The Mage of Primordial Chaos

"100 million!" Someone from the VIP room next to ours yelled.

"100 million, from VIP Number 15! Do we hear any more bids?" The auctioneer echoed, looking around in the audience.

"Ngh... 100 million... that's way outta my league..." Someone muttered in disappointment.

"As much as I want that Golden Pill... I knew we would have no chance compared to the VIPs..." Another groaned in complaint.

"100 million, going once... 100 million, going twice... 100 million, going three times..." The auctioneer raised her hammer into the air-

"150 million." A cold, steely female voice suddenly said, from the VIP chamber to our left.

"150 million, from VIP number 17-"

"200 million!" VIP 15 called out before the auctioneer could even finish her sentence.

"250 million," the girl replied, in that same cold, steely voice.

"Damn it... don't screw with me, Davis!" VIP number 15 roared, clearly angry. "I can tell who you are just judging from that voice. No one else has that annoying tone!"

"Are you going to continue bidding, or just sit there and yell insults at me?" The girl asked quietly, yet with a hint of smugness. "Because no matter which you choose, both are — quite frankly — completely pointless."

"You...!"

"A-Ahem..." The auctioneer cleared her throat. "250 million, going once... 250 million, going twice... 250 million, going three times..."

Silence from VIP Number 15.

"... Sold! Congratulations, VIP Number 17, the Golden Pill is yours for 250 million mordai!"

"... Davis, I'll remember this."

"... Hmph."

"Those two seem to have a feud," I noted. "Axilia, you know who that 'Davis' person is?"

"Hm... most likely, the daughter of Duke Davis," Axilia replied after some thought. "She's quite strong... but of course, if she tries taking darling, I'll still kill her with ease~!"

"Do you know her name?" I asked.

"Oho... why do you want to know her name, master?" Ling Xin asked, leaning in close to my face. "Are we not enough for you? Do you still wish to claim more women to add to your harem?"

"That's not it," I replied. "I just want to know the name of the person who's going to be delivering 250 million dollars into my wallet. Is that not reasonable?"

"Not when it comes to you, no," Ling Xin said with a smile.

I stared at her with a deadpan expression, to which she laughed softly, showing a cute side of her I didn't see often, compared to how alluring and seductive she usually was.

"There's one question though..." Axilia murmured. "Darling, why did they only auction one pill? What about all the other ones?"

I smirked. "A marketing strategy, to gain maximum profit. That old fox, he's pretty sly."

"Eh...? I don't get it..." Axilia frowned, still confused.

"Think about it," I said, stroking her smooth, silky long black hair that matched her sister's. "What makes something valuable?"

"Their uses...?"

"Well, that's part of it, but I'm talking about ancient treasures here. Think broader."

"Their... rarity?"

I smiled. "Precisely. And what would people do if they knew there were in fact multiple copies of one item?"

"The value of that item would lower..." Axilia's eyes widened as she realized.

"Get it now?" I chuckled. "That old fogey did this on purpose. By marketing the Golden Pill like there was only one in all of existence, the price was raised this high. And that was just a Low-Grade one too... take a look at what he does next."

Axilia turned her head to look at the stage down below, where another cart similar to the first one was brought up while the previous one was brought down. The auctioneer, now more comfortable with the whole Golden Pill situation, smiled professionally and took off the cover of this item. In an instant, the entire audience was captivated once more, though they were surprised for a different reason this time.

"A-Another one?!"

"W-Wha...?"

"The Golden Pill that was just sold was a mere Low-Grade one. However, the one being showcased here... is a Mid-Grade, worth a lot more! A lot of effort when into the refinement of this pill, so it is guaranteed to provide insurmountable benefits! Since the ending bid of the Low-Grade was 250 million, that will be the starting bid of the Mid-Grade — make your bids, everyone!"

"275 million!" VIP Number 15 immediately called out. But-

"300 million."

... Once again, VIP Number 17 stood in his way.

"DAVIS...!"

"Is there a problem? This is an auction. I am free to bid as a please, am I not?"

Within my room, I laughed in amusement at the conflict between the two. If only they knew the person who made all those pills was right in between them.

"That girl's got a sharp tongue. I like her," I said.

"Fufu~ master, are you really saying you like another girl in front of your future wives?" Ling Xin asked, a sharp gleam in her eyes.

"Uh... that didn't have any romantic intention behind it," I quickly argued. "I'm just saying, she's interesting."

"Hm, yes... I was merely 'interested' in you at first as well, master. Look where that brought me."

"..." I fell silent, out of witty comebacks.

"Insolent fools, arguing like six-year-old children... how will you carry on your families' legacies like this?" An old man croaked out from a little further away, also in a VIP chamber. "350 million."

"Shut it, old man! 400 million!" VIP Number 15 yelled, completely fed up.

"Old Man Freefeather, I would advise you not to interfere," Davis said coldly. "You are already on the brink of death — why not just give in? The problems of the next generation are not your concern. 450 million."

The old man sighed, voice hoarse and hagged. "Sorry, young 'uns... but I must acquire this pill. If my guess is not wrong... judging from the smell of that pill... it is a Rejuvenation Pill, able to prolong life. There are many things that I have yet to do... and until I fulfill them, I cannot go. 500 million."

"Oho. Rejuvenation Pill, you say?" A new male voice joined the mix, from another VIP chamber. "How interesting... I would compete for this, but since my beloved Adelina also wishes for it, I will opt out. However, should you wish, Adelina, I will purchase this pill for you."

"... Disgusting. Kill yourself," Davis — whose first name was Adelina — replied coldly. But to our surprise, rather than become offended, the male  moaned in pleasure.

"Oh~ yes, my beloved Adelina, I will gladly kill myself for you. Please, keep insulting me!"

"Tch..." Adelina fell silent, deciding just ignoring him is the best option. "Old Man Freefeather, out of my respect for seniors, I will opt out of this item as well. Enjoy your Rejuvenation Pill."

"Thank... you... and you, Kochis?" Freefeather asked, apparently directing his message to the always-angry VIP Number 15.

"Ha! Like hell I'm going to pussy out like Davis! 550 million! Bring it on, geezer!"

"... How imprudent. You do not even need this pill, Kochis. Think about it — if there is a Mid-Grade Pill here... why would there not be a High-Grade one coming up next? It is best to save your money for that, don't you agree? 600 million."

"Hm..." Kochis fell into thought, contemplating the old man's words.  After several seconds, he made his decision. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'll let you live another few years, old man."

"Thank... you..."

"600 million going once, going twice, going three times..." The auctioneer raised her hammer. "Sold! VIP Number 14, congratulations — the Mid-Grade Golden Pill is yours for 600 million. And now, for our next item... just as VIP Number 14 stated — a High-Grade Golden Pill! The starting bid will be 600 million."

At this, the normal audience down below all sighed in disappointment, realizing this was way too out of their league no matter how much they wanted the treasure. This was just the reality of the line separating the rich and the poor. The statused and the no-named. The powerful and the weak.

But this time, no one cast their bids. Why? The reason was simple — now that a High-Grade Pill had appeared, all of them were thinking the same thing: What if there was a Saint-Tier Pill? Maybe even a Divine-Tier?

The auctioneer, having not expected this silence, was somewhat at a loss for what to do.

"Er... does no one wish to bid...?"

"Master, by rules of the auction, if no one bids after the starting bid, the starting bid will have to be lowered until someone does," Ling Xin whispered into my ear, throwing her soft, slender arms around my neck. "You have to do something, or we'll be missing out on profit~"

I nodded. "I'm aware."

Then, pressing on the button on the table to make a bid, I spoke so that everyone in the audience, along with the other VIPs, could hear me — though not before changing my voice to an old man's with Sound Magic.

"700 million."

Silence.

"I know what you are all thinking right now, fellow VIPs," I said. "'Is he stupid, making a bid for the High-Grade Golden Pill when there could very well be even better ones coming along?' Well, I can assure you, I am not stupid... and there will not be any better ones coming along."

"Oh? And how do you know that so certainly, mystery VIP whom I do not recognize?" Adelina asked, voice cold and threatening. But what was that to me? I've seen a lot worse. I was  a lot worse.

"Why?" I chuckled. "Because I'm the one who made the pills."

At this, the entire audience froze. The other VIPs, the auctioneer, Grandmaster Zun in the backstage, and even Axilia and Ling Xin stared at me in shock, like 'what happened to keeping our identity a secret?!'

But I had a plan. Even if they knew I was the one who made the Golden Pills, they would only know me by 'VIP Number 14'. They will never get a glance at my face — not even the slightest bit of our figures.