NOVPUBEach mask was identical, but the only difference was the unique number printed on each.
The number on Daniel’s mask was 13, quite an unlucky number in many cultures.
Inside the door was a moderately sized room, about five hundred square meters, brightly lit, illuminating everyone.
There weren’t many people, just a few dozens.
After a brief scan, Daniel chose a spot at the back of the crowd.
"Welcome, Evolvers, to this auction!"
Suddenly, a voice echoed from all directions.
Daniel glanced around and noticed speakers hanging in every corner.
Then, a slender figure appeared in front of the crowd, dressed in a red and white traditional Eastern gown, wearing a white fox mask on her head.
Her voice was captivating and enchanting.
"I’m the organizer and the auctioneer for this event. You can call me Nine."
Daniel blinked in surprise. "Nine? Intriguing name."
Given the fox mask she wore, it probably alluded to the nine-tailed fox.
Nine surveyed the crowd, her gaze fleetingly resting on Daniel.
From within the crowd, impatience grew. "Who cares what your name is, just get the auction started!"
"Exactly! The forum mentioned a Gene Magnet for this auction. That’s why I’m here. Is it really up for bid?"
"Yeah! And if this is some kind of prank, don’t blame us for causing a scene!"
Daniel glanced at the few who spoke, noticing their heightened emotions.
Perhaps their Resonance reactions had become so intense, putting them on the brink of a fatal outbreak, which would explain their desperation for the Gene Magnet.
Nine smiled slightly. "Rest assured, we have no reason to deceive you. Given the eagerness I sense, let’s not waste any more time. Let the auction commence."
Daniel’s eyes were fixed on Nine. Even though her face was masked, he felt as if he could see her enchanting smile.
Nine gracefully raised her delicate hand, clapping lightly.
With a soft clap, a tall man dressed in black, wearing an opaque black mask, emerged from a corner, pushing a small cart.
The cart was covered with a black velvet cloth, obscuring its contents.
The man placed the cart in front of Nine and then stepped aside.
As Nine slowly lifted the cloth, gasps filled the room.
Atop the cart sat a specially designed dog cage. But inside wasn’t a dog. It was a hairless, wrinkled creature that looked like a cross between a puppy and a monkey – bizarrely hideous.
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Monster!"
Another person vehemently asked, "Why is it here? What are you trying to pull off?"
From the stage, Nine’s laughter rang out, clear as a bell. "Patience, everyone. Let me explain."
Nine picked up a feather beside the cage and teased the little creature with it.
"We couldn’t find any historical records of a creature that matches this oddity. However, its eyes bear a resemblance to a creature known as ’Saharak’."
The creature, captivated by the feather in Nine’s hand, stirred from its slumber, allowing Daniel a clearer view of its face.
A dog-like head, with six eyes arranged three on each side, radiating a golden glow. Its mouth occasionally quivered, revealing massive teeth.
Oddly, its teeth weren’t sharp but rather looked substantial and sturdy, as if designed to grind down its food.
From what the auctioneer hinted, they seemed unaware of the creature’s origins.
Internally, Daniel chanted, "Initiate appraisal."
In an instant, the system provided its evaluation.
[Item]: Saharak
[Age]: Ancient Civilization Being
[Condition]: Well-developed
[Detail]: An ancient and mystical being from the desert, equivalent in age to a human baby. Its eyes can see clearly even in total darkness, feeds primarily on sand and rocks, and occasionally on living creatures. Once mature, it possesses the ability to control desert storms!
[Appraisal]: Vulnerable in its youth, unstoppable when mature!
Its diet of sand and rocks explained the thick and sturdy appearance of its teeth.
It seemed that the system had even abstained from estimating its value.
Understandably so, a creature with the power to control storms couldn’t simply be appraised in monetary terms.
A fleeting look of astonishment passed through Daniel’s eyes.
This bizarre-looking being held the power to control desert storms, making it virtually invincible within the desert realms.
But were they planning to auction this creature?
Daniel was puzzled. According to forum discussions, such creatures couldn’t be tamed by humans.
So, who would be willing to pay a fortune for it?
On stage, Nine continued, "Those who’ve gone through the Bestiary of Beasts should recognize Saharak. It’s the god of the desert, even believed by some to be its creator. With a mere wave, it can blanket miles in sand, and with a glare, it can whip up a massive sandstorm."
"It has the potential to turn the entire world into a desert."
Voices of skepticism rose from the crowd, "What’s the use? Such a creature cannot be tamed. Why purchase it?"
"Besides, whether it truly is Saharak remains uncertain. Who can recognize it, given its ghastly appearance?"
"Be bold here! Saharak is said to be akin to an ancient god. How can this monkey-like thing compare?"
"Enough with the dilly-dallying, just bring out the Gene Magnet already," someone remarked.
Nine hadn’t anticipated such a tough crowd, responding calmly, "Its appearance closely resembles the Saharak depicted in ancient texts."
"And raising a young creature, especially one as powerful as Saharak, can come in handy. Even if it can’t be fully tamed, it might assist you in a pinch, or perhaps even save your life."
However, the crowd remained indifferent.
The belief that creatures couldn’t be tamed was deeply ingrained in the mindset of Evolvers.
While the arrival of the baby creature was surprising, as catching creatures alive, especially their young, was a rare feat, no one seemed willing to bid, other than to spare it an extra glance or two.
At that moment, Daniel spoke up, "What’s the starting bid?"
With a playful look in her eyes, Nine replied, "One ton of gold."
"I’ll take it," Daniel declared.
His statement sent ripples of shock through the audience.
He was now the center of attention, with expressions of surprise, confusion, disbelief, and mockery directed at him.
"Someone’s actually bidding?"
"That’s a ton of gold we’re talking about! At the current market rate, it’s worth at least half a billion StellarCoins. All that for a wild card you can’t even tame!"
"Must be some rich fool with more money than sense."
Even Nine didn’t expect Daniel’s straightforward bid, her eyes revealing her surprise, "Bid of one ton of gold from Guest Number 13. Any higher offers?"
Murmurs of discontent spread through the crowd.
"Just let him have it!"
"Who in their right mind would outbid him?"
"With a ton of gold, you’re better off sealing more creatures or stocking up on Gene Magnets."
"Exactly! No one’s bidding, so let’s move on to the next item!"
With a chuckle, Nine said, "Very well, then the Saharak goes to Guest Number 13."
She turned her gentle gaze back to Daniel, "Once the auction concludes, we’ll finalize the transaction."
Daniel frowned, sensing potential complications.
Nevertheless, if things went south, he could always resort to time reversal.
Soon after, the next item was swiftly brought to the stage by the tall, cloaked man.
Nine unveiled it, revealing the next lot to the eager crowd.
Daniel’s eyes widened in surprise; sitting on the cart was a magazine that looked eerily familiar.
Simultaneously, astonishment painted the faces of the others.
All being Evolvers, they could easily sense the unusual aura permeating the air.
"Is my sense deceiving me? Why do I detect the scent of a creature?"
"I feel it too," another remarked.
"Could that magazine be a Spiritual Artifact?"
"How could it be? Isn’t it said that firearms can’t become Spiritual Artifacts?"
"But that’s just a magazine."
A Spiritual Artifact magazine?
Could something like that even be counted as a Spiritual Artifact?
Nine interjected at the right moment, "You’ve all guessed correctly. This magazine is indeed a Spiritual Artifact."
"Any bullet it fires are Spirit bullets."
A wave of shock rippled through the audience.
Spirit bullets!
The might of firearms, something well-known and revered for centuries, suddenly took on a whole new meaning.
When Spiritual Artifacts first emerged, Evolvers hoped to create a series of spiritual firearms, showcasing the pinnacle of human innovation to the creatures.
But after extensive testing, Evolvers discovered that firearms couldn’t be transformed into Spiritual Artifacts.
Thus, one of the most potent individual weapons in human history faded from the world of the Evolvers.
"But why is there only one magazine?" someone queried.
"Who cares? As long as the bullets it fires possess spirituality and can deal high damage to the creatures, that’s what matters!"
"Exactly! Which type of handgun does this magazine belong to? I want it!"
Addressing the crowd’s rising excitement, Nine’s expression grew troubled: "This magazine is designed for the Desert Eagle, and each bullet packs a punch."
"However, for some reason, this magazine can only load a single bullet at a time, meaning it requires reloading after each shot."
At this revelation, the crowd was momentarily stunned.
