Who left their last words here?

Chapter 72 The Assassin [Monk] and the "Whirlwind Escort" Business (5k)

"Wait a minute!"

The major abruptly stood up from his seat and said in a cold voice:
"I suspect he's making a false offer!"

"Didn't I just say that the prerequisite for following someone is that the person is genuinely willing to pay a price?"

"Otherwise, should I just follow suit and bid if he maliciously inflates the price to 100 million and makes empty promises?"

As soon as these words were spoken, some people nodded in agreement.

But some people who knew the inside story of the auction chuckled quietly.

It turns out, it was a virgin.

"..."

Bai Zhou blinked, but didn't take it to heart, his expression remaining unchanged.

Being questioned is no big deal; Bai Zhou is long past the age where he gets angry when questioned.

Because the world is full of people who hold a ruler and scrutinize others. Even if you live your life to the fullest, you will still be smeared by the old ladies who squat at the village entrance and gossip.

Or...

Although the other party seemed somewhat hostile towards him, Bai Zhou had never actually paid any attention to bidder number 3.

It's like riding a horse through a forest and accidentally stepping on a rabbit, but the rabbit wouldn't be considered an enemy.

—Not an enemy, much less a rival, just a passerby.

This passerby was just unlucky.

He seemed to really need this bottle of [Tears of the Moon Goddess], but unfortunately he ran into Bai Zhou.

"—I can prove it."

Not intending to waste any more words, Bai Zhou simply spoke softly.

He casually reached into his robes, preparing to pull out a handful of ashes as proof.

But before Bai Zhou could make a move—

The penguin stopped him.

It turned its enormous head to look at position number 3, its eyes darting around:
"I think you don't need to worry about this."

"Regular customers may know that no one has ever dared to give us a false quote."

The penguin's cute, flat beak splits open, and its wide, staring eyes send chills down people's spines:
"Any paying customer is our auction house's best friend."

"But if they weren't friends, he definitely wouldn't have been able to leave this ghost market."

His words were calm, even tinged with humility, but the content was filled with absolute confidence.

And the moment the words fell.

With a "buzz"—

The entire auction hall, and even the entire building, seemed to tremble.

But the tremor was so slight that it was almost an illusion.

It wasn't even a tremor; Bai Zhou vaguely felt it was like a tiny... creeping movement?
It's not the building itself that's moving; it's the interior of the building that's moving.

The fleeting sense of dread was captured by the spirituality of every extraordinary person present, triggering an instinctive warning.

What exactly is the background of this auction?
It was only then that Bai Zhou belatedly began to seriously consider this question.

What kind of force could have such a hidden "outpost" in the Reflection Ruins?
What kind of being can so freely auction off these priceless treasures in a mysterious world where the strong prey on the weak and everyone keeps a low profile, and make these adults sit together in anonymity and patience?
"..."

While feeling a chill in their hearts, everyone below the stage remained silent.

There was a deathly silence all around.

Some people were learning this for the first time, and while they were surprised, they silently observed the reactions of others.

Some people knew a little about the inside story; they sat there calmly, cloaked and unmoved, without giving the slightest reaction.

"..."

Half a minute later.

The major silently sat back down.

The figure, who had fallen silent, looked inexplicably disheveled.

But before sitting back down, he turned his head.

His gloomy eyes, hidden beneath the cloak, glanced silently at the location where the white boat was.

"...I won't go with it."

Finally, the major gave his answer in a low voice.

The major who lit the sky lantern ended up hanging himself on a street lamp for everyone to admire.

He remembered this grudge.

Fortunately, no one knows his true identity.

In this place, the upper echelons of Tinghai gathered together, and the major himself was actually insignificant.

But if both the Bauhinia Company and the Special Administrative Region lose face in such a situation...

The consequences of that are truly unimaginable.

"Then, 500 ash per time!"

The toy penguin on top shouted out slowly, as if it was still waiting for someone to make a bid.

No one spoke.

【Tears of the Moon Goddess】is very effective in nourishing one's destiny and is considered a top-tier healing potion.

Moreover, the recipe has long been lost, and only a few bottles have survived, making them extremely precious.

But 500 Ashes?

They never understood what the two were fighting over.

With that money, you could buy a decent extraordinary weapon, and there are other affordable alternatives for healing.

Who would buy something like this?
Perhaps the Tears of the Moon have some peculiar effects that others are unaware of, but no one would spend that money to experiment with them.

—This is "ashes," not soil!
On stage, the penguin shook its head regretfully.

"500 Ashes twice..."

His unpleasant, hoarse voice dragged out the sound slowly:

"500 Ashes three times!"

A small, blood-red hammer, seemingly stained with human blood, slammed forcefully onto the table.

"--make a deal!"

"Let's congratulate number 22!"

People applauded the newly accused, the applause resounding like a surging tide.

The major also applauded.

But his expression was so gloomy it could drip water.

Only he knows what the Tears of the Moon Goddess represent.

That's something no amount of extraordinary weapons could buy...

Large-sized Moon Water, what kind of top-tier potion is that?
If he hadn't seen a description of it in an ancient book, he wouldn't have known that consuming [Tears of the Moon Goddess] at a special time and in conjunction with a special ritual—

You will then receive the blessing of the moonlight!
This is the origin of the name "Tears of the Moon Goddess".

This blessing will accompany you throughout your life, and it will take effect wherever there is moonlight, possessing all sorts of incredible and wondrous effects.

Throughout history, those who possess this blessing have almost all achieved great success.

however--

The true method of consuming 【Tears of the Moon Goddess】 has been lost along with the recipe.

For nearly a century, everyone who has used [Tears of the Moon Goddess] to heal their life's injuries and nourish their destiny has been wasting this top-tier magical potion!
Only the major, by chance, obtained the method of taking it.

Furthermore, with the help of this blessing, he has a 90% chance of achieving a perfect promotion to level 5!

...For this reason, he should have brought more ashes, even 1000 ashes would have been worth it.

But he's been too busy lately, and his funds haven't been flowing smoothly.

First, they asked a titled "painter" from the art society to deal with the Blood Worship Cult elder, which consumed a lot of his ashes.

Then, the matter of chasing Bai Zhou... caused him to pay a large deposit to the art club.

If it weren't for these things, the amount of ash he could readily control would be astronomical!

But there is no if.

Just as he never imagined that bringing so much ashes would not be enough to buy a mere bottle of [Tears of the Moon Goddess].

One unpleasant thing after another happened.
This gave the major reason to suspect that his luck might have been interfered with by some ritual, and he needed to go back and check it out.

But before that—

The major gritted his teeth, pondering how to handle the aftermath of this incident.

Giving up is definitely not an option.

The legendary "Tears of Moonlight" is so rare that every bottle used reduces the supply.

This is the only time in the past five years that "Tears of the Moon Goddess" has been available for sale in Tinghai.

If he misses this opportunity, not to mention the blessing, what about his perfect promotion?
From childhood to adulthood, the major has never failed to achieve what he wanted.

It always has been.

It's the same this time.

The major slowly turned his head and looked to his side.

The man, cloaked, sat there quietly and discreetly.

Sensing the major's gaze, the man turned his head and nodded slightly at him.

Beneath the cloak, a painted mask was faintly visible.

The mask was not made of a hard material, but rather a soft mask similar to skin, which fit tightly to the contours of the face.

But its color is a mixture of unhealthy gray and sickly green and yellow, its twisted mouth is always wide open, and its wide-open eyes are always focused, creating a silent and extreme terror.

It's like they're shouting something.

—The major didn't come alone.

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. He received this kind of education from childhood, so he would never walk alone in unfamiliar and dangerous environments.

The man before him was his "entourage" on this trip.

[Art Club] Ranked first among the sixteen "painters".

Edward Monk!
Looking at him, the major didn't say anything, but just gave him a wink.

[Monk] understood the major's meaning, silently turned his head, and secretly glanced in the direction of Bai Zhou.

His eyes showed a moment of doubt, but quickly turned thoughtful.

Then, he turned around and said a strange number to the major in a peculiar voice.

"Ninety-nine percent."

Ninety-nine percent?
The major was taken aback for a moment, then was pleasantly surprised.

This is Edward Monk's secret skill.

The ability to feel death.

He can instantly predict the probability of a fight between the two sides and his own death by analyzing the various postures of the person walking, sitting, and lying down, as well as a comprehensive summary of all their recent behaviors.

This ability is not directed at anyone, but at one's own "death," so it is almost impossible to block it by any means.

This is the source of his confidence in securing his position as the top "painter" in the Art Society and never making a mistake in his journey through the underground world of Tinghai.

Based on the major's understanding of [Monk]...

When he talks to people about the probability of death, he usually doesn't mention his own share.

Ninety-nine percent means that the probability of Monk himself dying is 0.01, while the probability of that person dying is 0.99.

How could someone so rich be... so weak?

The major was both surprised and puzzled.

"very good."

Suppressing his doubts, the major quietly nodded to [Monk].

The other party immediately understood.

It's inconvenient to take action inside the building, but we can wait until after the auction...

Just because you can't buy it doesn't mean you can't have it!

Listening to the sea, nothing he desires will ultimately slip through his fingers.

—The major will always find a way.

……

The rest of the auction was much more exciting.

The final few items in the auction were indeed extraordinary equipment.

Even from Bai Zhou's perspective, they possessed remarkable quality and were extremely powerful.

Kiss of Thorns

A Western-style rapier, with runes engraved on the blade and metal thorns wrapped around the hilt.

This thorn can spread and grow, turning red during wartime by absorbing its master's blood. This allows the user to connect with the rapier's intent, while also significantly enhancing their physical abilities.

The side effect is that after being drained of blood multiple times, there is a high probability that you will be affected by the sword and become its "blood slave".

The Sky-Reaching Rope

A rough hemp rope, about the thickness of a finger and three or four meters long.

It may look unremarkable, but once imbued with spirituality, the rope can be thrown into the air and the end of the rope can stop in mid-air without any support.

The more spiritual energy infused into it, the longer the rope becomes, stretching straight to the sky for people to climb.

The side effect is that each use worsens the fear of heights, and even dreams of constantly falling from heights.

Its users were often the most outstanding thieves and travelers, yet without exception, they all ended up falling to their deaths.

【Regret Bottle】

A small metal bottle with a crying face painted on it, in an antique condition.

When the holder experiences unusually strong negative emotions, they can inject their own blood into the bottle.

The small vial can record and amplify this emotion, thus altering the blood.

Afterwards, smearing this blood on a weapon will grant you a specially enchanted weapon that will affect and infect the enemy's mood when you attack them.

— You can also apply it to your palms.

A side effect is that the holder themselves may become more sentimental.

...and so on, a total of five extraordinary pieces of equipment.

Each piece has a glorious past, and some of their former owners were once renowned among the extraordinary people who listened to the sea.

Unlike the "Tears of the Moon Goddess," the guests were extremely competitive in their pursuit of it.

The major, who had failed to obtain the [Tears of the Moon Goddess], raised his paddle again and finally won the [Bottle of Regret] with a crushing price of 200 Ashes.

In a sense, they managed to save some face.

...It was only at this moment that Bai Zhou clearly understood what an extraordinary weapon meant in the mysterious world.

Most extraordinary individuals only possess enchanted weapons, and many level 4 extraordinary individuals are still using high-level enchanted weapons.

Only veteran Level 5 Extraordinary users have a chance to obtain a suitable Extraordinary weapon by utilizing various resources.

Every appearance of extraordinary equipment signifies a bloody struggle among high-level extraordinary individuals.

Only those at this level of extraordinary individuals can fully utilize the many wonders of extraordinary weapons, thereby elevating their own strength to a new level.

Generally speaking, the outcome of a battle between a Level 5 Extraordinary user who possesses an Extraordinary weapon with compatible attributes and a Level 5 Extraordinary user who does not possess an Extraordinary weapon is almost always a one-sided crushing defeat.

However, after thinking for a long time, Bai Zhou did not participate in the auction again.

In terms of lethality, these extraordinary weapons are not as sharp as the purple-gold saber, nor as sturdy as the short stick.

In terms of range, they are not as insidious and convenient as mechanical spears and guns.

Even the Heavenly Rope that Bai Zhou found most appealing didn't seem to be a necessity.

Because as long as he recovers from his injuries, he can transform into a black cat at any time and escape into the spatial rift.

Without realizing it, he seemed to have initially built his own combat system, and there were no longer any obvious weaknesses.

He shouldn't try to do too much at once. Once he has fully grasped and understood his existing abilities and equipment, he still has a lot of potential to unleash.

Once he takes the [Tears of the Moon Goddess] and his injuries heal, he will be reborn.

Having figured this out, Bai Zhou was more satisfied than if he had bought anything.

Because everyone present possessed distinguished status and formidable strength, even the slightest glimpse of their abilities was enough to send chills down one's spine.

Even Li, the specially appointed expert of the armory, could only sit in the most inconspicuous corner here, and was content with bidding on some small items at the beginning of the auction.

But these very same big shots are the ones who covet and vie for these extraordinary weapons…

It was nothing more than scrap metal that Bai Zhou wouldn't even look at.

This subtle sense of superiority is hard to describe; it's like falling into a pile of mints and eating three pounds of mint—a feeling of exhilaration that goes from your toes to your head.

After all, what is he himself?

When they took a picture of "Tears of the Moon Goddess," they applauded themselves as is customary.

But none of them would have imagined that the person sitting in the corner, calmly accepting their applause...

He was neither a big shot nor a young master of any family, but just a miner digging deep in the Void Realm, wanted and hunted by Man Tinghai, and never taken seriously by the major...

An unknown nobody from the city of Wancheng.

"Congratulations, you've won the bid for your desired item."

The giant penguin handed the magnificent box containing the "Tears of the Moon Goddess" to Bai Zhou and offered him his sincere greetings.

A massive figure loomed before the white boat. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that it was not a doll but a living creature, so lifelike that it seemed as if the penguin doll had devoured the person trapped inside, and the two had merged into one, giving rise to flesh and blood.

It is quite oppressive.

But it was rubbing its two black wings, extending the most friendly goodwill towards the white boat.

"Congratulations on your automatic upgrade to Level 10 member of our bank, as your spending limit at our bank is sufficient."

"This is a specially made box that we rushed to make for you. We hope you like it."

I received the heavy box.

The box is made of pure silver with gold trim and is engraved with many exquisite patterns about the moon goddess, making it look very expensive.

"but……"

Shaking its chubby, enormous body, the giant penguin looked at the white boat with a meaningful gaze:
"It is necessary to remind you to pay attention to your safety after leaving the auction house."

"you mean……?"

Bai Zhou's heart skipped a beat as he caught sight of the penguin's unchanging doll-like face:

"Our company cannot disclose any information about our customers, so please excuse me for not being able to say more."

"However, it is important to note that our firm is only responsible for the safety of our clients within the auction house."

"Once guests leave the building, our company will not be responsible for any behavior between them."

The big penguin shook its head and spoke.

But the implication is already quite clear.

The auctioneer number 3 just now...

What grudge could you possibly hold against someone so stubbornly?
Those extraordinary individuals are indeed all ruthless in nature...

Beneath the cloak, Bai Zhou frowned.

There is still some time before we reach 36 points and are able to leave the Reflection Ruins.

Given his current state, if he were to be targeted, things would become quite complicated.

Besides,

There was already a "Gem Witch" wandering around the ghost market looking for him...

A wolf before a tiger.

This is quite difficult.

"However, as one of our most distinguished Level 10 members, I sincerely hope to see you again next time."

"—So, please allow me to recommend other services offered by our bank."

As it spoke, the penguin suddenly flapped its wings:

“…Other business?” Bai Zhou blinked.

"I must say, you've come at the perfect time!"

The penguin rubbed its wings and raised its voice:
"In order to expand our business and better meet the needs of our premium members, we are preparing to launch the 'Whirlwind Escort' service."

"It's still in the closed beta phase, do you want to give it a try?"

"As the name suggests, this service can protect your safety until you leave the ghost market... quite suitable for your current situation."

"Of course, the price varies depending on the level..."

The giant penguin winked at the white boat.

Escort, substitute attack...

Bai Zhou, having understood what the other person meant, blinked twice.

So he immediately asked:

"—Are there also 'escorts' from Level 5 Extraordinary individuals?"

Yes, of course!

The big penguin flapped its short wings, its flat beak opening and closing, its tone cheerful and lively:
"We recommend a level 5 Emperor Penguin equipped with the extraordinary weapon [Ice Kirin], which is sufficient to handle most crisis situations."

"even……"

The giant penguin slowly walked over, casting a long shadow.

It blinked twice at the white boat, shook its big head, and looked incredibly cute.
"You can ask me to come out of seclusion!"

This mysterious and enormous "anomaly" rubbed its short wings sheepishly.

He uttered words that made Bai Zhou's heart skip a beat:

"I'd be happy to help you."

"But...it costs extra!"

(End of this chapter)