Leveling Up Alone

Chapter 184: Best Auction of All Time (5)

‘Yes!’?Master Gordon triumphantly raised his fist after winning the bid.

He ended up spending much more than he had originally planned, and some might even say that he had overpaid for the monster pet. However, he was absolutely delighted and satisfied after winning the bid. In a situation where there were winners, it was inevitable that there would also be losers.

‘Damn it! Is he crazy? Why the hell would he spend four trillion on a monster pet?!’

‘I know it’s a pet, but four trillion is too much!’

Every individual participating in the auction was extremely wealthy, but it didn't imply that they were all equally affluent. The earning potential of each person, be it a Hunter or a businessman, was bound to vary greatly from one individual to another.

In fact, the VVIPs participating in the auction might have been influential figures in their home countries, but most of them possessed a wealth slightly exceeding ten trillion won. It would certainly be a considerable strain on their finances if they were to spend half of their entire fortune just to acquire a single monster pet.

‘I guess this auction is over for me. Who knew it was going to be this intense from the start? I should probably aim for the next auction…’

‘I would’ve just got up and left, but…’

Almost a third of the VVIPs had already withdrawn from the auction, yet they remained seated, making an effort not to display their disinterest outwardly. However, their pride prevented them from standing up and leaving, as doing so would essentially announce to everyone that they lacked sufficient funds to continue bidding.

For individuals like them, pride and honor held as much importance as their very lives, and they were determined to avoid any action that would make them appear inferior to others. This explains why the VVIPs remained seated despite having given up on the auction, while the proceedings continued regardless of their preferences.

"Congratulations, Master Gordon-nim! As the winning bidder, we would like to invite you onto the stage," exclaimed Choi Jin-Ki, maintaining a professional tone.

"Alright," replied Master Gordon, rising from his seat and making his way toward the stage.

Creak… Creak… Creak… Creak…?

Han-Yeol stepped onto the stage accompanied by Secretary Kim, who was pulling a cart carrying the precious monster egg. Two hotel staffers joined them, their outward appearance showing composure, but inwardly trembling with the fear of mishandling and potentially breaking the egg, valued at over four trillion won.

‘The next four generations of my family will be ruined if I break this…!’?They were well aware that the sum was something they couldn't accumulate even in four lifetimes.

However, it was important to note that the value of the egg itself did not amount to four trillion won; its true worth lay in Han-Yeol's unique abilities. Unfortunately, such knowledge was beyond the comprehension of a hotel staffer.

[Hahaha! We are meeting again so soon, Mr. Lee.]

Scarlett remained in the room, choosing not to join Han-Yeol on the stage. As a secret agent, she understood the importance of maintaining a low profile, especially in front of influential figures who could potentially become adversaries to the United States. Despite her apparent composure, she remained vigilant.

Instead of being physically present, Scarlett opted to assist Han-Yeol by translating through an earpiece. It allowed her to provide her expertise while minimizing her visibility in the public eye.

Upon their reunion, the two Hunters exchanged a handshake, marking the significance of their encounter.

“It is nice to see you again so soon, Master Gordon.”

[Hahaha! Likewise, Mr. Lee.]

"The other guests might grow bored if we continue chatting like this. Shall we shorten our greetings and proceed?"

[That sounds good to me!]

Han-Yeol opted to avoid explaining the same thing multiple times, so he addressed the crowd using a microphone, ensuring everyone could hear his instructions. He stated, "...you can administer the injection in this manner. I cannot guarantee what may occur if the injection process is interrupted, so please remain focused until the procedure is complete."

Although the overall process seemed simple and straightforward, it was difficult to guarantee absolute safety. Mana had the potential to exhibit either docile behavior or transform into a ferocious beast depending on how it was controlled.

Han-Yeol added, "Furthermore, once the monster hatches, it will recognize me as its parent due to my skill being involved in its birth. However, I can transfer ownership to Master Gordon using my skill, so there is no need to worry."

[Alright, I understand.]

“Shall we get started?”

[Yes.]

Chwak!

Han-Yeol removed the cloth covering the cart, unveiling the monster eggs for everyone to observe.

“Please select a color you like and inject your mana into the chosen egg.”

[Oh… I never thought I was going to have trouble choosing a color…] Master Gordon contemplated for a full minute before he finally made his choice. [I love the pink center of a medium-rare steak, so I will go with that.]

‘Pfft! As expected of a chef.’?Han-Yeol laughed inwardly as he found the chef to be cute.

Despite being over forty years old, the fact that Master Gordon selected his color based on such logic was rather amusing.

“Now, please inject your mana into the egg.”

[Alright.]

Master Gordon infused his mana into the pink monster egg resting on the cart. As a Master Rank Hunter, he possessed exceptional control over his mana, making it relatively easy for him to inject it into the egg.

However, he had heard rumors that this particular step was of utmost importance, as it could ultimately determine the quality of the hatched monster. Recognizing the significance, he concentrated all his focus on injecting his mana. In fact, Master Gordon appeared as if he were facing a life-or-death situation, exerting an intensity that surpassed even his most challenging encounters with monsters. This level of concentration surpassed any he had ever experienced in his entire life.

Wooooong!

Han-Yeol could not help but admire Master Gordon’s mana. ‘Wow… A Master Rank Hunter is really different…’

The immense amount of mana Master Gordon injected into the monster egg caused the entire main hall to shake. While mana itself was intangible, an excessive accumulation of pure mana within a confined space could start affecting the surrounding area.

Master Gordon lived up to his reputation as the most powerful Master Rank Hunter in England, demonstrating the sheer magnitude of his mana reserves.

"Don't perceive the monster egg as your adversary. Instead, envision yourself warmly embracing it. The egg is not your enemy but your ally..."

[Phew…]

Master Gordon focused his mana once again as per Han-Yeol’s instructions, and the pink monster egg slowly started to react to his mana.

Rustle!

The egg began to shake and emit a rustling sound, eventually cracking open.

[Oh…!]

The long-awaited hatching finally commenced, capturing the eager attention of Master Gordon and the VVIPs. This pivotal moment held immense significance for everyone in the hall, particularly Han-Yeol, as it would determine how the auction would unfold for the remaining nine monster pets.

The type of monster that Master Gordon obtained from his egg was entirely unrelated to the other nine, as it was determined purely by chance. However, humans were inherently simple creatures who tended to associate their prospects with the outcomes of others. If the person before them received something desirable, they would instinctively believe that they too would obtain something favorable, and vice versa. This tendency was evident in lotteries, where individuals often bought tickets after hearing news of someone else's win, believing they too could be lucky.

Regardless, Han-Yeol held hope that a remarkable creature would emerge from Master Gordon's egg, igniting even greater excitement within the auction. Although it might pose a risk for the Master Rank Hunters to acquire powerful monster pets, given that they were all competitors of Han-Yeol, he remained unworried about the matter.

‘I will continue to grow stronger while they remain stagnant. There is a limit to their potential, and I am certain that I will emerge victorious in the end,’?Han-Yeol thought to himself.

He held unwavering confidence in his ability to surpass everyone in the hall. At that moment, his sole focus was on selling the monster pets at the highest possible prices.

Crack!

The thick shell of the monster egg cracked open, revealing the creature within as it made its long-awaited appearance.

[Finally…!]

With eyes brimming with excitement, Master Gordon exclaimed in awe as he watched the newborn creature with admiration.

“Woo! Woo!”

“Gorilla…?”

Surprisingly, the monster that emerged from the egg was a baby gorilla, but it bore a striking dissimilarity to a typical gorilla. It possessed unusually large eyes that resembled those of a human, giving it a unique appearance. Additionally, it exuded a remarkable handsomeness that surpassed that of a regular gorilla.

Despite the unexpected outcome, Master Gordon appeared content and satisfied with the monster that had hatched from the egg.

[Oh! A gorilla! It looks like a powerful and dependable companion. Now, may you please transfer its ownership to me, Mr. Lee?]

.

Master Gordon remembered the fact that the monster, immediately after hatching, belonged to Han-Yeol.

‘Taming. Transfer ownership to Master Gordon.’?Han-Yeol used his skill while looking at Master Gordon.

Ding!

[Do you wish to transfer the ownership of ‘Intelligent Gorilla’ to Master Gordon?]

‘Yes, transfer it.’

[The ownership of the ‘Intelligent Gorilla’ has been transferred to Master Gordon.]

[You will no longer exercise any authority on the ‘Intelligent Gorilla’.]

‘No problem.’

The ownership of the gorilla was successfully transferred to Master Gordon.

"Congratulations, Master Gordon. This is an 'Intelligent Gorilla,' and based on its name, I believe it will develop remarkable intelligence as it grows," Han-Yeol explained.

[Wow! This is incredible! I hope this creature can develop intelligence akin to humans. Given its impressive hands, I look forward to teaching it how to cook in the future!]

"Haha! You truly are the world's greatest chef. Only you would come up with the idea of teaching a pet and a monster how to cook," Han-Yeol remarked, genuinely impressed by Master Gordon's eccentric yet enthusiastic reaction.

While Master Gordon's plans may sound peculiar, it was not entirely implausible to teach the gorilla how to cook, considering it likely possessed similar intelligence to gorillas depicted in movies or animations. In fact, it was possible that this Intelligent Gorilla could be considered a genius compared to its counterparts in fictional portrayals.

“Congratulations.”

[Thank you! Coming here seems to be well worth my time. I am quite happy with the result, and it was well worth my money!]

Han-Yeol and Master Gordon exchanged handshakes, both wearing expressions of utmost satisfaction with the result. As the two shared this moment, Choi Jin-Ki observed their interaction and seized the opportune moment to rally the crowd.

[Wow! An intelligent gorilla! They're often depicted as being as intelligent as geniuses in fiction s... Could it be that this gorilla possesses the same level of intelligence?! If that's the case, Master Gordon is undoubtedly a fortunate Hunter. A monster hatched from the mana of a Master Rank Hunter is bound to be anything but ordinary! I can't help but feel a surge of excitement as I imagine how incredible this gorilla will become once it evolves!]

‘He’s good,’?Han-Yeol thought with a smirk while looking at Choi Jin-Ki.

Choi Jin-Ki appeared to be improvising his lines, as Han-Yeol was unaware of any scripted dialogue. Moreover, Secretary Kim, known for his preference for simplicity and cleanliness, would unlikely have approved such a script in the first place.

This realization led Han-Yeol to acknowledge Choi Jin-Ki's skill in stirring up excitement by embellishing details.

[Now, let us proceed with the auction! One out of the ten monster pets has already been sold, leaving us with nine! Let the bidding commence!]

The Intelligent Gorilla climbed up Master Gordon's legs and clung to him, finding comfort in his embrace as it peacefully closed its eyes. While gorillas could be intimidating and dangerous, a baby gorilla possessed an inherent cuteness that could soften the hearts of even the toughest individuals.

Master Gordon swiftly gave instructions to his attendants.

[Hire the best experts in England immediately to identify hunting grounds with primate-type monsters!]

[Yes, Master Gordon!]

Since news of the method to evolve monster pets had already circulated extensively, Master Gordon promptly sprung into action. Han-Yeol contemplated keeping the secret to himself, but he ultimately concluded that revealing it would be essential for generating heightened interest and driving up the prices of the monster pets.

As anticipated, the response was explosively enthusiastic. The confirmation of Han-Yeol's claims, reinforced by Mavros' majestic evolution, further ignited excitement among the crowd.