The female auctioneer smiled and spoke with enthusiasm. "Welcome to the last day of the Brilliant Auction House Anniversary Event. Today, we have almost four hundred items to sell. All of them in the peak-level Earth rank or above! The selling methodology to auctioning will be similar to the other days."
"First, we'll give an initial price, and the minimum increment will be said simultaneously. Normally, it will be ten percent of the initial price."
"We'll go item by item, and we'll do an extensive introduction to every single piece of today's precious merchandise."
"You have four calls to interject with a bid. If I finish my call before you enter the bid, then the bid is invalid! I have seen some guests who like to wait until the last second. Please, be careful and evaluate the situations accordingly."
The person speaking was a dragon woman.
She had lavender-colored wings, horns, and tail. Her body was half-covered with scales around her visible body parts. Beautifully contrasting, her blue eyes and black hair complimented her beauty.
Her skin was tanned, following a milk-coffee-colored skin, and her body followed the typical one for most dragon-related women. Her chest was bulging, her waist was narrow, and her hips were wide, creating an unreal hourglass shape that seductively bounced thanks to the tight dress with a wide cleavage.
Yasenia chuckled and commented. "If Evelyn was here, she would be drooling. Her light gray dress is quite revealing, after all."
Cecile's and Tatyana's lips arched a bit, amused.
The woman continued speaking a few rules to take into account, nothing that affected Yasenia. However, there was a rule that wasn't mentioned and made Yasenia's eyebrow gently lift.
She looked at Carbira and asked. "Are powers allowed to use their names to intimidate other competitors? There weren't any rules mentioned that punished this behavior."
Tengliu tilted her head. "Why would there be a rule like that? I've gone to many auction houses, and none of them have this system implemented."
Yasenia looked incredible. "Really? I mean, the price of the items will be much cheaper if people begin throwing their names around. It basically kills the auction's purpose. Moreover, if someone goes against them unless the one competing is a power of similar strength, the ending will be being robbed nine out of ten times."
Tengliu nodded. "That's true, but clans that are enemies may begin a beef and keep increasing the value of an item by a lot out of spite. It goes both ways."
Yasenia sighed. "But smaller powers will be unable to spend any wealth because of the risk."
Tengliu argued. "Larger powers have stronger economic powers. If they can make those major powers comfortable, the smaller ones don't matter. Moreover, the first two days were small-power-friendly. Having this last day be a brutal all-for-all with basically no rules is a plus."
Yasenia counter argued. "You have a point. Nevertheless, wouldn't those powers that lose something they've gained interest in become resentful at the auction house for allowing this suppression method?"
Yasenia continued. "Moreover, being a small power doesn't mean having small capital. Look at Jorey's group, for example. As a merchant group, their economic power is much higher than their strength. These medium powers will be suppressed."
Tengliu shrugged. "When interests meet, resentment will naturally appear no matter what you do. Hence, instead of a medium power, a major power might become resentful because they couldn't use their authority to gain what they wanted because of lack of capital, right?"
Yasenia asked. "What if everything is anonymous? No one would be blamed. Moreover, if a major power loses an item because of a lack of capital, their thoughts would be that the anonymous person is not easy to offend. The auction house can always deny discovering who bought what, making it impossible for others since they don't know if the one who bought it is someone they can offend."
Tengliu nodded. "You are right. However, there are always petty and arrogant powers that will do everything in their power to get an item they are interested in. If the auction is not strong enough, it can spell disaster. Therefore, letting everyone know who bought things on the last day and letting them fight it out outside assures the safety of the auction house. It is like throwing a piece of meat to a bunch of hungry humans and letting them fight over it. Even if the items end up being a bit cheaper, making the initial price higher can also allow them to make a profit no matter what."
Yasenia thought and nodded. "You are right. If the auction house were stronger, there would be no problems with my method. However, this auction house is weak. Hence, they can only resort to these security measures."
Tengliu smiled. "Either way, your arguments are also valid. Stronger Auction Houses should go with your method instead of mine."
Yasenia smiled. "Even then, a senior knows best."
Tengliu laughed. "Are we going to praise back and forth?"
Yasenia also chuckled. "Let's continue listening. She has finished explaining the rules."
The dragon woman smiled. "Without further ado, let's present the first item for this auction house! A peak-level Earth-ranked blacksmithing hammer! The name is [Mountain Rock Hammer]. It can be used in combat or as a blacksmith tool. The artisan is one of the famous blacksmiths from the [Nine Molten Hammer Sect]! It was created with [Profound Black Jade] and [Volcanic Heavy Iron], making it almost impossible to melt with the temperatures that blacksmiths work with. Although it is an Earth-rank item, the utility nears a Heaven-ranked item!"
"For this masterpiece, the initial price is one hundred High-level Parus!"
Yasenia asked. "Tatyana, do we lack blacksmithing hammers for our harpies?"
Tatyana thought for a while and nodded. "Yes. Most of the equipment we have is on the low and middle levels of the Earth rank. A peak level one like this one can become a nice reward to place in the internal shop."
Yasenia nodded and pressed the bidding crystal.
"VIP room number nine bids four hundred High level Parus!"
"VIP room number twenty-seven bids five hundred High-level Parus!"
Yasenia bid again. "VIP room number nine counter bids with six hundred high-level Parus!"
"Oh? The [Sky Scale Dragon Kin] bid 650 High-Level Parus!"
'Hm? That's the third strongest clan of the Thirty-Three Clans. They sent a representative?'
Yasenia sighed. 'This is why I have this kind of auction…'
Tengliu smiled and asked. "Child, do you want to use my name?"
Yasenia looked at her and lifted an eyebrow. "What's the catch? I don't believe that you will allow me to use it for free."
She laughed and said playfully. "How about a kiss on the cheek?"
Yasenia was surprised. "Just that?"
Tengliu blinked and added. "Then, you should also say. 'I love you, Aunty Tengliu!' very seriously."
Yasenia's face became strange. "Sure? Do you understand that the gesture is at most at the familiar affection level, right?"
Tengliu nodded. "Will you do it? The bids are going up~."
'Saying empty words is like blowing air… Well, whatever. If she is happy with that.'
Yasenia stood up and sat beside Tengliu. Then, she kissed her on the cheek and said with a serious expression. "I love you, Aunty Tengliu."
Tengliu smiled widely and hugged Yasenia. "You are so cute~."
Cecile's eyebrow twitched. "Senior Tengliu."
"I'll spar with you when we return."
And so, Cecile didn't speak.
Yasenia's eyes widened. "You sold my body for a spar!?"
Cecile corrected her. "A spar with a very strong senior."
Yasenia's lips twitched.
Tengliu laughed, and her eyes gained a touch of tenderness.
'I hope that one day, even if it is just familiar love, I can regain the trust of this girl. Sigh, I didn't think I would become this interested in this young dragon. I really want to slap my past self…'
Tatyana gave Tengliu a glance and didn't speak.
She could feel that the previous indifference and sexual interest of Tengliu was melting away and becoming something softer.
Moreover, the feelings growing inside Tengliu were those of a senior toward their junior. Not a romantic love or expectation.
'If she can keep herself in check, there shouldn't be any problems.'
Yasenia also felt less rejection of Tengliu hugging her, so she just leaned on Tengliu as she bid.
Her wing arms moved, and Tengliu shifted their position to accommodate the young but tall and big dragon woman between her wing arms.
Then, she bid.
"The Harpy race Matriarch, Tengliu, bids eight hundred High-level Parus!"
As soon as this bid was made, everyone instantly got silent, and the dragon woman began calling.
"Eight hundred going once, eight hundred going twice, eight hundred going thrice, eight hundred going four times! Sold!"
Yasenia was impressed and looked at Tengliu. "Your name literally shut them up."
Tengliu smirked. "Do you understand now how impressive your aunt truly is~?"
Yasenia was a dragon, so she innately worshiped the strong. Therefore, she nodded without shame and looked at Tengliu with honest and glowing eyes. "Aunty Tengliu is super domineering!"
Tatyana, Ghana, And Cecile saw a metaphorical arrow pierce Tengliu's heart as a small blush spread on her cheeks.
Tatyana nodded in her mind. 'I understand, Tengliu. Little Treasure's adoring and sincere eyes are unjust to the point that they are almost a weapon.'
Meanwhile, Tengliu's mind was filled with pink bubbles. 'What is this precious and cute creature between my arms? Look at her gently glowing golden eyes, look at her expanding vertical pupils because of her honest adoration, her sincere smile and expression… Ah… I feel as if my heart is bathing in warm sunlight.'
Yasenia blinked twice and asked. "Aunty Tengliu, are you okay?"
Tengliu smiled like an elder and softly kissed Yasenia's cheek. "I'm feeling wonderful with you between my wings, child. If you want to buy something, use my name from now on, okay?"
Yasenia felt that this kiss was different, and it somehow touched her heart. 'Hm? Something changed?'
The very perceptive dragoness looked into Tengliu's violet eyes and saw a softness that wasn't there before.
Because of the elderly way Tengliu spoke, Yasenia answered a bit more relaxed and softer. "Mn! Thank you, Aunty Tengliu."
Tengliu smiled widely and rubbed her cheek with Yasenia, a way of expressing familiar affection between harpies.
Cecile looked at them and felt nothing in her heart, which made her confused. 'What happened?'
Yasenia felt her confusion and asked Tatyana to explain.
Tatyana knew that Cecile was a bit dorky with emotions, so she explained it patiently. 'Cecile, the reason you don't feel as much animosity right now is because her affectionate actions are no longer romantic. She is beginning to like Yasenia the same way an elder would. Hence, your instinctual rejection toward those that want to steal your mate is not triggering.'
Cecile was dorky with emotions, but she was a very intelligent woman. She readily understood and accepted Tatyana's explanation. This reduced her wariness toward Tengliu by half.
Even if the dislike couldn't disappear quickly, at least steps were taken in the right direction.
However, even if they slowly forgave this thousand-year-old Matriarch. The promises would not be broken, and they would eventually fight and give her a harsh beating.
************************************
Cecile: Not feeling that uncomfortable feeling each time Tengliu touches you is very relaxing.
Yasenia: Oh, sweetheart. Come with me to pamper you.
Author: Well, there they go.
Evelyn: Are they going to plow the fields?
Author: They are going to do lovely things. Either way… I summon you!
WPOmega: Here I am.
Author: I only have your questions left and one from Dante that I will answer when yours are reduced. So… Well, we'll have a few consecutive Theaters with dear WPOmega~.
WPOmega: I was inspired and wrote about six of them at once, hahaha!
Tatyana: Well, who are you going to ask today?
WPOmega: I'm going to ask you, Tatyana.
Tatyana: Go ahead.
WPOmega: When Yasenia gets back to the Sky Continent, besides the obvious 3-ways to come, do you plan on splitting the time your bodies spend with her between them for efficiency, or do you plan to pamper her twice as much now that you can do it with two bodies at once?
Tatyana: Probably, I will use my main body to be by her side while my other body is doing work. After all, many things are going on with the Demons and the other races traveling to come to our planet.
Tatyana: Of course, double pampering her occasionally will be a must!
WPOmega: Speaking of which… where is Yasenia?
Tatyana: Having fun with Cecile.
WPOmega: I see.
Tatyana: Well, that's about it. Any more questions related to this?
WPOmega: For now, I'm good. If I want to ask more, I'll use the comment sections. Thanks, Tatyana~.
Tatyana: No problem!
Author: And with this, today's Celestial Theater ends!
The girls: Bye-bye.
WPOmega: Have a good day!
Author: Bye-bye, little lurkers.