Chapter 4: Chapter4-You Think You Can Steal From Me?
"What now, Young Master?"
The other members of the House of Violet surrounding Noah asked anxiously.
None of them had expected the guest in the Crystal Suite to actually produce so many gold coins!
Noah's face was dark as a storm cloud as he asked coldly,
"Mentor, who are those blind fools exactly?"
The Crystal Suite was shielded by a special barrier, making it impossible for ordinary awakeners to see inside.
The elderly man next to Noah, leaning on a dragon-headed staff, slowly opened his eyes, his tone filled with malice as he said,
"The Lady of the House of von Michelstein, her mentor, and… a waste who hasn't even awakened his mana core!"
Hearing this, Noah's eyes glinted with even greater killing intent.
"The House of von Michelstein? What a coincidence to run into them here!"
The House of Violet and the House of von Michelstein were longstanding rivals, locked in bitter conflict for years.
Knowing that the House of von Michelstein had set their sights on this unclaimed planet, the House of Violet had dispatched Noah to establish a fortress and vie for control.
"If it's just the three of them… Mentor, we can't act within the Stellar Auction. Keep an eye on them and make sure they don't escape!"
"Honored guests, here are the items you've purchased with the buyout. Please inspect them!"
Inside the Crystal Suite, the monocle-wearing general manager entered respectfully, leading a group of elegant attendants who carefully presented the auction items before Velen and his two companions.
The general manager's gaze lingered on Anastasia, clearly assuming that the buyer was the Lady of the House of von Michelstein.
Looking at the array of precious auction items before her, Anastasia's heart burned with excitement.
However, she quickly regained her composure and turned to Velen.
"The items are here; they're yours to inspect."
Though Velen was now part of the fortress team, the items were, after all, purchased with his gold coins.
Hearing her words, the general manager shifted his attention to Velen. His pupils shrank slightly in surprise.
This young man was the buyer?
He looked like he hadn't even awakened his mana core!
Yet, not only had this youth produced so many gold coins, but he was also seated alongside Anastasia, implying a close relationship.
Could he be an important figure the general manager hadn't heard of?
As the general manager's gaze grew more reverent, Velen was immersed in the system's notifications.
"Congratulations, Host, on spending 1 million gold coins! Reward: 200 luxury points!"
200 luxury points, just like that! Not bad at all!
Delighted, Velen noticed the general manager waiting for his response.
With a casual wave, he said,
"Just pack everything up and send it to the fortress."
Velen's nonchalant attitude toward the expensive items made the general manager regard him as even more unfathomable.
Without delay, the general manager had the items stored in a spatial pouch, respectfully handed it to Velen, and left quietly with his attendants.
"Miss, we're being followed."
Not long after leaving the Stellar Auction, the elderly mentor suddenly glanced toward a patch of empty space and spoke softly.
Anastasia remained calm. "House of Violet pests. Go deal with them."
The mentor nodded. His frail frame blurred into a streak of light as he swiftly disappeared from sight.
Velen watched the mentor's ghostly movements with growing curiosity about awakeners.
After all, in this age of interstellar exploration, awakeners were the leading figures.
The names of powerful awakeners echoed across the stars, revered by countless people.
Some legendary awakeners were said to have lived for over ten thousand years!
Boom!
Not long after the mentor left, a deafening explosion erupted in the distance.
The violent mana fluctuations shook the very ground and sky.
It was clear the mentor had engaged the pursuers in battle.
Velen glanced at Anastasia, noting her composed expression, and exhaled in relief.
But just as he was about to continue following Anastasia, a figure appeared behind him.
It was a young man with a cold smile on his face. "Lady Anastasia, we meet again!"
"Noah, are you trying to stop me?" Anastasia asked indifferently, her gaze steady.
She had recognized him back at the auction hall but chose to ignore him.
Though Noah was the young master of the House of Violet and, at 19, already an Apprentice Rank Level 9—a prodigious talent—he was no match for her. She hadn't expected him to make such a bold move.
Seeing Anastasia's haughty demeanor, Noah sneered,
"Anastasia, hand over the items you bought at the auction. Considering you're the Lady of the House of von Michelstein, I'll make your death swift!"
Anastasia replied coolly, "You think you can stop me? Or are you counting on those dozen Novice Rank awakeners behind you?"
As her words fell, powerful mana waves surged from all directions, encircling Anastasia and Velen.
It was the group of young men from the auction, all Novice Rank Level 9 awakeners.
Their chaotic mana fluctuations caused the surrounding grass and trees to burst apart.
Velen glanced around at the hostile awakeners.
From what he knew, awakeners were ranked as follows:
Novice Rank, Apprentice Rank, Adept Rank, Expert Rank, Elite Rank, Titan Rank, Heroic Rank, Supreme Rank, Ascended Rank, Divine Rank, Constellation Rank, Demigod Rank, God Rank…
Each rank had Levels 1 through 9.
Reaching Novice Rank Level 9 was already quite an achievement, granting significant strength and status above ordinary people.
Though Velen knew Anastasia was powerful, the House of Violet was an alchemy family, known for their expertise in potions and scrolls.
Alchemy families typically focused on crafting items rather than personal combat prowess, yet their tools often allowed them to challenge foes 2 to 3 ranks above their own.
But here were more than a dozen of them!
Not to mention, they came from a renowned alchemy family.
As Velen thought about the House of Violet's reputation for scroll-making and glanced at his own inventory of scrolls, he couldn't help but grin.
He stepped forward and said coldly, "I heard you have a lot of scrolls?"
Noah glanced at Velen and chuckled. "A waste who hasn't even awakened his mana core, playing the hero? Know your place!"
One of Noah's companions whispered,
"Young Master, I think he's the one who brought out a million gold coins at the auction!"
Hearing this, Noah's expression darkened.
"So, it was you who ruined my plans?"
Velen shook his head. "Ruined your plans? The auction follows simple rules: the highest bidder wins. If you can't afford the gold coins, don't blame me. Maybe get your head checked."
Noah's eyes flared with anger, but a cruel smile soon replaced his fury.
"If you've got a million gold coins, you must be quite the golden goose. Anastasia, you've picked yourself a fine piggy bank, but he's mine now!"
With a wave of his hand, Noah ordered,
"Seize him first!"
Immediately, the dozen Novice Rank awakeners surged toward Velen, their faces cold and determined.
Anastasia was about to step in and resolve the situation when she noticed Velen pulling out a gleaming scroll crackling with lightning.
He looked at the advancing group and asked,
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Sensing the dangerous mana emanating from the scroll, the alchemist awakeners quickly recognized it.
"A Tier-1 Level 9 High-Explosion Scroll?"
Their faces showed brief hesitation.
A Tier-1 Level 1 scroll was enough to fatally wound a Novice Rank awakener.
A Level 9 High-Explosion Scroll, the pinnacle of Tier-1, was worth thousands of gold coins!
Their hesitation lasted only a moment.
With their durable armor, they believed they could survive the scroll's explosion with minor injuries.
Afterward, Velen would have no cards left to play.
Anastasia raised an eyebrow at the High-Explosion Scroll. No wonder Velen had refused the Light Shield Scroll earlier—he had come prepared.
But a single scroll wouldn't change the tide of battle…
Just as this thought crossed her mind, Velen pulled out an entire stack of High-Explosion Scrolls and slammed them onto the ground in front of him.
"If one scroll isn't enough, how about a hundred?"
As Velen's voice rang out, a growing pile of High-Explosion Scrolls emanating chaotic mana waves began to stack before him.
Anastasia's shock deepened with every scroll he pulled out.
A single High-Explosion Scroll might not have been a game-changer against the dozen Novice Rank awakeners, but dozens—hundreds—of them?
The resulting explosion could rival an attack from an Elite Rank awakener!
Velen, when did you prepare such an absurd arsenal of scrolls?
The advancing awakeners froze in their tracks, staring in horror at the mountain of High-Explosion Scrolls.
Their charge ground to an abrupt halt.
Weekly Power Status
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