The Grand Royale Auction House had witnessed legendary moments before. Swords that had slain kings, phoenix feathers still warm from flame, and scrolls that whispered in forgotten tongues had passed through its golden halls. But never had it gone so silent.
At the center of the room, a glowing crystal panel displayed a number so high it seemed like a mistake. The kind of mistake no one dared laugh at.
Bid Confirmed: 1,000,000,000 GOLD
There was no cheering. No clapping. Just an uncomfortable stillness, as if the walls themselves didn't know how to respond. The item being auctioned wasn't a crown or a beast core. It was a cracked teleportation stone from the ruins of a long-dead realm. Most believed it was fake. Worthless. Sold today as a filler to amuse the guests.
Now it had become the most expensive item ever purchased in the capital.
The man who made the offer didn't sit on a royal cushion or in a protected booth. He chose a plain seat at the far edge of the room. No guards stood behind him. No flags announced his name. A black coat draped across his shoulders, lined with gold thread. His boots were spotless. A single obsidian cufflink shaped like a serpent biting a coin glinted beneath his sleeve.
He didn't move after confirming the bid. He didn't speak. He simply raised a glass of Evermist wine to his lips, took a slow sip, and watched the world stare back at him in disbelief.
His name was Aarav Varman. And this was only the beginning.
⟐ FORTUNE ASCENSION SYSTEM ⟐Gold Spent: 1,000,000,000Item Acquired: Cursed Relic of Forgotten SpacePublic Impact: MaximumReward Unlocked: Domain of Perception – Tier ITrait Gained: Golden WhisperEffect: Your silence carries the weight of power. Others turn to look without needing reason.Karma Earned: +2,000World Reaction: Influence increased. Nobles and merchants have marked your presence.
Aarav didn't flinch when the system window faded. He had seen far stranger notifications in his time. The rewards would grow. The attention would come. That was the plan.
He leaned back in his chair and glanced at the chandelier hanging above. It swayed slightly, reflecting light in a thousand tiny sparks, like scattered coins in water.
Somewhere across the hall, whispers broke out.
"Who is he?"
"Was that a mistake?"
"Is he mad?"
They weren't questions. They were defenses. People trying to protect their pride from being swallowed by shock. But nothing they said could erase the number glowing in the air.
In the upper balcony, Crown Prince Vaylen stood frozen. His eyes narrowed, but his voice trembled slightly when he asked, "Find out who that man is."
His general, a stone-faced man named Kael, didn't answer at once. He watched Aarav as if trying to see the shape of the wind.
"That," Kael finally said, "is Aarav Varman. Heir to the Varman fortune. But more than that, he's dangerous. Not because of the gold he has, but because of what he does with it."
The prince scoffed. "Everyone with gold plays games."
Kael shook his head. "He doesn't play games. He buys them."
The next item on the list was announced, though no one truly heard the auctioneer. An enchanted blood contract. A rare item capable of binding summoned beasts for five years. The starting bid was eight hundred thousand.
Aarav's voice cut through the murmurs.
"I'll take it."
The auctioneer hesitated. "Sir... bidding has not yet—"
"I'll take the contract, the auction house, the mage who forged the item, and the land beneath this building. Total value... twenty billiongold."
He stood, walked forward slowly, and placed a single black-plated coin onto the marble floor. The symbol of a serpent coiled around a vault was engraved on its face. Ancient verification runes flared to life.
Above the dome, the ceiling glowed.
Transaction confirmed. Full payment received. Ownership transferred to Aarav Varman.
No one spoke. There was no need. The message had been delivered.
⟐ FORTUNE ASCENSION SYSTEM ⟐Gold Spent: 20,000,000,000Assets Acquired: Royal Auction House, Blood Contract, Staff LicensesMarket Shock Level: CriticalPassive Unlocked: Law of Acquisition (Regional)Effect: Any price you offer in this region is treated as a divine command. Refusal is not possible.Aura Gained: Feared InvestorEffect: Business leaders and nobles hesitate to challenge your decisions.World Effect: Three noble houses marked you. Two underground guilds flagged you. Merchant Council awareness rising.
Aarav didn't glance back as he left the main hall. His footsteps echoed as the crowd parted. They didn't see a man.
They saw a walking treasury. A golden storm with no leash.
And deep inside their minds, one thought repeated louder than any shout: If he could spend like this today, what would he do tomorrow?
Inside the auction house's executive chamber, Aarav sat on the edge of a desk once used by city nobles. It still smelled of old ink and scented wood. He looked calm, but the system interface before him was glowing with motion.
⟐ FORTUNE ASCENSION SYSTEM ⟐
New Property Registered: Grand Royale Auction House
Daily Profit Forecast: 18,000,000
GoldPassive Activated: Golden
AuthorityEffect: Any trade on your property generates 30% more influence
Staff Loyalty: 74% (Improving)
Next Milestone: Spend 50,000,000,000 Gold in one kingdom
Reward Preview: Tycoon of Territory – Regional laws bend in your favor
The system closed with a soft flick of his hand. Power didn't require shouting. It just needed visibility.
Outside the building, crowds had started to gather. Nobles, merchants, and commoners whispered in corners, trying to confirm the impossible news,that a man had bought the city's auction hall like it was a snack.
A steward stepped into the room, clearing his throat. "Sir.... three guilds have sent requests to meet you. The Royal Noble Council seeks an audience. And the Crown Prince's messenger is asking how you'd like to receive His Highness."
Aarav didn't blink. "Tell him there's a charge."
The steward hesitated. "A charge, sir?"
"One hundred million gold. Tea included."
In the royal palace, the prince threw the message scroll onto the floor.
"A hundred million to talk to me?" he snapped. "Is he mocking the throne?"
Kael didn't respond. He simply closed his eyes for a moment.
The younger prince chuckled. "At least he's serving tea."
Back inside the auction house, Aarav was already on the balcony, watching the city below. His system lit up again. The attention had reached another level.
⟐ FORTUNE ASCENSION SYSTEM ⟐
Reputation Milestone Reached
New Title Unlocked: The Man Who Buys Silence
Effect: You gain profit opportunities from fear alone.
Passive Added: Rumor Trader
Effect: Reputation points can now be converted into gold at special locations
Global Impact:
Twelve noble families tracking your influence
One forbidden sect marked you as 'untouchable'
Black market brokers requesting private deals
The streets below were changing. Conversations were slowing. Wagons paused as people pointed up at the auction tower.
This wasn't just a purchase anymore.This was the first ripple in a much bigger wave.
Aarav Varman, the man who made gold bend, had entered the game.
And now the world had no idea what he might buy next.
TO BE CONTINUED.............