The tension in the room thickened as the auctioneer unveiled the next item.
Suspended within a crystal case was the Leviathan's Scale, shimmering with an iridescent sheen that seemed to shift with every flicker of light. Its surface appeared alive, reflecting oceanic hues as though it held the very depths of the sea.
"A relic of the abyss!" The auctioneer declared, their voice cutting through the murmur of anticipation. "This Leviathan's scale, imbued with the essence of the great beast. A catalyst for mages, a shield for warriors, a treasure of untold value. We begin at ten thousand pearls."
"Ten thousand pearls!" A woman called from the front row, her jeweled mask glittering under the lantern's glow.
"Twenty thousand!" Barked a man seated near the middle, his rotund figure leaning forward as he jabbed a finger at the auctioneer.
"Fifty thousand pearls." Urged a masked man from the far right, his voice tinged with desperation.
