Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1669: Tough Competition

1000 Aevum for an ugly slave.

Who in their right mind would pay that much for him?

Sure, his body looked decent enough. With proper food and training, he could probably build a physique capable of making certain women stare a little longer than necessary. Broad shoulders. Lean muscle hidden beneath scars and dirt. But beyond that... there was nothing remarkable about him.

Even the auction committee had only dragged him here to fill the quota. A worthless body to occupy empty space beneath the stage lights.

The curtain marked with ’β’ emitted a faint pink glow before the light slowly dimmed into darkness.

Murmurs instantly spread across the lower floor.

”Out of all the divisions... Beta raised the bid for that ugly thing?”

”Interesting, isn’t it? The amount already surpassed the first slave with the draconic bloodline. Something about this feels wrong.”

”Hm... maybe a private deal was made beforehand. They’re probably just keeping up appearances in front of us.”

”Haha... wouldn’t surprise me.”

Soft laughter echoed between the crowded seats.

Earlier mockery slowly turned into curiosity.

The people on the lower floor stopped looking at the slave with ridicule and instead turned their attention toward the upper divisions.

The hostess weakly smiled as she glanced at the ’β’ Curtain. A trace of hesitation flashed across her face before she carefully spoke.

”Are-Are you truly certain about this? This product is not even remotely worthy of such a price—”

”Since when did an auction hostess begin questioning our purchase? Hm?~”

The sultry voice drifted through the hall like silk sliding across bare skin.

A few people blinked in surprise before quietly nodding to themselves.

The woman behind the curtain had a point.

Why was the hostess acting strangely over a purchase?

If anything, she should have been delighted.

A slave everyone considered worthless had suddenly reached 1000 Aevum.

Countless eyes slowly turned toward the hostess.

The woman visibly flinched beneath the pressure before forcing a professional smile onto her face.

”Hah... forgive me. I did not mean it in that way,” she said carefully while adjusting her posture. ”However, if this is truly your decision, the auction house has no right to interfere. Still... please remember the terms of purchase.”

Her voice became firmer near the end.

”Once sold, a product cannot be returned under any circumstances.”

”I am fully aware of your rules,” the sultry voice answered lazily from behind the ’β’ Curtain. ”Now proceed.”

The hostess inhaled quietly before raising her hand.

”1000 Aevum going once...”

!~🛎️~!

The curtain marked with ’ε’ suddenly released a faint golden glow that illuminated the upper floor.

A golden holographic number slowly formed above the hall.

[2000 Aevum]

”Oh my god... 2000?!”

People nearly rose from their seats as countless eyes locked onto the glowing number overhead.

The bid had doubled without even a second of hesitation.

Every gaze immediately shifted toward the ’ε’ Curtain.

Yet before anyone could properly process what had happened—

!~🛎️~!

A second holographic number appeared.

[3000 Aevum]

The entire auction hall fell silent for half a breath.

Inside the golden chamber, Nexus Epsilon’s fist slowly clenched against the armrest hard enough to produce faint cracks.

Its glowing golden eyes narrowed sharply toward the ’β’ Curtain.

Then—

!~🛎️~!

[4000 Aevum]

!~🛎️~!

[5000 Aevum]

!~🛎️~!

[6000 Aevum]

!~🛎️~!

[7000 Aevum]

The numbers rose violently, one after another, like sparks erupting from burning oil.

The lower floor, once filled with sneers and laughter, slowly descended into uneasy silence.

Even those drunk on entertainment began exchanging confused looks.

This was no longer normal bidding.

This was a battle.

Even if the lower floors understood the enormous difference between themselves and the upper divisions, seeing two divisions openly fight over a slave like this sent chills through the hall.

Slowly, countless eyes drifted back toward Lackey.

Toward the cuffed figure standing alone beneath the hall lights.

Yet no matter how long they stared at him, they still could not understand what exactly the higher divisions were seeing.

”I don’t understand why Nexus Epsilon is still bidding. Shouldn’t he be satisfied already? The product is selling far above its predicted value.”

”Maybe he’s trying to increase the value even further... You know, shill bidding.”

”Still, this feels excessive. Nobody spends this much money without a reason.”

Several people nodded with serious expressions while whispering among themselves.

Earlier, the lower floor had been filled with laughter, mockery, and casual entertainment. Now, however, an uncomfortable tension had slowly begun spreading through the audience.

Then one man suddenly frowned while staring at the floating holographic screen before him.

”Wait... why isn’t there any information about this slave on my display?”

The words instantly snapped everyone back to reality.

Eyes widened one after another.

Indeed... something was wrong here.

Unlike the previous slaves, no information panel had appeared after the product stepped onto the centre stage.

Normally, the hostess would provide a full explanation while holographic tabs displayed bloodline purity, combat ratings, genetic compatibility, abilities, and market value.

But now?

Nothing!

”Something fishy is going on here.”

”Excuse me, hostess! Where is the information regarding this slave?”

”Yes, provide the details!”

”You’re clearly hiding something from us!”

”What kind of auction refuses to show product data?”

Voices immediately began rising from different corners of the lower floor. Some sounded angry while others sounded nervous. Even several wealthy buyers sitting near the center rows narrowed their eyes suspiciously toward the stage.

The hostess visibly stiffened beneath the pressure.

Inside the luxurious golden chamber above, Nexus Epsilon leaned against the levitating sofa while overlooking the arena from behind its visor.

Then, for the first time since the bidding began, Epsilon directly addressed the person behind the ’β’ Curtain.

”Beta... could you give me face on this one?” Epsilon asked in a restrained tone. ”I truly need manpower right now.”

The moment those words echoed through the hall, silence descended almost instantly.

Even the floating surveillance drones hovering near the ceiling seemed to lower their mechanical humming as if the entire auction hall itself was listening carefully.

Everyone waited.

Then the sultry voice behind the ’β’ Curtain finally answered.

”Manpower?” she repeated softly, amusement dripping from every word. ”For what exactly? Since when did the great Nexus Epsilon, ruler of the market sectors, begin lacking people?”

A few people on the lower floor nervously exchanged glances.

Mockery.

Epsilon’s grip slowly tightened against the armrest before replying through clenched teeth.

”I have my own issues, and I don’t have time to explain them to you.”

”If you want him, then simply buy him,” the woman interrupted lazily.

”Wasn’t that the same rule you preached during the last auction?~”

”...”

Epsilon fell silent.

The atmosphere immediately became heavier.

Even the hostess stepped backwards, clearly sensing the tension building between the two upper divisions.

Then—

!~🛎️~!

[10,000 Aevum]

The massive number exploded above the arena in burning gold.

”Oh my god—!”

”Ten thousand?!”

Several people nearly stood up from their seats while others stared at the glowing number with disbelief frozen across their faces.

Another slave had crossed 10,000 Aevum.

Not a bloodline.

Not a warrior.

Not even a rare species.

Just a slave everyone had previously dismissed as worthless trash.

The crowd could no longer hide their confusion.

What exactly was happening here?

Why were two divisions fighting over him like this?

Inside the golden chamber, Epsilon slowly leaned back with a faint smirk of relief, seemingly convinced the absurd bidding war had finally ended.

However—

!~🛎️~!

[20,000 Aevum]

The pink holographic number appeared.

A collective gasp spread across the hall.

”FUCK!!!”

Epsilon’s furious roar thundered throughout the arena hard enough to shake the floating glasses resting on nearby tables.

Its golden visor snapped violently toward the ’β’ Curtain with naked hostility.

”You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?! Are you trying to settle scores over the past?”

Yet the voice behind the curtain remained calm.

”Sigh... Nexus Epsilon, I believe you misunderstand something. I am not trying to take anything from you. Frankly speaking... You are not important enough for me to bother.”

”...”

Several people inhaled sharply.

That response landed harder than a direct slap to the face.

Epsilon’s pure golden mech-suit immediately began humming with dense blue energy. Thin streams of light flickered between the mechanical joints while the plates around its arms faintly vibrated as if the armour itself was preparing for violence.

For a second, many genuinely thought a fight might break out inside the auction hall.

Yet the woman’s voice remained relaxed.

”Besides, I am merely here to purchase products,” she said softly.

”Nothing more. There is nothing personal about this.”

Epsilon stared toward the curtain for several long seconds before slowly nodding.

”Is that so...?”

Its voice lowered dangerously.

”Fine.”

!~🛎️~!

[30,000 Aevum]

The number rose again.

Yet almost immediately—

!~🛎️~!

[40,000 Aevum]

The pink number crushed the previous bid without even a second of hesitation.

The entire hall trembled with tension.

Epsilon gritted its teeth so hard that faint cracking sounds echoed from inside the mech-suit itself.

Then—

!~🛎️~!

[40,500 Aevum]

A tiny increase?

The crowd instantly understood.

That was the limit.

Epsilon could no longer recklessly increase the price without damaging its own financial position and... influence.

Even someone as powerful as Nexus Epsilon had limits.

And yet—

!~🛎️~!

[50,000 Aevum]

”...”

Absolute silence swallowed the entire auction hall.