Supreme BeastTamer: I Can Copy and Upgrade Skills 10x!

"50,000!" Zara called out with a fierce look on her face.

She was not one to back down easily, especially when it came to something she desired. As a dragon, there was one thing she wasn't lacking—wealth.

Like all dragons, Zara was highly avaricious. Because of this greed, she had accumulated a frightening amount of gold coins and other valuable treasures, all carefully tucked away in her spatial storage.

It was this amassed wealth that gave her the confidence and boldness to go toe-to-toe with the people in the VIP area.

The auction hall was filled with tension. Nox sat in his VIP box, leaning back, his eyes fixed on the vial of Glacial in the center of the stage. He couldn't help but wonder if he should continue bidding. The price was climbing fast, and his thoughts were tangled in indecision.

Should I keep pushing for it? Nox thought. Or is it better to find it another way?

He wasn't sure if it was really worth the money, especially with his dwindling funds. He had only so much gold left, and there were other ways to acquire the vial.

Furthermore, he wanted to participate in the VIP-only auction as well.

Unlike the others, Nox knew about Zara's true identity thanks to his special skill, Analyze. She was a dragon, after all, and when it came to wealth, there was no shortage for her species. He was certain that she hoarded hundreds, if not thousands, of treasures for herself.

It was clear to Nox that this wouldn't be easy. He wasn't sure whether to keep pushing or just walk away.

"This... the vial is rare to come by, but it certainly doesn't warrant that much," a seasoned alchemist with deep gray eyes frowned.

Another one nodded. "Though it would take some time and cost money, putting a request in the Adventurers' Guild to find the vial would be much cheaper."

When Nox heard bits of the ongoing conversation, the little doubts in his heart vanished, and he leaned back instead. Many might continue bidding because of pride or ego, but Nox wasn't like that. He chose to be smart and spend wisely.

"50,000! Is there any more bidder?" Anya called out.

"Is that VIP finally chickening out?" someone whispered.

"Chickening out? Tsk, I say he's smart." Another spat out. "He's smart enough to realize that it's not worth it."

"50,000 going twice! Going thric—"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"100,000!"

Suddenly, a powerful voice reverberated through the entire auction house, startling everyone. Nox was momentarily distracted by the sudden move and turned to the VIP box beside him. It was there the voice had come from, after all.

"This is madness!" Stay updated with empire

"Why did he bid that much?"

"They're just throwing away money."

The crowd grew restless, murmuring among themselves. Anya, the auctioneer, seemed a bit rattled but maintained her composure, even though she hadn't expected the bid to jump up like this.

"100,000 gold coins," she repeated, trying to keep control of the situation. "Any higher bids?"

For a moment, no one dared to raise their paddles. It seemed like Zara was out of the game. But that was just a brief pause. Nox knew something was about to happen. It was Zara, after all.

From his short interaction with her and his observations from afar, he had come to realize that she was arrogant, prideful, and unyielding. She didn't flinch in the face of competition. The moment the price reached 100,000, Zara's lips curled into a sly smile.

"150,000," Zara said in a clear and crisp voice, the smirk never leaving her face as if she were daring Amos to continue. The atmosphere in the hall shifted, and the tension reached new heights.

Everyone froze. Even the other VIPs in their boxes stared at the stage, unsure of what to do. Amos, still hidden in his box, however, didn't seem bothered.

"One of the things I got from being the lord of the Blight Castle is wealth," Amos chuckled. "Let's see how far you can go, little kid."

Did he want the Glacial vial? Not really, but during that critical moment, he didn't know what had compelled him to bid. Amos was someone who always listened to his instincts, which had guided him through dangerous situations in the past.

Therefore, he decided to follow his instincts once again.

"200,000!" Amos called out, raising the bid without hesitation.

The crowd gasped. Everyone in the hall knew that the Glacial vial wasn't worth this much. It wasn't even close to that amount. Yet... here they were.

Good thing I dropped out, Nox thought as he sipped his red wine.

Meanwhile, Zara's eyes gleamed with determination. She wasn't going to back down. She had the means, and if anyone was going to own this vial, it was going to be her.

"250,000!" Zara's bid came quickly, shocking everyone again.

Even Amos seemed to pause for a split second. But then, with a deep breath, he raised his paddle once more. "300,000," he said casually, almost like it was nothing. But even he knew this was getting ridiculous.

Gulp!

Nox forcefully swallowed his wine instead of spitting it out. He looked on with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. Was this really necessary? He hadn't expected this to escalate so quickly.

"At this point, this is just pure madness," Wendy, who had seemed disinterested all this while, finally spoke, her wide eyes betraying her surprise.

"400,000!" Zara raised the stakes even higher, her expression unflinching.

The whispers in the room grew louder.

"What is going on? Is this really happening? Who would pay this much for the vial?"

"Madness. The two of them are mad!"

Anya was left in stunned silence, unsure of how to proceed. The auctioneer was supposed to keep the event smooth, but this was something entirely different. She had never expected this kind of escalation.

I hope they don't accuse us of scamming them later, she thought, a bit concerned.

But before Amos could speak again...

"500,000!"

Zara wasn't done yet. She shouted, her voice ringing through the hall. The crowd collectively gasped.

Amos's hand trembled for a moment. But then, with a resigned smile, he raised his paddle again. "600,000," he called out, almost as if he were bored with the entire exchange.

Nox couldn't help but laugh quietly to himself. This was getting out of hand; this auction was turning into a game of pride between two wealthy individuals.

"700,000!" Zara responded almost immediately.

The room was on edge, every eye on the two participants. The tension between Amos and Zara had turned into something far more intense than anyone had anticipated. It wasn't just about the vial anymore; it was about who would win this war of pride and wealth.

"800,000!"

By now, even Nox was starting to wonder if these two were really in their right minds.

"900,000," Zara declared.

The crowd was stunned. No one could believe what they were hearing. The Glacial vial wasn't worth a fraction of what they were bidding. This was becoming pure madness.

But more than that, everyone was curious about who would come out on top in this war.