Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Hill's initial bid of increasing by 100 didn't attract much attention, as that was how everyone was bidding.

But as the auction progressed, whether upstairs or downstairs, everyone began to feel that this person was increasing the bid casually.

After all, in a situation where two Archmages, who were not on good terms and were fiercely competitive, had already reached the point of squabbling and directly cursing at each other upstairs, there were very few who dared to follow with an increase of 100, 100.

The key point is, those who are truly unafraid of them wouldn't choose this house, nor would they idle around just to add to their troubles.

The noble district on the North Shore, the Mage District next to the Elaströ Palace, is where those of even higher levels would choose to reside.

Only those 14th-level Mages who had just acquired professorship qualifications from the university would be interested in a house on the South Shore.

Especially for those who might see 14 or 15 as the endpoint of a Mage's career, and are likely to be professors at the university for a lifetime.

However, under Hill's interference, the two Mages who had almost driven the price of the house up to 10,000 Gold Coins finally began to calm down.

They also understood that the price of the house had already peaked, and even if they bought a house closer to the Riven River later and built their own Magic Garden, they wouldn't spend as much.

The only advantage of this house was the existing Magic Botanical Garden, sparing them from further hassle. But since the plants inside were almost dead, they couldn't guarantee how much they could revive.

Therefore, if it exceeded 10,000 by too much, it would truly be inappropriate. No matter how expensive Magic Materials are, for them, who could directly buy materials from the university, it didn't amount to much.

The two old rivals tacitly fell silent, but neither gave up completely, who knew if the guy still bidding 100, 100 had a budget of just 10,000 Gold Coins.

It was really a bit annoying—if you want it, just bid a high price and be done with it! That way, they could retreat more easily.

Moreover, they didn't know if there was another competitor who wanted to become a professor at the Magic University.

Neither of them would yield to the other; it had nothing to do with saving face.

Issues like the house were trivial; they just couldn't lose to each other.

If one lost too many times, they might naturally think of retreating when facing their opponent.

But the person who was at a disadvantage might find themselves at a lower standing when vying for research funding distributed by the university, which wasn't a small sum, and that was something neither could tolerate.

The two long-time rivals began to take turns increasing their bids.

Although having someone else enter the bidding was actually not bad, they still needed to test who the person was.

What if he was the same type of Mage as them?

You know, when spring arrives, the university will start its recruitment window again.

It wasn't good for either of them if a future colleague who hadn't even enrolled yet was already outbidding them at an auction.

In Mage competition, if one couldn't make a deadly move, then it all came down to momentum!

The silence of the two Mages made many look in the direction of Hill.

Hill curled his lips, those two guys had slowed down their bidding, likely to inquire about his background.

However, when he entered, everyone could see the shield-shaped mark on his neck, and the invitation he held was issued to professors at the Bard's Academy; there was basically no conflict with the two of them. Presumably, they would give up after figuring it out.

Soon the bidding exceeded 10,000 Gold Coins, and the increasingly slower pace at which the two Mages raised their bids made it easy to see their impending surrender.

In the end, Hill secured the property for 11,000 Gold Coins.

Hill pressed the button to summon an attendant and also activated the room's Array.

Shortly after, three light knocks were heard outside his door.

"Come in," Hill said directly.

A middle-aged man dressed in butler attire walked in.

He bowed slightly and said, "Respected guest, how may I assist you? Chaos Bilao at your service."

Hill pointed at the table: "Can I settle the bill for my purchase now? Does it have to be in Gold Coins, or can I calculate directly with Red Gold?"

Bilao immediately looked up: "Would the guest like to settle the bill with Red Gold? That would indeed be best, but we can only calculate it at the market price, which might not be the most favorable for the guest."

Hill didn't mind and signaled for him to proceed with the settlement.

Bilao quickly calculated the required weight of Red Gold at market price and reported it to Hill.

Hill efficiently took out several Gold Bricks to settle the account.

Through his shopping these past few days, Hill had gradually gotten a sense of the prices in Silvermoon City.

He had converted his Red Gold into Gold Bars valued at 100 Gold Coins and Gold Bricks valued at 1,000 Gold Coins.

If he could transact directly with Red Gold, it would be much easier than counting Gold Coins, even Platinum Coins, which were priced at five Gold Coins according to the conversion rate of Moon Coins in Silvermoon City.

If it were the more commonly used Gold Dragons in the Ferun Great Land, that would be ten Gold Dragons.

Hill had no interest in counting coins for valuable purchases.

Many Mages didn't do this, one reason being that they all had spatial equipment, and another being that it was slightly a loss.

If sold as Magic Material, Hill's Gold Bars could fetch at least 105 Gold.

Hill quickly received his land title emblazoned with a crescent moon and a hanging star badge.

Ferun is actually quite straightforward; outside the city, you only need to worry about the land itself, not what kind of building you construct on it.

Within the city, the requirement is to be consistent with the urban style, and there is no height restriction whatsoever.

The Silvermoon People only refrained from erecting buildings taller than a few defense towers next to the palace out of respect for Elaströ.

Hill simply took back those waterproof, fireproof, dustproof, and even destruction-proof documents into his pendant and instructed List to keep them safe.

He would mostly be just watching the excitement for what came next.

Hill leaned back on the sofa, listening to the auction outside grow increasingly fevered.

That trade association actually had a warehouse at the port and a dock!

It was probably because they felt so powerful that they dared to encroach on the territory of the two Ancient Dragons in the North, even causing dragons to step aside.

These two were known for disguising themselves as adventurers and roaming everywhere; it was hard for anything to escape their eyes.

The small disturbance Hill had caused was quickly overshadowed by the frenzied bidding that ensued.

The warehouse and port's opening bid of 50,000 rose rapidly to 100,000.

Even Hill couldn't help but cast a curious glance toward the booths where a few extremely wealthy bidders were shouting out their bids.

The local authorities of Silvermoon City all had their own docks and wouldn't be so desperate, so these must be outsiders.

He couldn't help but listen to the noises outside; with such brazen bidding, surely someone knew the details about these bidders.

Among the last three competitors, it turned out that two were major merchants from Deepwater City and Neverwinter, both backed by local nobles.

The other was an old acquaintance of Hill's, Valkin's trade association.

He frowned and turned his head to glare in that direction.

He placed his hand directly on the bidding button, ready to add another bid if it came down to Valkin's people being the last ones standing.

He diverted part of his attention to the room next door to listen to the person who was well-informed.

It had dawned on him that since he held an invitation from a Bard professor, those seated around him were naturally Bards as well.

No matter whom they worshipped or what path they followed, Bards were Ferun's strongest allies in spreading gossip far and wide.

As expected, Valkin had suffered a heavy blow and even had most of its trade associations raided by the Order of the Hand of Tyr, issuing a blatant challenge with that aura that could judge factions.

The outcome was predictable; their Main God himself was almost demoted to evil.

The only way out was to break through the blockade of the Paladin Legion of Tyr and flee for their lives, something no merchant with that capability would stoop to such caution every day.

Their only hope was Valkin's blessing, but regrettably, the deity didn't utter a word, or if it did, Tyr might have smacked it back down.

Anyway, the trade association was almost finished, and Valkin's Divine Power had taken a significant hit as well.

So Valkin's followers could only move to the Northern Continent, where Tyr's influence wasn't strong.

Especially Silvermoon City, where the Knights and Warriors worshipped the Guardian God Tom.

That's why Valkin's Followers, though pretending to be Deities' Patrons, still couldn't stop the two big merchants, who had powerful backers of their own!

With Valkin's Lower Rank Divine Power unable to protect itself, it no longer had the authority to command respect from anyone.

Hill listened intently to the gossip about Valkin circulating in the nearby booths, finding their words to be particularly venomous.

The rumors about that deity entertaining guests in the Bottomless Abyss had, indeed, been spread by them.

But the source of their information seemed to be that witch with an ambiguous relationship with Grazt, the Six-fingered Demon Lord of the Abyss, along with a Blue Dragon with a fondness for music.

Many bits of information about the Evil Faction came from these two, as both were willing to entertain Bards who are talented in music and dance from Neutral or even Kind Alignments.

Hill suddenly perked up, no longer listening to the crass jokes next door.

The bidder from Neverwinter had withdrawn in disappointment.

The person from Deepwater City seemed hesitant as well, prompting Hill to 'tsk' and firmly press the +1000 button.

He always timed his bids just after Valkin's association, and it wasn't long before he was discovered.

"I wonder which noble soul is so intent on opposing the followers of the Merchant's Friend?" the Follower of the Goddess of Wealth could no longer hold back and spoke out, "My lord only wishes to find a temporary residence in Silvermoon City and has no intention of proselytizing here!"

Hill laughed coldly, "It has nothing to do with Silvermoon City; I just detest Valkin."

"You impertinent fool! My lord will not let you go lightly."

"Hypocrites always play the victim," Hill suddenly thought of a fitting phrase.

This follower at heart was a merchant and had no intention of fighting to the death for their Main God – mentioning only that Valkin wouldn't let Hill off the hook, rather than challenging Hill to a duel himself.

Valkin's Follower began to bid desperately, while the person from Deepwater City, who had been silently matching bids until now, seemed to be struggling to keep up.

Hill called his steward, Bilao, back in, "If Deepwater can't get it in the end, tell them I'm willing to rent at market price."

Bilao paused for a few seconds before bowing deeply, "Yes, guest."