CH337 Auction Finale II

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"In this Arcane Library, we have successfully developed a method of storing knowledge that can resist the passage of time for as long as its crystal matrix remains intact.

"For reference, the special formula used in creating this crystal makes it far more durable than a Pang-Mohs Diamond. Even under the harshest natural conditions, each crystal can endure for millions of years—safeguarding the knowledge within for the same length of time.

"I believe I don't have to tell you how far more advanced that is compared to any of our current means.

"While it's not entirely impregnable to intentional destruction, it is still vastly more resistant than anything we've used before or have currently."

Haggleworth paused briefly, allowing the murmurs in the hall to settle before continuing.

"But is this the only reason why you should opt for this? No, of course not. Another factor to consider is security.

"This product is designed with a runic security system—one that ensures the knowledge stored within cannot be accessed without the proper level of clearance or authority. With just this one of these, you can inject knowledge, then assign specific access permissions to different individuals based on the parameters of your choosing.

"There's no longer any need to spend copious amounts of resources constructing separate vaults for your most valuable archives. Everything—general or confidential—can now be stored within a single Arcane Library crystal and secured precisely as you wish. Only authorised individuals will be able to access the restricted sections."

He drew the spotlight onto the crystal, letting its pale light shimmer across the hall.

"Another remarkable advantage of this device is simultaneous utility, or concurrent access. Gone are the days when people had to wait endlessly to consult a record just because someone else is using it. With this device, multiple users can access the same information concurrently through the organisation's designated portals—without interfering with one another.

"In fact, during our tests, we confirmed that a single device could be accessed from anywhere within the Virellian Empire. Given that the Empire possesses the largest landmass on the continent, this means you'll be able to access your data from any linked portal within an extremely generous range."

He smiled faintly, his tone turning almost teasing.

"There are a few more advantages to the Arcane Library, but those will only be disclosed to the successful bidders after the auction.

"We at the Golden Palace firmly believe that this Arcane Library will soon replace every current method of storing, securing, and transmitting knowledge—both for our present generation and for countless others yet to come."

Contrary to Alex and Haggleworth's expectations, the audience was actually thrilled by the appearance of the Rune Servers—now officially branded as the Arcane Library.

Both men had initially assumed the server wouldn't perform well on its own, which was the very reason this elaborate auction and accompanying festival had been organised in the first place.

Yet from the look of things, the device might just have found its market. Several nobles and representatives were already raising their placards, eager to place early bids.

'Perhaps it isn't so much about the product itself,' Alex mused, watching the crowd with mild surprise, 'but the brand we've unknowingly built. It's the same way many companies back on Earth could sell anything simply by stamping their logo on it. A testament to the trust we've managed to create.'

Haggleworth shared the same sentiment. However, as much as the gnome wanted to ride that wave of excitement and start the auction immediately, he restrained himself.

The outcome they were seeing now was not luck—it was the product of meticulous planning by the Golden Palace. And as its Head, he could not afford to deviate from that plan, no matter how tempting it was.

He drew in a slow breath, pushed down the urge, and turned toward the stage. Then, with a dramatic wave of his hand, he signalled the attendants.

To the audience's surprise, another pedestal rose smoothly from beneath the stage—its appearance accompanied by a faint golden hum.

Many leaned forward, expecting the grand finale—the final auction item.

But what appeared upon the pedestal instead was… a simple crystal.

A low murmur spread through the hall.

The item was clearly just a projection crystal, a high-value magical device capable of displaying recorded images—a sort of enchanted video recorder, though extremely limited and painfully expensive.

"The tenth and final lot," Haggleworth announced, "is a very special one. To my knowledge, this is the only device of its kind in existence. Rather than explain what it is, I think it's best that I simply show you."

He turned back to the crowd, his voice echoing through the hall.

"As you all know, this is a projection crystal. Its capacity is limited—it can only replay a short collection of images captured within. But what you are about to witness is real. No matter how impossible it may seem."

"Without further ado…"

He approached the crystal and carefully placed a mid-grade Mana Stone beside it.

A faint sigh rippled through the audience—everyone knew how costly mid-grade stones were. Most would never waste such a resource on something so trivial as visual projection.

Moments later, a soft hum filled the air. The Mana Stone flared, draining rapidly as a conical beam of light shot upward, expanding into a wide, translucent display visible to everyone in the hall.

Within the projection, a blurry figure appeared—clad in the characteristic uniform of the Golden Palace.

The image stabilised, revealing an individual standing before a large storage chest.

[A.N: Visual Model — Pelican 1630-style hard case.]

The person in the projection knelt, opened the chest, and began taking out various items one after another.

Within moments, it became obvious that this was no ordinary container—it was an Interspatial Storage Chest.

Even among spatial artefacts, it was top-tier. Though it required two strong men to lift, its internal capacity could easily store enough items to fill a small room.

The scene seemed straightforward—just someone unpacking objects from the artefact. The audience exchanged confused looks, wondering what Haggleworth was trying to show them.

No one spoke, though. They waited, sensing that something remarkable was coming.

And then—

After completely packing out the items in the chest, from the pocket of their robe, the individual produced a small ring box. Inside, nestled against soft velvet, was a gemstone ring—simple, elegant, almost humble in design.

The person slipped it onto their finger and turned it toward the items scattered around the floor—the same ones that had been taken out of the interspatial chest.

A soft flash of light burst forth.

Instantly, every single item vanished.

A collective gasp rippled through the audience.

For a split second, many thought the beam had destroyed everything in its path. But that illusion was quickly shattered when the individual pointed the ring toward another direction—

—and the missing items reappeared, one by one.

The same objects –nothing had been lost nor damaged.

Then, with casual precision, the figure pointed the ring toward their own hand, and a metallic jar materialised within their grasp.

The figure uncorked it, took a long drink, then crushed the jar like a soda can and tossed it upward.

As the flattened jar spun mid-air, the figure struck a bizarrely theatrical pose—one hand extended dramatically, the ring gleaming under the projection's light.

Another flash—

The crushed jar vanished.

A second later, it reappeared neatly in the figure's hand.

Then, as if to punctuate the demonstration, the individual made the jar disappear once more, turned toward the invisible audience behind the crystal, and gave an elegant, almost mischievous bow.

The image flickered—and cut out.

Silence fell across the entire auction hall.

The hundreds of nobles, merchants, scholars and craftsmen sat frozen in disbelief.

Slowly, whispers began to spread.

'An interspatial storage ring…?'

'A real one? Impossible!'

'The technology that been sought for ages has been found!'

'No, that— that can't be real!'

Yet before denial could fully take root, Haggleworth's calm, measured voice rolled across the hall, sealing their fate:

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, smiling like a man unveiling history itself,

"I present to you—the first and only one of its kind—

the Coinage Moonstone Interspatial Storage Ring!"

The hall erupted.

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