TVRWS 10

(10 - Auction War)

This is the last Free Chapter on TVRWS, the rest will all be C Rank.

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They dare act all lovey-dovey after what they did to me?

"Those worthless pieces of shit…"

Somehow I couldn't hold it in and words came out in a quiet murmur.

"Princess?"

Not realizing I wasn't alone, it seemed that Logan picked up what I said then looked at what I was looking at.

His face stiffened and returned by my side.

"Please calm down, the Master gave orders to bring you home if something like this happens."

Logan seemed to be willing to take me home right now.

Annoyed, I looked at him with the side of my eyes.

"Don't worry about me now, Logan. I am fine…"

As I said so, I raised my plate up.

"Do we hear 22000? Do we hear… oh! And the Lady from the Moore Family Booth raises 22000. Can the price go up more? Do we hear 25000?"

As I raised the price, Logan was looking at me with widened eyes.

"My Lady, you can't do this! If you cause something…"

"Logan! I am bidding."

***

While Vivan was looking for a way to vent her rage off, the Royal Booth seemed to be in a bit of a stir.

No one really would bid against someone sitting in the booth of the Royal Family if there was something they are interested in. But now, the Auctioneer had to play dumb and try to look partial, still, he was sighing in his heart.

On the Royal booth, however, the Prince looked towards the Moore Family booth with interest.

"Is that Lady Moore over there, Robert?" He asked.

"I didn't know that my Mother would come here, your Highness. Should I go and check?"

"No need. Matilda, what will you do?" The Prince asked the girl beside him.

That girl, with platinum blonde hair and green eyes, looked captivating. She sat very close to the Prince and looked at him with her large beautiful eyes.

"I… I don't know… should I bid against Nobles?" She asked.

Her enchanting voice made everyone around her want to protect her. That naive looking innocent girl made everyone's hearts feel worried for her just like that.

"It is okay. Nobles or Commoners, those standards do not matter to me and that's why I love Auction Houses, they are places of equality where only your ability matters. You do not have to be scared." The Prince said with a smile.

The Prince who was known for his decency was clearly loved for this quality and how friendly and approachable he was. The attitude that didn't suit his former fiancée, Vivian Moore.

Not wanting to remember such a haughty girl beside a pure girl like Matilda, the Prince encouraged Matilda to hurry up and bid.

"Aaaaand… 25000 from Lady Matilda. Do we hear 28000? Do we hear… here is it. The Lady from the Booth of House Moore bids 28000. Who else is going to bid? Can someone go over 30000? Will we see…"

The Royal Booth was filled with silence. Was it really alright to bid against the Royal Family like that? Even the Prince thought that no matter the identity of that Lady in that Moores' Booth, she should at least be considerate.

Just who is that rude person?

Lady Saskia is someone with a good reputation in the society and Vivian is currently disgraced at her home. Did Count Julian send someone on his behalf?

It was an annoying situation knowing how rich the Moores are.

"35000!"

At that time, Matilda raised the bid halfway in the 30000s. She was determined not to lose the herb.

"Lady Matilda goes way over 30000 to 35000. This is getting exciting, Ladies and Gentlemen. Will the price go…"

"36000!"

At that moment, a tall handsome man from the Booth of House Moore appeared as he bid by the same plate for the Lady. She seemed to be avoiding talking.

But still, this bid right now was obviously rude.

"... 36000 for the Gentleman. Anyone can go higher?"

Even the Auctioneer was uncomfortable with the bid.

"What kind of bid is that?" One of the people attending the auction down the seats said to the one beside him.

"Raising merely a 1000 Pounds, this is extremely distasteful." Replied the one spoken to.

Meanwhile, Logan was having dark expressions from what Vivian just forced him to go.

"Princess, this is going too far. The Master won't be happy with…"

"Logan. Calm down, you need to know that I can go to whatever length I see fit to punish someone. Also, it is about to happen… anytime now." Vivian, however, was smiling ear to ear.

Her facial features hidden behind the shade of her hood were of absolute ecstasy.

On the other hand, the situation with Matilda and Prince Liam was grim. Matilda raised till 35 Gold Pieces and suddenly her opponent only raised one piece. A bit low of someone sitting in the seat of a Noble to pull on such a move!

With the worried look on Matilda's face, Prince Liam's face twisted from anger.

'How dare they?' He thought.

To put that rude one in place, the Prince had to make a move.

"40000!"

And the Prince said it while raising his own plate.

"His Highness Prince Liam raises the Prince to 40000 Pounds. The Blue Dragon Leaf for 40 Gold Pieces ladies and gentlemen, do we hear more? Do we hear more?"

The Auctioneer was smiling happily while calling for anyone who can raise the price more.

In her booth, Vivan simply smiled and didn't bid further.

"40000 Pounds goes once, 40000 Pounds goes twice… Aaaand sold for His Highness Prince Liam!"

Liam smiled as he looked at the booth of House Moore with a hidden grin. No matter who, a Prince is a Prince.

Little did he pay attention to the fact that he paid 40 Golden Pieces for which only worth 18.

At that time, the door of the Royal Booth was opened.

"Your Highness."

"Vale, you are here?" The Prince turned around.

"Lord Valentine." Matilda stood up and greeted Valentine De Clare, the son of the De Clare family, owners of the Auction House.

"Lady Matilda, you look beautiful this evening. Please, do not stand."

"Thank you, my Lord."

Valentine walked beside the Prince and whispered for no one to hear.

"Your Highness, it is reckless to bid this early. That item from just now was not worth it."

"It is okay, Vale. The matter at hand is that Lady from the Moore Family Booth. Who is she?"

Valentine walked to the edge of the Royal Family's booth and tried to look at the Moores' booth only to see a tall man giving him his back and talking to someone sitting on the main seat. That person was hard to see.

Valentine returned to the prince and whispered again.

"Apparently, not someone we know. Shouldn't we send Robert to make a scene?"

"Not fun. Let's wait until the end of the evening and crush them slowly. Let's see how they buy anything now."

"By your wish, your Highness."

Valentine retreated but somehow, an odd feeling remained in his heart.

Vivian, on the other hand, was preparing.

"Esme, come here."

"Yes, my Lady."

"Go down to the reception hall. Blend in with the De Clare maids, they will naturally know you are not one of them but try to stick around as long as possible and get to know them. Maybe start by asking about a rare drink… a milkshake, perhaps."

"A milk what?"

"Something yet to exist. What I want you to do is to know what plate numbers are the people from the Royal Family's booth are using. Ask if they stopped to pick up numbers first or they came with prepared plates."

"I understand."

Esmeralda walked outside the booth and proceeded to for her mission while Vivian started planning for what comes next.

"Princess, what are you really after?" Logan was having a hard time worrying about the consequences of Vivian's actions but she only remained silent.

If she answered, she would say "trouble".

***

Esmeralda returned half an hour later with news to Vivian.

"They took number plates when they arrived at the Auction, my Lady."

"Perfect! Now I can do whatever I like."

Vivian was pleased with the fact that neither the Crown Prince nor Richard Windsor had their families' number plates on them. It meant a lot to Vivian who is carrying her family's number plate.

After some items and weapons were auctioned, another herb appeared.

"The next item is the [Flower of Aster Cinis], known for its white petals and soothing scent, the flower grows only in spring and mainly in Novark. Bidding price starts at 24000 Pounds."

As the Auctioneer announced it, the people started bidding madly for the rare flower.

"35000 for Lady Matilda, do we hear more? Do we hear 37000?"

And Vivian raised her number again.

"37000 for the Lady in the Moore Family booth. Do we hear 40000? Do we hear it again?"

"40000!"

"40000 for Lady Matilda. Do we hear…"

"43000!"

"43000 for the Lady in the Moore booth? Do we hear 46000? Do we hear it? 43000 goes once, 43000 goes twice."

"50000!"

"50000 Pounds for Lady Matilda. It is getting hot here ladies and gentlemen. Do we hear more? Who offers more? 50000 goes once, 50000 goes twice, aaaand the Flower of Aster Cinis goes for 50000 Pounds for Lady Matilda."

The auction visitors felt the intense rivalry atmosphere between Matilda and the Lady from the Moore Family booth.

"Humph! Just some low class think they can compete with us because they have the support of Count Julian. It is clear that the woman doesn't even have more than 50 gold pieces." Richard Windsor said disdainfully.

"It is okay, Richard. We are not bullying people because we are richer or higher class. The Auction is just a game that all love to play." Prince Liam said with a gentle smile.

"That's indeed true, your Highness. I apologize for being impudent." Richard said.

"Alright then, I guess we should assist Lady Matilda today to get all the Flowers and Herbs she wants. I assume everyone here is a gentleman. Hahaha!" The Prince passed something to the others as a joke.

The first one to react to his words was Matilda.

"I can't really trouble you, your Highness, my Lords. This is very improper even though my money is not…"

"It is okay. We're not intending to buy anything in particular today." Robert said.

"I don't mind at all being on the side of Lady Matilda, it is a Knight's honor to bring fairness and protect it." Richard said.

"Also, Matilda loves roses, how can I say no in such a situation." Prince Liam said.

"Thank you, your Highness, my Lords. It is indeed true I love roses and herbs. I have quite the collection myself." Vivian said.

"If that's the case then I will invite you to the Royal Palace after the exams. There is that small flower garden we have that is nothing like anyone has seen before. I'll issue permission for you to come to visit it. Maybe have our tea there." Prince Liam said.

"Yo- Your Highness! The Royal Palace? Such an honor can't be bestowed on someone like…" Matilda was shocked by the sudden invitation Prince Liam came up with.

"It is okay. Nothing to make you nervous. Oh, look! Another rare herb is being auctioned."

By the time Matilda won two herbs against Vivian, another herb came to the stage. Matilda was an obsessed collector of rare herbs and Vivian knew that for the fact that the Game Heroine has studied Alchemy in the Temple of Saints and has a great ability to craft all sorts of beauty products. The game provided beauty cosmetics for such herbs through a crafting mechanic, it is absent in Vivian's system but not that it mattered to her.

As the third herb was auctioned, Vivian and Matilda went in another showdown that Matilda won.

And another…

And another…

The Prince and his entourage started to feel annoyed by Vivan's actions not aware of her identity and motive. To feel better about themselves, they started to bid against her whenever she bids and buy these items for Matilda. Sometimes, Vivian would bid on other items to lure them into bidding making them think they are teaching her a lesson.

The Auction House had many battles and rivalries happening at the same time but this one was taking all the spotlight even heating up others to bid with all their passion.

Some old experts in the auction noticed the doings of Vivian and couldn't do anything but smile wryly and shake their heads. These chaotic moments in auction houses are really contagious.

"Princess, what are you up to?" Logan asked.

"I am just getting rid of trouble. Those little fishies tend to get drifted in the current but now the big ones have to do their best too. I don't want anyone to have enough stamina once I start to move." Vivan replied.

Even though the old Vivian wasn't aware of how the auctions really worked, Nadia was a master of those tricks and according to what she knows, there will be a big reveal tonight.

When it is an important item, even the small clients to the auction tend to gang up and share some ownerships together.

In other cases, the big clients gang up with small ones or even together. Sometimes people make shady deals with the auction itself. In places like this, all is fair.

Now Vivian has burned out most of the small clients. Even the Prince and his entourage were spending money like crazy to bid against her for the sake of Matilda.

Other than the expert clients, no one cared to notice that Vivian didn't spend a single Pound since the moment she started all this.

And now they arrived… the expensive items.

"A large factory building near the coast on the crossing of the Hamilton and Ironwood streets… price starts with 400'000 Pounds."

"A brig that belonged to the Daiser Family… price starts with 330'000."

"An island housing a Sugar Plantation near the eastern coast of Avalon with its enslaved local workers… price starts at 1'200'000."

"The painting 'Ladies of the Wood' drawn by the great Morris Van Barbossa, inspired by the beauty of Avalon… the price starts at 300'000."

At that moment, Vivan felt as if she was struck by lightning. Not only her but everyone in the Auction House was taken by surprise. Morris Van Barbossa is the name of the most brilliant artist of the era. Someone that the Temple of Saints paid tons of money to just to draw an inspirational painting of Saint Athena, the Patron Saint of the Temple of Saints.

A Painting of Van Barbossa was indeed a surprise but to think it is not the final item.

"350000!"

"380000!"

"420000!"

"480000!"

The Major Clients started bidding like mad wolves. Vivian herself was interested, her father Julian Moore has a big crush on Van Barbossa. If he knew a painting was sold and he didn't get to have it, he would be depressed for days.

"Here goes nothing… go for it, Logan."

"Yes. 530000!"

And Vivian entered the bidding.

Seeing the Moore Family booth entering the big competition, the mood became frozen in an instant.

The Major Clients eyed Vivian as a small fry entering their club rudely and the Small Clients felt betrayed by her forking out 530 gold pieces while she was bidding on the small items just a while ago.

"This is not right." Robert Moore, in the Royal Family's booth, felt it was wrong.

His father may have lent his booth to someone but if that someone is this loaded, they surely can afford their own places.

Or was it a proxy to his father… but that still is unthinkable. Count Julian Moore is an addict to Auctions, there is no way he is using someone in his stead. Robert spent a long time trying to achieve that spot as his father's business proxy, he made sure he had no rivals. Even that older half-brother of his has angered their father and left for Avalon.

Not just Robert but all the people in the Royal Family's booth were concerned. The Prince was frowning as he thought of something.

"And the Ladies of the Woods painting is sold for 640000 Pounds to…" The Auctioneer stopped talking as he looked at the Lady in the Moores' booth.

He had to announce a name.

Knowing that from the start, Vivian was now ready. She got closer to the booth's balcony and removed the hood.

***

And oh boy! It felt good.

I am glad I wasn't expected but to think I was this unexpected.

Tsk tsk tsk, my small heart is a bit broken.

"The Ladies of the Woods painting is sold for 640000 Pounds to Lady Vivian Moore."

And that's that, father will be pleased, others won't be pleased, things will go better for me and bitter for others.

Speaking of bitterness, Robert had that glare in his eyes. So resentful, little brother.

Richard Windsor squeezed his glass from anger to smithereens.

And here he is… my ex-fiancé.

I couldn't help but meet eyes with him and… That look in his eyes… It still frustrates me.

He was looking at me like that… still that same look of indifference on his eyes.

He looks at her with all the kindness in the world and then he just turns high and cold when it is me.

No, sir.

Not today will that look beat me.

I simply looked away.

"And for tonight, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are happy to announce our secret item and the last on today's list but first, let's welcome the Auctioneer of the secret item, Lady Isabella De Clare."

The uproar about me ended in a second and she emerged. Isabella… or the one I call Bella… why? Long story.

She simply went up there and took all the light for herself but… she dresses as erotic as ever.

Isabella is a beauty, something like this world's version of top models. She is already 20 but not even engaged. Like me, her engagement was broken but unlike me, she broke it herself.

Isabella is the very soul of controversy in the Noble Society. She is always wearing something too colorful, too erotic or too futuristic. She just loves wearing and designing new stuff to walking around in them. That's right, she designs dresses.

"Ladies… and Gentlemen. You, Are, Welcome!" Isabella raised her hand up and looked around, her personality and charisma were overtaking the place.

I could already see people in the crowd cheering for her. I'm even sure that there are people that come only here for her.

On the other hand, she turned to me and winked. I smiled wryly and nodded to her.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Lords and Ladies! Boys and Girls! You should have brought your coffers here today with you cause no one is leaving until we sell this item we are about to bring out." She said and clapped her hand for the servants and a ton of security detail to come on the stage.

"Alright. Here it is and without spoiling anything, you should guess what's inside. Who wants to guess, huh? Who can guess?" She asked around putting her hand behind her ear.

"A Sword!" Someone called.

"Too cliche!" She replied.

"A Magic Crystal!" Another said.

"Alright people, I'll give you hints." She shut everyone up and continued, "It is from the New World, from Avalon. It is one of a kind here on Elgard. It is rare even on Avalon. And it will make all the large companies go crazy. Any ideas yet?"

Isabella was enjoying the fact that she kept teasing the guests left and right. She stood there hiding her smile behind her hands waiting for someone to answer but ultimately no one dared to think of what can make the large companies go crazy and whether or not they have the ability to do something about it.

"Friends, today's auction is a big deal and quite frankly, if this doesn't get sold in an auction, one of those money wars will start between the big names and so for the sake of the Kingdom's best interest, the owner of this treasure was 'convinced' to sell it here in this auction. All the big families are aware but still… it gets me excited to be the host of today's auction."

As I heard that, I couldn't help but feel the irony. In my past life, things happened this way with some archaeologist and whatever he discovered has got the world to covet it. Naturally, the organization I belonged to did the same which led to the death of me and my friend in the end.

How… nostalgically laughable!

Anyway, Isabella confidently walked forward to the large cover concealing the item pulling it away.

"Woooah!"

A dazzling spectacle only deserves such a sudden feeling of awe. On the platform was a large grey basin filled with water. Floating on the water's surface, there was a flower.

It was by no means a normal flower, it looked like a lotus but it was too mystical to be a real one. It looked transparent but it had a radiance to it. Even for those who never felt the magic power before, it made them feel it. Warmth and Life!

"Friends, I have been sitting there for two days silently gazing at this thing in my family's vault. Such a thing reflected so much beauty and mystery that I have never seen before in a living being." Isabella said and the crowd turned silent.

"Yes, you heard right. A living being… from Avalon!"

It was a shock to all the people around.

Such a thing was possible?

A living being reaching Elgard from Avalon?

The Mystery of Avalon was never solved so far and today it just reveals itself. The first living being that arrives from the new world is that flower. No living being ever passed Avalon without dying halfway across the ocean.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. I present to you the [Spirit Lotus]."

All were in awe by the announcement of the name. Isabella wasn't merciful and dropped another bomb.

"As this thing may hold the secret of how to bring living items from Avalon, the owner wishes that the bidding starts from 1'000'000 Pounds."

1'000'000 just for the kick-off! Forget about the small players, even some big players were backing off.

For that, only a few names were taking part in this final bidding.

The Moore Family.

The Royal Family.

The Temple of Saints.

The Ambassador of Novark Empire.

The Silver League.

The Magic Tower.

Such heavyweights were all eyeing one prize. I started to understand what my father told me not to disappoint him.

Still, there was one big worrying thing appearing in front of her face.

« New Emergency Quest Added: {Acquire the Spirit Lotus} »

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« Quests »
• [Survive]

• [Medjay Knight Training (Beginner)]
- Time: Daily Quest
- Reward: Reward SP + Panacea
- Fail: Deducting SP

• [Impress Count Julian]
- The Count is concerned for your future in business yet he offered you a Thousand Gold Pounds to impress him with your skills in business.
- Time: 2 Months
- Reward: 3000 SP + Random Rare Item
- Fail: -2000 SP + System Shop shut down for 1 month

• [Acquire the Spirit Lotus]
- Time: 12 Hours
- Reward: Rare Item
- Penalty: System Inactivation for 2 Months
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