NOVPUB
Chapter 223: The Day of the Auction
The others who heard Irene’s description couldn’t tell if she was exaggerating or not, but one thing was certain: this woman had been captivated by that man! Even if there was nothing between them, Irene was already mesmerized by him. Only a fool would fail to notice the admiration on her face when she spoke about him. Moreover, this came from a woman renowned for her cold personality and indifference toward the opposite sex.
"Oh my, is Irene finally interested in a man? This is wonderful news! I thought I’d have to wait until I was old and gray for her to show interest in someone," Madam Elene thought to herself.
When Irene returned from the Everlasting Silent Forest, Elene could sense something different about her daughter. As a woman, her instincts told her that Irene was hiding something. At that moment, she couldn’t dismiss the possibility that Irene might have met someone while she was trapped in the Everlasting Silent Forest. In fact, she even considered the chance that Irene might have some connection with Aldrey from the Flamcrest family, who had disappeared at the same time as her and returned simultaneously.
However, when she looked at her daughter now, she was certain that Irene was interested in this man named Aldrian. Was he also trapped in the Everlasting Silent Forest with Irene? She could only speculate.
"Did this man tell you anything about what he’s done over the past years or anything related to his past?" Hector asked again.
"He shared parts of his story with me. He didn’t tell me about his origin but from what he said, he was just a wandering cultivator, traveling through various territories. There’s nothing remarkable about his past; he seems like a simple man who hasn’t caused any major disturbances. But I can’t confirm if that’s the truth," Irene replied, touching her chin as if deep in thought.
She had no intention of revealing the full truth about Aldrian to anyone—not until the time was right to present him as her son.
She also remained wary of the First Prince, knowing how clever and brilliant Hector was. If she talked too much and accidentally revealed something that hinted at Aldrian’s connection to her, it could cause significant trouble for her, her family, and Aldrian himself.
"Do you know where he is right now?" Hector asked.
"I apologize, Your Highness. I don’t know," Irene replied. "Even after he saved me, he didn’t share anything about his destination or plans. After telling me part of his story, he simply disappeared."
"Sigh, it’s alright then. It seems I’ll need to find him through another approach," Hector said. "In your opinion, could he become our friend or our enemy?" he asked again.
"Like I said, Your Highness, he will act according to how people treat him. If you want to be his friend, then you must treat him as one—and so must others," Irene replied.
Hector nodded in understanding but then fixed his gaze on Irene’s eyes.
"Did he tell you why he came to this war? Why he appeared at that time?" he asked, his tone serious. This was one of the most important questions—it could be the key to finding or meeting Aldrian.
"I don’t know, Your Highness. He never told me anything about it," Irene answered, shaking her head.
"Sigh, it only makes my curiosity soar. This mysterious man who suddenly shook the battlefield in the northwest and even breached devil territory... no wonder Miss Irene holds him in such high regard," Hector said, then sipped his drink and stood up. "Anyway, I believe I’ve gathered all the information I can. It’s time for me to continue my investigation elsewhere. I’m sorry I can’t stay longer. Thank you for your hospitality, Grand Duke Rivas and Madam Elene."
"It’s alright, Your Highness. Even with this short visit, we are already grateful," Grand Duke Rivas said, also standing up.
"Then I will take my leave. You don’t have to escort me outside; you can continue your time together. I know Grand Duke Rivas truly missed Madam Elene and Miss Irene, so please excuse me," Hector said before walking toward the entrance. However, before he could step outside, he turned to Irene and smiled.
"I hope to meet Aldrian in the future. I really want to learn more about him," Hector said before walking away and disappearing from sight.
However, as Irene watched Hector leave, she felt something was off. Why did the First Prince look at her like that? Did he gain something from their conversation? She was certain she hadn’t given him any useful information about Aldrian or anything that would connect him to her—or to anything else.
Suddenly, she felt a wave of nervousness. What if the First Prince had picked up some clues just from their conversation? Truly frightening! That’s why she had always been so wary of the First Prince and his sharp mind. She could only hope that Hector hadn’t caught on to anything and that her anxiety was simply a result of her stress over matters related to her son.
"Father, Mother, I would like to return to my room. Please excuse me," she said, giving a slight bow to Grand Duke Rivas and Elene.
The couple watched their daughter’s retreating figure, each lost in their own thoughts.
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Outside the mansion complex, Hector was already walking toward the teleportation station with his group. As he walked, he reflected on his conversation with Irene.
"Although I didn’t gain anything definitive, I did get something interesting from Miss Irene," he thought.
"The way she spoke about Aldrian, and from the movements of that man, I can guess their relationship is closer than anyone thinks. Are they lovers? Or something else? It doesn’t matter, but now I’m certain that to meet Aldrian, Miss Irene is the key."
For Hector, the most striking thing was the way Irene spoke about Aldrian’s personality. There was no way someone who wasn’t close to him could speak with such confidence about his character and the principles he would follow.
The second thing that stood out to Hector was Irene’s answer and tone. Although she tried to appear as natural as possible, he could tell that her responses were carefully crafted to steer him—or anyone else—away from Aldrian. She seemed to be working hard to hide Aldrian’s whereabouts, making his investigation more difficult by shrouding him in mystery with vague clues.
The last question he asked and her answer, Hector didn’t believe for a second. From all the clues he gathered about Aldrian, and his conversation with Irene, he guessed that Aldrian’s reason for coming to this war was Irene herself. The way he disappeared after Irene was saved, and at the same time the devils retreated, could be a coincidence—but to Hector, this seemed the most likely explanation.
Hector smiled at Irene’s effort, finding it somewhat cute. The smoke that surrounded Aldrian little by little began to dissipate from his sight. To Hector, Irene was the door to an existence called Aldrian, but for now...
"Let’s head back to the capital first. It seems there’s something interesting going on."
He had heard something about the Alchemist Association and wanted to visit the capital before anything else. He couldn’t pass up the chance to gain something from it.
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A few days later, the day of the Alchemist Association’s auction for the new pill had arrived. Representatives from major sects and families had already gathered at the capital. Many people wondered what the Alchemist Association was really up to. Announcing something like the Six Stripes Pill—was it a joke, or something more?
However, if such a thing as the Six Stripes Pill truly exists, who could be the alchemist capable of concocting it? No one had been able to create a Five Stripes Pill for millions of years, let alone this unheard-of Six Stripes Pill. Whether this was just a marketing technique by the Alchemist Association or something more, they would find out tonight.
The capital city, which had already become a gathering place for nobles since the end of the war, received many arrivals not only from within the empire but also from outside it. Although it wasn’t on the same scale as the birth of the middle divine-grade artifact in the Forgeheart Kingdom, many nobles and major factions still sent their representatives to see what the Alchemist Association was up to. They were eager to find out what kind of trick the Alchemist Association was trying to pull with this "Six Stripes Pill" auction.
Aldrian’s group was already inside the auction hall adjacent to the Alchemist Association building, preparing to watch the auction. This was Aldrian’s first time attending an auction, so he couldn’t pass up the opportunity when Grandmaster Marco offered him the chance to watch.
The association had provided him with a special room at the highest point of the hall, giving him a clear view of the entire space. The room had transparent glass that couldn’t be seen through from the outside, allowing him to observe the high podium in the center of the hall where the auctioneer would be.
There was another room identical to his, located beside it. These rooms were typically reserved for VVIPs, such as members of the imperial family or those of similar status.
As night approached, the situation grew more crowded, and the hall was soon filled with eager bidders. The auction was about to begin!
