Chapter 109: The Bidding

At this moment, Master Cervantes was also deeply conflicted. He had originally hoped to help Rollin secure a higher price for the spatial ring, which was why he had suggested the auction in the first place. Judging by the momentum of the bidding just now, with a little nudge from him later on, the ring could easily have fetched a million gold coins. He had not expected Andre to suddenly intervene, using his family's influence to bully the crowd and attempt to claim the spatial ring for a mere seven hundred thousand gold coins.

If the deal closed at such a low price, he would feel he had failed Rollin. Thus, his gavel remained poised in the air, hesitant to fall, in the hope that someone would raise the bid, even if only by ten thousand gold coins.

Seeing that Cervantes delayed dropping the gavel, Andre spoke up, his voice tinged with impatience. "What is this, Master Cervantes? Since no one else is bidding, you should strike the gavel. Your current hesitation is somewhat unbecoming of a master of your reputation!"

These words kindled a spark of anger in Cervantes. Who was he? The sole master in the imperial capital capable of forging spatial rings, and the vice president of the Alchemy Association. Even high-ranking nobles had to greet him with respect. To be lectured by a callow youth from the balcony above was an affront, and he immediately felt inclined to teach the boy a lesson.

However, just then, in one of the private booths, Mahler could no longer contain himself. He shouted angrily, "Damn it, Andre! What kind of behavior is this? If it's your father's birthday, you should win the spatial ring through fair bidding. Throwing your father's name around to suppress the bids is a disgrace to the Minister of Military Affairs!"

"Hmph, you fat slob, whether I disgrace him or not is none of your concern," Andre sneered. "If you have the stomach for it, make a bid yourself. What? No gold? Ha! To think the son of the Minister of Finance cannot even match my price, yet has the nerve to blather here. You are the one bringing shame upon your father!"

"You—" Mahler was left tongue-tied. It was the simple truth; he could not produce such a massive sum of gold at a moment's notice. He could only grumble silently to himself, *Father, you hold such a high office and oversee the treasury, yet you couldn't manage a bit of illicit income? Now your son is being openly looked down upon!*

Yet, Mahler refused to back down. Ignoring Andre, he leaned over and shouted to the crowd below, "Hey! Do not let Andre's threats intimidate you! If you want to bid, do it now! This spatial ring is worth far more than this. Whoever buys it will surely turn a handsome profit!" He urged the wealthy merchants and minor nobles on the ground floor to raise the price.

"I am sure no one here wishes to disrespect my father and ruin his birthday," Andre remarked, his voice dripping with malice.

At this, the wealthy merchants who had been on the verge of bidding faltered once more. Though they coveted the profit, the threat in Andre's tone was unmistakable. They had long heard of the tyranny and ruthlessness of the Minister of Military Affairs and his son. These merchants loved money, but they valued their lives more. Faced with a choice between wealth and safety, they would invariably choose the latter.

Yet, just as the room fell into a tense deadlock, a clear, crisp female voice suddenly rang out from another booth on the second floor: "One million gold coins!"

An instant clamor swept through Cervantes's alchemy shop. The wealthy merchants on the ground floor murmured in astonishment, wondering who possessed the audacity to bid against the son of the all-powerful Minister of Military Affairs. Inside their own booth, Rollin and the others turned their eyes toward the source of the voice.

"Boss Mahler, who is that...?" Gobazz and Bill asked.

Before Mahler could reply, Simone spoke up. "So, Princess Nancy is here as well. This is going to be a good show!"

"Indeed, it is that girl Nancy," Mahler said, adopting a patronizing, worldly tone, quite forgetting that he was actually more than a decade younger than Princess Nancy. "After the grade tournament, she didn't stay in the palace but slipped out here to amuse herself."

Hearing that the speaker was Princess Nancy, Rollin recalled the academy alchemists Simone had introduced to him earlier. Princess Nancy was indeed one of them. She was in her sixth year, and it was said she possessed remarkable talent in both cultivation and potion-making.

Her sudden bid of one million gold coins, just as Andre was trying to strong-arm the auction at seven hundred thousand, warmed Rollin to her immediately. With a bid of that size, the funds for his younger brother's surgery were finally secured!

"Nancy, you... are you truly going to contest this spatial ring with me?" Andre sputtered, shocked that Princess Nancy had suddenly driven the price up by three hundred thousand gold coins.

From her booth, the princess gave a cold snort. "This is an auction. Items naturally go to the highest bidder; there is no question of 'contesting' it. Besides, given the internal volume of this spatial ring, one million gold coins is hardly an overpayment."

The high nobility moved in a small circle, and Mahler, Andre, and Princess Nancy were well acquainted. Andre knew Nancy's character well. Though a woman, she possessed a bold and decisive spirit—a true heroine. He admired this trait greatly and had pursued her on numerous occasions, though Princess Nancy had never shown the slightest interest in him.

"Very well, then I bid one million and fifty thousand gold coins!" Andre said after a brief hesitation. Though loath to oppose Nancy and leave a bad impression, backing down in front of such a crowd would ruin his reputation. Gritting his teeth, he put forth the new bid.

Down on the ground floor, Baron Allen could only manage a bitter smile. He had held back his bid, waiting for Cervantes to grow desperate so he could swoop in with a slightly higher offer and steal a bargain. But now that the second-floor booths had joined the fray, a minor noble of his insignificant standing stood absolutely no chance.

Hearing Andre's bid of one million and fifty thousand, Princess Nancy called out without a moment's hesitation, "One million and one hundred thousand gold coins!"

In his booth, Mahler slapped his thigh and cheered, "Ha! Well played, Nancy!"

The only reply he received, however, was: "Shut your mouth, you fat slob, and save your flattery!"

This sharp retort left Gobazz and Bill exchanging glances before they burst into hearty laughter. Mahler rubbed his neck in embarrassment. "Damn, that girl could at least show me some respect in front of a crowd."

Rollin was elated. At one million and one hundred thousand gold coins, he had not only secured enough for his brother's immediate surgery, but the hundred thousand gold coins needed for the follow-up procedure next year was also fully accounted for.

"Nancy, since you are so determined to have it, I shall yield to you!" After his token increase was immediately met by another fifty thousand from Nancy, Andre seized the opportunity to bow out gracefully, hoping to curry some favor with her in the process.

With Andre's withdrawal, the hall fell quiet. No further bids were made. Yet, just as everyone assumed the spatial ring would fall to Princess Nancy, and Cervantes's gavel was poised to strike, a voice suddenly rang out from the back of the crowd on the ground floor:

"One million two hundred thousand!"