Nameless King

"Alice, after the auction, I want to go with you to your town. Even if monsters have already destroyed it, it is still very important."

"Okay...but I'm not sure I can point in the exact direction, but I'll try!"

"That will be enough. Ern, you don't mind me taking her for a few days, do you?"

"No, that's okay, but bring her back in one piece, even though I paid a hundred thousand for her, she's actually priceless." Ern said calmly, draining his wine glass.

"So I'll stay with you..." Alice muttered. She didn't know how to react to Ern's words, she had mixed feelings. He was talking about her like a thing, yet not treating her like a slave.

"Huh, sure. I understand that you would like to be with Wain, since you are of the same race, but I bought you, and I have no intention of selling you. Don't worry. I'll make a warrior out of you quickly, but you need to be disguised first. If many people find out who you are, you and I will be in trouble."

Alice nodded. She was glad she didn't end up with an old pervert, but a straightforward Ern.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for another lot to make you marvel!" The auctioneer exclaimed, and a girl came on the stage with a small box.

She opened it, and inside was a small red stone from which a dim light was emanating. Everyone immediately smelled a strong smell of blood.

Crackling.

The auctioneer struck the floor with his cane.

[Bloodstone (High Quality).

A stone filled with highly concentrated Blood Essence. When absorbed, it increases blood purity by 5%. The effect lasts until 90% blood purity, after that, the effectiveness will drop by half, and after 95%, the effect will disappear completely].

"Great, that's what I came here for." Wain smiled.

"You need to increase blood purity?"

"Yes. Doesn't everyone need that?"

Ern shrugged, "Personally, I'm not interested."

"That's good. From the looks of it, you still have plenty of money. I wouldn't want to haggle with you."

The auctioneer was pleased with the reaction, he saw the flame in most guests' eyes.

"The starting price is 3,000 Void Souls! A minimum bid of 500 Void Souls."

"Five thousand!"

"Nine!"

"Twelve!"

There were plenty of people willing to buy a Bloodstone of this quality, and they weren't going to spare any money for it.

"Twenty thousand." Wain stated.

"Ohohoho, it looks like you're serious."

"Yeah, I don't intend to hold back."

"Twenty-five thousand!" Axalt on the second floor exclaimed, "Man, do you really need that stone that bad? You better give it to me."

"Huh, don't get your hopes up. Thirty thousand."

Axalt frowned. He couldn't afford to spend more than that on one lot, or he wouldn't have another day left.

Wain grinned. No one else dared to spend such a huge sum on the Bloodstone.

"There seem to be no more willing bidders." The auctioneer stated.

"Thirty-five thousand." Suddenly someone on the second floor upped the ante.

'Erza! Damn it!'

Erza stared intently at Wain and Alice. The Inerians girls were the most jealous creatures in the world and along with the passion came the intent to kill from Erza.

"Ahaha, it looks like your friend has decided to get in your way." Ern said and pulled Alice close to him so that Erza would calm down.

"Forty thousand." Wain raised the stakes.

"You want that stone that badly?" Erza asked.

"Yes. Back off, or our relationship will be ruined forever."

Erza hesitated. Wain's threat to her was very serious. He had managed to get away from her once before, and Erza understood that it would be difficult for her to capture Wain.

"Have it your way."

"Sold!" The auctioneer exclaimed.

"Bring the stone here, now."

"Of course." The auctioneer smiled and moved on to the next lot.

The girl entered the room a moment later and handed the Bloodstone to Wain. He moved it to the Ring of Damned.

"Decided to wait for a good time?"

"Something like that. By the way, you said there would be an item you created at the auction. Where is it?"

"Be patient. You'll have to wait a little while, because it will be shown in the second stage of the auction, and you still have to get there."

"I couldn't expect that."

Wain was surprised. He had already figured out that Ern was a man of many secrets, and he had a lot of trumps.

'Looks like Ern is a great blacksmith, in which case it's no wonder he decided to give a hundred thousand for Alice.'

The auction continued, and after a while, there was an item that managed to interest Wain.

"This is a set of twelve potions with unique properties." The auctioneer pointed to a chest containing twelve multicolored flasks.

The guests read the description and had a mixed impression. The potions were unusual but useless, none of the effects were useful in battle, it was entertainment for collectors.

"The starting price is two thousand Void Souls! The minimum bid is two hundred Void Souls!" The auctioneer also understood this and so the price was low.

"Five thousand." Wain stated. He had promised Edena that he would buy potions if the opportunity arose, and he wasn't going to save any money.

No one else competed with him since they were sure Wain had plenty more money. Ern also influenced this, everyone was sure he would help Wain if necessary.

"Sold!" The auctioneer stated, and soon Wain had the potions.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I must state that this was the last item of this auction phase. Please come forward and go down the stairs for all who wish to continue. This will be my farewell. It has been my pleasure to conduct this auction part for you!" The auctioneer struck the floor with his cane and vanished like a ghost.

"Looks like you didn't fool me about the second part." Wain muttered.

"Hmm? Do you really think everything I say is a lie? I'm probably the most honest man of all the people here." Ern finished his wine and headed for the exit, "Alice, follow me."

"Yes!"