Inside the room, Rayven saw the Manager. He was a middle-aged man with dark gray hair sitting behind the desk.
"Ah... so you’re young Master Rayven..." Darius said as he stood up to shake his hand.
’He was actually polite, and Rayven felt a bit flustered by his warm attitude. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel·fiɾe·net
His voice was smooth but firm. "I’ve heard a few things from your uncle... Please, have a seat."
At this time, Calder remained outside at the manager’s request, leaving only Rayven and Darius in the quiet room.
The office was simple with only two chairs in front of the desk, a cabinet along the side wall, and a single shelf with ledgers stacked neatly.
There were no unnecessary trinkets, only a framed crest of Aurora Hall on the wall behind Darius’s desk.
Rayven reached into his bag and carefully placed a small wrapped bundle on the desk.
"I was told this is the best place to have an item evaluated," Rayven said.
He immediately went on to the main topic as he didn’t really want to spend too much time here.
Darius’s eyes turned to the bundle, but his expression didn’t change.
He didn’t say what it was, didn’t give any hint of its origin or worth. This was as much a test for the Auction House as it was for the item itself.
Darius unwrapped it slowly as he carefully revealed the item.
When the Sealed Catalyst of the Forgotten Star was revealed, he paused, studying it closely without touching it directly.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned forward as if to smell it.
"...Interesting," he murmured.
Rayven didn’t reply, watching closely to see whether the man truly recognized its nature — or if he would try to downplay its value.
Soon, Darius took out a small crystal sphere from the drawer.
Even without explanation, he confirmed that it was an appraisal artifact. He set it beside the item and lightly placed his hand on it.
The crystal glowed faintly, but it didn’t last long as it faded in just three or so seconds.
"Hm." Darius knitted his brows as he saw this result. "That’s... unusual."
Rayven stayed silent, watching him work.
"This tool can read most common and mid-grade enchanted items," Darius explained. "But with this..." He looked at the Sealed Catalyst again. "It’s not that it’s hiding its information — it’s that my tool isn’t strong enough to reach inside."
He closed the drawer and thought for a moment. "Which means I’ll have to rely on my own mana instead."
Rayven was now interested... "You’re a Mage?"
"Yes. But not a Combat Mage... A Specialist... That’s why I’m working here as Manager instead."
Darius straightened as he soon placed both hands just above the item without touching it. His eyes closed, and he began to speak in a clear, steady tone:
"Oh, sight that pierces veil and shadow—
’That spellcasting again...’ Rayve mused as he already knew the pattern of Spellcasting.
In any case, he soon noticed a soft light around his eyes... Then, his hands released another wave of energy before sinking into the Sealed Catalyst.
The mana in the room moved slightly, enough for Rayven to feel the faint prickling on his skin...
In a few more moments, Darius’s brows furrowed as he concentrated.
After a few seconds, the light dimmed, and he exhaled slowly... The item was a lot tougher than he thought, and used quite a lot of mana just now.
"This... is definitely not an ordinary trinket," Darius began. "It’s sealed. Whatever is inside hasn’t been awakened in a long time. I can sense traces of ancient mana, though faint... very faint. The seal is powerful, perhaps beyond what even I could break without special materials."
He tapped the desk lightly. "The core is crystalline. Possibly a storage medium for a high-grade spell or an artifact spirit. Unfortunately, I cannot give its exact name — the seal blocks that from me. But judging from the resonance, it’s well above the tier most merchants would ever see in their lives."
Rayven stayed composed, but inside, he was taking mental notes.
Darius looked at him carefully. "If you are considering selling... Aurora Hall would be interested. I could arrange a private auction. With the right crowd, and considering the mystery of it, this could start bidding at seven hundred gold coins easily, perhaps more, if a collector takes an interest."
He leaned forward slightly. "But... if it’s something you wish to keep, I can also connect you with someone capable of working on seals of this caliber. Discreetly, of course."
Rayven considered his words. He still didn’t know if he wanted to part with the Sealed Catalyst... but knowing its value, and the fact that it drew interest from someone like Darius, meant it could become a powerful bargaining chip later.
’Should I keep it for now and earn money through other means or sell it now?’ Rayven thought for some time.
After a few moments, his fingers tapped once against the armrest before he spoke.
"Arrange the private auction," he said firmly.
Darius looked at Rayven as he wanted to make sure. It seemed that the Golden Coast Trading truly needed some money.
"You’re certain? An item doesn’t come twice in a lifetime."
"I’m certain," Rayven replied.
’I have other ways to grow stronger.’ He thought.
What he needed now was gold.
The manager then thought for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Very well. I’ll have the invitations sent to a few... special patrons. Discreet ones. We’ll schedule it for three days from now and have it included in our special event. That should also give enough time for the word to circulate without attracting unwanted attention."
Rayven gave a nod. "And my share?"
Darius smiled and explained their policy. "Aurora Hall takes ten percent of the final price as commission."