Hell Game: Starting from Metropolis

Didn't the seller know the value of this manuscript?

If it weren't for its special circumstances, this manuscript could have been exchanged for three other poetry manuscripts.

"Why not? Exchanging collectibles is like making friends; you have to find common ground. It's not like someone has to exchange with you just because your collectibles are valuable. If that were the case, there would be no point in auctions; everyone could just go to a department store and buy things at fixed prices."

"Captain Penguin said seriously."

Everyone present nodded in agreement upon hearing its words, and the collectors who had lost the bids also fell silent.

"Your boss has a good way of putting it."

Liu Zheng praised.

"Of course, it didn't become a boss just because of its three brothers."

The projector replied.

"Humph!"

Seeing this, the gray cat had no choice but to give up, but he made up his mind that he would definitely find the seller of the poem after the auction.

"It's a pity that the fourth round of bidding failed. But it's okay, I believe the following rounds will be even more exciting. Alright, let's see what the items for the fifth round are."

"Wow, another heavyweight item. The level of this auction is truly exceptional."

Captain Penguin exclaimed in surprise as he looked at the projected auction items in front of him.

It was a large, golden scabbard, decorated with striking blue enamel, and in the center were many mysterious and ancient characters.

"'The Distant Ideal Land,' also known as 'Avalon,' is the scabbard of the legendary sword of victory and oath. The wielder of the scabbard will not age and will heal quickly from any wounds. When released in its true name, it will form an 'Absolute Protection' domain that ignores all forms of attack."

Captain Penguin explained.

“It’s actually this.”

Liu Zheng's pupils dilated in shock.

Even in reality, this legendary artifact of King Arthur is extremely famous.

"Of course, this is just a copy."

Captain Penguin continued.

"Cut~"

The crowd booed again.

"Don't rush to cut it. This item is even more interesting than the original. Take a close look at the inscription on the scabbard."

"Captain Penguin said."

What kind of script is that?

Liu Zheng asked.

“Those are runes.”

The projector replied.

"Runes? Aren't runes from Norse mythology?"

As a former online novelist, he still knows quite a bit of miscellaneous mythological knowledge.

“That’s right. So this scabbard is obviously a replica, and its function is completely opposite to the original.”

The person projecting the image nodded.

"The person who wields this scabbard will age rapidly, and any injuries they sustain will worsen quickly. When released in their true name, it will create a 'Limit Destruction' domain that amplifies all attacks. And the name of this scabbard is 'Hell Before My Eyes,' also known as 'Helheim.'"

Captain Penguin then went on to explain.

"Alright, let's begin the auction."

"I'll offer this one!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a collector raised his paddle.

The effect of "Helheim" alone was not enough to motivate these collectors so much, but with "Avalon" as a comparison, its collectible value skyrocketed.

The female collector, dressed in a high-slit cheongsam and with a strikingly beautiful appearance, presented a dried-up, shrunken heart as her competing item.

The dried-up heart looks about the same size as a normal heart, meaning that before it shrank, the heart was at least 1.5 times the size of a normal person's heart.

Moreover, the dense network of blood vessels attached to it makes it look just like a netted melon.

"Transplanting a vampire count's heart specimen will not only grant you the vampire count's power, but also his martial arts and combat experience, and at the same time, you will inherit his oath."

Before Liu Zheng could ask a question, the projector spoke up.

"oath?"

"Yes, this vampire count is a knight of oath. A knight of oath can make an oath to the god of knights, and the more stringent the oath, the more powerful the blessing received. Breaking the oath will result in the loss of power at best, and destruction by divine punishment at worst."

"That's what the projector said."

"Good heavens, what oath did this vampire knight make?"

he asked.

"First rule: Never voluntarily consume the blood of any creature weaker than yourself."

"Secondly, never indulge in any material pleasures beyond what is necessary."

"Thirdly, never use tricks or schemes to defeat the enemy."

The projector replied.

"Good heavens, is this still a vampire? This is more like an ascetic than a paladin."

Liu Zheng clicked his tongue in amazement.

"That's right. This vampire knight is by no means an outcast among vampires; he's quite well-known throughout the metropolis."

"That's what the projector said."

As for why this vampire knight turned out this way, the reason is not hard to guess.

Even legitimate vampires, like the vampire girl's blood father, are captured and used as dialysis machines, let alone this outcast among vampires.

"But it would be nice to take a picture and give it to a vampire girl to use."

He was a little moved.

While the vampire girl isn't exactly vicious, she's hardly a kind soul either.

She doesn't drink the blood of living people for two reasons: first, because she hasn't been a vampire for long and hasn't fully embraced the identity; and second, because she has a stable and well-paying job that allows her to buy blood packs from clinics or similar places.

While Liu Zheng is still around, the vampires naturally won't go against his wishes, but after he leaves the instance, it's hard to say whether she will collude with other vampires. It wouldn't be bad to give her an insurance policy with a knight's oath.

Furthermore, the vampire girl's current strength is indeed a bit lacking. To become a vampire count while bearing such a strict oath, the strength of the vampire knight is beyond doubt.

Of course, you'd need to take a picture of the vampire knight's heart first.

With that in mind, he decided to participate in this round of bidding.

After all, the effect of "Helheim" is quite good, and if the auction for the Vampire Knight's heart is successful, then both will be lost.

What should be used for bidding?

"Avalon" is definitely of epic quality or higher, and by that reference, "Helheim" is at least perfect quality or higher.

In other words, Liu Zheng would need to produce at least a perfect item or a high-quality item with sufficient collectible value.

After thinking for a moment, he took out a key.

Name: The Universal Key (Bloodline Curse)

Type: Item

Quality: Perfect

Effect 1: After use, it can open most conceptual 'doors'.

"Effect 2: When used by a non-bound blood relative, the user will gain the 'Extreme Misfortune' status, which lasts for one instance."

"Note: I'm warning you, don't use my keys to open other people's back doors again!"

"Can it be taken out of the instance: Yes"

Although the conceptual ability to open most "doors" is powerful at first glance, the side effect of "overwhelming bad luck" directly discourages him.

Last time, when the Black Koi's 24-hour luck value dropped to 0, it almost killed Liu Zheng and Niu Ma. If this continues for a whole instance, the entire metropolis might be wiped out along with him.

Anyway, he doesn't have any need for petty theft for the time being, so let this thing cause trouble for others.

After several more buyers raised their bids, Captain Penguin announced that the sale had entered the closing phase.

After a brief countdown, the auction results were announced.

"Congratulations on successfully bidding for 'The Universal Key (Bloodline Curse)'."

"it is good!"

Liu Zheng clenched his tentacles into a fist and swung them hard.

He's gradually getting into the swing of things.

As the universal key (bloodline curse) teleported back to the scene, the scabbard was also teleported to his front.

Title: Hell Before Our Eyes (Helheim)

Type: Equipment

Quality: Perfect

"Effect 1: When equipped, the player ages tenfold and takes 200% more damage. The equipment can only be removed after killing an enemy and absorbing their soul."

"Effect 2: Release the true name of the sword sheath, forming a circular area with a diameter of about 15 centimeters in front of the player. All attacks that pass through the area are increased in strength tenfold, the player's aging speed is increased one hundredfold, and the damage received is increased to 500%. The duration is half a minute, and it can only be used once per dungeon."

"Note: If I don't go to hell, how can I drag everyone else down with me?"

"Can it be taken out of the instance: Yes"

"Now it's really a glass cannon."

Liu Zheng looked at the effect of the sword sheath and sighed.

The negative effects of "the hell before our eyes" are truly enormous, but the positive effects are also incredibly strong.

If he had this when fighting Garcia, he wouldn't need any other items or Captain Dragonfly's help. He could just use the laser pointer and sword sheath to unleash his true name upon meeting Garcia and guarantee that Garcia would simply vanish into thin air.

As for the negative effects, at least while Liu Zheng still possessed the bloodline of the black goat cub, the problem did not exist.

It only accelerates the aging process by a hundredfold; if wrinkles appear, just cut them off and let them grow back.

"Idiot human, lend me this for a couple of days."

The plane tree said with longing.

"Okay."

Liu Zheng threw the sword sheath directly onto the black soil.

"?"

The plane tree, which had originally intended to take the opportunity to mock his stinginess, looked puzzled.

"You just gave it to me like that?"

"Otherwise what? Do we have to kneel and kowtow three times and offer it respectfully?"

He rolled his eyes.

If he's willing to lend something, then he's the esteemed French nobleman, His Excellency Charles de Lego; if he's not, then he's a sycamore tree that loves to drink urine.

What I mean is, aren't you afraid I won't pay it back?

The plane tree asked.

"Then will you not pay it back?"

"Of course I would not, but that's hard to say."

He stopped mid-sentence about the French plane tree and had to change his words.

"You forgot, you can't lie. You already said it was a loan."

Liu Zheng said smugly.