Emperor's Reckoning

"How does one acquire this VIP card that you mentioned?" asked Lyon toward the concierge.

The concierge smiled, "There are two means to have the VIP cards. One is to purchase an unknown amount of items from us, then we will grant you the VIP cards. The second one is to purchase the card straight away."

( So the first method is most likely a scam and depends on the higher-up's decision, otherwise, he would make clear the precise amount of items to earn that VIP card ) thought Rayus before he darted his glance toward Lyon.

"How much is the VIP card?" Lyon asked.

The concierge smiled, "You would need one hundred thousand SHT."

"What?" Lyon was flabbergasted by his words. "Did I hear you right?"

( I knew it, hehe, that kinda face always brings me joy ) thought the concierge. "That's right, one hundred thousand SHT."

"SHT as in shit? You want one hundred thousand shit?" asked Lyon with furrowed brows.

".... what?" the concierge and the three students shared the same confusion.

"Teacher, he meant the Second Heaven Token," said Rayus before he sigh.

"Oh... right, of course, I know what SHT means," said Lyon as he nodded. "What's the difference between the first floor and the VIP floor?"

"The VIP floor naturally has better seats, free snacks, drinks, et cetera," said the concierge.

"C'mon that's obvious, I want to know the real benefit," said Lyon.

The concierge politely answered, "Of course, you get to participate in a special round for special items that are definitely rare and valuable for both cultivators and collectors combined."

"Special round? So the first floor doesn't get a special round?"

"No, esteemed guest," said the concierge nodding. "However, those who are on the first floors get to experience how the VIPs outbid each other for the items that are auctioned."

"Heh, you guys do that to entice the first floor with the privilege of being a VIP, right?" asked Lyon with a wicked smile. "Good try."

The concierge smiled and nodded.

"Then how much is the first floor," asked Lyon.

"You will get basic chairs of course. More populated than the VIP floor and most likely cannot hide your identity. There are no foods, no snacks, and no drinks. Of course, you're allowed to bid against the ones on the VIP floor, if you have the capability to do so," the concierge explained.

"I mean, how much SHT?" asked Lyon.

"For the entry fee, you would need to pay a hundred SHT for entry, and you would need to pay each time you enter."

"Each time we enter? How about if you go outside to have a quick rinse for your throat?"

"Then you would need to pay another fee to enter again."

"Wow, you suck your customers dry."

The concierge remained professional smiling, ( That's the words the poor always uttered). "Esteemed guest, the auction is already underway and we are in the middle of it," said the concierge before continuing, "I suggest that esteemed guest make entry as soon as possible."

"Is the auctioneer a woman?" asked Lyon.

The concierge and the three students were taken aback by the subject of the question he worded out. The out-of-the-blue question was met with choked throats from their crashing words.

"Darling..."

Lyon opened his eyes wide as his lips quivered. He quickly turned and said with a step back, "I-I'm just joking! Y-You know I love to joke around right?"

"Then why are you stepping back, darling?" Selena took a step forward. "I'm not going to do anything, come here."

( She is really going to do something! ) thought Lyon and the three students seeing Selena's smile and the way she stepped forward.

The concierge made a fake cough, "I'm sorry to intrude on esteemed guest's blossoming relationship, however, it would be not in everyone's favor to cause a ruckus."

"Y-Yes! Selena, let's go outside for now," said Lyon seeing the chance as he grabbed her hands and pulled her outside before the three students followed.

"Well, that was awkward," said Rayus as he stepped outside.

"I was wondering who it was, but lookie here, if it ain't the new teacher of Nirvana School," a pleasant voice of a woman rum into their ears.

"Huh?" Lyon raised his brows before he and the rest of the group turned around and saw Vina coming with Yama by the side.

"What are you doing here?" asked Yama.

"Well now, the question should be, what are you TWO doing here," said Lyon. "I never thought that you two would be dating, be honest, oh sorry about my remark, but no hard feelings."

"We're not dating!" shouted Vina.

"Oof," Lyon made a wry smile as he looked at Yama sighing.

"Are you here to participate in the auction?" asked Yama.

"Well, yes," said Lyon. "I mean, I'm here, might as well take a look at it."

"Oh..? I thought you were going to buy your boys a weapon or something," said Vina as she raised her chin, "Clearly I was wrong.... huh?" ( Who is this beautiful woman beside him?! ).

( She is pitting him against his own students? ) thought Yama before he shrugged. "Teacher Lyon, do you have the VIP card?"

"The VIP card?" Lyon raised his brows.

"It's a staple for teachers in Nirvana School, if you don't have it, then you might as well not join the auction," Vina smirked. ( Seriously, who the hell is this beautiful woman?! Why is she beside him? ).

"A staple?" Lyon raised his brows as he rubbed his chin. "Such a specific word to use."

"That's because the item sold at the regular rounds are not really worth mentioning," said Yama. "However, an item from the special rounds can change someone's life, for example, the outcome of the coming event in six months."

"Hoo?" Lyon raised his chin and rubbed it. "That's interesting, so you two have the VIP cards?"

"I told you is a staple, of course, we have them!" ( Oh, that's probably his wife... is she seriously his wife?! Isn't she too cute for him?! ).

"I see, I have a few questions about this place that I forgot to ask. Do they hold auctions every day or is it a weekly thing?"

"It's once a month," answered Yama.

"So there are at least five to six more auctions before that graduation event," muttered Lyon.

"Yes, better save up if you want to buy something, if you can buy something that is," Vina smirked as she entered the auction house.

Yama nodded before entering the auction house himself.

"It's good that you can tamper your temper, Selena," said Lyon as he smiled.

"Darling, if you didn't hold my hand, her head would have already rolled," said Selena with a smile.

The three students had their shoulders locked stiff as they heard what she said. The cold killing intent from her words seeped toward the soul through their ear canals. They gulped, and even though they never witnessed her prowess, their instinct knew better that she actually could kill Vina.

( What a scary woman...! ) thought Reinhard.

After regaining their senses, Noah asked, "What are we going to do now?"

"Well, I don't have the VIP card, so we might as well wait for Elder Bucca to come out and talk to him. I mean... I could have the card... but I don't have enough Second Heaven Tokens. Heck, I don't even know what it looks like."

Noah and Reinhard had black lines over their head. They suddenly remembered that he was from the Mortal World.

"Here," said Rayus showing a coin inside his palm. There was a bronze coin, a silver coin, and a gold coin. All of which had SHT written on them. The size of the coin reflected their worth with bronze being the smallest, and gold being the biggest.

"Oh?" Lyon raised his brows. ( This currency is more friendly than the others or should I say, familiar ) thought Lyon.

"One bronze coin worth one SHT, silver coin worth ten, and then gold worth one hundred," said Rayus.

"So one hundred thousand would mean a thousand gold coins?" asked Lyon.

"Well it's basic math," said Rayus with a nod before putting it away from his sight.

Lyon rubbed his hands together, "Alright, how much do you three have right now?"

"... What?"

They suddenly found themselves squatting in a circle looking at a pouch and pennies in the center.

"And that amount to... well... one thousand and two hundred four Second Heaven Token," said Lyon before he sighed, "Damn, we're broke."

"Teacher, you didn't get paid upfront?" asked Reinhard.

"No, he didn't even mention anything about the tokens either," said Lyon before he gritted his teeth then suddenly found himself smiling wickedly whilst rubbing his hands.

"You're not scheming anything dangerous, are you?" asked Noah with a gulp. ( This is the principal we're talking about?! ).

"Well, you kids have nothing to worry about," said Lyon, "We will join the next month's auction, besides," he looked at the door of the auction house opening up and people coming out of it. "it's time to have a talk with that elder."