<h4>Chapter 22: Auction</h4>


    A day passed quickly, and a beautiful sunset could be seen in the city while the auction slowly approached.


    Minos was standing with some of his guards in front of arge building in the central part of the Maritime City. It was a massive building with a luxurious decoration that would make anyone think that it was in the capital of the kingdom and not in this deste region of the ck in.


    There was a lot of movement in front of the Ocean Market. Most of them were concentrated at the main entrance of the ce. But there was a second entrance a few meters away, where from time to time, very well-dressed and escorted people passed. That was the VIP entrance.


    At that moment, Pyke started to speak with a serious look. "Young master, I just found out that there are two ways to enter this auction."


    "The first is paying a fee of 1,000 low-grade crystals to enter themon section of the auction. That part corresponds to this ce." Pyke pointed to the long line while talking to Minos.


    "The second section is generally used by people fromrge families in the Brown Kingdom or those who intend to do big business in the auction. This is the VIP section. In it, the identity of those inside the room is kept confidential during the entire auction, and each VIP room has an exclusive outlet."


    "To enter it, it is necessary to make a deposit of 200 medium-grade crystals that must be spent during the auction. If the person does not spend the deposited amount, then he will not be able to recover his crystals."


    "Of course, members of the big families in the kingdom do not have to pay this deposit." Pyke finished.


    "Hm, I understand. We will pay that deposit, then. It is better not to take unnecessary risks. If the grade-2 sword is being sold, then I will buy it for sure." Said Minos with a resolute expression.


    Then, Corporal Pyke made the deposit at the Oceanic Market and got the VIP identification. After that, they entered the building through the VIP entrance.


    "Sir, can I see your identification?" Asked a young attendant with a smile on her face.


    After showing the identification to the attendant, she spoke. "Please, I will take you to your room."


    Then, Minos was amodated in arge room with sofas, drinks, and snacks. There was arge ss that overlooked the auction stage and also a concealment array.


    It didn''t take long before themon area waspletely full. It was almost time for the auction to start when the luminous arrays were finally extinguished, leaving only part of the stage illuminated.


    Time passed, and soon a middle-aged man took the stage. He was very well-dressed, with a luxurious suit that matched with his full beard and short hair.


    Minos and his group did not know, but this person was already at level 49, the limit of the General Spiritual stage. But many eyes in the audience recognized the man''s strength and were already shaking with excitement. Such a person as an auctioneer, this could only mean that, in fact, there was a big ''item'' being auctioned at this time!


    "Good night, everyone, and wee to the Oceanic Market, I think everyone is already impatient to start, so I won''t waste much time."


    "Today, we have some high-level items for our region, so prepare your crystals! Hehehe, as for the number of objects auctioned, today we have only 10."


    He then pped his hands and said. "I announce that the monthly auction of the Oceanic Market is open!"


    Soon after, lights focused on an ''item'' that was already on stage in a ce previously prepared. It was aged ck parchment.


    "To begin with, this is a specialized technique in moving, ssified as ck-grade and with 4 phases. It is called Floating Steps and can cause the user to triple his speed within a 20-second interval in the initial phase. That value can be increased exponentially in the following phases."


    "The initial bid for the technique is 5,000 low-grade crystals, with a minimum increase of 100 crystals."


    "5,500," said someone at the moment the auctioneer had just finished speaking.


    ''Hm, I don''t have any moving techniques in this ssification to make avable to the soldiers of the ck in Army.'' Minos thought reflexively.


    He did not want to distribute his Silver or Golden-grade techniques to people he did not trust or had not maderge contributions to. That is why he had nned to give ck-grade techniques to those who entered his forces.


    Only with their own merit could those soldiers obtain the best techniques. This was a measure to prevent Minos'' future enemies from stealing techniques from him!


    At this point, the bid for the technique had already reached 7,200 when Minos made his bid.


    "8,000"


    After that, there was a momentary silence in the hall. This was a good technique, but paying more than eight thousand was already a lot for a moving technique of this grade.


    "The lord in room 3 made a bid of 8,000, does anyone else?" Asked the auctioneer.


    Finally, the auctioneer sold Floating Steps to Minos. Then, an attendant went to the stage and took the technician to the VIP room where Minos'' group was.


    "Next, we will have a spiritual shield-type armor that can withstand an attack with all the power of someone at level 40. It was produced by an experienced cksmith from Stone Ind who is at the height of grade-1, high-level." The auctioneer pointed to a suit of armor that looked like arge metallic robe.


    "The starting bid is 3,000 low-grade crystals, with a minimum increase of 100."


    "3,200"


    "3,600"


    The bidding continued for a while until the armor was sold for 5,800 crystals. Minos made no move, as he already had his Indestructible Body, which could defend against someone''s attacks at level 39 and would continue to improve in a short time.


    Time passed, and two other items were sold. One was a grade-1, high-level, war hammer, which was sold for 7,000 crystals, and the other was a grade-1, medium-level, spiritual meeting array, which was auctioned for 11,000 low-grade crystals.


    "The next ''item'' is a map that, ording to our studies, appears to be from a period of more than 100,000 years ago. From the items represented on the map and the assessment of the highest level expert on the subject within the Cromwell Kingdom, this map refers to a high-level region in the south of the Central Continent."


    "As many of you may know, today, in the southern region of our continent, there is only one empire and one kingdom. However, this is considered to be the strongest region, with several experts who have reached level 100 in the past. So, this map can take you to a precious ce if you have the courage to take a chance."


    "Perhaps even you can enter a Spatial Kingdom!"


    After saying that, everyone was absolutely silent. Going to such a strong ce was a chance for anyone, but immense dangers would also apany any opportunity that came.


    "Interesting, maybe I will visit the south of the continent when I am chosen by one of the sects of the ming Empire." Said the young master of the Silva family in his private room.


    "Young master, this is very dangerous. Even Spiritual Emperors aremon in the south of the continent." Alerted the protector Philip.


    The auctioneer then continued. "As there is a chance that the map will not lead to any great treasure, the Ocean Market has evaluated this'' item ''at 5,000 crystals, with a minimum increase of 500 low-grade crystals."


    Soon after, offers were made.


    "5,500"


    "6,000"


    "6,500"


    "7,000"


    "10,000" The young Darell made a big move at once.


    "10,000, for the gentleman in room 5, does anyone give more?" The auctioneer asked as he looked in the direction of the eight special rooms.


    "Very well! The map will be sold for 10,000 to the lord of room 5."


    The auction continued for a while, but no ''item'' caught the attention of Minos or the young master of the Silva family. The most expensive was sold at 7,000 crystals and the cheapest at 5,000.


    When the ninth ''item'' was finally auctioned off, a sword was slowly lit on the stage. It was about 1 meter long, with a spiral symbol on the snitch and a four-leaf clover-like handguard. The auctioneer continued with his expressionless face when he announced.


    "Thest'' item ''of our auction is something that has been generating rumors in our city recently. And in fact, these rumors were true, this is a grade-2, low-level, spiritual sword, which was forged by a great cksmith from the Kingdom of the Waves, and it will be auctioned now."