Reincarnated as a step-dad in a fantasy world-Chapter 365: An incredible treasure

"Without further delay, let the auction begin," Frieda declared, her voice carrying an energetic undertone that sent a ripple of excitement through the crowd, drawing applause and cheers from those present.

Frieda waited a moment, allowing the room to calm down before continuing, "Since some of you have never attended one of our Drazen family auctions, I will explain the rules and how this event will unfold."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. Seeing that she had everyone's attention, she gave a small nod and continued, "As I'm sure everyone present is aware, the auction will not conclude today. Instead, it will span exactly ten days, ten days during which we will present to you the finest items, rarest artifacts, and most precious treasures you have ever witnessed. Each day, the auction will begin at sunrise and end at sunset."

At that point, Freya interjected, clarifying something for Alex, "Actually, the auction doesn't end that early."

"Yeah?" Alex raised an eyebrow.

Freya nodded. "For the common guests, the auction ends at sunset. However, each night after the sun has set, a private auction is held exclusively for our most prestigious guests. I don't need to spell it out, but the items auctioned at night are far more valuable than those presented during the day. That said, only one treasure is auctioned each night. Over the years, those in the know have started referring to these treasures as the 'stars' of our yearly auction."

"And what about my potions? Will they be auctioned at night or during the day?" Alex asked, curious.

"Of course, your smoke potions are considered one of our star treasures this year," Freya answered with a smile.

Down below, Frieda was still explaining the rules of the auction to the guests.

"If a treasure catches your interest and you wish to place a bid, simply raise your hand," she said, before glancing up at the private boxes overlooking the main hall. "For those of you seated above, there are speakers installed inside each of your boxes. By activating them, your voice will be transmitted directly outside your box, allowing you to place bids without leaving your seat."

Looking around the box, Alex soon spotted the speaker Frieda had mentioned, placed on a stool not far from the sofa where he and Freya were sitting.

"Now that all of this is out of the way, the auction can officially begin," Frieda announced with an elegant smile, beckoning one of the stewards on stage to approach.

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The steward walked to the center of the stage, pushing a small rolling cart on which the first item to be auctioned was carefully placed under a velvet cloth.

"Some of you who have already attended our family's previous auctions are already familiar with this tradition," Frieda said, her voice gaining momentum. "So my words are directed to those of you who are not yet in the know," she continued, her eyes gleaming. "The item that opens our yearly auction is always an extraordinary treasure among extraordinary treasures — a unique masterpiece, a marvel coveted by all, a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, so coveted, so rare, that the mere rumor of its existence ignites flames of desire across the empire!"

A ripple of anticipation spread through the crowd. Even the noble guests in the private boxes leaned forward, their eyes shining with expectation.

Frieda's voice rose with a contagious fervor and as she spoke, her energy seemed to ignite the entire hall.

"But this year..." Frieda paused, a mischievous smile curving her lips, letting silence sharpen the hunger in the room.

"...this year, dear guests, the treasure we are about to reveal transcends even the heights of past treasures we have unveiled in previous years, the one you are about to witness stands on a tier of its own — unmatched in craftsmanship, history, and sheer value!"

With a dramatic flourish, Frieda reached out and grabbed the piece of velvet covering the item. With a swift pull, she revealed the treasure hidden beneath.

All the lights in the auction house immediately converged on the cart as the cloth was whisked away, creating a dazzling spectacle that left the audience holding their breath.

That was when they saw it.

A longsword — not just any sword, but a blade of exquisite beauty, its craftsmanship so refined it seemed almost otherworldly. The metal shimmered with a faint inner light, and intricate runes danced along the length of the blade, as if breathing with a life of their own.

Under the lights flashing onto it, the sword glowed with a dark blue so deep it bordered on black, radiating an aura so chilling that simply gazing at it sent a shiver down one's spine, as though the blade exhaled the cold breath of death itself.

The handle of the longsword was wrapped in dark leather, reinforced with fine silver threading that spiraled elegantly along its grip, offering both beauty and function. The blade itself stretched to an impressive one and a half meters in length, its proportions perfect, its craftsmanship almost unnatural.

What truly captured the attention of every onlooker, however, was the edge of the blade — honed so sharply that it seemed it could slice through the very air. Those who stared at it for too long swore they could feel the bite of its edge against their skin, a phantom sensation of being cut without even being touched.

"A magnificent sword, right?" Frieda said warmly, a few of the lights shifting to illuminate her figure while most remained on the blade. "I am no swordswoman and have never held a weapon in my life, but the first time my eyes landed on this masterpiece, it was as if it called out to me, whispering in my mind, begging to be wielded. I wanted nothing more than to grasp it and swing it with all my strength." She chuckled softly, and when she saw the nodding heads and captivated expressions of the crowd, her smile widened with satisfaction.

"Let me tell you something, ladies and gentlemen," Frieda continued, her voice gaining energy, "this sword isn't just a feast for the eyes — it is every bit as deadly as it is beautiful!"

She let the words hang dramatically before adding, "Due to confidentiality agreements, the identities of both the forger and the seller will remain secret. However, what I can reveal to you is this — there is nowhere, I repeat nowhere in all of Imperion where you could hope to purchase a weapon like this. For this sword... was forged using the very essence of a level 7 monster!" Frieda practically shouted, her voice thundering across the hall.

As the echoes of her proclamation faded, a heavy, almost tangible silence enveloped the auction house. No one moved, no one breathed; they were too stunned.

'Forged with the essence of a level 7 monster...' Alex repeated inwardly, uncertain whether to believe it or not.

Logically, there was no reason for Frieda or the Drazen family to lie about something of such importance — doing so would destroy their reputation beyond repair. And yet... it was still difficult to accept.

'To create a weapon infused with the essence of a level 7 monster,' Alex thought grimly, 'one would need to use a level 7 monster's core...'

Finding a level 7 monster was already akin to finding a single grain of sand in a desert. Defeating one was an even greater challenge — those creatures were not only monstrously strong, but also as intelligent as an average human if not more intelligent.

And that wasn't even addressing the true absurdity of the situation.

'Who in their right mind would forge a weapon from a level 7 core... only to sell it at an auction?!' Alex and nearly everyone present thought simultaneously, their minds reeling from the revelation.

It didn't make sense for someone to sell such a masterpiece. Something like that needed to be kept at all costs and passed down as a family heirloom — and even then, it wasn't suitable to be the heirloom of just any family, but only of one with an extremely high standing and power.

"I can tell that many among you don't believe that this sword was really forged with the essence of a level 7 monster," Frieda said, her voice carrying a faint note of amusement. "The reason for that is simple — the aura emitted by this sword is currently being contained by the glass encasing it."

It wasn't until she mentioned it that many finally noticed the thin, almost invisible glass container surrounding the sword.

"This container was specifically crafted to prevent the sword's aura from leaking out and has been enchanted thanks to our family's ties with the witches," Frieda explained.

There was little reason to mention their connection to the witches, but Frieda did so anyway, if only to boast about her family's prestigious relations.

"Now," Frieda said, her tone turning more serious, "I will be opening the container so that you may witness the truth of my words with your own eyes. I must warn you, however — this can be dangerous, so be prepared."

With that warning, Frieda slowly unlocked and lifted the lid of the glass case.

The instant she did, an overwhelming and suffocating pressure crashed down onto everyone present like an invisible wave.

There was no distinction between the strong and the weak — nobles, mercenaries, common citizens, etc.. — all felt as if a giant hand was squeezing their lungs, preventing them from breathing properly as raw, wild mana flooded the room, pouring from the sword in an unstoppable tide.

Before their very eyes, the leaking mana began to twist and solidify into a visible form — a towering, spectral image of a monstrous dire wolf, its fur a deep, eerie shade of blue, materializing above the stage. Its eyes, glowing like dying embers, swept over the crowd with a feral, almost sentient intelligence, causing many to flinch and instinctively lower their gazes in fear.

The wolf stared at them in silence for a moment, exuding a primal, almost tangible killing intent, and then, without warning, lifted its massive head and let out a chilling, blood-curdling howl.

The heaviness in the room immediately multiplied severalfold. If before it had been difficult to breathe, now many in the crowd began to convulse, their bodies trembling uncontrollably as they struggled not to collapse under the crushing pressure.

Fortunately, just as several people seemed about to faint, Frieda swiftly slammed the glass lid shut again.

The moment she did, the oppressive atmosphere vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving the room eerily silent save for the ragged, desperate gasps of those trying to recover.

"Oops, I should have closed the container sooner," Frieda said, wiping away the sweat on her forehead. "Unfortunately, even with several protections layered over me, it's quite difficult to withstand the pressure this sword emits. It's just too overbearing."

She glanced around the room and smiled mischievously. "Now, I think you're all more inclined to believe my words, aren't you?"

At that, everyone nodded without hesitation. There was no room for doubt — only a weapon of an absurdly high level could exert such a terrifying pressure merely by existing in the same room.

As everyone was still trying to collect themselves and process the sheer gravity of what they had just witnessed, high above in one of the private boxes, Alex could be seen leaning forward, his gaze locked onto the longsword with an intensity that left no room for misinterpretation. His eyes were shining, not with admiration or awe like the others, but with raw, burning greed.

"That sword... I want it."