Chapter 322: Starstone
Honestly, Leon hadn’t expected much from this auction. After all, a Magic Gemstone worthy of being the Arcane Wheel’s core was priceless. He’d come here mostly to try his luck. But luck, it seemed, was on his side—two consecutive auction items, both exactly what he needed. Now, his interest in this auction was finally piqued...
Maybe, just maybe, coming to this auction was the right call...
Even if he couldn’t find the Arcane Wheel’s core Magic Gemstone, just completing a small part of the Doombringer Staff’s components would make this trip worthwhile.
At this moment, Leon couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret...
If only he’d known Auckland had such a wealth of magical materials, he would’ve come sooner—so much better than wasting time in Seaview City. No, not just wasting time; he’d also been getting fleeced by Kadgar...
As a VIP holding a Blackhorn Consortium Signet Ring, Leon’s requests were immediately fulfilled. William Merlin returned quickly, with Richie following close behind.
Normally, Richie’s position at the Blackhorn Consortium meant he didn’t need to personally deliver the list...
But first, the young mage’s status was a bit special—already a VIP under the Blackhorn Consortium’s scrutiny. With that kind of rank and influence, Richie had to come and show some goodwill. Second, Ross Merlin was here...
Richie and Ross Merlin had been friends for years. Richie really didn’t want to see Ross Merlin throw himself into ruin over a map. So, aside from representing the Consortium’s goodwill, Richie’s main purpose today was to give Ross a subtle warning...
No way around it—just the sheer wealth he controlled was already enough to put pressure on Ross Merlin. If Leon also matched him in magical prowess, Ross would really have to reconsider whether he could ever get his hands on that map Stan Watson left behind...
"Ah, Ross, you're here too? What a coincidence, really, what a coincidence..." Richie handed the scroll to Leon with polite deference, then turned to Ross Merlin with a look of delighted surprise. "Say, Ross, it's been months since we last met. After the auction, how about grabbing a drink together? By the way, this Archmage Merlin shares your family name—he's from the Merlin Family too, right? No wonder your clan has such deep roots. Let me tell you, Ross, this Archmage is no ordinary mage. Even my teacher, Hollard, can't stop singing his praises..."
As Richie spoke, he kept shooting meaningful glances at Ross Merlin...
He was desperately hoping Ross would connect the dots between this young mage and the special VIP he'd mentioned earlier...
"Heh, well, congratulations to my cousin Marfa. Lord Hollard is one of the few Title Archmages in Auckland, and earning his favor means Marfa has a powerful backer in the city..." Too bad Ross Merlin didn’t catch on at all—he just went along with Richie’s words, offering a bland, half-hearted congratulations...
...Richie could practically cough up blood from frustration.
Honestly, Ross Merlin, how can you be this dense...
I spell all this out for you and you just offer some lukewarm congratulations? Damn it, how much clearer do I have to be? I even told you your cousin has caught Hollard’s attention, and Hollard’s a big shot at Blackhorn Consortium. I told you your cousin’s an Archmage. Damn it, did you forget everything I said outside the door?
Of course, Richie didn’t dare say any of this out loud—he just kept frantically signaling to Ross with his eyes.
"Huh? Richie, is something wrong with your eyes? Are you feeling okay?" After all that frantic signaling, all he got was a concerned question.
"I..." Richie nearly choked on his own breath...
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Forget it, whatever!
"Archmage Merlin, here’s the auction list. I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll excuse myself for now…"
"Alright, go handle your business."
After a few polite exchanges, Richie left, fuming inside...
Ross Merlin, meanwhile, was left quietly puzzled...
Richie seemed a little off today, didn’t he?
First, he spent ages pretending to bump into us by accident—no idea what that was about. Then he kept blinking like mad. Was he trying to tell me something?
But after thinking it over, nothing really stood out...
While Ross Merlin was lost in thought, Leon had already unfurled the scroll and was examining it closely...
As expected, this trip to the Blackhorn auction was definitely worth it...
After the rainbow items, there were seven ordinary lots listed. Leon skimmed over them—almost all were things he wanted. Six could be used as components for constructing the Doombringer Staff, and the last one actually made Leon laugh out loud...
It was...
It was a crystal book page!
The illustration on the list showed it was about palm-sized, covered in dense, intricate symbols...
Leon was almost certain—this crystal book page was, in all likelihood, the sixth chapter of the Book of Death: the Chapter of Truth!
Of course...
For Leon, the real highlight was the final item.
It was a Starstone, as large as a fist. Even the illustration on the list seemed dazzling—just one glance was enough for Leon to know he’d finally found a core gem for the Arcane Wheel...
Yes, this Starstone was exactly what he needed...
Legend has it that every star in the night sky is alive—maybe for millions, maybe for billions of years. Eventually, each will fall. Just before its end, a star burns itself out in a single, blinding instant, unleashing all its light and heat before turning to cosmic dust. What remains is a Starstone...
Not that anyone’s ever witnessed a star’s fall firsthand, of course...
Even Leon, who came from thirty thousand years in the future, had no idea what the world would become after Northend’s destruction.
One thing was certain, though: Starstones really did come from beyond the world. They fell to Northend with meteor showers, buried for millennia until someone chanced upon them.
Starstones were born with immense power. Throughout Northend’s history, several famous True Spirit Magic Relics had Starstones at their core.
But Starstones were always incredibly rare—especially ones this size. Leon had only ever read about a handful this large in any book!
Leon estimated that once this Starstone became the Arcane Wheel’s core, it would instantly elevate the Wheel to the level of a top-tier True Spirit Magic Relic. And if he could transfer Anderson into the Wheel, he might even push it to the next tier...
Leon knew his first True Spirit Magic Relic was about to be born... and it wouldn’t be long now.
"William Merlin, get out here!" Just as Leon was lost in thought, Saren Charlotte—who’d failed twice in a row to win an auction—had apparently come down from the top-floor box.
He stormed in, shoving past the Blackhorn Consortium’s guards, heading straight for Leon and the others in row five...
"William Merlin, did you really think I wouldn’t notice you bidding through a stranger to compete for those two items? You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that..." Saren Charlotte had six or seven henchmen with him, looking genuinely intimidating. He ignored everyone else, jabbing his finger right in William Merlin’s face. "Let me tell you, just because you’ve got a little money doesn’t mean you’re untouchable. You just wait—I’ve already notified my family. For the next seven auction lots, plus the final highlight, the Charlotte Family will win them all!"