Upon arriving at the slave market, a group of people gathered at the entrance, engaged in lively conversations.

Many had traveled from all over the north, specifically for this auction, renowned for its offerings.

Nobles, distinguished and haughty, filled the area. Some exchanged idle chatter and giggles, seemingly unaffected by the biting cold.

The women wore extravagant dresses adorned with fur scarves or coats draped over their shoulders, functioning more as ornaments than providing warmth.

The men, clad in luxurious coats made from fine materials, flaunted their wealth with glittering rings and jewelry, their opulence on full display.

Groups discussed the potential treasures to be found.

"It seems this auction will offer something valuable," Aiden mused silently.

As he stepped out of his carriage, nobles greeted him with forced smiles, offering half-hearted excuses for why they hadn't visited him sooner.

It was customary to pay respects to the city's lord, especially to a marquis, ranked just below a duke. Yet, none had bothered to send a letter, making it clear they didn’t hold the Hoyle family in high regard.

Most asked after his uncle's health, wishing him well in governing the marquisate. Aiden responded with the same polite smiles and empty courtesies before making his way inside.

As he entered, he spotted Roy, who was warmly greeting guests with his usual smile.

The moment Roy saw him, he hurried over with quick steps.

"Greetings, my lord. I hope our market will meet all your expectations tonight," Roy said, bowing with one hand on his hat.

Aiden waved his hand dismissively. "No need for formalities, Roy. We met just a few hours ago. I'm here to see how much I made from the items I sold you."

Roy’s face brightened at the mention. "Ah, my lord, you truly picked the right time to sell.

The guests were practically fighting over the items, and they fetched a very high price. Especially those paintings—once they learned they were from the Hoyle family, they became a hot commodity. In total, with all the jewelry, you earned 340 thousand gold coins."

Paintings weren’t of much interest to Aiden. Coming from the 21st century, he didn’t care for such luxuries, so he was more than satisfied with the result.

His total now amounted to 356 thousand gold coins.

The 16,500 he had before barely covered the maintenance costs of Rimevale alone, which had nearly fallen into ruin.

Rebuilding the city would require at least one million gold coins.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Still, this sum was enough to kickstart some of his economic plans. He even considered using a portion of the funds to purchase slaves for labor.

However, the costs of feeding and maintaining them would be another burden, especially with the current state of Rimevale.

Noticing Aiden’s pleased expression, Roy continued, “Our house won’t charge you anything for this transaction, my lord. We only hope you'll be generous with us tonight.”

"Certainly, Roy. Can you give me a hint about what to expect?"

With a sly smile, Roy replied, "Oh, my lord, I cannot reveal specifics. But because it's you, I will say that one of the items tonight came directly from the emperor's hands. You won’t be disappointed."

Aiden raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the information. "You certainly have your ways, Roy. I’ll be looking forward to it."

Aiden then requested, "Please show me to my VIP room."

Roy gestured to a young clerk with a pleasant face, who promptly led Aiden to the fourth floor.

As they walked, Aiden noticed a grand hall with hundreds of seats arranged before a central stage.

Clearly, this was where the items would be showcased for bidding. Many of the seats were already occupied by guests, their faces lit with eager anticipation.

The clerk guided Aiden up a staircase that led to the second floor of the auction hall. There, she showed him into a lavish VIP room with a large window that provided an unobstructed view of the stage.

The glass, which allowed those inside to see out but not the other way around, dominated the front of the room. Three luxurious sofas of high-quality leather formed a U-shape, facing the window, with a polished table at the center covered with a spread of delicacies.

The sofas were spacious and inviting, upholstered in deep, rich colors that exuded comfort and status.

The clerk explained, “If you wish to place a bid during the auction, just press the red button on the table. Should you need anything else, there is a blue button here to call for assistance.”

Aiden nodded as he sat on the central sofa, eyeing a pastry on the table. It looked promising, so he picked up a piece, expecting something flavorful.

However, as soon as he bit into it, he grimaced and immediately spat it out.

"Ugh… Bland would be an understatement," he muttered, thoroughly disappointed by the tasteless morsel.

He lay back on the sofa, waiting for the auction to start, the minutes turning into hours. At last, the lights dimmed, leaving only the stage illuminated.

A voluptuous woman with fiery red hair, cascading in loose curls down to her waist, strode confidently onto the stage.

Her figure-hugging dress, in a deep, bold crimson, accentuated every curve, drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. Her honey-colored eyes gleamed with charm, capturing the attention of all who looked her way.

The sound of her heels clicking against the floor only heightened the anticipation in the air.

As she walked, she cast seductive glances at the audience below, her ample chest bouncing with each step.

Her beauty was mesmerizing, and she was a well-known figure in the capital. Many men, seeing her for the first time, couldn’t help but swallow nervously, their eyes wide with fascination.

Even married men, accompanied by their wives, stared in shock, unable to look away.

Some women, noticing their husbands’ reactions, grew angry and jealous. The tension in the room was palpable.

Even Aiden found himself raising both brows in surprise.

He hadn’t expected the auctioneer to be this beautiful, her allure surpassing any supermodel from Earth.

Her body was practically designed to seduce, a temptress in every sense of the word.

"Smart marketing," Aiden thought to himself. "All the men here will be desperate to impress in front of her, which means the bidding is going to be fierce."

The woman’s voice, amplified by a subtle spell, broke the room’s trance.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” she began, her smile enchanting enough to steal hearts. Her voice, smooth and sweet, sent shivers down the spines of those in the audience.

"My name is Iris, and I will be your host for tonight’s auction. Please bear with me as we embark on this exciting evening together.”

At her words, those closest to her seemed to fall into a daze, captivated by her coy charm. The entire hall buzzed with anticipation as the mid-year auction officially began.