Lin says "Alright, ladies and gentlemen, it is time for our last item!"

At her words a podium rises in the center of the stage and there is a small covered object on top. Lin doesn't say anything for a couple of minutes, letting the suspense build up. Whatever it is, it has to be amazing to be the final item of the auction.

Lin says "Now, before I show you our last item I need to inform you of a few things. What is under the cover is a beast and it is a baby. However, it is a baby legendary beast! The problem is that it is not magically controlled! All attempts to control it have failed, some fatally!"

The crowd reacts strangely to that, some look even more excited while others look scared. Of course, that is just amongst the normal seats, I can't see the reactions in the other boxes. Henrietta looks interested, her two merchant friends look slightly worried.

Lin says "The beast is currently locked in a cage that contains its powers. However, we recommend that whoever buys the beast should make sure to leave it locked. Now, let me present to you, the Legendary Phoenix!"

Lin rips the cover off the cage right as she says the word Phoenix and the crowd goes wild. The baby phoenix doesn't look all that dangerous to me, it looks like a cross between a pheasant and a turkey. The main thing that saves it from looking ridiculous is that its feathers are made out of fire.

From here I can't tell if they are just covered in fire or made from it, but either way it looks cool. It just barely makes up for how stupid its body looks, but it is a baby after all. Once it matures it will probably look completely different from how it does now.

Lin says "Now that you have seen it, let's start the bidding! Due to the risks involved we will start the bidding at five million with increments of half a million!"

The bidding starts off a lot more restrained this time but it still climbs quickly. I bid a few times, but unfortunately I don't have enough money left to keep up. However, I really want to find a way to free the poor baby phoenix!

"Henrietta, could I borrow some money? I will pay you back!"

Henrietta says "I can't loan you the group's money, but I have about five million of my own money I can loan you."

"Hopefully, that will be enough! 12,000,000!"

The bid had only barely reached ten million, so my raising it by two million stops the bidding. I am sure if the phoenix was controlled it would be a different story. However, people are reluctant to spend so much money on something they can't use.

Lin says "The current bid stands at twelve million! Are there any higher bids? Twelve million going once, going twice, sold! That brings us to the end of this year's annual auction! We would like to thank everyone who attended and hope to see you next year!"

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Henrietta says "Congratulations, Ash!"

"Thanks, but don't leave just yet."

Henrietta says "Oh?"

Before I can explain the door opens, but instead of an attendant, it is Lin who enters. She is carrying the caged phoenix and smiles at me once the door is closed. I don't mind Henrietta being here, but the two merchants seeing this worries me.

I quickly signal Lin not to say anything and then turn to look at the two merchants. Luckily, Henrietta catches the hint and quickly convinces the two of them to return to the manor. Once the merchants are gone I introduce Henrietta and Lin to each other.

Lin says "Here is your phoenix, but what are you going to do with it? I wasn't kidding about how dangerous it is!"

"Once we are away from the city I plan to free it! After that I will see what it wants to do."

Henrietta says "You spent twelve million just to free it?!"

"Yes, I did. Speaking of, Lin, can I borrow some more money from you?"

Lin says "Sure! How much do you want?"

"Well, Henrietta loaned me five million so I could win the phoenix. But if you have it, I would like to borrow another ten on top of that."

Lin says "Sure, fifteen million is easy!"

Henrietta says "I appreciate you paying me back so soon, but what is the extra ten million for?"

"I want to hire the merchant group to acquire more elven slaves for me."

Henrietta says "Okay, we can do that. How are we going to arrange delivery?"

"What city that you have a branch in is the furthest west on the northern coast?"

Henrietta looks at my map and says "This one!"

"That's right next to the demon territory isn't it?"

Henrietta says "Yes, it is. It is known as the demon hunter city. A lot of hunters have come to specialize in hunting demons because of the bounty on them. That city is the capital of a small independent kingdom that is neutral ground. As such it has become the base for a majority of the hunters who don't like the strict laws in the two empires."

"Alright, that should work. Can we arrange delivery there in say two months?"

Henrietta says "It is doable, but transporting them that far will make it more expensive. That means you will get less slaves due to transport costs."

"That's fine. I will take whatever you can get me."

Henrietta says "Alright, then that is what we will do! Is there anything else you need help with?"

"No, that's it. Thank you for all your help! It has been a pleasure doing business with you!"

Since my paddle is empty of funds I just toss it on the table as Henrietta leaves. Lin hands me the cage with the phoenix in it and gets herself some food. The little phoenix is looking at me but it doesn't seem to realize what I am.

Lin says "So, master, what's the plan now?"

"Originally I had escape routes planned out, but they won't work now that I have to go claim the island."

Lin says "I can help with that. The auction house has a teleport formation for moving things around. I already programmed it to teleport us to the island. However, there is a detachment of mages stationed to guard the island, so we will be spotted."

"Are the mages on the island itself?"

Lin says "No, they are on the ground, but they will have spells set to monitor the island."

"So, they should leave once I claim the island?"

Lin says "They are supposed to, but I doubt they will. Even if I wasn't with you, they would want to know what you are up to. Information has value."

"That figures. Well, if they are below the island they are going to regret it!"

Lin says "What do you plan to do?"

"I am going to rip all the metal out of the island and then fly away."

Lin says "In other words, the rest of the island will fall?"

"Yeah. Just teleport us to the island and you will see for yourself."