I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel Chapter 73

Became the youngest prince in the novel Episode 73

Chapter 20 Underground Auction House (1)

“… … .”

Fifth Princess Deanna was lost in thought in her study at Cheongseong Palace.

Her fingers tapping the armrest rhythmically.

Despite clearly benefiting greatly from the fall of the 3rd prince, Deanna’s face was not very bright.

“… … “I really don’t know.”

With that muttering, the scene she saw in the basement the night she attacked Jeokseong Palace came to her mind.

Although most of it had already been destroyed by Igracia, the remains alone were enough to give an idea of ​​the inhumane experiments that had taken place so far.

And it was so shocking that even Deanna, who was aware of Enoch’s perverted hobbies, was shocked.

Perhaps, if she had properly understood these experiments, especially those conducted on fairies, she would have gone to war with Enoch a long time ago.

‘Maybe Shion also knew about that and offered me cooperation.’

How on earth did Shion know something that even she couldn’t figure out?

Come to think of it, even when Regan Ursula laid a trap in the past, Sion knew more than Deanna herself.

‘Is there really an information power that surpasses mine?’

It was crazy, but if it was true.

She might have to completely overturn the ranking of targets that existed in her head.

‘In addition, due to this incident, the power under his command is increasing at a tremendous rate.’

It’s literally like having wings.

And this was why her face wasn’t bright.

The more Deanna learned about Zion, the more she realized how dangerous Zion was.

That’s why she was more concerned about Zion’s growing stronger than her own growing power.

It felt like I was going to surpass her someday if things continued like this.

Plus.

‘The Ascalon family has contacted Prince Sion.’

After receiving this information, I couldn’t help but have a lot of worries and thoughts.

“Well, the situation in Ascalon was fully expected.”

The reason why the Ascalon family broke off ties with Zion from the beginning was because there was really no hope.

However, now that Shion had fully proven his potential due to various events, there was no reason for them, as maternal relatives, not to contact each other again.

In order to balance it, Deanna also had to gain the support of one of the other five great families, and the one that had the least chance was the Ozrima family.

After the 3rd prince died, they seemed to have lost their balance.

‘The problem is that they don’t move at all.’

Are you trying to seal the door?

The Ozrima family had no response to her repeated attempts to contact them.

Deanna was feeling very frustrated.

“after… … .”

She slowly shook her head and let out a long sigh, looking at Lloyd who was standing behind her and asking.

“What is Zion doing now?”

Since Sion was already one of the top surveillance targets she had designated, it was basic to keep track of its movements at all times.

“We have already received information that he secretly left the castle a little while ago.”

“Outside the imperial castle? “Do you know where you’re going?”

“It’s not exact, but guessing the route, it seems like it’s probably headed to the Flington Underground Auction House.”

“Plington? Where is it? I think I’ve heard it once… … .”

Deanna’s expression changed strangely as Lloyd responded.

“It is the only place in the capital that auctions slaves.”

* * *

‘There are more people than I thought.’

This was Sion’s impression as he sat in the VIP section of the auction house and looked around.

The auction house, which resembled a huge hall, was packed with hundreds of seats.

And all the seats were full of people, without a single empty space.

And it was the same for the VIP seats upstairs where Zion was sitting.

Just by looking at this, one could fully guess the majesty of Flington Auction House.

‘It doesn’t appear here.’

Shion thought as he looked through the auction item catalog placed on the table next to his seat.

It was clear that the item he had in mind would be released today, so it was correct to assume that he had omitted it on purpose.

There are two cases where auction items do not appear in the catalog.

The first case was that they were not objects but living slaves, and the second case was that they were items of great value among the items to be released.

What Zion is seeking here today is not slavery, so it must be the latter.

at that time.

“I see more big names than I thought.”

Eileen, who was sitting next to her and looking around, opened her mouth to Zion in a subdued tone.

“I’m hiding my identity, but can you recognize me?”

“sure. “Still, he’s the head of the Intelligence Guild branch, so you can’t recognize him just because he covers his face.”

“okay? “Then who is the woman over there?”

As she spoke confidently, Shion pointed to a woman sitting diagonally lower in the same VIP section and asked.

A woman with a tattoo of a snake with its head biting its tail on her left shoulder.

She was also the woman that Zion saw earlier when he first entered the auction house.

Of course, because he was wearing a mask, I couldn’t tell his face.

“… … Who is it? “I have no idea.”

Eileen looked at the woman for a moment, and a puzzled voice came out of her mouth.

“If the nobles of the capital are also assigned to VIP seats, I can’t help but know… … .”

Shion nodded slightly as if he had expected her reaction.

It had to be that way.

That woman, and the organization she belongs to, will rise up in the future rather than now.

Since nothing had been revealed to the forefront yet, it was natural that Eileen did not know.

“Do you know who it is… … .”

It was when Eileen was about to ask again about Zion’s reaction.

-hello! This is Ronnie Harlen, who will be conducting today’s auction.

The inside of the auction house became dark and an auctioneer appeared on the podium in front.

-First of all, I would like to express my infinite gratitude to everyone who attended the auction. Spring, full of colorful flowers that delighted our eyes, has passed, and the fresh green leaves with the scent of early summer… … .

The auctioneer immediately continued his remarks skillfully.

The first items began to appear behind him.

-… … I would like to introduce the first item marking the start of today’s auction.

It was a picture.

A drawing with several colored lines drawn geometrically on pure white paper.

From Zion’s point of view, he thought, ‘Is that really a painting?’ – The painting is an unknown posthumous work of Pavel Karpnov, a master of modern art who passed away not long ago… … .

Even before the auctioneer finished speaking, people started raising their hands like crazy.

-On number 88, only 10 million came out, and at that moment, number 105 reached 15 million! Oh, you immediately called 20 million from number 206!

The price of a painting soars in an instant.

“… … .”

Zion didn’t think they truly knew the value of the painting.

What they see is the name of the artist who created the painting and how many people will recognize it and be amazed when it is hung in the study.

Of course, Shion wasn’t interested in that.

“If the first product that came out was that good, I guess we can look forward to the next ones as well.”

Next to Shion, Eileen muttered softly.

As she said, the auction items that followed were all amazing.

Although they are not very practical, they are items of such extreme rarity that they stimulate the nobles’ desire to own them.

Should we really say that it is the best underground auction house in the empire?

All such items were being auctioned off for astronomical amounts.

‘What on earth did you come to buy?’

Even though the auction was still going on, Eileen looked at Zion with a puzzled look, as he had not yet placed a single bid.

The order in which items appeared at Flington Auction House was by value, not by category.

So, whether it is a simple work of art or an artifact imbued with magic, the order is determined purely according to the value.

And slaves, living beings, were no exception.

Therefore, even though numerous slaves were already being auctioned off, Zion did not even move.

‘Aren’t you really here to buy slaves?’

Since the purpose of visiting this auction house was usually to purchase slaves, it was a natural question.

at that time.

-Now, this item is Lord Scanbia’s cursed necklace.

An item that was slightly different from the previous ones was brought up to the stage.

-In the past, Lord Scanbia, who ruled Calott, a large territory in the northwestern part of the empire, obtained this necklace after subduing Gert, a warlock who was extremely infamous at the time. Afterwards, Lord Scanbia suffered from an illness of unknown cause and lost his life, and ever since… … .

A necklace with a curse so severe that it can take the life of the wearer.

‘No matter how rare something like that is, it’s not that popular.’

Even if there was only one in the world, it wasn’t something that could be put out like a work of art and boasted to someone, and it wasn’t worth much.

Therefore, only some nobles with maniacal hobbies were participating in the auction.

-3 million in number 66, 3 million! Is there anyone else you would like to call?

The auctioneer also proceeded at a much lower tempo, probably because it was something he had expected from the beginning.

The nobleman in number 66, who bid the last price, also sat leisurely, probably because he thought there would be no competitors.

-Okay, then Lord Scanbia’s necklace goes to number 66… … .

It was then.

-Oh! Number 11! 3.5 million people called in number 11!

Someone raised their hand.

Eileen’s face changes into a surprised expression.

That’s because number 11 was Zion.

‘how… … .’

What are you thinking?

-4 million again in number 66!

While she was looking at Shion’s drowsy face, whose thoughts were unknown, noble number 66 raised his hand again.

-No. 11, 4.5 million!

Shion raises the bid again before the auctioneer has finished speaking.

Due to the competition between the two, the price of the necklace began to soar in an instant.

‘Could it be that they are trying to assassinate someone with that?’

Eileen’s eyes were filled with confusion as she looked at the necklace, which quickly reached close to 10 million.

No matter how much I thought about it, that necklace didn’t have this much value.

‘Can I raise it a little more?’

However, Zion actually thought so, raising the price to 12 million.

Lord Skanbia’s cursed necklace.

Shion knew the true value of that necklace.

Because it was an artifact that appeared once in the Flosimar Chronicles.

It looks like that now because of the warlock’s curse, but once the curse is lifted, that necklace, although low-level, will be transformed into a legendary-level artifact.

Therefore, even though it was not the item they were originally aiming for, they entered the bidding process.

‘No matter how much you pay, there is no loss as long as you win the bid.’

In the first place, in most cases, legendary weapons and artifacts could not be obtained even if you paid money.

Besides, I didn’t have enough money anyway, so it was overflowing.

Eternal Shadow, the empire’s top intelligence organization and currently serving Zion, was operating businesses under assumed names throughout the empire, and was earning an astronomical amount of money from them.

‘My lord, you are going to the auction house, but you cannot run out of funds. Please feel free to use it. You can buy the entire auction house.’

This was what Thierry said as he handed Sion a bearer black card coated with magic.

From what I heard, the bank said it was issued only to the highest-rated customers and that there was no limit.

The only card that can be used at Flington Auction House, which only accepts cash.

‘I specifically said that this was handled so that the user’s identity could not be known.’

Inwardly impressed by Thierry’s attention to detail, Sion raised the bid for the necklace to 30 million.

“profit!”

An angry voice was heard from number 66.

-In number 11… … 30 million! Anyone want to bid more?

Bids no longer go up.

Perhaps even for number 66, the price just paid seemed to be the limit.

Or maybe you think the damage is too great to pay any more.

-With this, Sir Scanbia’s necklace has been sold to customer number 11.

The sound of a hammer echoing along with the auctioneer’s voice.

“… … .”

I felt the stinging gaze of Eileen sitting next to me.

Rather than buying slaves, there is an unspoken pressure asking why on earth they are spending 30 million dollars on something like that.

Shion lightly ignored her gaze and focused on the auction.

How much longer did the auction go on?

By the time all the items in the catalog had appeared and the prepared slaves had also come to an end.

-Now, the product coming out this time does not exist in the catalog. It is so rare that its value cannot be placed on it, and it is still sought after by many great nobles and supreme lords.

The auctioneer lowered his voice and opened his mouth in a different tone than before.

A small blue ring appears on the stage with him.

The bright blue glow that erupts from such a ring begins to fill the entire wide auction hall.

Additionally, the temperature drops noticeably.

The auction house didn’t do anything different.

This phenomenon was happening simply because the ring existed here.

– Long ago, before the empire was created, there was a queen who ruled the North, where only blizzards existed. The queen was born with the power to control snow and ice, and before she died, she enshrined that power into a ring.

“That doesn’t make sense, how could it be here!”

A small cry came out of Eileen’s mouth as she first recognized what the ring was.

-That is this ring, the breath of the Frost Queen.

And finally, at the end of the auctioneer’s speech, the moment the ring is fully revealed.

“!!!!!!”

The people inside the auction house expressed their astonishment, and some of them even stood up from their seats.

And with him.

‘Has it finally come out?’

A cold light began to flow from inside Shion’s drowsy eyes.

fantasy,