Chapter 71: Exciting Bid: Dead For Others, Fortune For Him

Zinwald Starfield, 1st planet, Velkar Family Estate.

A thunder roar spread through the planet and caused a global earthquake.

The source was the current Velkar family head, Dilton Velkar.

"WHO DARED TO KILL MY SON?!"

Facing him were Riglight Galatic’s Criminal Investigation Department’s Starfield Heads of Zinwald Starfield and Ocean Melody Starfield.

"Mister Dilton. Unfortunately, we have yet to figure that out."

Dilton’s eyes narrowed, fury still whirling in them, but he remained composed and sat back down at the large table.

"Not only Romen, but four other heirs were also killed. We have a lot of pressure." CID head of Ocean Melody starfield sighed. "To think someone would be bold enough to kill five heirs of the top 100 families. Do you think this is a plot of other families to disrupt and weaken you?"

Dilton frowned. "We have our enmities, but it is an unwritten rule that we do not go for each other’s family members."

"And can we trust that unwritten rule to be followed by everyone, mister Dilton?" CID head of Zinwald Starfield asked.

Dilton didn’t answer.

He couldn’t answer.

"So there is a possibility." Zinwald Starfield CID head blinked as he spoke.

Dilton’s jaw clenched. "I can’t guarantee that everyone would follow the unwritten rule."

"Romen and other heirs had booked the resort’s residency and ticket for the auction well in advance," Ocean Melody Starfield’s CID head said. "Whoever targeted them knew they would be there, and that they would go for the mission."

"And he was with four peak Soul Tree experts. The Miasma Entrapped town blocked all information, but from the short investigation we did, nobody saw Romen and others there. And yet, the soul lamp you and other families provided proves that they died there."

"The case is too strange, and we don’t have people who know about Romen’s moves."

"Romen’s moves..." Dilton’s eyes glinted. "Wait. Let me call someone."

After a minute, a man entered the hall.

"Nozark, you told me that Romen contacted you for a task. What was it?" Dilton asked.

"Young master wanted a team of people to take care of someone."

"Someone who?" Dilton’s eyes dangerously narrowed.

"Some students in the Rain Star institute. From what I know, young master Romen lost to him and wanted to teach him a lesson." Nozark said as he glanced at the CID heads.

The CID heads understood. Romen wanted to kill someone.

Naturally, they would turn a blind eye to such stuff from the big shots.

Justice was not equal for everyone.

"What’s the name of that student?"

"If I remember correctly, it’s Rudrean. I’ve already asked around in the institute, so we’ll get more information about him soon."

"Good. Inform me when you do. You can leave now."

After Nozark left, Dilton looked at the CID heads. "You can continue your investigation as well. But I hope to gain your cooperation when the time comes."

His eyes glinted coldly as he added. "I will personally kill the one who killed my son, and all related to him."

The CID heads glanced at each other before nodding at Dilton.

"Contact us."

Both of them stood up and vanished.

...

Back at the auction, the items were getting better.

The auction had started from Tier-7 and slowly descended toward Tier-5, but now the order had reversed. The auctioneer had begun bringing out the truly valuable items one after another, and the atmosphere in the hall subtly changed.

The earlier lots had only been warm-ups. Small victories for wealthy bidders who wanted to stretch their hands before the real competition began.

Now the real fight was starting. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

A Tier-6 spell scroll triggered a sharp bidding war between two upper booths before finally selling for a ridiculous amount.

A sealed pill furnace caused another clash, this time between several family representatives seated in the higher tiers.

The entire auction house was gradually heating up.

’I think we should buy something useful if we find it,’ Rudrean relayed to Aelira and Isalyn. ’Something that can genuinely strengthen us. Even if only one of us learns or acquires it, all three of us can benefit from it.’

’We don’t really have money for high-tier stuff,’ Aelira said, though her eyes were still gleaming with excitement. ’But technically, we can spend because the Geofray Starviel Clay will sell later.’

’That’s true.’ Isalyn nodded slightly beneath her veil. ’If there’s a powerful spell, Combat Art, or anything unique that can improve us significantly, we should definitely buy it.’

Rudrean quietly scanned the floating platform as another lot rose into the spotlight.

It was a mirror.

Or at least, it used to be one.

The frame was dull gray, almost lifeless, with a strange deadness to it that swallowed light instead of reflecting it. The mirror surface itself had long since cracked apart, pale fractures spreading across it like frozen rivers. It looked ancient, damaged beyond repair, like some forgotten relic dragged out of ruins simply because someone hoped its name still held value.

The reaction from the crowd was immediate.

Interest vanished.

Several people leaned back in their seats. Others resumed their private conversations. A few even chuckled quietly.

"A relic," the auctioneer announced smoothly, though even her voice carried faint resignation. "It is said this item was once a Tier-10 artifact."

She gestured politely toward the mirror.

"Unfortunately, its core is dead. It no longer binds to anyone, nor does it respond to mana. It is being auctioned primarily based on the value of its material and historical significance."

A pause followed.

"Opening bid. Eighty Tier-9 Mana Stones."

A few faint laughs spread through the chamber.

Tier-9 Mana Stones for a dead artifact.

The price itself felt almost mocking.

Rudrean was casually reaching for his drink when something suddenly stirred deep inside him.

A strange pull surged through his chest.

And then the notification appeared in his mind, stirred from his talent.

[Love-Bound Gacha requests the artifact.]

[The artifact can be repaired for free.]

[But to acquire it, you must obtain it through the Gacha.]

[Artifact Information:]

[Dragon Vision Spirit Mirror]

[Rank: Tier-10 Artifact]

[Effect: Releases a scanning pulse spanning one light-year, mapping everything within range. Upon command, it reveals anything the user wishes to see.]

[Bonus: Contains an innate spatial dimension with a 100,000-kilometer radius. Stored within are manuals of high-tier spells and Arcane Martial Arts, and some other artifacts.]

Rudrean’s hand stopped midway toward the cup.

His expression did not change.

But internally, his thoughts accelerated violently.

’What the fuck? It can be fixed?!! But I have to pull it from the gacha...’

’Screw it. This is a treasure containing multiple treasures. I must get it.’

A Tier-10 artifact.

A one-light-year scanning range.

A gigantic internal dimension filled with high-tier inheritances.

And the Gacha could restore it completely for free once he obtained it.

Rudrean slowly placed the cup back down.

’Rudrean?’ Isalyn immediately noticed the shift in him. ’Your aura changed.’

’We are buying that mirror.’

A brief silence followed.

’That broken thing?’ Aelira blinked. ’Honey, the auctioneer basically apologized before introducing it.’

’I can’t explain everything right now,’ Rudrean said calmly. ’But I know that mirror is more valuable than anything else in this entire hall.’

His voice did not rise.

It simply settled into absolute certainty.

’Trust me on this one.’

Isalyn quietly studied him.

Then she sighed beneath the veil.

’You’ve never reacted like this over an item before.’

Rudrean smiled faintly. ’It’s a surprise. Trust me, this dead artifact is a treasure trove for us.’

On the stage, the auctioneer had already begun preparing to close the lot quickly due to the lack of interest.

"Eighty Tier-9 Mana Stones," Rudrean said calmly.

The hall quieted slightly.

Several people turned toward him in surprise.

Someone from the common seating was actually bidding on this dead relic?

The auctioneer smoothly accepted the bid.

"Eighty Tier-9 Mana Stones. Do I hear another?"

"One hundred."

The lazy response came from a VIP booth.

It did not sound interesting.

Just casual. Reflexive.

"One forty," Rudrean answered immediately.

The VIP booth fell silent afterward.

The mirror simply was not worth fighting over.

At least, not to them.

Then another booth stirred.

High above the hall, behind a half-drawn curtain, a man slowly leaned forward into the light.

Long crimson hair spilled over his shoulders. Sharp features. Cold ember-like eyes.

His gaze locked directly onto Rudrean.

Not because he wanted the mirror.

But because someone beneath him wanted it first.

"Two hundred."

His tone carried deliberate contempt.

"Two ten," Rudrean answered casually.

"Three hundred."

Now the hall truly began paying attention.

The atmosphere shifted into entertainment.

A nobody from the common seats was actually clashing with a high-tier booth occupant.

People stopped pretending not to care.

Even the auctioneer’s eyes subtly brightened.

"Five hundred," the crimson-haired man said, irritation beginning to leak into his voice.

"Six hundred."

Isalyn grabbed Rudrean’s sleeve beneath the table.

’Rudrean. Is this worth it that much?’

’Much more.’

Isalyn and Aelira looked at each other, surprised.

Just what it was that Rudrean saw in this dead artifact?’

"Four hundred."

Rudrean’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’He’s bidding with pride, not logic. Pride burns out faster.’

"Four hundred ten," Rudrean called up.

"Five hundred."

"Five hundred ten."

The hall grew quieter with every exchange.

"One thousand!" the crimson-haired man said coldly, visible irritation now staining his expression completely.

Rudrean inhaled slowly.

"One thousand and ten."

This time, the crimson-haired man immediately opened his mouth to continue.

But a hand stopped him.

An older man seated behind him in the shadows calmly placed one hand on his arm.

The man sat completely still, his presence impossibly deep and unfathomable, like an endless abyss that no longer needed to display its strength openly.

He simply looked once at the crimson-haired youth.

That single look carried enough meaning.

The youth’s jaw clenched tightly.

Then he slowly leaned back and shut the curtain of the VIP Booth without another word.

The entire hall felt the outcome instantly.

The auctioneer waited two seconds before smiling brightly.

"One thousand and ten Tier-9 Mana Stones!"

"Going once."

"Going twice."

"Sold!"

The light-gavel descended.

A ripple spread throughout the audience.

The common-seat bidder had actually defeated a high booth.

But it was a trash dead artifact.

"What a waste of money."

"And no one can actually repair that thing. It only has research value."

"Maybe he can fix it?"

"Pfff, he wouldn’t be sitting there if he or someone he knew could fix a Tier-10 artifact. Literally nobody can. This artifact is also from a secret realm, and things from a secret realm are basically impossible to fix."

People whispered among themselves, though most still believed the same thing.

The young man had just spent a fortune on a dead relic.

Rudrean slowly exhaled.

For a brief instant, his eyes burned with excitement before his expression returned to normal.

’You better be right about this,’ Aelira muttered, though she was smiling underneath.

’I am.’ Rudrean looked toward the mirror being carried away by attendants. ’I’ve never been more certain about anything.’

His gaze briefly shifted upward toward the closed booth curtain.

Then he looked back toward the stage as the next lot began rising into the light, while somewhere backstage, the broken gray mirror was being packed away.

A useless relic to everyone else.

A multi-treasure fortune to him.

"Now then, it is time for the three grand finale items!"

"The first one is the Tier-10 Geofray Starviel Ore!"