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nEustace’s eyes widened in disbelief as he saw the man who had spoken.

nAs a matter of fact, this person revealed his true identity, casting aside his disguise for all to see.

nIt was none other than Isaac Vermont!

nHe couldn’t help but feel confused, leaving him momentarily speechless. He had never anticipated encountering Isaac in this distant corner of the kingdom, especially considering the ongoing attack on their Academy.

n‘What is this person doing here?’

nHe could remember that Isaac wasn’t part of the team who had arrived in the city from an airship. This means that this man had come here separately for a different purpose.

nClyde also recognized Isaac, and his expression turned grave.

nDespite possessing greater strength and power compared to Isaac, Clyde understood the formidable nature of Dark Alchemists and the intricacies of their craft. Dealing with practitioners of the Dark Arts, especially those who dabbled in alchemy, required utmost caution and strategy. After all, they were the biggest threat to the Holy Arts Faction’s goals.

n“This is quite tricky…” Clare muttered.

n“Let’s not bother him.” Teresa immediately said, which Clare readily agreed to.

nTeresa and Clare were aware of Isaac’s status as a Dark Arts Practitioner hunted by the Sentinels. However, they wisely chose to remain silent and withhold any information regarding his presence.

nThey understood the potential consequences of attempting to capture Isaac in this setting, as it could endanger the lives of everyone in the auction house or even the whole city.

nAfter all, this person could use various items that could summon the dark forces of another realm or unleash dangerous poisons upon the city.

nIf they wanted to capture or kill him, they needed to prepare a team of many Exorcists, Priests, and Holy Knights before fighting him.

nIt was clear that their current circumstances were not conducive to engaging in a battle against Isaac.

nThanks to his appearance, the people managing the auction behind the scenes decided that it was indeed enough and hinted it to Rosella.

n“Ahem… Ladies and gentlemen, please return to your seats so we can continue with the auction…”

nAs Rosella, the auctioneer, received the signal to begin, the focus shifted away from Clyde and Eustace’s momentary clash, allowing Eustace to finally find solace in the fact that no one dared to stare at him anymore.

n“So I just have to use force from time to time…”

nEustace muttered with a smirk on his face. He couldn’t help but feel satisfied knowing that he could exert his power more freely while in disguise. 𝑖𝘦𝑎.𝗇t

nSince he was in disguise, he was feeling a bit more confident using his powers. After all, he doesn’t care about his reputation.

n“Mhmm…”

nThe thought of creating a proper persona for Eustace, separate from his true identity, brought a mischievous smile to his lips.

n‘I guess I have to start adapting now…’ Eustace mused.

n***

nAs the auction commenced, the atmosphere in the hall shifted, the focus now on the items up for bidding.

nRosella started showcasing a few more potions before transitioning to the highlight of the event: top-class Mystical Artifacts.

nAmong the items up for auction were the Tiara of Relief, Hunter’s Vambrace, Scroll of Return, Flame Diffuser Robe, and several Runic Weapons such as runic guns and swords.

nThe rarity and exclusivity of these items drove their prices to staggering heights. 𝑖𝑟𝘦.𝘤𝑜𝘮

nAfter all, only those affiliated with prominent organizations had access to such treasures, as the long period of peace in the kingdom had caused these Mystical Artifacts to be hoarded rather than circulated. This scarcity further fueled the demand and escalated the bidding wars.

nOf course, Eustace also found these Artifacts interesting, but he already had too many in his possession. At the moment, he was just happy to learn more items that he hadn’t studied in the Academy.

n“Mhmm?” Eustace squinted his eyes as he realized that Isaac was finally making his move.

nIndeed, the moment Isaac had been waiting for arrived.

nRosella addressed the crowd, introducing a seemingly ordinary yet special item.

n“Ladies and gentlemen, our next item is probably something many of you have never heard before. Also, although it was a bit broken, its value remains immense. Behold, the Spirit Warding Stone!”

nA murmur of curiosity rippled through the crowd. Eustace leaned in, intrigued by this peculiar artifact.

nIndeed, many of them are confused about this item.

nRosella continued, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. “This stone, despite its current state, still maintains its magical properties within a five-meter radius. It possesses the remarkable ability to ward off evil spirits, ensuring that any nearby corpses remain free from possession.”

nPeople in the crowd exchanged puzzled glances, their curiosity piqued.

nWarding off Spirits seemed great, but they could do this task as well. They could use Sealing Formations, Freezing Techniques, and others to prevent corpse possession from happening.

nNevertheless, Rosella continued.

n“Only eight Spirit Warding Stones were known to exist in the entire kingdom, making them incredibly rare and highly sought after. Many of you may not be aware, but this stone’s power remains forever… Indeed, it could last for eternity!”

nFinally, Rosella witnessed the crowd’s surprise, the reaction she wanted to see. Many of them didn’t think that there was an item that could last for eternity! It sounded preposterous!

nHowever, Rosella wasn’t finished yet.

n“This item was unfortunately broken because the Alchemist tried experimenting on it and wanted to synthesize something similar to this stone. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out… But thanks to him, we were able to put this item in the auction. Lastly, before the bidding starts, I want to remind everyone that if this item wasn’t broken, it could also work as a Formation Core to create an Anti-Magic Zone…”

nThe crowd fell into a momentary state of confusion, trying to comprehend the implications of Rosella’s statement.

n“Anti-Magic Zone?”

nWhispers and murmurs filled the room as attendees exchanged glances, their minds processing the newfound information.

nHowever, it didn’t take long before realization dawned upon them like a bolt of lightning.

nGasps and murmurs of astonishment filled the auction house.

nThe significance of the Spirit Warding Stone became crystal clear. If it could truly be utilized as a Formation Core to create an Anti-Magic Zone, it would be a nightmare for spellcasters.

nNo wonder the kingdom had such tight control over this item!

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