Before I could say anything, my assistant showed something on her phone, and instantly, the staff's eyes widened in shock. Suddenly, he bowed deeply, stammering nervously.
"I-I apologize for doubting you, honored VVVIP guest!"
Chuckling inwardly, I glanced briefly before continuing forward, musing that this was the true power of wealth and influence. With this insane privilege as the son of the Emperor Magician and the world's wealthiest man, what could I not achieve?
Without realizing it, my eyes curved into crescent shapes as I smirked like a villain. If someone said that money couldn't buy happiness or everything else, then tell them that it's not that money can't provide it—it's just that they don't have enough of it!
Ah, let's set aside that nonsense.
Entering the assigned room, I saw a spacious area with vintage interiors reminiscent of the elegant yet simple medieval style. I sat down and began observing the auction as it kicked off with an opening ceremony. But soon, my mind drifted to other thoughts.
*Fortune Trickster*, a talent I'd never encountered in all my years of gaming. Trying to interpret its description only made me more confused.
> ["The game of fortune, the path of the slyest. The user can only imbue non-weapon items with its power—limited to objects of fate and luck, able to serve as tools of play and instruments of destruction in the wielder's life path. No true limits, bound only by a deadened imagination."]
What kind of vague explanation was this?
In all my memories, I could only recall a few non-weapon items that could be used like this, and considering I'd need them for combat, that made it even more complicated.
Fabric? A pen? A fan? Perfume? Those were the items I knew as non-weapons, but they all shared one crucial element that puzzled me.
Valuable in terms of fate and luck…
Damn, I hadn't even realized there would be such things…
Letting out a weary sigh, I rubbed my eyes and refocused on the ongoing auction. I was waiting for the items I wanted to buy today, which I remembered would be revealed towards the end of the auction, so I wasn't paying much attention to the early parts.
But what was this?
I began to piece it together, muttering to myself, "Game… Fate… Non-weapon… Imagination…"
"Ladies and gentlemen! Behold, this is an ancient artifact said to withstand the slashes of the Sword Saint and even meteor strikes! Rumored to be an indestructible card, this has been validated as the Illusion Poker Card belonging to Doyle Brunson, a Poker Legend recorded in history as the God of Poker—!!!"
Startled by the announcer's shout, I shifted my gaze to the man before glancing at the item displayed on stage.
*The sixth item is up for auction—!!*
People began raising their hands after pressing the 'Bid' button in front of their tables, offering prices for the card. While many appeared interested, their expressions didn't quite reflect genuine enthusiasm for such a seemingly useless and expensive item that could only be used for poker games without the worry of it being destroyed by losing opponents due to its powers. But what more could it offer beyond its use in games?
Nothing. No one would want to waste money on something that wasn't even the main highlight of the auction…
Ahhhh… I found it…
******
Noticing that the enthusiasm of the guests seemed to have diminished, the forced smile of the event's announcer faltered slightly. He then caught sight of a bid being activated in one of the VVVIP booths at the top of the auditorium.
Seeing the price displayed before him, his eyes widened in shock. "One—A bid of one billion credits?!!!!" He had never anticipated that an item intended to be the opening act of this clearance sale would surpass his expectations.
The other guests were taken aback by the announcer's exclamation, turning around to see what had caught his attention. Though slightly startled by the amount, they quickly nodded, understanding the situation. After all, it was a VVVIP room, typically occupied by the elite, so such money was small change for them.
While they responded with such indifference, my body trembled violently as I realized I might have found the answer to the puzzle.
"I found it… I found it!!!"
As I reflected on this, a thought flashed through my mind while trying to connect all those features to an item that I believed shared those characteristics. It was only when I looked at the poker card, a tool for games that could determine fate through the wins and losses of gamblers, that I made the connection. It was a non-weapon since it was just a card, and the critical method of play was filled with imagination as it often defied everyone's expectations.
Although I wasn't entirely sure, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness, believing this might actually work. Even if I were wrong, I wouldn't feel at a loss. After all, for me now, money was the last thing on my mind.
Moreover, my father was also unsure of where to allocate all his wealth, as he was already too rich and confused about where to invest it further.
Ahhhh, it's not that I don't value money—I truly appreciate it—but this felt more important than that. For reference, if converted to the currency I knew, one credit in this world was roughly equivalent to a USD in my previous world, also being a currency used internationally with stable value for trade.
After purchasing that item, the auction continued, moving on to the main items numbered between 40 and 50. However, most of them were far too useful for me.
The auction proceeded swiftly, and I placed bids on the items I wanted, shooting past market prices. Though some people grumbled beneath me, I didn't care. This was a place where more money was king.
With that, I returned to my assistant and some of my guards. Since only a handful were allowed to accompany me, the rest had blended into the crowd outside.
"Ahhh, seems like the next event is about to begin?"