who was still with Walion Mori bowed and said, "Sire, do you think that lady is Miss Luvan!"
"I don't think it's her, I can recognize her voice, and if it's Althea she can't compete against the Mori Clan in terms of wealth. But this lady doesn't seem to care much about the money, so she might be someone with an extremely powerful background" said Walion Mori.
Walion Mori could be considered a smart guy but this time his guess was wrong because what he didn't know was that Althea had already taken measures before entering the auction hall to avoid unnecessary troubles. She had already changed her voice using a technique she learned in her past life.
"Five thousand eight hundred rizas", Walion made a bid gritting his teeth.
" Sir, you can't bid on more than six thousand prizes. Don't forget about the Golden patterned energy revitalizing pill that the leader wanted" said the guard.
"I know my limits", said Walion Mori.
Although he needed Star Anise, he knew that the competition for golden patterned energy revitalizing pill is going to be fierce. Many important figures had yet to make a move until now, and he knew that they are all waiting for the pill. If he can't take home at least one golden pattern pill, his father is going to be mad at him.
" Six thousand rizas", shouted Althea.
"Damn it!", Walion Mori slammed the table, he knew that he doesn't stand a chance now.
After noticing that the other side is not bidding anymore, the auctioneer held the gavel in his hand and shouted.
"Six thousand rizas going once.."
"Six thousand rizas going twice..."
"six thousand rizas going thrice. Sold. Congratulations to our guest in private room number six"
Althea smiled and leaned back sipping a tea from a ceramic cup.
After the Star anise, many other items were brought up but no one from the private rooms had made a move.
"The next item is the most awaited item of today's auction," said the auctioneer.
As soon as the auctioneer said this, there was a clamor in the auction hall. It was obvious that the auction had reached its climax as everyone was excited. Those that had kept their eyes closed since the beginning of the auction immediately open their eyes.
"Yes, everyone had guessed it right, it's the Golden patterned energy revitalizing pill. Our Rainbow auction hall was lucky to get our hands on these rarely seen pills. We will be auctioning off a total of twenty-four pills"
said the auctioneer.
"What! there are a total of twenty-four pills!"
"This is insane, it is hard to come across even one pill but this time there are twenty-four pills!"
"Just who is this person capable enough to bring out a total of twenty-four golden patterned pills"
"Whoever it may be, he or she might come from a powerful background"
Everyone started to discuss the pill once again. Many thought that there will be at least four or five pills, but who could have imagined that there are twenty-four pills.
The pill was brought up on the stage in a transparent bottle. Everyone could see the blue-colored pills inside it making them excited.
"The Golden patterned energy revitalizing pill is a high-rank man-grade pill. Everyone present here is knowledgeable about it so I won't be saying much about its uses. The pill will be auctioned off in twelve batches that is, two pills at a time and the starting price will be four thousand rizas. Now everyone can start bidding for the first batch of the Golden patterned energy revitalizing pill"
"Five thousand rizas"
"Five thousand five hundred rizas"
"Five thousand eight hundred rizas"
.
.
.
The fight for the pill had already started and everyone was determined to take the golden patterned pill back home. Those from the private rooms had also joined the fight for pills now.
After bidding for a while, the first batch of pills landed in the hands of Kruin Hokuf, the Vice President of the School of Practitioners from Misty City with a price of Eight thousand rizas.
The price for the second batch reached nine thousand and it was won by the man sent by the City Lord of Gurkin City with the price of nine thousand three hundred rizas.
"Sir, we should try to get our hands on one batch as well before the price gets high," said the guard standing beside Walion Mori
"I know, the third batch is mine"
As the price for the third batch hit ten thousand prizes, Walion was about to make his move when he heard a familiar voice calling out the bid.
"Ten thousand five hundred prizes"
At the same time, Althea was also shocked after hearing the voice of the bidder.
'Father!', thought Althea.
It was Duriaz Luvan who was also here for the Golden patterned pill.
"Eleven thousand rizas", Walion called out the bid.
"Eleven thousand five hundred rizas", Duriaz call out again.
"Twelve thousand rizas"
"Thirteen thousand rizas", shouted Duriaz
"Sir, the city lord, and the Mori clan had never been on good terms so if we continue to bid, it will only go on, so it's better to give up now. we will try to get the fourth batch" said the guard.
"It makes sense", nodded Walion.
So the third batch of Golden patterned energy revitalizing pill landed in the hands of the City Lord of Alfing city.
At the same time, in one of the private rooms, Althea was sitting on a chair with a twisted expression on her face. She never thought that her father would also take part in the auction, but thinking about how the people in the Southern region thought highly about the golden patterned pill, Althea understood. She sighed with a complicated emotion, she was feeling guilty too. But at the same time, she can't reveal her secrets.
After thinking for a while, an idea popped up. She quickly went out and summoned one of the guards, after a while, the manager arrived in her private room. Althea said something to him which made his expression change.
Walion Mori got the fourth batch of pills at the price of Sixteen thousand. Soon, one after the other, the pills were auctioned off at a high price.
The Eleventh batch was sold at the price of thirty-three thousand rizas while the twelfth batch was sold at the price of Forty thousand rizas which made Althea quite happy. For a time being, she doesn't have to worry about money.
After the end of the auction, the staff of the Auction hall immediately delivered the items to those sitting in the private rooms.
Duriaz also got his pill delivered but what surprised him was that he doesn't have to pay the money.
" Are you sure that I don't have to pay!" asked Duriaz with a baffled expression.
"My Lord, the owner of the pill said that this is a gift for the city lord as she was able to auction off her pills in your city," said the staff.
"Then, can I have the honor to met that distinguished guest, " asked Duriaz?
"My Lord, the guest had already left"
Walking out of the Auction hall, Duriaz seemed to be lost in thoughts. After walking inside the Carriage, he asked, "Northem, did you find out where Althea went ten days ago"