...

"This is a Bone Bracelet, made specifically for Necromancers," the host announced, his voice ringing with passion. "The bracelet is inscribed with Arrays, including a ’Small Negative Energy Slumber Space.’ It can slowly nourish the Undead and accommodate three to five Low-Tier Undead Servants, with the exact number depending on the size of the Undead Creatures."

"Starting bid, one thousand Gold Coins."

As his voice fell, the hall went silent.

For most professionals outside of the Undead System, this item was rather useless. But for a Necromancer, it was an incredibly practical treasure.

Suddenly, a hoarse, cold voice rang out from a dark corner, "One thousand two hundred Gold Coins."

Lynch’s heart tightened. ’There’s actually a competitor.’

He quickly looked toward the source of the voice.

It was a figure completely shrouded in a filthy black robe, its face obscured. Only a pair of gloomy, ghostly green eyes were visible, and it exuded a dense aura of death.

’This getup... a typical wild Necromancer.’

Lynch gritted his teeth, wishing he could throttle the guy who had just thrown a wrench in the works.

Just then, Amadis, the senior student sitting in the front row, didn’t even turn her head. She just said coolly, "Two thousand gold."

*Pfft—*

Lynch nearly coughed up a mouthful of old blood.

’Oh, Senior... you’re too good to me.’

’The guy just bid twelve hundred, and you jumped it straight to two thousand in one go?’

’Guess it’s easy to spend when it’s not your own money, huh?’

Lynch felt as if his heart was bleeding, like a large chunk of flesh had been carved from his body.

The wild Necromancer was clearly choked by the price, his ghostly green eyes fixed on Amadis’s back.

"Hyeh hyeh hyeh..."

"Little girl, you’re still wet behind the ears, and you dare try to snatch something from me? Are you tired of living? Do you have any idea..."

"Ahem!" The host on the stage coughed heavily, interrupting him. "Sir, please watch your words. The rule of Night Owl is that the highest bidder wins. Threats of any kind during bidding are strictly forbidden. If it happens again, we will have you removed."

The Necromancer’s expression was uncertain, but he didn’t dare to make any more harsh remarks.

But he wasn’t willing to give up. His gaze darted about as he began to fumble around inside his tattered robes.

A moment later, he pulled out three items: a ring inlaid with a black Gemstone, a small leather pouch emitting a faint, rotten smell, and a necklace strung with small, unidentifiable bones.

He handed the three items to an attendant who had walked over.

After appraising them, the host announced, "These can be valued at eight hundred Gold Coins."

The Necromancer breathed a sigh of relief and called out, "Two thousand one hundred gold."

This was almost everything he owned.

Everyone’s gaze focused on Amadis once again.

The wealthy senior student remained as calm and composed as ever, stating nonchalantly in a casual tone, "Two thousand two hundred gold."

"You—!" The Necromancer trembled with anger but was helpless. He glanced at the bone staff that had been with him for many years, hesitated for a moment, then looked back at Amadis, who was covered in Magic Equipment. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to mortgage the staff as well.

"Hmph. You win." He resentfully took the eight hundred Gold Coins from the attendant, shot Amadis another vicious glare as if to memorize her face, and then departed, his retreating figure looking somewhat pathetic.

"Two thousand two hundred Gold Coins, going once... twice... three times."

"Sold! Congratulations to this lady for winning the ’Bone Bracelet’."

The host’s gavel fell, sealing the deal.

*Phew...*

As the host’s gavel fell, Lynch felt both heartache and joy. Looking back now, his senior’s bidding strategy had been correct.

If he had been the one bidding, slowly raising the price, the Necromancer would most likely have fought him to the bitter end. He would have been forced to sell his own equipment to get into a bloody bidding war, and would only have ended up paying more.

「About half an hour later」

The auction finally ended. Lynch and his senior found a deserted corner to complete the transaction. Lynch gave her the two thousand two hundred Gold Coins and received the treasured Bone Bracelet as promised.

"Senior, thank you so much for today. Let me escort you back to the academy," Lynch said as he put away the Bone Bracelet. Considering the look the wild Necromancer had given her before leaving, he was naturally a little worried.

Hearing this, Amadis replied softly, "There’s no need. He’s just a broke Tier Two Necromancer who doesn’t understand the rules."

"If he really dares to come after me, I’ll show him what the power of money can do. With you around, you’d just be in the way. Alright, Junior, you should go first. Be careful on your way."

’Fair enough.’

Seeing his senior so confident and certain, Lynch didn’t insist.

After all, this senior was covered in Top Grade Magic Equipment. She definitely had a Space Ring too, and who knew what kind of Scrolls or other powerful weapons were hidden inside it.

If that wild Necromancer was truly foolish enough to try and ambush his senior, he would most likely be courting death.

"Senior, you are mighty! Senior, you are domineering!" After showering her with a few more compliments, Lynch took his leave.

Once outside the old castle, with a thought, seven or eight Squirrel Skeleton frames scattered in the nearby shadows instantly came to life, spreading out to act as Lynch’s eyes.

Once he confirmed there was no danger in the vicinity, Lynch’s figure quickly melted into the night.

He first rendezvoused with his elite guards—the Black Corpse and the Bear Goblin Skeletons—who were lying in ambush nearby. He then summoned Bone Jade and Bone Valor and proceeded to sneak through the night with his elite Undead Units.

A short while later, he arrived at the ambush point for his Undead Army, an area on the edge of a dense forest.

Although to the naked eye, there was nothing there.

But Lynch knew that Bone Mage and Red Rabbit were lying in ambush in the surrounding bushes and clumps of grass with over a hundred Skeleton Servants. With just a thought from him, the army would charge out.

Only then did Lynch’s taut nerves finally relax a little.

He summoned Bone Mage and Red Rabbit to his side, then eagerly found a hidden corner and took out the Bone Bracelet to test it.

He channeled Mana into it, and the Array on the bracelet activated instantly, creating a spatial vortex beside him.

Lynch first ordered the Black Corpse to enter, then summoned it back out. After this happened several times, the Black Corpse let out a low, somewhat impatient growl.

’Alright, alright.’

Lynch then had it go back inside, followed by Red Rabbit. Seeing there was still plenty of space left in the bracelet, he tried to store the Goblin Warrior Skeleton and the Goblin Shaman Skeleton as well.

When the Shaman entered, the space inside the bracelet clearly became crowded.

’As expected, four to five Low Tier Undead at most. The Black Corpse and Red Rabbit are both "heavyweights," so they take up more space.’ Lynch, having roughly figured things out, released the Goblin Warrior and stored the Bone Mage instead.

With that, the internal space was just about full.

At this point, Lynch finally felt a wave of relief wash over him.

His biggest problem was solved. From now on, the Black Corpse, Red Rabbit, and Bone Mage—at least these three Soul Fire elite units—could be summoned at a moment’s notice, greatly increasing his personal safety.

Of course, if he squeezed them in, he could add one more Soul Fire unit. Lynch glanced at the Fish Priest, and... ’eh... never mind about that one. Even the Shaman Skeleton without a Soul Fire is stronger than it.’

After testing the Bone Bracelet, Lynch, now in high spirits, was just about to release his Skeletons and arrange them in an army formation to escort him back to the academy when it happened.

Suddenly, an intense sense of crisis washed over him.

He cursed inwardly, immediately dropping and rolling. At the same time, the Lightning Ring on his right ring finger instantly activated!

CRACKLE!

Amidst a piercing explosive sound, a searing blue-white arc of electricity shot out from Lynch’s ring. Like a ferocious little lightning serpent, it tore through the darkness, blasting toward a shadow that was rapidly approaching him.

...