Britney's voice boomed through the hall, the echoes of the first intense bidding still lingering in the air.
"Alright everyone!! That first round certainly got the blood pumping! Now, let's move on to our next treasure!" She turned to the side, her gaze fixed on the entrance to the right.
Every head in the opulent hall swiveled in unison, as the same uniformed attendant reappeared, this time pushing a velvet-lined case. But instead of another documents, nestled within the plush interior was a single, magnificent red egg.
"..."
".....?!!"
A gasp rippled through the crowd.
"Is... is that a Beast egg?!" someone whispered, their voice laced with awe and a touch of disbelief.
"It is!" Britney confirmed, her voice ringing with excitement. "And not just any Beast egg! This precious egg belongs to a Divine stage Beast, boasting a formidable Lv10 combat strength! Our experts believe that upon hatching, its offspring will instantly surge to the Elite stage, possessing a remarkable Lv3 combat strength!"
"Wow."
"....?!!"
A profound silence descended upon the hall, the implications of Britney's words sinking in.
"An infant with a Lv3 combat strength?" a voice finally broke the stillness, thick with wonder. "Imagine its potential as an adult!"
"This could be one of the most powerful beasts to ever exist!" another exclaimed, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Absolutely incredible!" a third voice echoed.
Britney beamed, clearly enjoying the stunned reactions. "But wait, there's more!" she announced, her voice rising with dramatic flair. "This is no ordinary beast! Whoever it bonds with will witness an extraordinary phenomenon – the beast's bloodline will automatically adapt to match its tamer, amplifying their strengths in unimaginable ways!"
"Is that even possible?" James blurted out, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Chloe, her fingers tracing invisible lines in the air, murmured, "I recall reading about such rare symbiotic beasts in the academy's ancient texts."
Adrian nodded in agreement. "True... I've also heard whispers of their existence."
Christopher, however, felt a prickle of unease. 'Something isn't right... A Divine stage beast's egg shouldn't possess such immediate power in its offspring. Could this egg be from a beast beyond the Divine stage? No, that's impossible. A creature of that caliber would never abandon its egg.'
He decided to voice his concerns, his gaze steady. "If I may ask, how did the Sky Auction come into possession of this extraordinary egg?"
A murmur of agreement rippled through the hall.
"Yes, that's a very valid question."
"Indeed... We are all curious to know its origins."
Britney chuckled knowingly. "Ah, a natural curiosity! The Sky Auction itself doesn't have the complete answer, but our esteemed Master Alex can shed some light on its discovery." She gestured gracefully towards Alex, who sat with an air of quiet authority.
'Hmm...'
Christopher's eyebrow arched slightly. The attention of the entire hall now focused on Alex.
Alex nodded slowly and rose to his feet, turning to address the expectant audience:
"This remarkable Beast egg was discovered by none other than myself... in a remote ice cave!" He paused. "Perhaps it was abandoned for reasons unknown. But rest assured," he continued, his voice reassuring, "once the beast forms a bond with its tamer, it will recognize only them as its master. And even in the highly improbable event that the mother were to locate its offspring one day, she would not attack the tamer, as they would be enveloped by the unique energy signature of her child!"
'Everything he said aligns with known lore... but that protection typically only applies to beasts below the Divine realm. Acquiring this egg presents both immense opportunity and significant risk.' Christopher's mind raced, then glanced at Advika seated behind him.
'This egg... it would be perfect for Advika. She needs a beast capable of keeping pace with her fiery spirit, and a creature of this potential would be more than sufficient. But the danger...'
He let out a silent sigh. 'Forget the doubts. This fool mentioned an ice cave. There's only one significant ice cave in this region, and it's located in the fifth country, millions of miles away. If the mother, assuming she's even alive, were to come looking, we would have ample time and resources to defend. Furthermore, if I could somehow obtain the core of such a beast, or even tame it myself... my own powers would experience a substantial increase.' A determined nod settled upon his face.
Alex resumed his seat, a satisfied air about him.
"You've heard it directly from the esteemed Master of the South!" Britney announced, her smile widening. "Now, without further ado..." Her voice rose to a crescendo.
"The bidding for this extraordinary Divine stage Beast egg will commence at a starting price of... 200 Million dollars!"
"....?!"
"That's... incredibly high!"
"Wow... This egg must truly be something special!"
Speechless, the attendees exchanged wide-eyed glances.
'Is it too steep? We don't have a vast number of dedicated tamers present.' Britney mused, a flicker of worry crossing her features.
'He has a fondness for beasts... perhaps this magnificent egg will capture his interest.' Chaya thought, her gaze subtly drifting towards Christopher.
'Hmm... This beast would undoubtedly elevate my strength considerably. I cannot afford to remain stagnant at my current level.' Murphy mused. 'However, Christopher is here. He will surely bid on it... I likely cannot outbid him. Perhaps... perhaps I could request a beast from him later. Yes, that might be a more strategic approach, and I know just how to capture his attention.'
"This beast would be immensely beneficial to our brother," Katherine whispered to Adonis. "Do you think he will bid for it?"
Adonis considered their brother's recent extravagant purchase. "Brother just spent ten billion. If he desires this egg, he will undoubtedly pursue it."
"But what if we pool our resources and acquire it for him?" Katherine suggested, a hopeful smile gracing her lips.
Adonis did some quick mental calculations. "If we combine our allowances, we could probably muster over 700 million. However, with the other affluent individuals present, our chances of winning are slim."
"Ah, you're right," Katherine conceded with a sigh.
"What if I contribute my savings?" Layla interjected tentatively.
"Yours? You actually have money?" Adonis asked, his tone laced with surprise.
"Yes, I do! Perhaps... Around a hundred million," she said, a hint of pride in her voice.
"Hmm... That's a commendable contribution, but ultimately insufficient. A hundred million is far too little in this arena," Katherine stated matter-of-factly.
'A hundred million is little? With that sum, my family could secure a comfortable life for years.' Advika thought, her gaze fixed on her dress, a touch of melancholy in her expression.
"1 Billion!"
"....?"
"Huh?"
"....."
Britney and the entire assembly turned towards Christopher, a collective murmur of surprise rippling through the hall.
"You!" James sputtered, his eyes narrowed with barely concealed fury. "Did you deliberately inflate the bid to such an exorbitant amount, knowing full well that most of us cannot compete?!"
Christopher turned to James, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. "Really? If you find the price beyond your means, then perhaps you should simply sit quietly and observe how a true connoisseur handles such matters."
"YOU?!" James clenched his fists, his anger threatening to erupt. But then, a flicker of realization crossed his face. 'Wait... he just spent ten billion mere moments ago?! Just how immense is Christopher's wealth?!'
"Wow... Amara, I had no idea your son possessed such extraordinary financial resources," Boris' wife remarked, turning to Amara with a genuine smile of astonishment.
Amara, still slightly reeling from Christopher's earlier spending, muttered under her breath, "Honestly, I'm still trying to figure it out myself."
"What was that, dear?"
"Oh... nothing, nothing at all!" Amara quickly recovered, forcing a bright smile. "Of course, my son is exceptional in every way. Billions are merely small change to him."
"Billions! Small change?" The three women seated with Amara, and Mariana among them, froze in utter shock and disbelief. Their gazes darted between Amara and Christopher, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and incredulity.
"You must truly be living a life of unparalleled luxury," another woman commented, her voice filled with admiration.
"Indeed," Amara replied with a nervous chuckle, still trying to process the unfolding events.
'This... if Christopher commands such staggering wealth, won't his family inevitably eclipse mine, seizing the coveted position of the number one family in Cordelia?' Boris thought, a deep frown creasing his brow.
Just as the initial shock began to subside, another bid shattered the fragile silence.
"3 Billion!" Chaya's voice rang out, filled with a newfound determination.
".…...?!"
Silence descended once more, heavier this time.
'You arrogant fool! Do you truly believe I will allow you to acquire this treasure so easily?! Even if I don't possess the full amount at this moment, I will simply request the necessary funds from my father!' Chaya thought fiercely, her eyes burning with competitive spirit.
Before anyone could react, a new bid echoed through the hall, even more audacious than the last.
"5 Billion!" Murphy's voice, though softer than Chaya's, carried an undeniable weight of conviction.
"WHAT?!!!!"
"Is this truly escalating into another bidding war of epic proportions?!"
Disbelief etched on their faces, the attendees stared at Murphy, a fresh wave of astonishment washing over them.