Chapter 61: Old Friend
On the day of the auction,
For the association, this definitely is the busiest day in the past half with how full the 25th floor was because of the auction. Inside the expansive and spacious reception lounge, many people were chattering away and there was even live music being played in the background which made Thomas' head hurt with all of the noise.
It was as if a dozens of insect flying all over him and wouldn't move.
Looking at what seemed the entire population of adepts in the city all in the same place was truly an stunning sight that made Thomas shake his head helplessly. After getting home on the day he brought the 'Black Sting', he came to known how big today's auction was going to be.
After finding a seat for himself, Thomas looked around the hall with a bored expression that lasted less than a second before he spotted Katherine and Clarisse's second personality Claire.
Once he saw them, the two also seemed to notice his presence and waved at him before walking to him and seating on the chairs of the right and left.
"Thomas, did you manage to put your item in the auction?" Thomas was leisurely sitting and he was so tired after completing mission after mission that it took a moment to hear the question Katherine had asked. Then, his eyebrows slightly raised in interest.
"Yes, thanks for the indication. I have also bought some anima techniques, it will take some time before I'm able to use them but they all good."
Katherine nodded while falling confused inside. It was true everybody had an anima ability they were born with while Thomas, without training in any techniques could so many things.
Katherine thought back to that fight in the wild when Thomas had been filled with orange light and strange markings all over his body.
It shouldn't be possible for him to have so many abilities, even Clarisse with her special ability that was her fire-like energy had limitations. Firstly, she couldn't learn most of the anima techniques since it wasn't compatible with her fire energy. Second, using it would cause another personality to assume control of her body. And the last was the fact Clarisse didn't have the power of an adept unless she changes places with Claire.
Those limitations are what made Clarisse stuck in the 3-star Adept level since her awakening all those years ago and a secret only her and Alice knew about.
As for Thomas, with each passing day he was less like a child.
Since his awakening, he had been growing at an astonishing speed. His powers were unbelivable for a boy that didn't seem to be anything special four months ago.
That light in his eyes he had when seeing the other adepts and creatures he couldn't only dream of fight was replaced by a something she couldn't describe.
As she wondered what secrets he had been hiding, Thomas was chatting with Claire who simply stared at the stage with a bored expression. Even he could see Claire didn't seem to like him and was only enduring because of Clarisse.
"You know there is nothing wrong about me, right?"
"I don't know yet." Claire shook her head then whispered in voice only she and Thomas could hear. "There are so many strange things that make you suspicious, something I get a familiar feeling and a sort of awe towards you and other times there this sense of danger from standing before an enemy. if wasn't for my other self's memories about you there is no way I would agree to keep you close to Clarisse."
Thomas went silent. If before it was uncertain, then now he was sure that was something of demonic origin inside her. But then it wouldn't make sense for her to feel any animosity to him when the title [Demon Lord's Successor] an effect that would make other demons respectful of him
Wait, Thomas reccaled his divine skills such as <Aura of Vitality>. It was an invisible aura of life that was constantly emanating of his body. It could make nearby plants grow faster, and fasten the healing of injuries and other things.
'Maybe it's the divine abilities I'm inheriting is conflicting with the demonic nature of Claire while Clarisse?' Thomas thought. 'If so it makes sense for Claire to feel this way unlike Clarisse when despite sharing the same memories, the former isn't friendly with him and the latter is.'
"Hey, Thomas, the auction is already starting." Katherine pulled his sleeve while interrupting his line of thought.
The moment she said the last words, flash of craftiness could be seen as her eyes were locked on the woman in military clothes in the audience.
Hearing the woman's words, all eyes shifted to the back row of the hall where Katherine was seating near Thomas and Claire.
Gasps of surprise and chatter could be heard all around as Katherine let out a sigh and rested her face on her right hand.
'Hee-he.' Thomas and Claire were surprised by this course of events and yet couldn't hold back the laugher when seeing their senior's wronged expression.
From the woman's words, both of them could have been told she was playing a prank on Katherine which was funny since they had never seen this side of hers.
'...'
"The initial price for this item is 150.000 credits with each bid having an minimum amount of 3.000 between bids."
As soon the price was announced, a man on the mid row was the first to raise his hand. "153.000"
"156,000!"
"159,000!"
"186,000!"
"233.000!"
Immediately, the price highly escalated to the point even Thomas wasn't able to accompany everyone who was placing a bid.
After forty minutes of prices being called, the supernova drug was sold at the price of 359.000 credits.
Thomas was speechless seeing the happy look on the buyer's face. Unlike Anima Techniques and and armaments, augmenting drugs such as this one were consumable items that couldn't be used more than once so why spend so much on a single capsule?
In that instant Thomas thought back to the system. Other than the skills, it was already proved the he could learn the experiences and other techniques through the eyes of a god.
So what If he could something else other than blacksmithing? There must be gods with alchemy knowledge, runic arrays and so on within the system, right? It would be nice if he could make the same potions and pills as the ones he saw in the system store...
And so one item appeared after the next and soon a jet black saber appeared on the stage. The moment it appeared, Katherine exchanged glances with Thomas.
"Now let's get to the next item. This one is the Black Sting saber, a relic found in the underground ruins below the city by a fellow adept. despite the familiar design it is made with a non-Human craftsmanship. Other than being a powerful and highly efficient weapon compared to a HG-31, it also possess the ability to project an energy field to protect the user. The initial price for this piece is 160.000 credits."
"170.000" A middle-aged woman dressed in black was the first to place her bid.
Its been months since he had seen Luccas' father and his already bad impression had become way worse since knowing of his involvement with Retribution.
"Hoho, Madam Kras is the first to place his bid. Is anyone also interested in this saber?"
"180.000" An Adept from the Bluewind was silent for a moment before raising his hand.
"200.000"
"220.000..."
An old adept with his eyes glued to the saber he stood up as his voice filled with the determination to win flatly resounded throughout the hall. "350.000"
After a few seconds, the woman in the stage had a bright smile as she declared. "Great, congratulations Mr. Wester for buying the Black Sting saber for 350.000"
And so Thomas first work had been finally sold for pretty good price considering it's quality.
With the his item finally sold, he had no more reason to pay attention to the auction and simply watched the next four final items, then leaving the hall together with Claire and Katherine.
Taking the elevator down down to the first floor, Katherine looked at her wrist computer before raising her gaze.
"What is it?" Sensing her gaze, Thomas and Claire asked. They seemed to noticed there was something with her expression that didn't seem good.
"It's nothing bad. Alice wants to see you two, it's about Lakebell city's training camp."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone