Good Guy (Chapter 115)
After the black market auction officially began, Ye Sheng glanced around and noticed that the venue was already packed and bustling with people.
She wasn’t sure if it was due to the black market guards maintaining order or if the wealthy individuals in the base were naturally reserved, but the atmosphere was surprisingly quiet at this moment, almost eerily so.
Ye Sheng raised her eyebrows in mild surprise. She had initially assumed the silence was due to a lack of attendees.
"Dear valued customers, welcome to the black market auction. Here, you can purchase anything, precious jewelry, rare animals, stunning beauties, or handsome men. Even prohibited items are within your reach~"
The auctioneer, dressed in a sharp suit, opened the event with a tantalizing introduction.
His words were like a devil’s whisper, coaxing humans to take a bite of the forbidden fruit.
However, his speech teetered on the edge of danger, the kind that would prompt a normal person to call the police upon hearing.
But here in the black market, there were no taboos.
As long as you had the points, you could buy anything.
Of course, the seasoned wealthy participants were not easily swayed. Having weathered countless ups and downs, their expressions remained calm and composed.
Only a few younger individuals failed to mask their excitement, their emotions flickering across their faces.
Their eyes were fixed on the circular booth, anticipation gleaming in their gazes as they awaited the start of the auction.
The auctioneer didn’t waste time with unnecessary chatter. After a brief opening, he swiftly announced the official commencement of the auction.
With a wave of his hand, a black market guard stepped forward, carrying the first auction item and handing it over.
"As the opening item of the auction, it is naturally no ordinary object. Ladies and gentlemen, behold, the Horn of Starnova!"
The auctioneer carefully placed a black box on the stand in front of him. He unlocked the combination lock and opened the box, revealing its contents.
Inside lay a long, spiraling horn adorned with intricate purple and red patterns.
It was roughly the length of an adult’s arm, thick and sharp, with a faint gleam under the lights.
While it certainly looked extraordinary, Ye Sheng couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
No matter how mysterious or unique it appeared, it was still just a horn. She had no idea which creature it had been taken from.
How valuable could it really be?
(๑°⌓°๑)
"Oh my god, it’s the Horn of Starnova!"
"I never imagined something like this would appear at the black market. This is incredible."
"Haha, this trip is already worth it. If the first item is this impressive, there’s bound to be more treasures later. I hope I can snag a super-grade transformation potion."
While Ye Sheng was silently staring at the booth, the person sitting next to her couldn’t contain their excitement.
After rambling for a while, they kept marveling at how incredible the item was, but they never clearly explained its origin or significance.
Just as Ye Sheng’s curiosity peaked and she was about to ask Gu Luoyu for clarification, the auctioneer on the stage finally addressed the mystery, no longer keeping it a secret, "To ensure all our esteemed customers understand the significance of the Horn of Starnova, allow me to provide some background."
"This is a trophy from an Esper battle three years ago. It belongs to a polluted creature that was classified by the base as S+!"
Σ(゜ロ゜;)
Well done!
What an impressive revelation!
The auctioneer’s mention of "S+" immediately stunned Ye Sheng.
All her doubts vanished in an instant. When she looked at the horn again, her eyes were filled with reverence and awe.
Suddenly, the horn seemed to glow with an otherworldly brilliance...
So, it was from an S+ level polluted creature!!!
"Although this battle resulted in significant losses for the base, including many Espers, it also gave rise to several powerful individuals who became legends. Among them, the renowned Erensu participated in this very battle!"
On stage, the auctioneer continued his animated explanation, while below, the crowd buzzed with whispered conversations.
"Huh? If I recall correctly, it was Fu Ruo, the captain of Esper Squad 2, who ultimately killed this S+ contaminated creature!"
"Oh, Captain Fu is dead. There’s no point in mentioning her now. She’s even less talked about than that lunatic Erensu! Although she’s currently missing, her name still carries weight. But as for who actually killed the creature? No one saw it clearly. Something fishy must have happened."
"What?! When did Fu Ruo die?!"
"Her death caused a massive uproar within the base. The higher-ups started pointing fingers, and eventually, the research institute was forced to take the blame. They even had to sign a military order to compensate for the loss of Fu Ruo."
"How are they supposed to compensate for that?"
As the whispers continued, Ye Sheng listened eagerly, thoroughly enjoying the gossip.
Unfortunately, as the conversation turned to more private matters, the voices grew too faint.
No matter how hard Ye Sheng strained her ears, she couldn’t catch the rest.
She sighed in disappointment. It was truly frustrating to only hear half of such intriguing gossip.
However, when Ye Sheng suddenly heard Fu Ruo's name, a wave of complicated emotions washed over her, leaving her feeling somewhat depressed... After all, Fu Ruo was someone she had once known, and now, thinking about her felt like recalling a distant dream.
There had been no warning of her death.
No, perhaps it was more accurate to say that the wasteland world was simply too dangerous.
Especially when venturing into the wilderness on missions, one had to risk their life with every step.
"Sister Ye, did you hear that? The origin of this Horn of Starnova is incredible. It’s definitely going to sell for a sky-high price. I’m so envious!"
Mo Lin gazed at the booth with a look of longing.
The body parts of polluted creatures could be crafted into weapons, armor, or even special potions and other valuable items.
Not to mention, this was the horn of an S+ level polluted creature. Even if someone bought it purely as a collectible, its value would be immense.
The fact that several Espers had lost their lives during its acquisition only added to its rarity and worth.
Unfortunately, after seeing it, Mo Lin realized it was far beyond his means.
"I believe everyone has their own thoughts on this precious Horn of Starnova. So, let’s begin the bidding!"
As the auctioneer picked up the small hammer and struck the box, a sharp sound echoed through the venue, followed by the rapid "beep, beep" of bids being placed.
The screen above the circular booth displayed the rising prices in real time.
70 million base points.
85 million base points.
92 million base points...
For a moment, Ye Sheng and Mo Lin stared at the screen in stunned silence, their eyes wide with a look of sheer disbelief, a look only those familiar with poverty could understand.
Although they knew the horn was incredibly valuable, it still left them marveling at just how many wealthy individuals there were in the base!
The final bid settled at 150 million base points!!!
"Alright, the current bid stands at 150 million points. Is there anyone who wishes to continue bidding? You have ten seconds. If no further bids are placed, the final winner will be guest No. 0256!"
As the auctioneer finished the countdown, no one raised the bid further.
After all, the true highlight of this auction was the super-grade transformation potion.
Thus, after guest No. 0256 successfully spent over 100 million points, the auction was off to a roaring start!
It was unclear how much commission the auctioneer earned, but he was beaming with joy, his face lit up with a broad smile.
He then enthusiastically moved on to introduce the next item up for auction.
"For those who didn’t win the bid, don’t lose heart. The next item is even more extraordinary!"
"It’s Erensu’s personal weapon!”