"Now then!" Grabbing the cloth on one of the three objects of varying sizes while shouting at the crystal in his hand.
With a flourish the items in the first cloth were revealed.
"This is the third most important item we have found this year! Let me present to you...!"
Throwing the white cloth to the side as the lights focused onto the revealed item, it was revealed to the world what it was.
And the item within was one that I was not so familiar with before but was now.
[Dead Cells 14%] >>>[Dead Cells 20%]
Breaking through the second hard lock on the Dead Cells sync rate and climbing to the 20% mark.
New information climbed into my mind, just as the announcer down below explained what it was.
"This is the Vine Rune! A special rune developed by the Kingdom of Malaise before it's fall! One of the few remaining runes of it's kind in the entire world!"
"When used properly by a suitable vessel to it's power, the Vine rune allows it's users to accelerate the growth of vines and control them however they please"
Showcasing the strange slate of rock surrounding by a slight teal green glow with various strange letters on it, vine like lights flowing off the rock.
"Basically, its a knock off plant magic that you can get by using this rune! None of that so called magic talent and affinity is needed for this rune!"
Waving his hands at the pedestal the man shouted.
"Now let the Bidding...! Begin!"
---
"What's so important under those things that we have to get them?"
"Besides the Vine rune which is very powerful, there is a Refillable Health flask that restores half of your health that can regenerate as you kill monsters, and finally the most important one"
Manipulating the floating ice crystals with a magic brand on their hand, the shadowed figure looked downwards from above the stage on top of a knight's corpse.
Several such corpses were left all above the stage as the blood was frozen, many of the corpses having arrows, ice spikes and scorch marks on their body.
"Anything else boss? Because I'm going to go to my position if there's nothing"
"No" Shaking their head, the one with the green bow grabbed an arrow and stared downwards. "In fact, you should've gone the moment the first item was unveiled"
"Got it" Moving away, flying ice shards in hand.
They quickly disappeared as the shadowed figure dropped out of sight, followed by several others.
Nodding to the other figure who held a handle with nothing on it, they went the other direction the first went and disappeared.
'If this plan works, not only will we be filthy rich from selling all these goodies on the black auction'
Chuckling to themselves, the shadowed figure nocked an arrow and aimed at the glowing bulb on the top of the stage.
'We will grow so strong that none but the S ranks will be able to stop us'
Looking at the ground below them, standing on top of a metal platform which manipulated the lights.
The bidding slowly died down as one of the VIP booths raised the price to 75 gold.
'Rich bastards' Cursing within their mind, it quickly turned to joy as they thought. 'But that's good, we can rob all the items that rich bastard bought today and take their coin as well'
As the bidding stopped and the item was sold for 80 gold.
The figure in the shadows struck.
'Bang!'
---
'The Vine Rune'
Rubbing my chin I thought about that rune.
It didn't have any particular emotional significance to me as a person, but it was developed by the Past Kingdom of Malaise.
If I had to compare.
It was like retrieving someone else's keepsake that I was close with.
Looking at the Vine rune be moved off stage, a metallic glint caught my eye as they turned upwards.
'What?'
Looking up to the metallic banisters that controlled the lighting system of the place I could see nothing but darkness.
'Was it just a trick of the light?'
Rubbing my eyes the metallic glint entered my vision once again. 'Yeah... there's someone there'
And with their location in the auction house, and how they seemed to be poised over the Products...
It didn't take a genius to find out what they were doing.
'It seems these guys are strong though if they took down the knights without making a ton of noise'
Searching the banisters I caught sight of a frozen knight in the middle of the banisters.
Although it was hidden by the darkness, thanks to being in the deep dark caves for quite a while.
I knew how to differentiate objects in the darkness.
'But they're aiming to steal the Auctioned items huh?'
'If that's the case...'
"Hey, Joseph, You might want to stay away from the doorway"
"Huh? Why"
Getting out of my seat I quietly manifested the Balanced blade.
Feeling the weight of the sword rest within my hand, the greenish blade glinting under the light.
The door opened slightly.
And just as quickly as it did...
Ice shards flew.
Knocking them down quickly with the blade, I could hear the surprise in the other person's voice as I ran towards them.
"Huh?"
Roundhouse kicking them in the face and into a nearby wall, I secretly marveled at how little to no sound was being released.
Holding my blade out in case it was a trap and they were about to release more fragments of ice.
I awkwardly stood there in silence as the person lay unmoving on the floor.
'...'
Grabbing a stick from my inventory and throwing it at the person, the stick landed and hit the person but there was no response.
'Did they die?'
Quietly calming my heart beat within my chest I listened to their breaths.
'Nope, still alive'
Moving forwards slowly, I touched the person with the sole of my shoe and turned them over.
It was the ideal time to ambush someone so I was on guard because of that, keeping my blade pointed at the masked intruder's neck.
And was surprised to find that they weren't faking their unconsciousness or death and really was unconscious.
'What the hell? Shouldn't someone who was trying to rob me be strong? What the hell is this'
Feeling disappointed I grabbed the foot of the person and grabbed some rope.
Grabbing them by the legs and dragging them into the room as it would be problematic if someone saw the unconscious person, I tied them up under the stunned gaze of Joseph.
Tying them to the pillar structure in the middle of the room, Joseph finally opened his mouth.
"How did you know?"
"Know what?"
Tying the person to the pillar tightly with the Clove hitch I looked at Joseph.
"How did you know that an assailant was going to strike us?"
"Well..."
Searching the person for loot I grabbed the Vine rune out of their small pouch.
"I was just lucky"
Taking out a few more small items from the pouch I turned to Joseph.
"Although it hasn't ended yet."
And just as my words ended the entire Auction room was plunged into darkness.
"Just like that"
Sighing I stood up and prepared my sword.
+++
Tree