Chapter 98 - Declaration Of War

One might think that the villainess has such a plan in her mind—which was true and evident—but she came with no one who had ever thought about: the Hymnic Conches and that one slave that would turn out to be a magical performer.

Although when these things started to appear, her plans shattered, and she reconstructed what she knew best.

These were all items from her world, after all.

'Especially that bag!'

There were many valuable items inside that she could use to her advantage, without the need to follow the best possible route of how the story should flow. She could reach the same goal without having to face dire consequences of the Butterfly Effect.

Also, Athan could take all that he learned, but Nathalie knew that the innovative and creative person that she was would thrive and be the victor.

Introspection came as Nathalie thought about the event at that time. 

Her family…

Her house…

Her belongings…

With all of the items that appeared so magically afore her, these were everything she needed, not only on taming 'Frost Wyrm' was there, and there was no way she could fuck this golden moment up so bad.

Now, Nathalie needed to have a strategy to come out unscathed as the most economical way.

These rich nobles were like wolves that preyed upon the items that got showcased, one after another.

Even if they had no clue what it was, they were crazy and more than willing to pay a hefty price for as long as it was special and unique.

"Without further ado, this is the Legendary Arid Coffer, with its deserted appearance sparks grandeur for the one who bears and displays in their household…"

For the whole time, she rolled her eyes out as she had enough at the announcer for trying to revitalize the audience and convinced them to take a piece of meat as well.

At least for them, there wasn't anything special about it, as they don't even know how to use it. On the other hand, she knew what it was every single thing inside the suitcases, for she was the one who took time to pack things up.

After which, the initial bid of 20,000 value rose to 86,900 gold coins real quick.

'This is ridiculous.' She shook her head and prodded at him to go with the offer 500 gold higher.

"87,400 gold coins from number 5, any more bidders?"

But then it seems like her good luck walked through thin ice when one of the crowd hollered.

"88,000!"

"Alright, there we go for number 30!" Mark beamed with overly gesture hands, pointing from a noble a bit far from the stage. "88,000! My, that's some cold, hard cash you have over there, good Sir! Anything else?"

Nathalie tapped again, which prompted Keith with an offer, but he got overlapped with a booming voice of 90,000 immediately.

'Tsk, these fools! Do they know they are already wasting their money for something they have no idea about?!' She could feel the sudden sear in her eyes as she continued to glare at them.

She already had prior palpitations of what was about to come her way, and she wouldn't want to miss the chances, more so it would land in the wrong hands.

[Keith, 1,000 higher!]

"A lovely bid—I approve of 91,000. Any ladies and gentlemen who would want to top the highest offer?"

The crowd became hesitant as they peered at the luggage once more.

"Going once… Going twice… Going thrice—Alright, this is still sold to number 5, congratulations!"

She sighed as she slumped to her seat.

The level of importance among these items went higher than before.

More and more items of luggage came, and she thought that the competition became fierce.

With Keith as her mouthpiece, there she didn't back down from the rest of them, who wanted to join the chaos inside the auction house.

"67,000!"

"67,000 gold for number 5! Any higher offers for this lovely crate—"

"I shall go with 71,000!"

"Sweet! That's a good bid you have there—"

Keith asserted, "74,000!"

"Now, that is marvelous!"

Luggage after luggage, she got them all in the bag while slaying them with her neverending money that was akin to a heavy downpour. 

At this point, she became unstoppable, and they were all in awe for her dominance, but their curiosity grew from what it was aside from its large and aesthetic bags.

"My Lady, we have gotten most of these beautifully odd items," He asked and leaned forward with fingers intertwined. "Must we really buy these?" 

[We have to, I need them all.]

"All?!" Keith breathed, which had Nathalie hushed him, and was attentive with one thing he had in mind and added, "Pardon my impertinence, but I sense that our funds have—"

"We can still make it!" Her gaze now hovered at the remaining suitcases, almost moved back and forth from backstage; she was blessed with the powers to see the heat signals somehow.

Nothing malicious and shenanigans happened in the Auction, let alone the bag, just as she expected with the reputation the Household Edelweiss held, but it wasn't enough. She mustn't let herself get too complacent.

The next one had to be a clear acrylic bag, and her eyes glued to it when it was a myriad of gadgets that would advance her plans.

'Finally—!'

Though, speaking of the devil, the moment she offered, a familiar voice echoed.

"150,000 gold coins…"

All of them, Nathalie included, took a sharp turn at Athan, who was chin up with a smug grin.

When the royalty came through, no one would dare go against them, as they should.

Except her.

Still, it made her thrown into the pit of confusion.

'Did I underestimate him? There were replicas of these gadgets as to those artifacts, though, like the 'Hymnic Conch', but there's no way he would know all of these?!'

'Huh? Does he really know about this value?! No, no, no no… This may be his bluff.' 

A part of Nathalie crossed her mind that Athan might know the future, but not as well as she did—as an author. 

So, it could've been his ruse to downplay.

[Go with 180,00… NOW!]

"400,000… Money isn't a problem for me," Athan declared, shrugging lightly. 

[550,000]

The crowds gasped at number 45's offer, a figure not to be taken so lightly.

Through the hood, she glared at him when he just grinned back. It made her piss off.

'You want war? I'll serve it to you. '