Chapter Sixty-One: The Four-Leaf Clover Adventurer Team

However, his delusions were quickly shattered. The appraiser’s eyes were sharp, and only after recognizing its true worth did he dare to give Chu Yun a pre-sale estimate of five thousand gold coins.

“Three thousand gold coins. I’ll take it,” said a tall, gaunt merchant, raising the bid as quickly as Chu Yun.

His face was sallow, his eyes sunken, making him look like a living corpse.

“It’s Mr. Wagner—who would have thought he’d show up today?”

“Wagner is the executive of the Blackstone City Chamber of Commerce. His judgment is rarely wrong. I’ll bid three thousand three hundred gold coins!”

Three thousand three hundred gold coins was the price for the first rare item, the dark elf artifact. Clearly, people in this world are far more interested in magical goods than in amusements, and willing to pay more for them.

But the most important factor was the inherent value of the item itself. As an atmospheric creature, its rarity and unique properties warranted such a price. There are plenty of obese nobles in the capital; if crafted into garments that reduce weight, it could fetch an excellent price.

“This is a magical creature material with levitation properties. Even without any treatment, a touch of wind element power can make it float and carry objects. If processed well, it could be fashioned into a flying carpet—an extraordinary flying tool. Don’t miss out!” The auctioneer spared no effort in promoting Chu Yun’s product.

To be honest, Chu Yun felt a pang of reluctance in his heart at that moment.

“Four thousand five hundred gold coins!” Chu Yun called out his bottom price.

If no one else bid, he would buy it back himself—even after deducting the fees, he could still make a small profit.

This price startled quite a few spectators, but those who truly recognized its value did not give up.

They turned their gaze toward Chu Yun’s private room, trying to discern who was bidding so aggressively.

Chu Yun smiled and addressed them, “I am actually the seller of this item. But now I somewhat regret letting it go. If you don’t mind, I’ll reclaim it myself.”

Many had witnessed Chu Yun slay the Thunderwater Ray, and the story of the Lalafell mother and daughter had spread rapidly. Well-informed figures in Blackstone City already knew the origins of the Thunderwater Ray; there was no hiding it.

Upon hearing Chu Yun’s words, the crowd understood. Cancelling an auction outright would incur a hefty penalty, but sellers were not barred from participating in the bidding. As long as the rules were followed, there was no issue. Even if it were forbidden, sellers could easily have friends bid on their behalf, making such restrictions pointless.

The chamberlain of the merchants’ guild listened expressionlessly, then raised the bid to five thousand gold coins.

“That’s the reserve price set by the auctioneer, isn’t it? No need to lose money redeeming it,” he said coolly.

Chu Yun didn’t have much gold on him, and his fire crystals hadn’t been exchanged yet. Even if he converted them, he estimated his resources couldn’t match his opponent’s wealth.

But that didn’t matter; it looked like the item would fetch a respectable price. He simply didn’t want to wait for the slow, incremental bidding, preferring to learn the final price quickly.

“Six thousand gold coins. I imagine Miss Rose will be delighted. Perhaps she’ll even agree to go out with me,” said an aristocrat from afar.

Miss Rose, whom he mentioned, was one of the four great beauties of the Kingdom of Elno, her family powerful and influential, with many admirers and suitors in the imperial capital. Should he succeed in marrying into her family, such a sum would be trivial.

Six thousand gold coins was no small amount, and many began to hesitate.

Taking advantage of the moment, the auctioneer pressed on, “Since the Starfall Incident, magical creatures have grown restless everywhere. Some nations’ villages and towns have suffered frequent attacks. In the days ahead, this will only become more severe…”

“Why keep your money idle? Better to invest in something useful. Boots made of Thunderwater Ray leather can greatly increase your speed; garments lighten your weight. When fleeing from a powerful enemy, you may not outrun the monsters, but at least you’ll outrun your companions!”

Whether moved by these words or simply drawn to the item’s properties, a beautiful elven girl unexpectedly joined the bidding.

“Six thousand one hundred gold coins,” she declared. A longbow hung on her back; she had originally come for the auction’s grand finale weapon.

But seeing the situation, she realized she might not have enough for that, and her current weapon would still suffice for some time. Thus, she resolved to purchase the Thunderwater Ray’s hide.

With such a large hide, she could craft several magical items and share them with her sisters, boosting their strength as a group.

“So, she’s from the Clover Adventurer Team. Elves are renowned for their speed; with this material, their power would certainly rise.”

Clover was an all-elven adventurer group, moving through human society. They often operated near Blackstone City and had close ties to the city lord’s wife—some even believed they were her personal armed force.

Seeing Clover bid, the chamberlain hesitated.

Fortunately, the noble from the imperial capital raised the stakes again, bidding six thousand five hundred gold coins.

Now it was the Clover elf’s turn to waver, for crafting magical equipment consumed considerable funds.

For a moment, no one else bid.

This was not the outcome Chu Yun desired. Only when rivals fought tooth and nail could he earn more.

“Elf friend, have you heard of Miss Lysa?” Chu Yun addressed her.

Hearing the seller speak, Clover’s elven leader responded politely, though she didn’t know Chu Yun.

“Do you mean the daughter of Viscount Carl? Naturally, I’ve heard of her. But I don’t see what connection she has to this auction.” Though the elven girl appeared youthful, she had lived in Blackstone City for over a decade.

She knew well about such a distinguished noble as Viscount Carl. She had also heard of Lysa, whose independence and courage to resist made her deeply admired, especially among women.

“In fact, I kept some Thunderwater Ray hide for myself, intending to ask Miss Lysa to help me craft a flying device.”

“If all goes well, Miss Lysa’s invention could be revolutionary—a product that would change warfare, transportation, and the way adventurers explore!”

Chu Yun had witnessed Lysa’s craftsmanship firsthand. Her research direction might have been off, but her skill was unrivaled, far surpassing Chu Yun himself. Even if she failed to complete her work during the Goddess Festival, with more time, she would surely succeed.

“The device’s performance, by my conservative estimate, should be no less than a third-tier wind magic flight spell.”

Flight is a complex process. While wind magic can enable a mage to fly, only a select few in this world have the proficiency to control such spells.

“Is what you say true?” The Clover elf was dubious.

A faint green light flickered in her eyes—she was a ranger, versed in magic. This was her specialty, an essential spell for elves mingling among humans: “Discern Lies.”

The spell allowed her to judge the truthfulness of the speaker’s words through their expressions, gestures, and spiritual aura, with remarkable accuracy.

“As a second-tier mage of the Mage Guild, this is my personal assessment. Whether you believe it is up to you.”

“Miss Lysa is a most admirable lady. I trust in her abilities.”

Even those who questioned Chu Yun’s judgment or Lysa’s talents would not dare to voice their doubts publicly.

After all, Viscount Carl, though only a viscount, matched the captain of the Hager Knights in influence and intimidation—besides, he enjoyed causing trouble for others.

“I bid seven thousand gold coins!”