Strongest Kingdom: My Op Kingdom Got Transported Along With Me-Chapter 53: A Young Lagomian

"Tier 2… and a spell?" he echoes, barely able to mask his surprise. His gaze flickers to Alix and then to Varkas, standing silently beside him. In his mind, he quickly tries to assess them. ’This young man… No ordinary merchant could casually bring such treasures. He must be the son of a noble. The Ordeya Kingdom, perhaps?’

Maintaining his professional composure, Edmar clears his throat and smiles. "Sir, we will gladly add these to tonight’s auction. In fact, the Tier 2 skill and spell will be placed as the grand finale. Their value will undoubtedly attract fierce competition."

Alix smirks slightly. "That’s what I’m counting on."

Edmar inclines his head. "I will personally ensure they are presented at the perfect moment. As for your compensation, we take a ten percent cut from the final bid price. Is that acceptable?"

Alix waves a hand dismissively. "Fine by me."

"Excellent." Edmar claps his hands together. "The auction will begin shortly. Please, enjoy the privileges of the VIP room while you watch."

With that, he departs, leaving Alix and Varkas alone.

Varkas leans in slightly. "They’ll be desperate to get their hands on those books."

Alix chuckles. "Exactly. Let’s see how much these nobles are willing to pay for power."

The auction finally begins. A well-dressed auctioneer steps onto the grand stage, his voice clear and commanding as he welcomes the guests. The hall is filled with nobles, merchants, and wealthy adventurers, all waiting eagerly for the bidding to commence.

"The first item of the night," the auctioneer announces, "is a finely crafted silver dagger, imbued with minor enchantments for durability and sharpness. A fine weapon for any noble’s collection or an adventurer in need of reliability. Starting bid—five hundred gold coins."

back-and-forth, the dagger is sold for eight hundred gold.

Alix watches from the VIP room, unimpressed. He takes a sip of the wine provided and glances at Varkas. "A basic enchanted dagger. Barely worth noticing."

Varkas nods slightly. "If this is how they’re starting, I can only imagine how desperate they’ll be once the real treasures come out."

The auction continues. A set of high-quality armor, a decorative gemstone necklace, and a few minor enchanted trinkets are brought forward, each selling for anywhere between five hundred to a thousand gold coins. Some items garner more attention, pushing past two thousand, but nothing causes much of a stir.

Varkas arms crossed. "So far, nothing remarkable."

Suddenly, the next auction item makes both of them squint slightly. The atmosphere in the hall shifts as a large, covered cage is wheeled onto the stage. When the cloth is pulled away, a small figure is revealed—a young humanoid monster, her ears drooping as she curls up in the corner, eyes filled with fear.

Alix immediately glances at Varkas. His jaw is clenched tight, his fists curled into shaking balls of rage. The sheer pressure of his aura thickens the air around them, a silent storm of fury barely restrained.

Alix’s voice is calm but firm. "You need to calm down, Varkas. You’re not restraining your aura."

Varkas inhales sharply, his breathing heavy, before closing his eyes. With a slow exhale, the pressure in the room fades. He bows his head slightly. "I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Please punish me for my lack of control."

Alix sighs. "No need." His gaze shifts back to the auction floor, locking onto the trembling child.

The auctioneer clears his throat. "A rare find indeed! A young Lagomian—strong, fast, and highly trainable. A perfect servant or pet. Starting bid—one thousand gold coins!"

Murmurs spread through the crowd, some intrigued, others indifferent. A few nobles lean forward, considering their bids.

Alix’s expression darkens slightly. Then, in a quiet voice, he says, "Don’t worry. I will bid for her."

The bidding starts immediately, nobles in the general seating raising their paddles without hesitation.

"One thousand gold!"

"One thousand five hundred!"

"Two thousand!"

The price climbs steadily, reaching five thousand gold coins in a matter of minutes. By this point, only the VIP guests are still bidding.

"Five thousand five hundred!" a voice calls from another private room.

"Six thousand!" another counters.

Alix calmly raises his paddle. "Seven thousand."

A hush spreads through the hall as the auctioneer’s gaze flickers toward the VIP rooms. "We have a bid of seven thousand from one of our esteemed guests! Do we have eight thousand?"

A moment of hesitation, then—

"Eight thousand!"

Alix smirks slightly. "Nine thousand."

The whispers among the nobles grow louder.

"Who in the VIP room is bidding?"

"Why would anyone spend this much on a mere monster slave?"

Even the auctioneer looks surprised. This shouldn’t be this expensive.

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Then—

"Ten thousand!"

The hall falls silent.

The auctioneer wipes his brow, his voice a little strained. "Ten thousand gold! Do we have any further bids?"

The room stays quiet.

"Going once… going twice… Sold! To our esteemed guest in the VIP room!"

Alix leans back, watching as the cage is wheeled away. His gaze flickers toward Varkas, who is still standing stiffly.

"See? Now she’s ours."

Shortly after, a knock echoes at the VIP room door. The auction house receptionist enters, accompanied by two guards carrying the young Lagomian girl, her ears twitching anxiously as they set the cage down.

The receptionist steps forward, holding out a small, metallic bracelet with glowing runes. "Your purchase, sir. This is a standard control item for slaves. Simply wear it, and with a command, you can issue direct orders. The slave will be unable to disobey."

Alix stares at the bracelet for a moment before reaching out and taking it. His expression remains unreadable as he pockets it without a word. The receptionist hesitates briefly but then bows. "Enjoy your acquisition, sir."

With a final nod, the staff leaves, shutting the door behind them.

Silence lingers in the room. The only sound is the faint breathing of the child. Slowly, she lifts her head, her bright eyes filled with wariness and fear. Despite the trembling in her small frame, she forces herself to kneel properly, her ears flattened against her head.