I have no clue what attunement does, but an upside of having it is the unallocated stats I get for free. Since I get one stat point per level up equal to the amount of stats I have, I get one hundred free points. I don't allocate them, but I check the results of training my body.

Might

202 (195 > 197 + 5)

Agility

202 (185 > 187 + 10 + 5)

Vigor

349 (309 + 25 + 15 )

Mind

201 (126 + 75)

Spirit

235 (215 > 225 + 10)

Perception

45

Charisma

50 (35 + 15)

Attunement (NEW)

1

Luck

12 (2 +10)

Unused

0 > 100

Master Wang says I should see a max increase of about 10% if I train myself properly. It's a lot of effort for a few numbers, but it gives the added benefit of knowing my body's limit. Even if people level quickly, they'd still pause their exp gain to train their bodies. Some classes even give experience points for training as well. I noticed I get minute experience points when I boss my tamed beasts around, but not enough for it to be a viable source.

I get dressed, double-check on my beasts, earn a few bucks quickly with some healing and come back to the mansion to look for something to sell. I was going to sell my rusty blade, but it's still being repaired. Speaking of repair, if I spend the rest of my mana right now, I can fix this bell.

[Mana: 1005/1005 > 0/1005]

Ah shit, the vertigo. I almost throw up in my mask, but I'm getting better at holding it in. It's a feeling I don't think I can get used to. My exhaustion resistance is helping with the physical effects.

[Burial Bell D

This bell is loud enough the awaken the dead. Once the mana inside the bell is spent, it will need one night cycle to recharge.]

Something strange is emanating from this item. I don't detect anything different, just a fondness for whatever is dwelling inside. A few stray thoughts flow through my mind before I pull out my sword. The same feeling radiates, but it's a different flavor and minutely stronger.

I initially thought this item committed necromancy, but all it does is bring any undead within "earshot" to my position. It's a soft ringing, but Rob was affected. Rob was outside, and he was compelled enough to come up to my study and bang on my door. I thought a landlord was trying to get rent out of me.

I ring the bell again, and nothing happens. I spent so long repairing it, so I don't want to get rid of it that easily. I don't care for the quality of the product I have to bring to auction, but it shouldn't be considered trash. I ultimately decided on the pillow I stuffed with Duchess' feathers. It might be a novelty since it's a pillow with a rare creature's feathers.

I have a habit of checking every room in the mansion. I want to know if anything is different. I still have a prisoner, the same locked rooms, and my money hasn't been tampered with. I check the personal museum, and I notice something strange. The ebony skull is leaning against the glass case instead of sitting in the middle. I'm going to deal with whatever the fuck that is later. I leave the manor and meet up with Rain.

"Is it a masked event? What's up with that?"

I only shrug.

"Well, I'm not going to be unmasked if I'm your plus one. Wait a second."

She leaves and doesn't return for a full twenty minutes. She was wearing a nice formal-casual outfit with more jewelry than usual. She came out wearing a full chemical hazard suit. An orange PVC suit covers her entire body except for her face. A gasmask with blackout lenses keeps her identity obscured. Her hands and feet are covered with black heavy-duty rubber gloves and boots. For some reason, she has a black safety harness around her torso, accomplishing nothing. She has a plain bag on her side with no other accessories.

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A muffled voice comes out from the mask. "You're paying for the taxi."

~

The ride was quiet since the taxi driver didn't want to talk to us or breathe too hard. Dressing as a plague doctor or in a hazmat suit makes people nervous, apparently. Especially if those people are toting around unmarked bags. I don't tip, but he doesn't mind.

We get out half a block away from the address. I don't want to show up in a cheap taxi. I'm not worried about our clothing drawing ill attention. There are a lot of crazy people out there, and we'll blend in.

The outside of the building is generic and blends in with the others. There isn't a line of parked cars or guards at the entrance. I walk up to the door, and it's locked. I knock while wondering if I read the address right. A slit in the door manifests, and I see a pair of eyes stare at me. I hold up the invitation and point at the plus-one line. Rain stands next to me, not speaking silent as well.

The nonverbal conversation continues as the door opens, and the man gestures for us to come in. We walk inside. As soon as we pass the doorway, the scene shifts, and instead of a bland entryway, we find ourselves in a lavish reception. A dozen doors are lined against one wall, numbered out of order.

A woman that looks like a human at first glance approaches us. She wears a red and gold uniform, similar to a bellhop's. She has green scales around her eyes, and her ears are slightly pointed. I can spot other "bellhops" assisting people entering through the other doors. It's a melting pot of races, but I can only identify the servers, not the patrons.

Some wear masks that cover their faces, but some have a floating blackness over their identifiable features.

"Hello! My name is Zoya, and I thank you on behalf of our auction company for coming. We assure you that our patented enchantments will keep your identities secret unless you decide otherwise. Please follow me to the next room."

She hands me a card with her name on it. It says [Zoya, Assistant Guide]. She turns around and walks away. She looks back to check on us every once in a while to see if we are at an appropriate distance and not wandering off. I look at Rain, and she holds two fingers up on her right hand. She bumps her hands together, moving her fingers as they collide. Both fingers are now on the left. I see.

We were transported. Neat, I wonder where we are in the world. I get distracted by some of the races here. A gold-plated skeleton, a reptilian man, a dwarf, something I believe to be a mountain born. They are a giant race that stands fourteen feet tall. I think I saw an elf, but we entered the next room before I could get a good look. It was a patron, not an assistant. There are humans, but only as many as any other race.

We get the items we enter into the auction identified and examined by a group of professionals. Both are deemed good enough, and we enter through the next set of doors. Zoya explained that the auction house doesn't take a commission if the final cost is under 10m credits. They will take a lump sum beforehand if they deem the item under that value.

I almost asked why I didn't need to pay since I only gave a pillow, but I held my tongue. Either there is an exception to the rule I'm assumed to know, or I didn't judge the value of my Duchess' feathers correctly.

"Valuable Patrons, please move around and look at the items provided as an appetizer to the main event. The products here are owned by the auction house and not by one of the patrons."

Rain asks a question, "What are the commission rates?"

"Since this is a private event sponsored by a patron, there will be no commission rates. They have already paid the dues necessary to use our services. In normal auctions, the rates would be determined by their membership rank,"

"I see. Thank you. Do you earn commission?"

"If the generous patrons wish, they can use .5% of their commission to the auction house as a tip. Usually, we aren't allowed to accept other forms of tips. By the way, it won't be added. If a generous patron has a commission rate of 6%, .5 goes to the guide, and the remaining 5.5 would go to the auction house."

So she isn't making any commission for walking us around. Her job is more than a babysitter. She knows all the items and can direct us to what we want or shine a light on something that catches our eyes. It doesn't seem like any items here are older than a year. Mainly potions, scrolls, and enchanted items.

"Is the auction house selling quality stones or crystals today? Regents or catalysts?"

"Yes! This way, patron."

She was initially excited by my question, but her excitement normalized. She got excitable when talking about making money, so it probably has to do with commissions. Getting a good relationship with someone who uses regents and crystals regularly would be easy money for someone in their job position.

Except for the rare and high-ranked, everything is only bought in bulk. That includes a collection of stones of various elemental energies. A [Elemental Stone] is present, and a feeling of relief flows through my body.

"Do I have to buy everything included in the bulk deal?"

"Yes, patron. The prices have been adjusted to that fact. The prices are set and cannot be changed for the convenience of both parties."

"How much to the stones, the bundle with the [Elemental Stone]?"

"Good eye! This bundle contains some of the rarest energy stones that are naturally mined. Unfortunately, they aren't the highest quality for those are reserved for our mithral guests and up. Blood, nature, elemental, necrotic, life, and gravity. These six stones will cost 25m credits altogether."

"Not a bad price. What's the catch?"

"Well, my orange patron, the stones are dormant and need an appropriate infusion of the correct energy to reboot the energy creation process. The auction is willing to provide this service as a fee, but we believe the patron should choose if they want to use our service or find talent elsewhere."

"Were they found dormant?"

"Yes."

Then they will offer a warranty, a security plan, an owner's manual, and a spit shine. I see straight through this business tactic of yours.

"I want to purchase this item, but after the main event. Will that be possible? Can the auction household the item for me until then?"

"First come, first serve. In this particular event, there is no holding of items. If the collection is still here after the event, the patron may feel free to purchase them at this time."

I have 1,299,999.97 credits. I'm about 5% of the way there. Shit. I look at Rain. I don't say anything, and she cannot see my eyes, but she understands what I'm asking. She shakes her head no at my request for a loan. I'm about to say something to Zoya, but the words can't leave my mouth. She is giving a polite bow to someone who is standing right next to me. I didn't even notice someone standing there. Neither did Rain, judging by her body language.

"Hello... Young doctor... I'm glad you could make it safely... I see you have brought an appropriate... item for the auction... and a plus one..."

I recognize the voice and speaking demeanor, but I have never seen the person standing next to me. Slick black hair instead of white, ears pointed like a knife, and skin so pale it hurts to look at. His iris is blood red, and his pupils are a vertical slit. He doesn't look young and has a goatee. His clothes scream old nobility and his family's crest is blatant to see on an embroidered pocket square. I don't see his teeth, but I assume this is the vampire who invited me.

"How did you recognize me? I thought there was a patent enchantment here?"

"Your mask is identifiable in this crowd... I cannot smell you if that is what you are asking..."

"I'm sorry dear patron, I didn't accommodate you properly. I didn't account for your identity being compromised by your mask. Forgive me, please."