There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 221

Chapter 221: Chapter 215. Night of Contending Wealth (1)

It’s a common conception to think that people attended the Association’s annual gathering for building connections or sowing agendas. That was true, of course, but the real reason people came was for the event of the third day; the auction.

There were several auction sites in the Eastern Federation, and even more in the continent. There were those established in the black market too. But the one held at every annual gathering was considered to be the biggest of them all.

It was a fixed event, so there was no need to advertise it. The fact that the most prominent and wealthy espers would gather in one place made the supplier and owner of the auctioned goods save their best products for this event. From artifacts to rare potions, even collectible items from the era before the age of the apocalypse.

And only those who participate in the gathering may join the auction. It could be said that the action was one of the tricks the association came up with to make sure as many people participate in the conference as possible.

And it worked.

Even Radia Mallarc, who only showed his face during the opening event, came for the auction.

"You know...for some reason, I always thought an auction is held at night," Dheera commented after they entered the private booth overlooking the auction venue, looking at the numbered medallion in her hand.

While the auction was held in a large conference room, several private booths on the second floor could be rented for an extra charge. Guilds and individuals with wealth to spare liked to use the booth, whether to flaunt their wealth or hide their identity, since the booth was protected by enchanted tinted glass.

"That’s because most of the artifact auctions happen at night, so people can go to work first," Lex explained kindly. He had turned into some kind of tour guide for them, as well as a walking encyclopedia.

The artifact auctions that he mentioned, however, were monthly small regular auctions, where people sold off the random artifacts they got from the Tower. It was mostly normal stuff without incredible functions that people tried to rid of because it didn’t match their class or fighting style.

Such normal artifacts would never fly to be put on display here.

"I see..." Dheera nodded her head seriously. She was the youngest along with Alice, but had a different scale of enthusiasm about new things that didn’t prevent her from even making a comment in front of the executives that were in the same room with her.

There were two tables in their private booth, one situated closer to the railing where they could see the stage and the things for display. The five-star espers and their one and only guide seated there, lounging on a comfortable couch and various kinds of refreshments.

"Are you planning on buying something?" Lex asked the girl, who stared at the screen on one side of the wall which showed the stage in closer proximity.

Dheera shook her head. "No, most of them are artifacts, right? It’s not something that a guide would need more than an esper, right?"

"It’s good to look for defensive tools," Zein said from the other table. "Especially for someone reckless like you."

"Captaaain!"

Zein glanced back with a grin hidden behind his mask. "What? It’s the truth." _{freёwebnoѵel.com}

"I think you’re more reckless, though," Bassena commented, recalling the way Zein would have zero hesitation jumping into danger if someone’s safety was at risk, despite there being other espers.

Despite how he always said to the guides to never attempt on attacking and looking for the safest way possible.

But old habit died hard, it seemed.

"Hear that?" Dheera stuck her tongue, which nearly gave Nadine a heart attack because she looked as if she did that to the Guildmaster too, since Zein was seated at the same table. It was fortunate that Radia wasn’t the type to get petty for something like that.

It was fortunate that Dheera wasn’t in Celestia.

Zein chuckled at the girl’s comment. Seemed like the helicopter date and the assurance from Radia put him in a better mood. "Isn’t that why I’m here?"

"To look for defensive artifacts?" Rina asked.

"It doesn’t have to be defensive, as long as it’s useful," Zein shrugged.

"But Sir Vaski would probably buy it for you," Lex said, voicing everyone’s thoughts.

Bassena propped his hand on the backrest behind Zein, looking at his assistant with a grin. "Oh, you know me so well, Lex."

"Who do you think I am?"

"My accountant?" the Saint-class smirked, winking at the man whose main job was to clean after all the trouble he caused.