Becoming The Strongest Using My Would-You-Rather System!
Chapter 227 - Iris Breakthrough!
The two quickly found Jim again in the first actual hall, filled with all kinds of items.
He stood near one of the display cases, staring at a silver bracelet sealed behind a transparent barrier.
When he noticed them approaching, a warm smile appeared on his face.
’’And?’’ he asked. ’’Are you two finally ready to go?’’
Theo stared at him with a deadpan expression.
’’You really enjoy this, don’t you?’’
Jim shrugged lightly.
’’I just did as Owen told me to do,’’ he said calmly. ’’...But it was also enjoyable, yes.’’
Staring at him for a few seconds longer, Theo let out a deep sigh.
’Of course,’ he thought. ’Who else would pull these kinds of shenanigans...’
Iris let out a faint chuckle beside him.
Smiling innocently, Jim gestured into the massive hall.
’’Anyway, since we still have some time before the auction starts, we can look around here first.’’
Theo nodded once, his gaze sweeping through the enormous hall.
Countless pedestals stood lined up on each side, only a few yards separating them, while barriers protected them.
’’This is the regular section?’’ he asked.
’’Pretty much,’’ Jim nodded. ’’Everything here can be bought directly. The truly rare things are saved for the auction upstairs.’’
As they began walking, Theo’s gaze moved from display to display, his eyebrows raising slightly each time.
’A sword for 2 million dollars, A-rank bones for 1 million, a robe with a barrier spell for 8 million dollars...’
His brows twitched slightly.
’’These are just the regular items, huh...’’
Jim laughed beside him.
’’Welcome to the rich people’s market.’’
The three gradually began walking deeper into the hall.
Their eyes went over each and every item on their side, whether it was equipment, materials, spells, or even herbs.
Eventually, Jim came to a stop and picked up a new rapier alongside a Platinum Core ice spell manual.
That’s when Theo realized how unique this place really was.
’They’re paying for the items without even taking a proper look at them?’
Only after one paid could they touch and retrieve the items from the pedestal or let it be packed and placed at the entrance.
’I’ve really lived in a different world all my life,’ he thought, nodding slowly. ’To buy without testing... truly something else.’
Even Iris came to a halt a few displays later.
Only, Theo’s expression shifted slightly as he noticed what she paid for.
’’A blood element spell manual?’’ he asked lightly.
Iris turned towards him with a large, warm smile.
’’Yes,’’ she said sweetly. ’’I’ve also broken through, just like everyone else!’’
Theo blinked once before a smile slowly spread across his face.
’’Seriously?’’
Iris nodded happily.
’’Just two days ago,’’ she said.
Theo didn’t even know what to say.
One after another, everyone around him had reached the Silver Core stage.
First Owen, now Jim and Iris. Hell, he wouldn’t even be surprised if Lyra had also already broken through.
’Have I really been this out of touch?’ he thought, scratching his head. ’I’ve not been keeping up with their progress at all...’
Shaking his head, he quickly recovered, a large smile growing on his face.
’’Congratulations,’’ he said warmly. ’’And a super rare blood affinity too.’’
Letting out a small laugh, Iris couldn’t help but feel slightly embarrassed.
’’I hadn’t expected it either...’’ she said, her voice trailing off. ’’But according to the elders, this complements my metal affinity surprisingly well.’’
Theo nodded thoughtfully.
He’d seen how powerful and extremely versatile the blood element was on more than one occasion.
’’Have you tried it yet?’’ he asked as they continued walking down the hall.
’’Only the basics,’’ Iris replied. ’’Since I’m the first to awaken this affinity in the family, we didn’t really have manuals for it.’’
She gently tapped the book in her hands.
’’Which is why I’m here too.’’
Theo glanced at the tag beneath it.
The manual, nicknamed the Blood Thread Arts, cost nearly ten million dollars!
’’Do you not feel worried about the contents at all?’’ he asked, raising an eyebrow. ’’Like, you’re buying it without being able to see inside...’’
Iris shrugged lightly as she continued walking.
’’There’s nothing to worry about,’’ she said. ’’This place has a good reputation that they’re desperate to maintain.’’
Jim nodded beside him.
’’Don’t worry, they wouldn’t screw you out of your money.’’
Theo stood still for a moment longer.
’I suppose that makes sense,’ he thought.
If a place like this ever sold fake goods or exaggerated descriptions, its reputation would collapse overnight.
As they continued walking through the endless rows of displays, Theo’s eyes casually wandered from one pedestal to the next.
Then, rows of bookcases suddenly began appearing, each glowing in a different color.
Staff members dressed in luxurious suits walked from case to case, answering questions and accepting orders.
Theo’s footsteps slowed slightly, his eyes landing on a bookcase filled with wind cores.
Small golden plaques divided them into different sections.
Everything from C-rank to S-rank was on full display, yet barely released any menacing mana.
’Finally,’ he thought, smiling.
Without another thought, he reached out to the summoning circle on his heart.
The moment the connection formed, a cold voice echoed inside his mind.
’’Theo.’’
’Feng, do you want to take a look at something?’
There was a brief moment of silence.
’’I am not satisfied with your behavior earlier.’’
Theo raised an eyebrow for a moment.
’Eh?’ he thought. ’You were upset about that?’
’’You opened the summoning space beneath me before I could even finish speaking,’’ Feng said. ’’That was extremely rude and uncomfortable.’’
Theo couldn’t help but chuckle as he shook his head.
’Sorry,’ he said internally.
Feng remained silent for a brief moment.
’’Just... do not make a habit of it.’’
A smile appeared on Theo’s face.
’Deal.’
Without wasting any more time, he shifted his attention toward the rows of wind cores.
’Now, can you take a look at these?’
Through the summoning contract, he shared his vision with Feng for the very first time.
The little unicorn’s playful expression immediately disappeared.
’’Interesting.’’
His emerald eyes carefully swept across every shelf before settling on one in particular.
’’The A-rank section,’’ he said calmly. ’’Those would be the most suitable for my current stage and would last me a week each.’’
Theo’s gaze slowly moved down, landing on the price tag.
’1.2 million dollars per core...’
His eyes nearly rolled to the back of his head.
Just to maintain his summon, he needed to put down over 50 million dollars a year!