Chapter 104: The Appraisal Gathering (II)

“What is it? What’s happening?”

The sudden darkness left the three sisters somewhat flustered. But before long, a faint light appeared, and then entirely new scenes began unfolding before them.

“What is this...?”

Staring dumbfounded at the sight before them, Eluka and the others widened their eyes in astonishment. Before them was a vast array of seats gleaming with lights. Looking around, Eluka had the strange sensation that the room they occupied was floating within an endless void. And directly before them stood a magnificent, radiant stage.

“What... what is this?”

Unable to remain calm any longer, Eluka and the others even rose from their seats and went to the “window,” reaching out to press against it. Yet all they could feel was the cold touch of a wall. At that moment, Feren’s voice sounded from behind them.

“This is the Treasure Appraisal Fair hosted by the Fuyuan Association. Now, sit down and enjoy the show.”

Post-Calamity auctions were very different from those of the old world, and the Treasure Appraisal Fair was naturally one of the Fuyuan Association’s signature events. In truth, one of the main reasons the auctions organized by the association attracted so many factions was the holographic projection network before them.

Through this unique technology controlled by the Fuyuan Association, people could participate in auctions without leaving their homes—or at least, that was how it was described. After all, “not leaving home” did not literally mean that no one needed to go anywhere. The Fuyuan Association’s network still relied on network energy, and the post-Calamity world was nothing like the old one. No one could expect an auctioned item to be delivered straight to their door.

Thus, most factions either sent representatives or traveled to Vegas themselves, then stayed within territory operated by their own faction and participated in the auction through the connected network.

This not only prevented the various sides from coming into direct conflict, but also improved security. This was no medieval age of cold weapons. With so many people gathered together, if someone harbored ill intentions—or simply lost their mind—and drove a suicide truck into the venue, or fired a few RPGs indiscriminately, the result would be disastrous. In the post-Calamity world, such things were hardly unusual. The Fuyuan Association’s arrangement minimized the chances of anything similar happening, which was another reason the major factions felt at ease.

For the Fuyuan Association itself, this setup also prevented anyone from robbing them on the spot. Although Eluka and the others saw a dazzling stage before them, the stage itself was actually located in a heavily guarded underground chamber, just like the room where Feren and the others were staying.

The transactions took place in real time. Once a buyer successfully purchased an item, the Fuyuan Association immediately completed the exchange through secret channels before proceeding with the next auction. In this way, even if someone wanted to intercept the item on the way or renege on the deal, the Fuyuan Association could terminate the auction at the shortest notice and minimize its losses.

Naturally, this extended the duration of the auction. But with safety as the foremost concern, hardly anyone objected to the arrangement.

“Applause, applause, applause!”

Not long after Eluka and the others had settled back into their seats, a burst of enthusiastic applause suddenly rang out. A man in a black formal suit then stepped onto the stage. After respectfully bowing in all directions, he finally spoke.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Fuyuan Association’s Treasure Appraisal Fair...”

Strictly speaking, the auctioneer was facing nothing more than cold walls rather than living people. Yet it was obvious that he possessed remarkable stagecraft, managing to turn what should have been a one-man performance into an extraordinarily lively spectacle.

For Eluka and the others, who had never attended an auction before, the experience was even more thrilling. As the host spoke, they were already impatiently looking forward to seeing the items that would be presented.

“Now, let us turn our attention to the first item up for auction...!”

The host was doing his utmost to promote the item, but Feren appeared somewhat bored. The development of the network had made it impossible for modern auctions to create the same degree of spectacle and mystery as they once had. Everyone possessed a system. Once an item was brought out, its function, quality, and special effects were all displayed clearly for everyone to see.

Under such circumstances, the Fuyuan Association, as the organizer, could do little more than announce bids and stir up the atmosphere.

Auction items in the post-Calamity world were naturally different from those of the old world as well. Before the Great Calamity, the most valuable things had been jewelry, antiques, and works of art. Afterward, such objects were no different from junk in the eyes of most people.

Instead, all kinds of necessities had become vital resources. Because the energy network limited where people could gather, the various factions each had different strengths and priorities. Some possessed advanced technology but lacked raw materials and supplies. Others had abundant food but were short of machinery.

At the Treasure Appraisal Fair, these factions would put some of their resources up for public auction and trade. In addition, there were luxuries such as fine wine, as well as slaves and beautiful women possessing various skills.

Of course, the most valuable items were soul equipment with special abilities—such as the little bear held by Kulona—and... kindling.

The first items offered by the Fuyuan Association were all things that seemed useless to Feren: fine wine, tea, coffee. This continent was surrounded by ocean on all sides, and the origins of many goods lay far beyond its shores. As a result, supplies of such items had steadily dwindled after the Calamity.

Yet these luxuries were coveted by the leaders of many factions. Putting them up for auction could arouse everyone’s interest without driving anyone to tear all pretenses away. The situation was easy to control.

The Fuyuan Association had held auctions like this more than once. With the host’s deliberate encouragement, the proceedings went exceptionally smoothly. Starting with red wine, the auction soon progressed to trade between the various factions: vast quantities of grain, fresh fruit, automobiles, firearms...

Feren even saw one faction purchase an armed Black Hawk helicopter for thirty tons of flour.

Before the Great Calamity, such a transaction would probably have existed only in dreams.

By the third stage of the auction, Feren finally became attentive and began watching the scene before him closely. This was not his first time attending the Treasure Appraisal Fair. In his experience, this was usually when soul equipment began to appear.

Sure enough, after announcing the completion of another transaction, the host raised his head with a smile and gave a soft cough before speaking.

“All right. I believe everyone has been waiting impatiently. The next item is certain to satisfy you all, because it is a piece of soul equipment!”

As he spoke, the host made a gesture. Soon, someone approached and carefully placed a cloak on the table. The host then lifted it and displayed it to the audience.

[Concealment Cloak]

[Soul Equipment — Equipable]

[Increases the chance of remaining hidden. Environmental assimilation. Your eyes are your greatest enemy.]

After displaying the cloak, the host draped it over himself. In the blink of an eye, the host who had been standing there vanished without a trace.

“He disappeared?”

Eluka shrieked at the sight, while Kriss silently shook her head.

“No. It only assimilated him.”

As a sniper specialist, Kriss clearly understood what had happened better than Eluka. In fact, anyone who looked closely would notice that the space where the host had been standing was trembling slightly and appeared somewhat unnatural.

Clearly, the cloak had not hidden him completely. It had merely assimilated his colors with those of the surrounding environment, making him appear to vanish into thin air at first glance.

A moment later, the host emerged from beneath the cloak once more. He removed it and placed it back on the table. The cloak, whose colors had shifted constantly, soon returned to its original dull and inconspicuous gray.

“This thing is rather interesting...”

Looking at the cloak, Feren rubbed his chin with considerable interest. Then he raised his head and turned toward Miss Yue beside him.

“I want this one. Help me secure it.”

With that, Feren spoke in an entirely unruffled tone.