Kai wasn't surprised at seeing the sheer wealth of these nobles.
With the tax they levied on the residents of the 2nd Set, it was just a matter of time before their pockets started to spit gold. And the richest man on the 2nd Set was sitting with him in the same chamber.
Smoke kept thickening in the chamber, and by the time the 20th Item got sold, all four of them were drunk enough to have a heaviness in their voices.
"The 21st Item on our list is unique, my lords and ladies," the auctioneer proclaimed, as the attendant and Mr. Black Rose brought out a huge tray suspended in the air. "It is a genuine replica of a Named Item manufactured by a main storyline Character (-the crowd stirred with Whats?! and Hows?!-).
"It looks like a sword, but its use grants the user an Armor, made of one of the most powerful energy crystals known in the Multiverse — Coridite.
"Let us present, from the Random World of He-Man — One Half of the Power Sword!"
The silk over the tray flew away, and an exquisite sword lifted itself, floating high in the air.
Kai's eyes narrowed, seeing the sword rotating on the vast screen. It looked like a longsword from advanced technology, and there was a distinct red metallic shine to it.
He wanted it.
"The starting bid is 25,000 Mission Credits," the auctioneer said, swishing her thin waist. "Every increment must be at least 1000 MCs."
Not even a minute had passed, and the amount had already reached 50,000 MC. There it lingered for a few seconds, and then, for the first time, someone from the middle section called out.
"51,000 MC."
This…? Kai's head snapped downward, looking diagonally at some unknown chamber. He recognized this voice. But with all the events that had happened after his coming to the 4th floor, he had never thought he would meet him ever again.
Kai leaned back and smiled. "Now, where have I heard that voice before?" he mumbled aloud. "Oh, yes. Isn't that the newly ascended Contestant… some Silvas?"
The name caught Viscount Lucas' attention. "You are right, my lord," he said, his voice lacking power. "Granted Presidency to him myself. Not a bad kid, but not special either. It's his fiancee, all are after."
Fiancee?! Kai's brows furrowed. Wait a minute! He didn't…
"The Golden Mage they are calling her," Lady Elenora said with obvious contempt in her voice. "A natural practitioner of Wandless Magic. The man struck gold on the lower floors, to be honest. What were the chances of encountering someone like her among those filthy worms? Heh!"
Kai sighed and shook his head. The bid had already reached 55,000 MC, and it didn't seem anyone from the middle section could afford a higher amount than that for this Item. So, he nodded at Meg.
"60,000," she called out, shocking both Viscount and his lady wife.
Kai laughed. "Told you, didn't I?" he quipped, winking at Elenora. "Unique tastes."
Once a voice had come out of the topmost section, none from the middle one dared to bid on it any longer, and even the others in the same section held back this time.
For all they knew, it was the Set Lord himself who had bid on it.
"Sold." The sword landed back on the tray, and the girl took it backstage. As the auctioneer carried on, a knock resounded on the chamber's door.
"Enter," Lucas commanded, impatiently.
A white-armored guard of the royal police force brought in the same tray, and placed it on the table, before backing out. Kai noticed the smoke escaping the chamber from the opening and frowned. His hand went to the sword on the tray, and with the faintest touch, it vanished in his Inventory.
The auction kept going on, and by the time it reached the 50th Item, the distance between Viscount and Meg had lessened considerably. The man was almost leaning over her, and Meg kept refilling his glass with whiskey and lighting the cigars.
On his side, Kai's hand lifted and his fingers rubbed on Elenora's earlobes, feeling their softness. She looked at him, her mouth pressed hard, but said nothing except for taking a large gulp of her wine.
Viscount Lucas lusts for women like dogs for bones, Kai recalled the data on the 6th-floor Contestant. He has a strong taste for cigars and whiskeys from the 3rd Set or above, as he loathes everything from the 2nd Set. In his manor, Viscount Lucas holds weeks-long orgies, inviting other nobles, and the entire event is managed by his wife, lady Elenora. Unknown to the public, she is the strongest among the husband and wife, and her signature Skill is based on a powerful mutant, Storm.
Kai's entire plan was based on these points.
When we meet them, Kai had told Meg, they would either think of us as genuine 4th-floor Contestants or stronger Contestants descended here from the top floors. Given that their Stats would be restricted, it wouldn't be easy to tell the difference.
We would have to woo them before they could sense something wrong. Wealth and beauty. Remember, these are our weapons today. Seven Mystic Flowers has some of the most potent whiskeys and cigars from the upper floors. It says so in the data as well. Then, you would have to get him heavily drunk and keep lighting cigars for him. I want the smoke in the room as thick as possible. Leave Elenora to me. I know women like her.
"Now, for the swordsmen amongst us," the auctioneer said, making Kai straighten his back, "the 61st Item is not a replica and not an Item forged by Contestants. It is… a Named Item."
There was an eerie silence in the entire hall, and only Viscount Lucas was foolish enough to still chuckle at Meg's unimpressive jokes.
Kai's fingers had stopped rubbing Elenora's ears, and her eyes were so fixated on the screen that she had scarcely noticed it.
A new tray came floating on the stage, covered in black silk. The moment it neared the auctioneer, the cover flapped itself aside, letting all see the Item placed majestically over a folded black cloth.
It was a Katana with a red sheath, and over its red hilt, written in black with a white background, were tiny incomprehensible markings that looked like a combination of Chinese and Runic characters.
"From the Random World of Akame ga kill! — One-Cut Killer: Murasame!"
The auctioneer then briefly talked about the sword's background, avoiding the sword's capabilities, and started the bid with an initial amount of 100,000 Mission Credits.
Kai had only one word ringing inside his head — Beautiful!
At this moment, there was nothing more beautiful in his eyes than the sword.
"I will have it," he declared slowly, leaning back, and pulling Elenora towards him. "Some things are too beautiful to not taste them at least once."
Lady Elenora, for the first time, smiled and brought her face near him. Her lips tasted of rich wine to Kai, and her tongue was like a fresh cut of meat, juicy and warm.
It was brief, but when they parted, her hands were on his thigh.
***************
Bonus Chapter Deal (applicable for both Webnovel and ScribbleHub readers):
1. 70 Power Stones per day: +1 Bonus Chapter
2. 90 Power Stones per day: +2 Bonus Chapters
3. 750+ Powers Stones (at the end of the week): +3 Bonus Chapters (can stack over the 2nd point)