Warlock Apprentice

The sale proceeded fast. Most of the items shown earlier were nothing too valuable, and each lot was determined within minutes.

As more of the items were sold, the average bidding soon approached 500 crystals, and there were fewer and fewer responses coming from the outer stage.

Angor tried to compete for a gaseous material which could be used as an alternative for another catalyst. He simply quitted when someone else offered higher since it was nothing of vital importance to him.

Angor planned to go for an alchemy container when it was brought up, but he decided to leave it since Prome bid earlier, who then won the item at 400 crystals.

Everything went smoothly until the 30th item was shown, which caused a small ruckus.

It was a booklet containing the analytic equation for "energy compression".

All the wizards were shocked when they saw the book being sold in the auction. It was not valuable among major wizard organizations. The crafting draft for an Energy Compressor in Angor's Encyclopaedia: Basic Alchemy also provided the formula.

They were shocked because this piece of knowledge had always been strictly controlled by powerful organizations. Wizards without a certain background could not find such a thing easily.

Now Twilight Auction was selling it in public?

Most wizards sitting on the first level joined the bidding, while none of the guests in Silver and Gold VIP sections joined. Angor heard a woman sneering in one of the private chambers, "This auction is getting worse. They sell such junk now? Guess I don't have to come next time."

Angor heard her loud and clear, which meant everyone else had to have noticed her as well.

A number of participants from the Gold VIP chambers all mumbled to agree with her.

Those who were still competing on the first level all looked embarrassed. However, no one protested when they thought about who it possibly was inside that VIP room.

Twilight also frowned a bit when she heard the woman badmouthing the auction. She remained calm until the book was sold before explaining in the same neutral tone, "Pray rest assured, Lady Lotus. What we have to offer tonight will not disappoint you."

The witch called "Lady Lotus" chuckled. "Is that so? I'll be waiting then."

Twilight forced herself to calm down and focused her attention on the next item.

The 44th item drew Angor attention.

It was a box of a rare material called "Rosegold Gargoyle's Tongue Blood". The magical liquid could be used to cultivate Rosegold Blood Ores as well as providing amazing effects in enchantment practice. When combined with some other sub-materials, the liquid could create a special ink called "Gargoyle's Blood".

When using this ink to engrave runes, an alchemist had a chance to maximize the potential of magical materials as well as gain an extra special effect.

For example, mythril was often used in alchemy due to its superior magic conductivity. Items made of mythril helped their users conserved a lot of mana. Using Gargoyle's Blood to enchant a mythril item might cause the final product to have a magic resistance of zero. The product could also directly draw primal mana from the environment, allowing its user to achieve way stronger effects by spending very little mana, such as casting level-2 cantrips by using the same energy required for level-0 ones.

Compared to this, Angor was not really interested in the other effect which randomly triggered a special effect on an item since it was extremely rare a case. By using certain special materials, he could achieve something similar.

At least Angor never witnessed any random surprises during his study. He always believed in solid enchantment work rather than chances.

Due to the valuable property of the ink, Angor immediately offered his bid when Twilight declared "begin". His first bid was 500, which was enough to discourage anyone in the outer hall from competing.

"Five hundred crystals called by Number 187, anyone? Each raise shall be 50 or higher," Twilight spoke loud and clear.

Rosegold Gargoyle's Tongue Blood also helped with other subjects besides alchemy, such as extracting Rosegold Petrification Virus and making certain potions.

Angor knew this as well, so he was really worried that someone might follow up.

"Five hundred, still waiting!"

"Five hundred, can I get an increment?" Twilight's voice began to show a hint of haste.

Something suddenly changed on the screen in front of her.

"Five-fifty by Number 35!"

Number 35 was… someone among the Gold VIPs.

Angor frowned quickly. There were only richer wizards inside those private rooms. Did they really need to compete with him over this item?

Twilight was already counting down. "Five-fifty! Going once, twice, and-"

Before she could land her gavel, Angor clenched his teeth and raised the bid to 600, causing both Dave and Prome to gaze at him with worried looks.

Twilight raised an eyebrow at the new price. "A raise by Number 187 once again. We have six hundred!"

For the first time today, two VIPs from two sections were going against each other.

"Number 35 called seven-fifty!"

Angor was getting determined now. He did not hesitate this time and called for eight hundred.

To everyone's surprise, the price for a box of "Rosegold Gargoyle's Tongue Blood", a material mostly useless to common wizards, reached all the way to 1,100 magic crystals.

Number 35 called again and offered 1,500, hoping to break Angor's mental barrier once and for all.

"Fifteen hundred!" All people inside or outside all yelled out. It was the highest bid they saw today.

The price itself was not anything impressive. Yet the item being sold was not something well accepted. It might be rare, but its price could hardly go beyond a thousand in normal conditions. An offer of 1,500 crystals was a little too much even for Twilight Auction.

"Oh, this is fun, a silver guest and a gold one are fighting," whispered someone.

"But shouldn't that thing only work for enchantment alchemists? So are we seeing two alchemists outbidding like that? I don't think there are many enchantment alchemists around Darkivil Empire."

Angor was now rethinking about whether he should keep up. The current price was pretty high for the box of blood.

The price was approaching an unacceptable level even if he considered its alchemy potential. Approaching, only. There was still room. Successfully making a maximized alchemy item would quickly get him more money back.

But compared to the price, Angor was more concerned with the Gold VIP's attitude.

"You should give up. It has gone too far," said Dave as he tried to persuade Angor.

Prome nodded to agree. "Keep in mind that gambling is a bottomless money drain. Don't rely on chances while at your alchemy studies."

Angor also thought about quitting. He still felt a little depressed at how he missed the valuable alchemy material. Rosegold Gargoyle's Tongue Blood was of a higher quality than any other similar inks.

As everyone waited for Angor's decision, a woman inside Chamber 35 suddenly spoke in an extremely eerie voice.

"The blood will be mine, no matter how much you have on you. Heeheehee!"

As those sitting outside wondered who that was, people in the inner stage all looked at each other in shock. Those who could come here were all experienced enough to recognize that voice.

"So, SHE came to the auction!"

"And that Number 187 went against her? Really? Who is Number 187, anyway?"

"Wait, who are you talking about? Who's that Gold VIP?" There was still someone left dumbfounded by the heated discussions.

"How ignorant can you get??"

"That's the most bloodthirsty witch you can ever know in the southern region, Lady Flora!"

"Lady Flora seemed determined to get her hands on that blood. Even if Number 187 won it, she'll probably go after him later and get it back. Man, I wonder what Number 187 looks like right now."

"Wet his pants, I guess!"

So… how exactly did Angor look?

Trembling? Wet pants? Fear? None. He was only shaking his head in frustration after finding out that it was only Flora who played with him. He would not have tried to raise the price if he had known!

If anyone would find out their relationship now… Angor could already imagine what would be printed on the headline of tomorrow's gossip news.

"Unbelievable! The Killing Machine's Two Loving Pupils Fought Among Themselves Just For THIS!"

Angor face-palmed himself while Dave and Prome gave him a sympathetic look.

Dave put a hand on Angor's shoulder and played all mature. "I'm sorry to see this, my friend. Now, you should hide away and pretend that Number 187 never came."

Angor looked at Dave. "Maybe we should switch places?"

Dave backed away quickly. "Nah. A Prophet told me that 186 is my lucky number today, while anything nearby is an ill omen. Please, I still want to have a bright future."

Since "Number 35" was Flora, Angor simply gave up on the item. He had not expected to see Flora here after that woman went away from Brute Cavern for half a year.

Did Sunders come as well? Angor pondered.

…

Without anyone in her way, Flora successfully earned the box of "Rosegold Gargoyle's Tongue Blood". She still humphed in frustration, for having to spend more money than she expected.

And everyone heard it.

Before Twilight could bring out the next lot, someone sneered in Chamber 1 in a taunting manner. "Oh my, Flora… I didn't take you to be someone who bullies the weak."

It was the witch by the title of "Lady Lotus".

"Someone who made a lot of noise back there. So, it was you, Lydia the horny stuff?" Flora "heehee" again. "Bully? So did you fall in love with Number 187 or something? Maybe we should call him here and see if he suits your taste?"

Lydia did not seem offended at all. "Unlike someone, I'm quite loyal. I've already decided that Mister Sunders shall be my only love."

"Who knows, maybe Number 187 is my dear teacher who just came personally," said Flora who did not forget about dragging Angor down.

Angor tried to shrink as best as he could.

"So, Mister Sunders isn't with you? I shouldn't have wasted so much breath on you," Lydia concluded with another taunt, thus ending their verbal war.

But she did not stop here. Lydia directed her attention to Twilight this time.

"So, despite your promise, it's still a big disappointment until now. Are you wasting my time, em?"