Read Novel Full Chapter 969: The Reason for the Auction
Chapter 969: The Reason for the Auction
“Gentlemen, we’re here!”
The Sea Demon Department Head stopped in front of a tightly shut, heavy metal door in the corridor. It looked like an airtight bulkhead. After gesturing for Lin Yu and April to enter, he pulled the heavy door open for them.
Lin Yu and April stepped inside, only to find another smooth, silver-white iron door in front of them.
The airtight door behind them slowly closed. The seawater in the chamber gradually drained away, and air flowed in.
Lin Yu was a little surprised. “This place… is some kind of airlock?”
Only after the seawater between the airtight door and the iron door had completely drained away did the iron door open.
The two removed their helmets and entered the private collection room.
And, as expected, this private collection room…
Was filled with air rather than seawater!
Rows of display cases were packed even more tightly together than the bookshelves and desks in a large classroom at a major secondary school. Every item displayed looked like a valuable collectible, and there were also plenty of premium ingredients preserved with advanced magic.
The two squeezed through the narrow aisles formed by the display cases and made their way to the center of the room.
There stood a low square table.
Seated cross-legged before it was a middle-aged man who looked so thin he was practically withered. He wore a bright red brocade robe lavishly adorned with pearls and jewels.
Lin Yu and April were both a little surprised by the sight.
Because…
The man had legs.
The Sea Demon race had no legs. In Pure Abyss, only humans and the Sea People had legs.
So April asked uncertainly, “May I ask if you are the Sea Eye Sovereign?”
The gaunt middle-aged man propped himself up against the table and raised his head. His dark eyes shifted from side to side before he spoke. “Of course. This is my private collection room… I don’t make a habit of bringing my servants and attendants in here.”
“I am the Sea Eye Sovereign.”
Compared with Ancient Fang Sovereign, the Sea Eye Sovereign’s introduction was much more concise.
April and Lin Yu’s gazes fell on his legs once again.
While April was still hesitating, Lin Yu had already voiced his question.
“How did you manage to earn the title of ‘Sovereign’ among the Sea Demons when you have legs? That suffix is exclusive to Sea Demon nobles. Are you even a Sea Demon?”
Not only his legs, but all the Sea Eye Sovereign’s other physical features were entirely human.
The Sea Eye Sovereign looked at Lin Yu, seemingly unsurprised by the question. “I am, without a doubt, a pure-blooded Sea Demon. I’m also a noble Sea Demon who inherited the bloodline of the Seven Surnames. The reason I look so much like a human now is that an accident involving an out-of-control artifact from an ancient ruin damaged my body.”
“Legend has it that back when the Lost Kingdom still existed, mermaids, Fish People, Sea Demons, Sirens, and Naga were all one race, known as the Tailfolk… Humans and the Sea People were collectively called the Human race, while the Sea Beasts, despite possessing intelligence, weren’t strictly distinguished from the Sea race. They were all called the Sea Folk.”
“The daughter of a prominent Tailfolk figure fell in love with a young man from the Human race. But that young man only wanted to be with another member of the Human race. So the daughter used her parents’ connections to have the Tailfolk mages devise a device that could give her legs.”
“For a long time, it was hard to say whether that legend was true. When I was young, I thought it was false too. Then, while excavating a ruin… Well, I found out. The legend wasn’t a lie.”
Hearing the Sea Eye Sovereign’s story, Lin Yu was a little surprised. “Oh, so it really was true… But did the device have any side effects, like making her lose her voice or turn into sea foam?”
The Sea Eye Sovereign looked puzzled. “No. Why would you ask that?”
“Oh, there are some different versions among us humans. They say the Tailfolk girl grew legs but lost her voice, and eventually turned into sea foam.” Lin Yu shrugged. “Those must be true legends. Never mind, forget I said anything.”
The Sea Eye Sovereign shook his head. For some reason, he seemed a little pleased. “No, no. Most legends are made up, but there’s often some truth hidden behind the fiction… That’s a fascinating version. I’ve never heard it before. Very nice of you to share a version I didn’t know.”
In a good mood, the Sea Eye Sovereign leaned back slightly. “You two humans are Yayu and April, right? I know you’ve both been eager to meet with me… I have a good first impression of you, so let’s get straight to business. Did you come to sell or to buy?”
“I know you have a delicacy appraised as a ‘Present-World Treasure’ and are also looking for the ‘Lost Treasure.’ Which of those is your main objective? I need to know before we can make a deal.”
The Sea Eye Sovereign asked directly.
Lin Yu was a little surprised by his words.
This guy was a Sea Demon with a very old-fashioned approach: casual and straightforward, valuing motives over outcomes and emphasizing one’s position over one’s identity.
He was the first person who didn’t seem to care that the two of them had come from the Central Sea.
And there was no doubt the Sea Demons in charge of relaying messages at the auction house had emphasized that point.
“Of course, we’re hoping to buy. There won’t be any shortage of buyers for that delicacy,” Lin Yu answered just as frankly. “But aside from the ‘Lost Treasure,’ what we’re really hoping to buy is another one of your collectibles. I heard you intend to sell it… the Mermaid’s Tear.”
As Lin Yu spoke, the Sea Eye Sovereign gave him and April another look before replying.
“I see. You two came for the Mermaid’s Tear?”
“I am indeed considering selling it, but I intend to put it up for auction.”
The Sea Eye Sovereign said.
April looked at the Sea Eye Sovereign and spoke up. “We’d prefer a private deal… After all, auctions are far too unpredictable. We don’t want the Mermaid Royal to find out who the buyer is. There’s another reason, too. We have plenty of interesting collectibles that might catch your eye. Rather than selling them for currency first and then using that to buy the Mermaid’s Tear, I think… perhaps we should show you what we have and see if anything interests you.”
As April spoke, the Sea Eye Sovereign shook his head.
“Then I’ll have to decline. As far as I’m concerned, the Mermaid’s Tear can only be sold at auction. I didn’t decide to sell it just to make money. I chose to do it precisely because a public auction would enrage the Mermaid Royal.”
“I hate mermaids, especially the Mermaid Royal. The Tide Summoning Festival is a rare opportunity to make them furious.”
The Sea Eye Sovereign spoke without mincing words.
“I see.” Lin Yu looked at the Sea Eye Sovereign and smiled. “It looks like we’ll have plenty to talk about, then.”
“Then, Sea Eye Sovereign… If you won’t agree to a private deal, could you at least show us the Mermaid’s Tear?”