Phaletis Royal Capital, Bekele.
Thriving in comrce and culture, the influx of foreign population is gradually increasing, vaguely showing signs of replacing St. Cruz as the new central city of the Source Continent.
"Ladies and gentlen, please look. Whether it's the shape, color, or size, this fully blood 'Dusk Starlight' is truly a rare treasure.
Its most precious attribute lies in the fact that this Tulip, which normally blooms in April, has been ticulously cultivated in a glass house and is already in full bloom now. It might be a one-of-a-kind beauty across all nations!"
The auctioneer, dressed in a white shirt and a red bow tie, was shouting hoarsely to hype the auction item, successfully drawing the attention of all the buyers in the hall to the stage.
There, a pot of beautifully blood and radiant Tulip was placed.
Approximately fifty centiters tall, it features a fully double twelve-centiter diater bowl-shaped flower, with colors transitioning from white to purple-pink, and silver star-like specks naturally growing on the petals.
Indeed, the overall appearance resembles a dazzling sunset adorned with a cluster of brilliant stars, indescribably lovely.
Many female guests in the auction hall were gradually finding it hard to breathe as they looked at it, eager to imdiately possess this gorgeous Tulip.
Seeing the reactions of the guests, the auctioneer nodded with satisfaction, fueling the guests' excited emotions even further.
"All of you experts must be aware that during the cultivation of Tulips, utilizing so naturally cracked bulbs can often breed special new varieties, eventually resulting in exceptionally beautiful unique flowers.
But this extraordinary mutation can only be inherited through bulbs, not seeds.
By obtaining this complete 'Dusk Starlight,' it ans you've acquired a unique Tulip treasure in the world!
As many surely have heard, just across the sea in the 'Lowland Republic,' the price of a treasured Tulip has already been speculated to unimaginable heights.
Alright, I won't say much more. The starting bid is ten Golden Lions, with each incrent of one. Let the bidding begin!"
"Fifteen!"
"Twenty!"
"..."
As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, the guests eagerly began bidding.
In just a few rounds of bidding, the price had already soared to a staggering one hundred Golden Lions, equivalent to the price of a high-quality war horse.
But no matter how beautiful the auction item is, it's still just a Tulip with a blooming period of only ten days— is it really worth such money?
So guests slowly regained rationality, and the bidding gradually stabilized.
"Are there any more bids? One hundred and ten once! One hundred...."
At this point, the auctioneer was already very satisfied, thanks to the favorable winds from the "Lowland Republic."
Otherwise, in the past, selling such a treasured Tulip for even twenty Golden Lions would have been difficult.
In the joy, just as he was about to knock down the auction hamr.
Suddenly, a clear voice arose in the hall:
"Five hundred!"
The auction hall filled with a crowd suddenly fell silent, the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.
"Oh, Goddess above!"
Upon hearing that number, many buyers who considered themselves wealthy were practically breathless.
This price was already sufficient to purchase a sizeable apartnt in the Royal Capital Bekele.
Exchanged for a flower?
Is this the joy of wealthy people?
Thump—!
The auction hamr fell heavily.
The auctioneer's shouting voice had broken:
"Congratulations to the guest in box number six! You are now the owner of 'Dusk Starlight'!"
Ten minutes later, the auction ca to an end.
But not a single guest left, all were eagerly anticipating who this wealthy figure in box number six might be?
Soon, without taking the VIP passage inside the box.
Under the attentive service of the staff, a tall figure with an imposing deanor wearing a black military uniform erged first.
Following was a tall female companion in a white long dress and silver high heels, full of youthful charm yet exuding a captivating elegance.
The brilliantly striking Tulip 'Dusk Starlight' had already been plucked out and inserted into her hair bun, resembling a mortal scene of beauty and charming flowers.
The girl held the arm of the tall figure, walking straight out without glancing sideways.
Until they vanished at the corridor's end, the crowd slowly retracted their gaze wistfully.
Suddenly, soone among the crowd murmured:
"They... they seem to be Grand Duke Galliot and the Duchess!"
Aiven, who rose from a "self-reliant" navy soldier, was already a well-known legendary figure within the union, with admirers everywhere.
Major newspapers publish extensive articles about him every year, even becoming a guarantee for sales, and countless people across the kingdom know his appearance.
"His Majesty Saint Aiven and the lady's affection is truly wonderful."
"Only such a treasure can match the beauty of the Duchess!"
All say, nowadays, the nobles of various countries pursue Tulips to the extre, yet it's truly unimaginable that they've pursued it to this level, spending a fortune just to win a beauty's smile.
But after their initial loss and longing, they felt it should be just so.
Just like gifting a sword to a hero, gaining the favor of the Galliot couple, 'Dusk Starlight' is not in vain for its existence.
"Alas, I've always had sea trade with the Lowlands, and if today's news about the Grand Duke spending lavishly for the Duchess reaches there, the 'Tulip contract' is bound to sell like crazy."
"Unfortunately, we're not in the Lowland Republic, we won't get a share of the profit."
"..."
But these people with different thoughts didn't know.
The romance between the Duke and Duchess, the sensational celebrity effect, and the divine boost to the tulip business in the Lowland Republic...
The price Aiven paid for this was only a re 3% auction fee.
Because the auction broker was also him, the so-called new variety cultivated in a glass greenhouse was rely a new leaf casually picked from the roadside.
"Careful."
Aiven considerately helped his wife onto the luxurious carriage waiting at the auction house entrance.
Their keen ears had heard every word of the conversations inside the auction hall, and they exchanged a knowing smile.
Earlier.
Aiven accompanied Jelos to visit his Witchcraft Garden, which was as ancient as Poseidya City and showed obvious signs of ancient civilization.
Other than the Rejuvenated Puppet, which Jelos mastered effortlessly, there wasn't much high-end technical data left, but the murals and sculptures contained considerable valuable information.
Aiven easily confird that those Purifier-like biological weapons were likely related to the Muriyan Civilization!
But upon leaving, he unexpectedly saw several rare tulips planted in the Witchcraft Garden: Uruk Great Temple.
As a regional specialty, such flowers were uncommon elsewhere.
Mouth off a casual question to Jelos, he learned about the quietly rising tulip craze.
He specifically found the Faceless Man who mingled in the Lowlands, verifying this 'irrelevant' fringe news.
Aiven took it very seriously and imdiately dragged Olivia on a spontaneous cross-continent journey.
Then ca the scene just now.
"I thought you'd seize the chance while tulip prices lingered high and artificially cultivate countless tulip bulbs to make a fortune."
Sitting side by side in the carriage, Olivia took that tulip worth a thousand gold and played with it casually.
"Hahaha, this is just the beginning. The real show is still ahead."
"Eh, do you think tulip prices will rise again? Even if we buy such short-lived luxury goods, we wouldn't blink, let alone others. Would anyone really pay for it as prices soar?"
While playing with the tulip, Aiven toyed with the girl's cute and delicate little hand, smiling as he explained:
"You're only seeing part of it. At this point, buying tulip bulbs isn't consumption, it's investnt.
The intrinsic value of tulips is no longer important; as long as there's hype and buyers, the price will keep rising, and it's not surprising if it goes five or six tis higher than now.
Moreover, the Faceless Man reports that the newly appointed Pri Minister of the Republic, Constance Harlan, has opened low-interest loans to citizens to boost the economy.
Guess, with tulip prices soaring, will those Republic citizens with large sums of money invest in industry, or..."
Bop!
Olivia swiftly grasped Aiven's implication and couldn't help but wrap her arms around her husband's neck, leaving a few rosy kiss marks on his cheek:
"Hehe, darling, you look so charming when you're up to no good!"
But the girl still found it hard to believe Aiven's talk of a five or six tis price increase. How foolish must one be to believe a flower is worth so much!
"Hesi, why don't we make a bet? Guess the final price of tulips."
"Oh? What shall we bet?"
Aiven mischievously lowered his head and whispered sothing in the girl's ear, imdiately making the Duchess's jade-like delicate face blush deeply.
The breeze whispered past the carriage window, vaguely saying sothing like:
"Cat ears... maid outfit... desert dancer skirt... military uniform... Extraordinary Handcuffs..." Each word made sense separately, but together it was incomprehensible; yes, completely incomprehensible.
"..."
In the days that followed, besides advancing dostic construction projects and constantly monitoring overseas developnts, Aiven's life was quite fulfilling.
After successively conquering Mother of Water lro and Lady Crow Ye He'er, the spiritual origin and resources of the entire north had practically fallen into Aiven's hands.
With ample funds at his disposal, the massive World's Favor he held was no longer primarily for boosting strength.
From his return from the heavens last November to early March this year, it took over three months for Aiven to finally complete one of the signature spells of a Senior High-Rank Wizard—Demon Eye.
Magic-like Technique: Eye of Magical Insight
Like Olivia's True Sight Demon Eye, it was a non-offensive Demon Eye.
Effect: Integrate the data visualization from soul traversing, connecting eyes to the World Root Source.
Initially able to see through appearances to the essence, discern weaknesses, decode information, and capture all forms of information (biological pheromones, infrasound, warning colors...), discover connections and developnt trends, etc.
Specific applications require gradual experintation.
For adventurers focused on exploration and discovery, it's a divine artifact.
Currently, he's most intrigued by the control core from the Purifier. Using the Eye of Magical Insight might yield unexpected gains.
However, just as he took the item out.
He suddenly received a ssage from Snake Witch Serra:
"Aiven, the Holy Stone Council on Celebes Island has issued the highest specification summon notice.
It's said that the ever-reclusive Chief Crowned Wizard of Alchemy School, nnon Watt, will also attend and announce sothing important. Will you go?"
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