The soft chime of enchanted bells rang once more.

  The auction was officially underway.

  A staff member stepped forward, carrying a long, elegantly wrapped box, which he carefully placed on a velvet-lined pedestal at the center of the stage. The crowd quieted, eyes locking onto the item as the auctioneer lifted the lid.

  Inside, nestled in layers of protective silk, lay a pristine magic wand, its shaft shimmering with a delicate blue glow, as if infused with the very essence of the ocean.

  “Our first item of the evening—” the auctioneer’s voice rang clear across the room, “—a wand crafted from a crystallized mermaid’s tear. A Rank B water-elemental artifact, once wielded by a powerful water mage.”

  Soft murmurs rippled through the audience.

  Henrik, seated beside Yun Jin, leaned slightly closer.

  “This used to belong to a mermaid rights activist.”

  Yun Jin, who had been watching the auctioneer, stiffened slightly at the word mermaid.

  A faint shiver ran down his spine.

  “…Who wanted to help mermaids?”

  His voice was casual, but his expression wasn’t.

  “Aren’t those things monsters?”

  Henrik raised a brow, his historian’s curiosity piqued.

  “Oh? You’ve encountered mermaids before?”

  Yun Jin didn’t answer right away.

  The memories weren’t pleasant.

  Henrik let out a small chuckle before shaking his head.

  “Not these ones. The beings you’re thinking of are something entirely different.”

  Yun Jin gave him a skeptical glance.

  “Then why do people call them mermaids?”

  Henrik sighed.

  “Because people don’t care about accuracy.”

  He leaned back slightly before explaining.

  “The mermaids in question—our native species—were once a thriving civilization. But due to long-standing discrimination, they were falsely associated with monsters you’re thinking of. That label stuck, and over time, they were reduced to second-class citizens.”

  “Their civilization was betrayed and fractured. They’ve been in hiding ever since.”

  Yun Jin frowned.

  "So they’re still out there?”

  Henrik nodded.

  “Yes. And the only reason landers still turn a blind eye to their ships is because they continue guarding the underwater world from deep-sea rifts.”

  Yun Jin’s brows furrowed.

  Deep-sea rifts?

  It was the first time he had heard of them.

  And it made him think—

  Most dungeon rifts he had encountered conveniently appeared on land. Easy to access.

  But if dungeons were invasions, then why would they appear in locations that were convenient for people to enter?

  It didn’t make sense.

  “There are rifts in the ocean?”

  Henrik gave a slow nod.

  “Yes. Although they’re rare, they exist. And they’ve caused major tragedies in the past.”

  He exhaled, rubbing his temples slightly.

  “It wasn’t until recent advancements in underwater travel—combined with the rise of strong water mages—that landers finally gained the ability to handle them. But even now, many still remain. And despite everything, the mermaids continue protecting us, even though we treat them as outcasts.”

  Yun Jin didn’t respond immediately.

  Instead, he leaned forward, resting an elbow on the table.

  At first, when he arrived in this city, he had noticed some half-human, half-other species walking around near the Adventurer’s Guild—beastkin, lizard folk, and other mixed-blooded individuals.

  But now?

  Now that he was mingling with the city’s elites, he realized something.

  He hadn’t seen a single one of them in this part of town.

  The divide was clear.

  The auctioneer struck the gavel lightly against the podium, signaling the end of the first bid.

  “Sold! For 120,000 gold.”

  Soft applause rippled through the hall, but the real interest came when the buyer stepped forward to claim the wand.

  A woman in a flowing white dress strode onto the stage, her movements precise and controlled. She had long, straight blue hair that shimmered beneath the auction’s enchanted lights, her pearl-like complexion further accentuating her striking appearance.

  For a moment, the auction hall grew quiet as people took her in.

  “That’s her… the Frostflow Prodigy.”

  “Second strongest among the rising mages.”

  “I heard she reached her current level before turning twenty.”

  Her reputation was well known among the city’s magical elites.

  Yun Jin, however, wasn’t impressed by rumors and titles.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  His [Mana Eyes] activated, a faint shimmer of light crossing his pupils as he glanced through her aura.

  Not bad… but still far from Merlin’s level.

  She had talent, but there was a ceiling to it.

  Still, as he was making his assessment, he noticed something.

  Her eyebrows twitched, her lips subtly pressing together as if irritated by something.

  Then, suddenly, she snapped her gaze toward him.

  Yun Jin’s mind moved instantly.

  She can feel it?

  Without missing a beat, he smoothly raised his hands and gave a respectful bow, pressing his palms together in an apologetic gesture.

  The woman narrowed her eyes for a moment before turning away, stepping down from the stage with the wand in hand.

  So competent mages can sense [Mana Eyes] watching them. Noted.

  Yun Jin made a mental note to be more careful next time.

  As the woman exited, the auctioneer gestured dramatically toward the next pedestal, where a new object was being carefully unveiled.

  The room buzzed with anticipation.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, the next item is one of tonight’s most sought-after treasures—"

  The silk covering was lifted, revealing a crystal vial filled with a softly glowing liquid. The golden shimmer within it pulsed faintly, as if carrying a heartbeat of its own.

  "[Elixir of Life] (Rank C): Capable of curing any illness and curse of Rank D+ and below, while also restoring organic matter."

  The moment the description was given, murmurs spread through the room.

  Yun Jin himself frowned slightly. Something felt off.

  He turned toward Henrik.

  “Why is this only Rank C?”

  Henrik chuckled, shaking his head.

  “I suppose you haven’t dealt much with high-grade artifacts.”

  Yun Jin stayed silent, waiting for the explanation.

  Henrik leaned back slightly, gesturing toward the elixir as he spoke.

  “Ranks aren’t determined by a single factor. It’s not just about effectiveness but also scope, versatility, and limitations. This is an Elixir of Life, yes, but there exist higher-ranked versions that do much more.”

  He continued, voice calm and patient.

  “There are lesser-ranked versions that heal only minor wounds, while the most powerful ones can even extend one’s lifespan.”

  Yun Jin nodded slowly.

  Makes sense. They know more about the inner workings of the system than I do.

  It was another reminder—he had power, but that didn’t mean he knew everything about this world.

  Curious, he turned back to Henrik and asked,

  “What level are you?”

  Henrik blinked.

  Then he let out a cough, straightening his posture.

  "Ahem. Asking for someone’s level outright is considered rude, you know."

  Yun Jin raised a brow, but Henrik only sighed.

  "I can tell you’re not from around here, so I won’t judge you for it. But next time, refrain from asking so casually.”

  Then, after a pause, he added,

  “As for my level… simple. I’m Level 10.”

  The auctioneer didn’t waste time.

  “The starting price for the Elixir of Life is 100,000 gold.”

  A hand immediately shot up.

  “110,000.”

  “130,000.”

  “160,000.”

  Within moments, the bids shot up to 300,000 gold—and they were still climbing.

  Henrik let out a soft chuckle.

  "Now, let’s see who really wants it."

  The air inside the auction hall grew heavier the moment Yun Jin casually lifted his hand.

  "Three hundred and fifty thousand."

  A quiet ripple passed through the audience.

  The bidding war had begun.

  Henrik, seated beside him, let out a small hum.

  “That’s within reason. Its usual market value hovers around 500,000 gold. Anything above that would be considered overpaying.”

  Yun Jin gave a small nod, eyes locked on the stage.

  But then—

  “400,000.”

  A new voice rang out, loud and arrogant.

  Yun Jin sighed.

  He didn’t even need to turn to know who it was.

  It was Luthier Veldorne.

  Still, Yun Jin wasn’t about to play around.

  Without hesitation, he raised his bid immediately.

  “500,000.”

  Gasps erupted across the room.

  “What?!”

  “He just jumped straight to the appraised price!”

  “No hesitation at all?”

  Luthier’s smirk widened, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—uncertainty.

  Then he scoffed and raised his sign again.

  “520,000! My mother will be pleased for such a gift.”

  His words were deliberate.

  By invoking his mother, Madam Veldorne—one of the most influential figures in the region—he was sending a clear message:

  If you outbid me, you're declaring you don’t care about staying on my family’s good side.

  It was a calculated threat, meant to make others hesitate.

  But Yun Jin? He couldn’t care less.

  “600,000.”

  The hall fell silent.

  Luthier’s expression stiffened slightly.

  “He’s serious…”

  The murmurs in the audience shifted.

  "Wait… is that why Luthier's here? Not for the other rare items, but for this?"

  "It must be important to his family..."

  Yun Jin caught the whispers drifting through the auction hall.

  He smirked.

  So, he was after something else, huh?

  Luthier, jaw tightening, adjusted his posture before flicking his sign again.

  “650,000. But if you beg, maybe I’ll stop raising the price.”

  Laughter rippled through the crowd, though some nobles shook their heads.

  “He’s playing his usual games.”

  “If the other guy gets emotional, he’ll lose control of the bid.”

  But Yun Jin didn’t react.

  Instead, he raised his sign.

  “670,000.”

  Luthier twitched.

  Tsk.

  “700,000! I know you don’t have more than this.”

  Yun Jin leaned back, his expression relaxed.

  “800,000. You can give up if you can’t afford it. I don’t really care.”

  That tone—so indifferent, so dismissive—made Luthier’s face darken.

  Then, in a flash of frustration, he shouted.

  “900,000!! GOLD!!”

  A wave of murmurs crashed through the room.

  “It’s almost double the market price…”

  “He’s pushing too hard.”

  “Is he really that desperate?”

  Henrik turned toward Yun Jin, his voice even.

  “You should think carefully. Blowing all your budget here might not be the best move.”

  Yun Jin exhaled slowly.

  Even if he went over a million, he could tell—Luthier would stop bidding.

  He would win.

  But the real problem wasn’t just the price.

  It was the uncertainty.

  Would the elixir even work for Merlin?

  Was it worth this much risk?

  No.

  He was willing to find another Elixir of Life or an alternative solution. With this kind of money, he could search elsewhere, even pay the million-gold price if it came with a guarantee. Money was just a means to an end—he could always make more.

  But Yun Jin had a way to take both the elixir and keep his gold.

  “900,000! Sold!”

  The auctioneer struck the gavel down, sealing the transaction.

  Luthier’s face was pale, but he quickly forced a smile, adjusting his robes as he walked down to claim his prize.

  The Elixir of Life was placed into his hands, but his fingers gripped it a little too tightly.

  His knight, Serra Aegis, stepped closer, her voice quiet but firm.

  “Young Master, are you sure? The budget your father gave you may not be enough for the sword now.”

  Luthier’s smirk faltered for just a second.

  But then, with a haughty wave of his hand, he scoffed.

  “Hmph! The Veldorne family can afford everything. Just you watch.”