Zoran disappeared into the bustling town of Griedsoil nowhere to be found. Then the hours passed by with the sun setting in the west that left the sky dark with only the light of the moon and stars illuminating them.
Slowly, the lights turned on in the Royal District. They were lavish, as electricity was considered to be too much of a luxury for normal people, and these wealthy businessmen and entrepreneurs used it to lighten up the streets and buildings.
The one who seemed to glow brightest though, was a certain place that exuded prestige. It had blaring lights and a freshly painted new set of white paint around the building. Guards were stationed in a line beside a red carpet that welcomed its guests.
[Heaven's Auction House]
This was the place where the obscenely rich boasted about their wealth to their other rich peers by purchasing items that were priced at a grossly high rate. Some single items were purchased with a price that could end poverty and completely renovate the Garbage district into something habitable, but alas, they rather use it to decorate their already lavish houses.
The gentlemen wore even more expensive suits and ties, made especially for them by expert tailors while the ladies wore dresses that either accentuated their bodies or their expensive jewelry. They congregated around the red carpet, mingling and talking friendly with each other. But when one listened to their thoughts, it would be apparent that they were all trying to compete with their wealthiness.
"I like that necklace you're wearing. Where did you get it?"
"Oh dear. My husband bought this from the best jeweler in town. You know that place, right? Or is it a little out of your price range?"
"Why yes I know that, of course. I just thought that your necklace was something you picked up out of the street."
"Oh, you jest."
The two ladies laughed between each other with smiles, but on the inside, a spark of fury flashed underneath them. Meanwhile, their husbands were also having a friendly chat.
"I just purchased a two-story mansion just on the outskirts of town."
"Oh, how exciting. I, myself, am more interested in better opportunities outside the town. I am now the proud owner of a vacation house near the shore."
"Ah! A vacation! It's been a long time since I've had one of those. I've been too busy managing my company or else my workers would burn it to the ground."
"You simply must join me in the summer. Your company must not be that important since you only purchased a small apartment. Oh I kid hahaha."
The two gentlemen laughed and shook hands. But each of them tried to exert more force than the other to prove their dominance. Their conversations continued until the doors to the Heaven's Auction House were finally opened.
"Welcome, dear guests. Please step inside and see the display of items that are going to be auction off this evening," the host said.
The wealthy guests all walked along the red carpet, while some stayed and had a chat with the journalists hovering around the area. The grand reopening of the Heaven's Auction House was a headliner in the news, and some guests wanted their names to be mentioned in it.
Then, in the midst of all the well-dressed and beautiful guests entering the building, one distinct person walked in with just a plain white shirt and brown cargo shorts. He stood out in the crowd, with stares and looks coming his way, but not the good kind.
They felt like he was dirtying the air from his mere presence and ruining the grand atmosphere of the important opening night of their auction. Many whispers and journalists furiously writing in their notes forced the members of the auction house for an immediate action.
The subject of all this infamy was Zoran. Now that was time for the auction to start, he finally showed himself. But he did not care about his looks or the dirty looks they gave him, he simply attended the auction with no care.
"Kid. I am going to have to ask you to leave."
Zoran looked at the host with two guards stationed right behind him, exuding a threatening presence. But Zoran simply ignored them and faced the host.
"Are you going to deny entry to your guest?"
The host frowned at him and clicked his tongue. "You are not a guest. You are a beggar." The host looked at the growing commotion around them and worry filled his face. His boss, Bettor, commanded them to ensure that this night went smoothly, and this insignificant teen was ruining it.
"You are right. I am not a guest, I am a VIP. I have an item that will be sold in the auction."
The host looked at Zoran incredulously. There was no way that a beggar like him could have an item that would fit the prestigious standards of the auction. Only treasures and expensive jewelry are available tonight, not trash or scrap metal.
The host looked back at his guards and gave them a nod. One of them, the one who had bigger muscles, stepped forward and faced Zoran. He was a 2nd stage cultivator from the Primordial Sun Dynasty that took a job at this auction as security. He was incredibly confident in his physical ability, proved by his dominance over those in the same level.
"Are you willing to risk your life for this? The journalists are going to have a field day with this. 'Important guest denied from the auction because of discrimination,' I can already see the title."
The host became uneasy with that outcome. But he still didn't believe Zoran's words. He nodded; It was time for his guards to do their jobs.
The guard shoved Zoran as hard as he could, using all of his strength to show dominance. He even used the momentum of his whole body to deliver a tremendous amount of force.
The moment he touched Zoran, something weird happened. The guard suddenly felt a strong resistance as if he was going against a steel wall unable to push any further. Not only that, the force that he exerted only bounced back to him, something that would only happen as a consequence of going against someone much stronger than him.
"Huh?" The guard fell back, unable to understand what happened. Even the host was dumbfounded.
"Do I really have to report this to Bettor? What will happen if he found out you tried to deny my entry?"
The moment Zoran said that, the host felt as if a cold bucket of water fell on his face. He sobered up. If Zoran really said the truth, then the consequences for the host could be dire. There were a lot of eccentric blacksmiths in town, and Zoran could be one of them, thought the host.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience sir, please enter." The host bowed and made way for Zoran.
Zoran smiled and patted the man's back, "good man." Then, he walked to the entrance with his hands behind his back.