A metallic gleam flashed across the gathering hall as the auctioneer unsheathe a beautiful weapon before their eyes. The crowd turned quiet from the pure radiance and sharp aura the sword displayed.

Although the sword is the most common weapon in the Saint Empire and had a good market, the simplistic, unadorned, design of this particular blade made it obviously similar to Kairos’ refined steel sword.

Its shape, size, colour, and even its material is a complete match with what Kairos prepared. For a rich heir to use such a low-grade material for his product, this is definitely a challenge from Calculus.

“Hmm...? For this bid, there are also ten steel swords submitted as a bundle. Each of these swords is made with an unknown technique using seals from the Devilheart family’s research.

Once again, ladies and gentlemen, we have a new type of weapon, completely unheard of before, and as such we are unable to gauge its true value. However, we have rated to at the peak of Beast rank, Xuan grade, only half a step to Earth grade.

Since this is a new weapon and the creator have specifically requested a demonstration, so we will be testing out its power.

Please bring out another green copper stone.”

“Ahem! My apologies for interrupting Ms Auctioneer,” a loud and clear voice from an older gentleman yelled out from the observer’s stand, disrupting the auctioning process momentarily.

“I represent my young master, Calculus, from the Devilheart house.

The item we submit requires a refined weapon to test against for the effect of the seal to truly activate. Our young master suggests using a weapon with powerful inscribed runes to display the limits of our sword better.

Kindly accept this prepared weapon to use for your demonstration.”

The one who spoke is a steward of the Devilheart family. He picked up a wrapped bundle into his arms and brought it forth to the stage.

With a puzzled face, the auction lady received the bundle from him and unwrapped it. She involuntarily let out a soft gasp when a familiar-looking steel sword was revealed: One of the ten steel swords that the Dark Sword clan had won in the bid.

Those at the gathering hall had their jaws dropped to the ground when they noticed what happened. It is impossible to not recognise the weapon after all the hype earlier.

“Isn’t this year’s auction way too intense?”

Calculus had confidently sent a direct challenge against the most successful auction item so far, and most people simply loved to have a show.

“How daring! That refined steel sword is incredibly potent!”

Several of the family heads even nodded their approval for this action.

“The young generation needs to be like this after all! Challenging each other while continuing to grow.”

Kairos who saw this scene stiffened as a bad feeling rose from within.

He quickly suppressed it and then looked calmly at his friends. Those that sat around him saw Kairos’ calmness, and likewise, they also are influenced by him and calmed down.

“Let’s see what they are up to first,” he said.

The auctioneer held Calculus’ sword gingerly in her hands then looked at the steward puzzledly.

“Is there anything special I need to take note of for your weapon?”

“Please go ahead and swing it against an activated refined sword.”

The auctioneer nodded her head, and a helper that is holding Kairos’ steel sword infused his internal energy into his weapon.

Soon a bright glow that radiated powerful heat appeared from the steel sword. The terrifying power is genuinely head and shoulders above any other weapon created by steel. If not because the rune would not harm the weapon, the sword would have melted by now.

The helper nodded his head, indicating he is ready, then the two weapons clashed.

*Pang*

Completely unlike what everyone is expecting, the powerful fiery sword made by Kairos did not cut down the plain, steel sword that Calculus made.

As the two steel edges touched, all the fiery Ki unleashed from one steel sword are absorbed into the other.

The seal stone embedded in the middle of Calculus’ weapon shone brightly as it lapped up the fire elements it touched.

“Whoa! A weapon that also acts as a seal stone?”

“What kind of innovation is this? Has the Devilheart family been hiding their true strength all along?”

“This is just revolutionary. Who cares about a fire rune that is just a little more powerful than its peers! Kairos’ steel weapons can only match a vortex metal at the most, but this weapon could surpass them easily!”

“How could plain old engraved weapons compete with a seal sword?”

“D…defin….. Definitely! This is going to be the latest hit on the market! The Green Dog clan will bid eighty White Gold for this weapon!”

“Hah! Are you dreaming? Such a weapon shouldn’t worth so little. The Pink Chicken clan will pay one Platinum for this weapon plus six months of its exclusive buying rights!”

“The Purple Turtle clan will pay two Platinum for this weapon and six months of its exclusive buying rights!”

“Quiet! The auctioneer hasn’t even started the bid!”

The lady on the stage glared at the sword she is holding on her hands like it has transformed into a treasure chest in her hands, then she looked up blankly at the crowd who is hurrying her to start the bid, but for a moment her eloquent tongue has taken leave.

“R…right! The bid for this weapon starts off as … two Platinum! The minimum increase for each bid must be no lower than ten White Gold. Please ready your bids!”

This is by far the highest amount for the starting bids in the auction, yet not a single person felt odd since someone already shouted their willingness to pay that amount.

“Three Platinum!”

“Four Platinum, for six months of exclusivity!”

“Four Platinum and fifty White Gold, for the same!”

The bids quickly heated up, with each clan trying to outdo each other. However, none of the Third Prince’s men joined in the auction.

It isn’t rare for them to join in an auction of their own side to raise the prices, but because of how heated up the bids are right now, there is simply no need to do so.

After some fierce bidding and bickering, the item is finally sold at six Platinum without any exclusivity contract. In the first place, the Devilheart family wouldn’t agree to give anyone an exclusive deal when they possess such a hot item, despite the other parties’ insistence.

While this kind of business contract may earn them a lot of money, they felt there might be even better deals if they hold on to their invention for a while to whet the market’s appetite. It may sound rather risky to pass up good business contracts, but in the end, they gave in to their greed.

Finally, after the bidding items are delivered, the auction ended without any further incidents for the day. Everyone soon exited the gathering hall, talking about everything that had happened, and especially on the exciting demonstration where Calculus’ seal sword destroyed Kairos’ refined sword.

After the auction ends, it is time for the trade fair to begin. Since the auction is only a method to market their booths, it is just a small part of the trade fair, and the real sales are made at different locations within the academy compound. Interested parties could find any students’ stalls by referring to their handbook.

Kairos and his group also quickly moved to their location since they only have two hours to prepare. The area they are assigned to is dependent on when they had registered.

While they are setting up, a group of people with familiar faces walked over to Kairos’ side and greeted him.

“Ho Kairos!” Alucard greeted him with a wide smile on his face.

“Ho Alucard!”

The two quickly shook hands warmly. While one of them came from a lower caste, and the other is a high noble, at this moment they looked like long-acquainted close friends. Alucard threw him an indicative look and Kairos knowingly followed him to the sidewalk away from earshot of the others.

“Kairos, you should know that my Angelheart runesweavers, the Blue Frost blacksmiths, and the Northern Cross inscriptionists are the main providers of refined weapons to the empire. So I’ll cut to the chase. We would like to have you create for us top tier weapons using your newly discovered runes. Of course, in return, there will be a lot of profit to be made!”

“Hey, hold on Alucard,” a voice rang out from behind them.

The pudgy Principle Gai that was secretly eavesdropping quickly walked over leading a group of men.

“Hahaha! You should save some business for us. Hello Kairos. These few men behind me are all family heads from the Thousand Nobles, and they are enamoured with your inscriptions.”

After the auction demonstration where his steel sword had lost to the sealing sword, Kairos did not expect there would still be so many coming to him for trades. Granted, the principal had ulterior motives for bringing him business because he is still hoping Kairos to join the Fifth Prince’s faction.

Suddenly, a raging uproar started from where Kairos’ booth has been set up, and the noise disturbed their conversation.

The group looked at each other and saw the curiosity in everyone’s eyes, then without a word they made their way back towards the stalls. When Kairos saw the source of the commotion, a flicker of annoyance flashed across his face like a relentless fly is pursuing him.

Try as he might, but he couldn’t chase it away.

With a frown etched on his brows, he sighed. Calculus had set up his stall right in front of Kairos’ booth.