How Could This Be at the Auction?

============================================

"Why are you suddenly talking about this?"

Lyle frowned.

Although he was already used to Jiang Cheng's sudden odd comments, he still couldn't help but be taken aback by these kinds of remarks.

"It's obviously because you asked,"

Jiang Cheng replied with a roll of her eyes, pushing open the auction house's doors.

Because she had come here in her original appearance and hadn't revealed her membership status, the reception at the front desk wasn't the kind reserved for members.

Fortunately, though, the identities of Jiang Cheng and Lyle as the Chosen of the Gods were impressive enough to ensure they received proper treatment.

The staff quickly led the two of them to a private room at the auction and handed them a catalog.

The small booklet was densely packed with information about the items up for bid at this auction.

She flipped to the page for the equipment she planned to buy, glanced over it briefly, saw that the goods were as expected, and tossed the booklet aside carelessly.

She wasn't interested in these things anyway; her current strength as an Archpriest was already more than enough.

Besides, there was nothing in the content of the story that truly required brute force to solve.

It was just that there were all sorts of convoluted intrigues at play. Even knowing what would happen, it was still hard for Jiang Cheng to navigate them.

The gods, city administrators, the Temple of the Gods, the demons—there were already enough players on this chessboard.

Jiang Cheng wanted to squeeze herself into the ranks of these chessmasters, but that, of course, was incredibly difficult.

Luckily, with Luan's death progressing as in the original plot, she saw a chance for success.

A faint smile tugged at Jiang Cheng's lips.

As long as the original plot didn't drastically change, she was invincible.

As for whether defeating the Demon King required combat strength? The blessings alone were enough.

She had to admit, while the current gods were indeed a mess—corrupt, foolish, perverse, and chaotic—the complete form of their blessing was truly powerful.

In her previous life, when Jiang Cheng got the official setting collection and saw the effects of the full blessing, then compared it to the cut version Lyle obtained, she almost swore out loud.

While Jiang Cheng was thinking, the auction had already begun.

She watched, bored, as rare but ultimately useless items were auctioned off one by one, and yawned.

If, as she had said, this was supposed to be her first date with Lyle, then this date was definitely too dull.

Thankfully, it wasn't really—she was only here to buy something.

Soon, the piece of equipment Jiang Cheng was after was brought up to the stage.

"The Nightfall Necklace, a high-rank magical item," the auctioneer announced, showing the ornate necklace set with a dark magic gemstone.

"As a rare accessory among high-rank magical items, it offers not one, but three effects."

"The first effect: while it's night, the wearer's mana will continuously regenerate."

"Everyone, this is a must-have treasure for night battles."

"The second effect: it can summon a cloak of darkness in a hundred-meter radius around the wearer."

"At first glance, this effect might seem only useful for obscuring vision, perhaps something only an assassin-type transcendent would rely on."

"But, this can actually be combined with the first effect—essentially creating a portable zone for continuous mana regeneration. Mage friends, you might want to give this a try."

"And as for the third effect—it's even more useful. It completely conceals all of your presence. Truly the best tool for murder and looting."

"All right, the Nightfall Necklace, starting bid five thousand gold coins, with each subsequent bid not less than one hundred coins. Who will start?"

Jiang Cheng rolled her eyes. She had already tested this item's effects herself.

Honestly, the first two effects were just so-so—maybe occasionally handy, but nothing special.

Hearing the auctioneer hype it like this—if she hadn't checked beforehand, she might have thought it was a real treasure and ended up with more competitors.

Sure enough, as soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, someone shouted, "Five thousand five hundred!"

Jiang Cheng glanced coldly in that direction and saw it was a noble from within the city. Her lips curled in distaste.

How dare he try to take what she wanted? Looked like she'd have to pay his home a visit sometime.

Anyway, none of these nobles were clean—if she found something, she'd just kill him outright, and Lyle wouldn't say a word.

"Six thousand gold coins, it's mine,"

Jiang Cheng said as she stood up, her tone nonchalant.

"If anyone tries to outbid me... I don't mind stopping by their home to say hello," she added, the hint of a smile playing on her lips.

And if anyone did, she'd just have another reason to kill someone.

In the other booths, some were about to raise their bids by reflex, only for companions to hastily pull them back.

"Are you crazy? Do you even know who wants it?"

Such intimidation was a testament to just how infamous Jiang Cheng had become in the city.

If before, her reputation had just been for killing a couple of dirty noble servants, things changed on the very day Lyle arrived in town—she had indirectly killed over ten minor nobles. That, to the nobles, was sheer villainy.

They had already filed multiple complaints to the Temple of the Gods, but to no avail.

They couldn't understand it—previous Saints had never been so strictly protected by the Temple.

For centuries, the nobles of every city had successfully ousted at least dozens of Saints.

In even more chaotic times, before the demon race became so powerful, the nobles would impeach the Saints, then seize the stripped-down Saints as playthings—a game once fashionable among the elite.

But Jiang Cheng, this "Black Saint" who was an utter outlier among Saints through the ages, made them truly afraid.

Because as long as impeachment was impossible, a figure who could ignore their authority and was ruthless enough—she was their worst nightmare.

Jiang Cheng ignored all the whispering. Seeing that no one dared raise the bid further, she sat back down, a little bored.

No fun at all—not even one person bold enough to challenge her. She hadn't killed anyone in ages.

"Jiang Cheng,"

Lyle sighed beside her as he watched her.

"Next time, don't be so domineering. Look at how scared you made all those nobles."

Raising her eyebrow, Jiang Cheng turned to him.

"Didn't your teacher ever tell you there's no such thing as a good noble?"

"Well..."

Lyle was briefly at a loss for words. After all, his petite, adorable mentor had indeed seriously taught him that lesson.

"If they do wrong, of course they deserve to die,"

Lyle said.

"But your approach could be a bit more normal. We're the Chosen of the Gods, not some gangsters."

"Hah."

Jiang Cheng shrugged.

"Isn't the Temple of the Gods the biggest mafia there is?"

Just then, the next auction item was brought out.

"This is a mysterious hammer of peculiar design—the double-edged long handle has been honed to sharpness, and its head is made of unknown material," the auctioneer described.

"But the one thing we do know: this long-handled, double-edged stone hammer is made with stone that cannot be destroyed."

"......"

The auctioneer continued the introduction of the so-called "hammer", but as Jiang Cheng looked at it, her eyes suddenly went wide in shock.

How could it be here?

Wasn't this the divine weapon Lyle was supposed to get in the third city? How could it appear here in Adventurer City?

What mysterious stone hammer? This thing was clearly a Sword in the Stone that couldn't be drawn, so someone just dug the whole boulder out!

This was supposed to be the hero's ultimate weapon!

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】