Chapter 365: Quite a hefty amount
“Are you certain we can trust this woman?” Aether whispered, his voice barely audible as he leaned closer to Liora.
His eyes were fixed on the mysterious figure ahead, her butterfly mask obscuring any hint of her true intentions.
“Yes, Mother, you can’t just follow someone from the black market!” Kaelen interjected.
Liora paused, slowly turning her head to fix Kaelen with a cold, indifferent stare. The icy look in her eyes was enough to send a shiver down his spine, making him shrink back in fear. “Do you take me for a fool, Kaelen?” Her words were soft but laced with a dangerous edge.
“N-No, Mother, of course not!” Kaelen stammered, his voice trembling as he quickly averted his gaze.
With a gentle sigh, Liora turned her attention back to Aether, her expression softening into a tender smile that contrasted sharply with the coldness she had shown just moments before, “It’s fine, Aether. Trust me,” she murmured, “I might not know the exact prices here, but I have a talent for sensing the nature of people… just like how I found you.” Her words dripped with warmth and affection as she reached out, her fingers lightly brushing the tip of Aether’s nose in a playful gesture.
Aether’s heart skipped a beat at her touch, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He shook his head in amusement, his eyes never leaving hers.
Kaelen, on the other hand, felt a pang of despair twist in his chest!! Why did he always feel like an outsider?
Why such discrimination was against him!!!
Aether suddenly reached out, his hand catching Liora’s with a firm but gentle grip. Liora flinched slightly, her eyes widening in surprise as a spark of something deep and primal flickered between them.
Her tail, which had stiffened at the unexpected contact, slowly began to sway in a subtle, sensual rhythm, betraying the quiet thrill that ran through her. She smiled a soft, secret smile that spoke of unspoken desires, her eyes locking onto Aether’s with an intensity that made the world around them fade away.
[+4000 AP]
[+4000 AP]
[+4000 AP]
Meanwhile Aether glanced at his log:
/
Name: Aether
Sex: Male
Race: ___________
Level: 35
Title: The Progenitor of Unknown Species, Eternal Contract to ########, The Only Holder of Ether and A Past-less, Future-less Entity
Skills: Freedom (Active), Clone (Active), Eternal Seal (Passive), #######
Attributes:
Strength: 350
Agility: 345
Intelligence: 350
Magic Affinity: 340
Charm: 350
Compatibility: 91%
Survival rate: 45.3%[Remaining Time: 285 days 13 hours 15 minutes 59 seconds]
Affection Points: 1,415,032
Seduction: 4/10 :-
Stella: Error!! Unable to use due to Your Current Level
Aria Zephyr: Origin Weapon:- Twilight Eclipse
Aqualina Naiadia: Origin Weapon:- Oceanic Tempest
Helena Sunfire: Desired Weapon:- Blessed Aegis
/
Helena’s rewards still weren’t showing up, but he shrugged it off… There were a lot of things he could understand in his log!
He tried to click that but for some reason, a warning appeared:
[Warning: Cannot be viewed due to current Aether]
‘Yeah, I am the fucking reason!!’ Aether sarcastically thought with an annoyed face.
As they continued to follow the woman through the labyrinthine corridors of the Black Market, the atmosphere grew darker…. Eventually, they found themselves in a narrow, dimly lit alleyway.
A heavy, iron door loomed ahead, guarded by a hulking man dressed in a sleek black suit.
‘Bouncers?’ Aether mused, a wry smile playing on his lips.
Without a word, the woman in the butterfly mask produced a sleek, black card from within her cloak, flashing it at the bouncer. The man’s stern expression softened slightly as he stepped aside, opening the door.
They stepped inside, and Liora’s breath caught in her throat as her eyes adjusted to the sudden change in light.
“An auction?” she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper as she took in the grand, opulent interior that contrasted sharply with the grim exterior.
“Hmm… looks like someone has been here before,” the woman remarked with a knowing smile.
Liora nodded absently, but her brow furrowed in confusion. “Why have you brought us here?” she asked, her tone carrying a subtle hint of suspicion.
The woman merely gestured for them to follow…
‘An auction…ah’ Aether’s thoughts raced as he fell into step behind the woman. His frown deepened as they were led to a secluded area at the back of the auction house, where another imposing figure stood guard. This man, clad in the same dark attire, eyed them warily, his hand twitching toward his weapon.
Before he could act, the woman once again produced the black card…. The guard hesitated for a moment, his frown deepening, but he eventually relented, pushing open a heavy door that led into a dimly lit chamber.
Inside, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of aged wood and the faint aroma of tea.
An old man sat quietly at a polished table, his eyes closed as he sipped his tea with the calm demeanour of someone who had seen it all.
As the group entered, the old man’s eyes fluttered open, his gaze sharp and discerning as it swept over them. His eyebrows knitted together in mild curiosity, “You’ve brought another seller?” His voice was calm.
The woman with the butterfly mask nodded, her tone businesslike, “His name is….. Lackey, and this is his family.”
“Lackey?” The old man echoed, his frown deepening as he mulled over the name. It was a peculiar surname, one he hadn’t heard in decades….
“Regardless,” the woman continued, her voice cutting through his thoughts, “this man is the owner of the auction house and today’s appraiser.”
The old man smiled faintly, nodding in acknowledgement, “My name is Julian,” he introduced himself with a slight bow of his head.
Aether and the others returned the gesture.
The woman showed a gleaming white crystal ball, “I believe this will pique your interest,” she said.
Julian’s eyes widened slightly as he leaned forward, his curiosity fully aroused. “Hmm… What is it?” he asked.
Instead of answering, the woman giggled softly…. before revealing the multicoloured flames dancing from the crystal.
Julian’s reaction was immediate. His eyes widened in shock, his hand trembling slightly as he set down his teacup. With almost reverent care, he took the pure white crystal into his hands, examining it closely with a magnifying glass.
The silence in the room was palpable, each second stretching into eternity as Julian’s sharp eyes scrutinized every millimetre of the crystal….. He finally spoke, his voice tinged with awe, “Magnificent… Truly magnificent.” His gaze shifted to Aether’s group, his curiosity was piqued even further, “Who created this Advanced complex circuit?”
Before Aether could respond, the woman in the butterfly mask smoothly interrupted, “That’s not important. What I need to know is the value of this material.”
Julian sighed, “You never let me indulge my curiosity, do you? Very well…” He turned his attention back to the crystal, his mind already calculating. After a moment, he named his price, “100,000ˀ”
Aether, Liora, and Kaelen exchanged looks of shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Aether was really over the cloud….. He had crafted the crystal as a mere experiment, never expecting it to be worth so much. ‘If this is worth that much, what about the technology I stol-ahem… gently acquired from Kennedy’s?’ His thoughts trailed off.
Just as Aether was about to seal the deal, “You can bu—”
“Please add it to the auction,” the woman interrupted.
Julian, the old man, clicked his tongue in mild irritation before sighing. “The Auction Company will take 25%—”
“10%,” the woman interjected again.
“Tsk, fine… Yeah, yeah… The Auction Company will take a 10% commission upon the final bidding price,” Julian conceded, his voice tinged with resignation. Then, with a hint of cunning curiosity, he added, “Though if you don’t mind, I’ll offer 100,000 without any commission… What do you say, young man?” His eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto Aether.
Aether hesitated for a moment, glancing between the woman and Julian, “Please auction it,” he declared.
Kaelen leaned in closer to Aether, whispering urgently, “What if the bidding price is lower than this? We wouldn’t be losing anything if we just sell it to that old man!”
Aether shook his head slightly, whispering back, “To be honest, I want to see the true worth of my creation…”
There was a flicker of uncertainty in Aether’s heart. He wasn’t entirely sure how much his creation might be valued among the citizens, but he wanted to see the market situation and was too tempting to pass up. Whether he gained money or not, he would gain something far more valuable… experience!
Liora observed the exchange quietly.
Soon enough, they were escorted to a separate VIP room, a luxurious space that offered a commanding view of the auction floor below, where the other bidders were gathering.
Aether frowned slightly, turning to the woman in the butterfly mask. “What’s the point of you doing all this for us?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.
The woman’s eyes sparkled with a mix of relief and anticipation, “Finally, you ask,” she murmured, a small, satisfied smile curling her lips, “I want you to create a perfect creation… a final product just for me and me alone.” as she produced a document for Aether to sign.
Aether’s gaze narrowed as he studied the document, his mind quickly grasping the implications. ‘She’s quite clever…’ he thought.
The document was a contract, binding Aether to never create another of the same products that she was purchasing from him.
After a moment’s consideration, Aether nodded, signing the document with a steady hand.
The woman’s grin widened, her satisfaction palpable as she said, “Enjoy the bidding.” She then gave a brief explanation of the bidding process, ensuring they understood how to participate if they wished to purchase something, before gracefully exiting the room.
As the minutes ticked by, the auction hall below began to fill with people, each one more lavishly dressed than the last.
Aether casually settled onto the plush sofa. Liora followed him, sliding gracefully beside him, while Kaelen sat on the other side, his face alight with curiosity and excitement.
Meanwhile, in another part of the auction house…
Julian’s eyes hardened as he turned to face the woman in the butterfly mask, his expression serious, “My dear granddaughter,” he began, his voice low and grave, “I know you’re incredibly talented in this business, but reducing our commission like this… It could unravel a hundred years of hard work that our forefathers poured into building this auction. Please, don’t do this anymore.”
The woman, however, merely shrugged, her expression dismissive. “Then accept the man I love,” she replied, her voice as firm as her resolve.
“THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!!” Julian’s shout echoed through the room, his fury palpable. The very thought of allowing his beloved granddaughter to marry that man was unbearable, a fate worse than death in his eyes.
The woman glanced at the old man once more, her eyes cold and resolute. “Then I will do what I want,” she stated flatly, her words carrying the weight of finality.
Back in the VIP room…
Liora’s gaze shifted from the auction floor to Aether, then to her son, “Kaelen,” she called softly.
“Yes, Mother!” Kaelen responded immediately, sitting up straighter.
“My throat feels a bit itchy… Buy me some juice,” Liora requested, her tone serious.
Kaelen blinked in surprise but quickly nodded, rising to his feet, “Of course, Mother,”
As soon as the door closed behind him,
“Aether~,” she purred as she suddenly leapt onto his lap, her movements fluid and graceful.
Aether chuckled, his hands instinctively wrapping around her waist. “Haha… I knew this was coming,” he murmured, his voice laced with amusement as he playfully pinched her butt, eliciting a soft gasp from her.
“Ahh~”
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