Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 851: Chapter 647: The VIP Auction on Reception Island

An Yanfei sat blankly in Hill’s study, unable to react for a long time. Hill couldn’t bear to see him like this and cast a healing spell on his blood-soaked hand. Is this child a bit reckless?

The family’s sorcerer still looked incredulous: in just a few days, his hometown might be gone.

He recalled every blade of grass and tree from his childhood, his eyes turning red.

Hill listened to his incessant mutterings and thought of the people who left without looking back. He couldn’t help but ask, ”Haven’t those noble clans who betrayed Benevolence City already left? Why do you speak as if the whole city is going to disappear?”

”The Shulong Empire would never allow a city that witnessed a betrayal event to continue existing in the world,” An Yanfei answered without lifting his head. ”The Black Cavalry sweeps the city first, killing everyone whose identity and background are unclear or who is connected to the traitors.

Then the Great Witch appears, completely demolishing the city, even tearing up hundreds of meters underground.

You mentioned before that the Blood Pool is located a thousand meters beneath the ground, right?

According to Shulong customs, at least fifteen hundred meters deep would be excavated completely and exposed to sunlight for seven days before purification again, and then buried back using earth mixed with talismans.

No matter how important the city is, it won’t be rebuilt in the same spot for a hundred years.”

Hill widened his eyes, recalling those repeatedly used cities on the Ferun Great Land, where lords favored places with ruins since many facilities could be utilized.

Is the difference between a government with money and one without so vast?

”The previous dynasty of the Shulong Empire...” An Yanfei whispered, ”It actually got destroyed because the conflict with the noble clans was too severe, and was ruined by the underground spaces that were utilized.

Also, the Earth Dragon Kingdom managed to become independent because they hadn’t cleared out the noble clans that escaped underground in time, allowing them to succeed in their attack.

After our dynasty’s first emperor ascended the throne, this order was issued. Even though it’s nominally to prevent any opportunity for evil people, everyone knows the real reason.”

So can you blame the current emperor for defending against your noble clans so deeply?

Every time money is spent, doesn’t the Shulong emperor hate the noble clans even more?

Hill shook his head speechlessly.

He glanced lightly at An Yanfei, whose concern was only that his home was gone, entirely indifferent to An Pengfei who was betrayed. The relationships between these noble clan descendants are really intricate, despite them being legitimate peers.

Perhaps An Yanfei is one of those who entered the legitimate ranking only because his level is high as a sorcerer?

What he reminisces, laments, barely involves anything related to family, merely occasionally mentioning the small yard he grew up in, sounding like he awakened his sorcery power early on and was taken away by the An family from the family he was born into.

That he chose to work on Reception Island seems quite normal. His sense of belonging to the An family is different from An Ran’s, more rational.

Hill leaned back on the sofa and smiled. The name Benevolence City might be destined to vanish from history.

He initially planned to leave directly, but An Yanfei felt indebted to Hill for saving the entire family this time, and despite intending to host Hill, had instead brought trouble to Hill. So, embarrassed, he solemnly presented Hill with an invitation to an auction.

An Yanfei’s expression carried a hint of regret: ”Great Mage Polanio, this auction is truly worth attending. Treasures from across the Toril World, and even the Stellar Realm, might be present.

You know that not every foreign merchant qualifies to enter Shulong territory for transactions, yet they still come just for this seven-day auction.”

Hill glanced at the invitation, inlaid with gold and jade, appearing like a book-type strange object!

He reached out to take it, and upon opening it, vivid presentations of various products appeared. The three-dimensional images looked very realistic, and placing a hand on them could command them to rotate.

An Yanfei spoke with a trace of pride in his voice: ”Such invitations are exclusive to imperial official auctions.

Such exquisite paintings can only be created by great painters recognized by Supreme God Chen Xiang.

The great emperor commands the empire’s artists to rotate annually, stationing one on Reception Island for a month, but only sufficiently precious or artistically rich items receive their favor to be painted.

Each treasure that receives their recognition becomes a star at the auction!

Every invitation is a priceless treasure guests can take home!”

Then An Yanfei deflated: ”This invitation was originally kept for the family.

I thought that after the An family trading with you, they might not be able to present something interesting enough for the year’s painters, so I spent military exploits to exchange for it.

But they definitely won’t come this year, and how could they have any money to buy things!

It’s unknown where they will move to; surely their vitality will be severely damaged.

Luckily we traded with you, otherwise how would An family survive next year!”

Hill silently flipped through the invitation, admiring the charm inked by the renowned Shulong painter; he never listened to the wealthy crying about poverty.

He had plenty of experience in that regard.

Before bidding farewell, An Yanfei took back Hill’s entry badge and returned the paperwork to him: ”Although Great Mage Polanio won’t encounter any danger, once the annual auction ends, the seas outside Shulong are always tumultuous, bodies strewn everywhere.

After all, the auction’s success hinges on numerous shipowners unable to enter Shulong.

By saving the time of replacing documents, you can leave this troubled place sooner.”

He glanced at the little fairies clustered outside the library window watching the spectacle and added: ”Even when watching the excitement, one can choose a safe location to observe.

Those people remain evil even in death, ladened with countless sins. There’s no need to mingle with them.”

Hill smiled, putting the paperwork away, softly thanking An Yanfei for his attentiveness.

This sorcerer from the An Family might still be young, like An Pengfei, filled with passion and justice without muddled feelings in his actions.

If it were An Ran, he would also deliver the invitation to Hill, but his words would carry the An Family’s goodwill implicitly.

Hill could understand An Ran’s ways, but he seemed to favor An Yanfei’s approach a bit more!

Hill suddenly chuckled; yesterday at this time, he seemed to think well of An Ran.

The complexity of people often left someone as simple as him feeling at a loss; otherwise, he wouldn’t have once been immersed in the gaming world, unable to extricate himself.

Gesturing for List to escort An Yanfei out, reminding him to gift a small token, inside placing a pea-sized piece of Mithril.

An Yanfei intended to give the invitation to his family not for any grand reason like the family’s future, simply to exchange resources with them, Hill recalled his expression while stroking Purwell’s tooth.

In Toril, wanting to purchase Mithril, apart from Hill, only those mountain dwarves residing in volcanic forges had it; they were unlike any other kind, refusing contact with anyone.

Only when the dwarven grand merchants venture to their volcanoes annually to sell living supplies might they occasionally acquire a small amount; even such a small amount is enough for all dwarven merchants to risk giant attacks each year to deliver goods.

But thanks to their attitude, Mithril’s price in Toril is almost top-tier; it’s the sole material exchangeable for Subartifacts, and Hill felt he could swap anything he desired in return.

After List dispatched An Yanfei, he stood next to Hill, informing him of those who sent gifts seeking a meeting recently; though List rejected all gifts, some identities were too complex for the Tower Spirit to decide whether Hill would want to meet them.

Especially certain high-level Half-Elves and Dwarves.

Hill smiled slightly, walking towards the bathing pool, thanking fortune’s grace and his relentless efforts allowing him now not to bother with whoever he disliked.

Only those who’ve weathered societal ups and downs understand how beautiful the dream of such capriciousness is.

So he still chose to meet no one. For any issues, please visit Agleya City and find Lynn; shipowners able to reach Shulong can surely head there?

He lounged in the bathing pool, examining the requirements on the invitation, comprehending why An Yanfei hadn’t mentioned him bringing items for sale; only those who’ve reported for ten consecutive years at Shulong’s Reception Island are qualified to send goods to the auction.

Others can only buy entry tickets, the worst seat priced at 5000 gold; a VIP room like Hill’s requires an invitation, not something needing further explanation.

An Yanfei thought quite well; should the An Family wish to exchange Mithril with Hill, they must present masterpieces from artists, thus lacking qualification for entry, relying solely on buying an invitation.

As a noble clan, sitting in a corner chair at 5000 gold each is impossible; face must be preserved.

And the invitation’s price is like another kind of auction.

Yet as a high-ranking official on Reception Island, he had the capability to obtain one; trading this invitation for family resources would certainly be cheaper than using military exploits in exchange with the Empire.

Hill checked the time listed on it, discovering the auction scheduled for the morning after the next lasting three days, seemed nice enough.

Upon hearing List announce An Yanfei’s arrival to escort him to the auction, Hill couldn’t help peeking at the time, indeed realizing it was still dawn!

The auction officially starts at ten in the morning, right?

Having switched into his black robe, Hill was a bit puzzled but still went out to meet this sorcerer.

An Yanfei greeted him with a smile: ”Great Mage Polanio, good morning! I’m here to bring you to peruse the small market before the auction begins.”

He led the way, saying: ”The items on display are those brought by shipowners who didn’t pass auction scrutiny. Rather than return them, they’d rather sell or trade them here for goods from other continents.”

Hill nodded in understanding, trailing behind him, and headed for a closed-off dock in the port’s center, where the auction was held aboard a tall ship there.