EeDechi, Barrett, Raffaelli, and Dempsey headed for the Central District to compete for a place in the preliminary round of the Dragon Island Auction.
Franco had used his visit to the City Alliance's Mage Academy to gather information as an excuse for not coming.
Barrett suspected that Franco simply wanted to take advantage of Dempsey's absence to sneak off for a secret rendezvous with Dempsey's wife, Jenny.
But Barrett had no proof. All he could do was warn Franco not to do anything stupid—or he would tell EeDechi, who would have several months of Franco's wages docked!
The Central District was the heart of the City Alliance, where every inch of land was worth a fortune. Streetlamps powered by mana stones lined the roads, luxurious carriages came and went, and even the buildings along the streets were trimmed with gold and silver.
You could practically smell money in the air. Dempsey joked that even chipping off a single stone from the street would fetch several hundred gold coins.
With Archmage Raffaelli vouching for them, the group arrived at the Dragon Island Auction's qualification hall.
Here, wealthy merchants had to display their status and fortunes, competing with one another in wealth and influence for nothing more than a place in the preliminary round.
They had barely stepped through the entrance when a mocking voice rang out:
"Well, well. If it isn't Raffaelli and his adventurer underling, Dempsey. What's this? Picked up another adventurer underling—and a heretic nun besides?"
Raffaelli turned toward the source of the voice with a displeased look and let out a cold snort.
"Lawson, if you really are a descendant of the House of the Golden Seagull, then act like one. Show some manners. Don't pass judgment on others so freely and bring shame upon your family!"
The old man's tone was dripping with contempt. "Some people are born lowly, while others are born noble. You don't seriously expect commoners to stand as my equals, do you?"
EeDechi and Barrett glared at the old man. EeDechi took one look at him, saw that his Justice Value was -37, and frowned. "Who's this guy?"
Dempsey was usually blunt and straightforward, yet in the face of the old man's insults, he chose to endure the humiliation in silence. In a low voice, he explained:
"That old man is Lawson Leonard, an elder of the House of the Golden Seagull. He's a high-ranking mage as well as a wealthy magnate. He and Archmage Raffaelli had a falling-out back when they were studying at the Mage Academy, and they've never gotten along since."
"I'm sorry." Raffaelli led EeDechi and Barrett to the side, avoiding the old man. "My personal grudge has dragged you into this. I apologize."
"You two are wealthy, too. Why are you afraid of him?" EeDechi asked, puzzled.
"There are different ranks even among the wealthy." Archmage Raffaelli smiled bitterly. "Dempsey and I can only be considered second rank. Lawson Leonard and his family, however, are first rank."
The four of them sat down in the waiting hall. Impeccably dressed attendants approached with silver trays and served them fine black tea. Some attendants even came forward and offered to help remove their boots, but EeDechi and Barrett both refused.
Before long, the Dragon Island Auction qualifier began.
Officials from the organizers came forward carrying forms. Two were assigned to each participant: a wealth assessor to evaluate their holdings, and a credentials officer to verify their identity, rank, and credentials.
The wealthy participants brought out land deeds, property contracts, business ledgers, commercial agreements, and all sorts of other documents to prove the value of their property and other fixed holdings.
Many tycoons simply reached into their spatial rings and began pulling out gold bars, stacking them into one pile after another. Jewelry, rare treasures, and all kinds of precious magic items soon filled the hall, reflecting light in every direction.
Faced with such wealth, the wealth assessors kept the same cold, unreadable expressions, as though they had seen it all before.
Some nobles who claimed to be from foreign countries produced their family crests, seals, letters of recommendation, and other documents for the credentials officers to examine.
Barrett soon realized that this was not merely a contest for a place in the preliminary round. It was also an opportunity to flaunt wealth and outdo one another. People in the City Alliance really did love showing off and one-upping each other.
One of the credentials officers stopped in front of EeDechi and asked expressionlessly:
"Proof of status?"
"Er…" EeDechi scratched her head.
"We're mainly here to show what we own," Barrett quickly explained.
The wealth assessor, who had been idle on the other side, walked over and glanced at EeDechi and Barrett's plain clothes.
"How do you intend to demonstrate your wealth?"
Most of the wealth belonging to the adventuring party The Last Defender of the Way was kept by Barrett, so he began pulling things out of his spatial ring. EeDechi also possessed a considerable fortune and started taking out her own valuables as well.
Ever since they had emerged from the desert of the Eight Greed Kings, they had all acquired wealth worth astronomical sums. They could be considered some of the richest people in the world.
Gold, silver, and jewels first formed a small hill, then steadily grew into a mountain.
The wealth assessor wore a gold-rimmed monocle and recorded everything on a scroll with an automatic quill. The monocle flashed with a faint blue light from time to time, using magic to appraise the value of the gold and jewels.
Barrett kept pulling out gold bars and valuables without pause. The stacks of gold bars rose higher and higher, and the assessor's initially expressionless face gradually began to show signs of emotion.
"That's enough."
The wealth assessor adjusted his monocle, his voice slightly hoarse. This was the first time he had ever seen someone keep so much money inside a spatial ring. Even if they spent freely, it would take centuries to use it all.
Barrett hurriedly put everything back into his spatial ring.
The organizers then tallied each participant's wealth and influence, combined the two according to their respective weight, and drew up the rankings. Those who placed in the top eight would earn a place in the preliminary round.
Four such qualifiers would be held in all, selecting thirty-two top tycoons. Those thirty-two would then compete in the preliminary round until only sixteen remained.
Only those sixteen would be allowed to participate in the finals.
A huge silk banner was unfurled and hung in the hall, displaying everyone's ranking.
Unfortunately, neither Archmage Raffaelli nor Dempsey made the cut.
Dempsey let out a dejected sigh, said goodbye to the other three, and left.
Barrett had always thought well of the former adventurer, so he watched him go. Then, just as Dempsey stepped through the entrance, Barrett suddenly noticed what looked like a faint, suppressed smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
EeDechi and Barrett both appeared on the list and successfully secured their places in the preliminary round. Archmage Raffaelli stayed behind to accompany the two out-of-towners and see how things developed.
Barrett noticed that Lawson Leonard of the House of the Golden Seagull had also qualified.
Since this was the final qualifier, the preliminary round would begin directly the following day.
The City Alliance was enormous, and this was the Central District, more than half a day's journey from Dempsey's home. EeDechi, Barrett, and Archmage Raffaelli therefore stayed the night at lodgings arranged by the organizers.
The next morning, at ten o'clock, the preliminary round began.
All thirty-two participants had arrived. They would now face one another in one-on-one matches, competing until sixteen remained to participate in the Dragon Island Auction.
Those sixteen would then enter the finals, where the final eight qualifiers would be selected.
Lawson Leonard sauntered across the hall toward them. He leaned on a crystal-encrusted staff, and a seagull was embroidered in golden thread across his magnificent robes. He was an elder of the House of the Golden Seagull and one of the City Alliance's top tycoons.
The old man held his chin high and looked contemptuously at Archmage Raffaelli, and said:
"Tsk, tsk. You poor old mage. Why are you still hanging around instead of leaving? Hoping to get a look at the richest people in the City Alliance?
"But I have to admit, I never expected your new adventurer underling and that heretic nun to qualify. The asset examiner must have fallen under one of your charm spells. Otherwise, how could two paupers like them possibly have made it through?"