Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill Chapter 485:Bring Him Out

It was exceedingly obvious what was transpiring. Ethan settled back slightly in his seat, his fingers drumming a slow rhythm on the armrest as his mind raced at full speed.

His gaze remained fixed on the stage, yet his thoughts were a thousand miles away, desperately seeking the origin of this vexing situation. "Who on earth is it..." he murmured, a frown creasing his brow.

He couldn't recall having personally offended anyone to such a degree. This very fact made the current predicament all the more peculiar and disquieting.

There was no discernible adversary, no apparent individual who would escalate matters to such an extent to thwart him repeatedly. It suggested something he might have overlooked.

"The seventy-fifth item… one kilogram of Star Dust Essence." The moment these words were uttered, a ripple of excitement swept through the entire hall, pulling him abruptly back to the present.

Patrons sat up straighter, and a low hum of conversation quickly filled the room. The highly anticipated item had finally made its appearance. The ambiance shifted instantaneously, and even those who had maintained a facade of calm until this point now displayed palpable interest.

"The Star Dust Essence is a special metal derived from fragments of fallen stars," the auctioneer proclaimed smoothly, gesturing subtly towards the luminous material on display.

Its silvery-blue luminescence cast a soft glow across the hall, and its potent magical aura was perceptible even from a distance. "It possesses powerful starfall energy, is exceptionally durable, and is incredibly rare," she continued, her voice measured and assured.

"It is said that the top-tier  Transcendent level Starfall Staff is forged primarily from this material."

"Friends who like it, do not miss out. Starting price… four hundred million gold coins. Each bid must not be less than ten million." As soon as she concluded, the hall erupted in a frenzy of biddings.

"Three hundred and fifty million!"

"....."

A collective pause fell over the attendees as all eyes shifted towards the private room, searching for the audacious bidder.

"Four hundred million!"

"Four hundred and eighty million!" Voices overlapped and competed, rising in intensity. The price escalated at a breakneck pace, soaring past eight hundred million within moments. The surge showed no signs of abatement, rapidly approaching the billion-gold mark as if it were a trifling sum.

Ethan remained impassive throughout this escalating bidding war.

'You wish to play, do you...'

'Very well... This time, I shall entertain you thoroughly?'

He deliberately held back, understanding that an early bid would be a squandering of resources. He waited with studied patience, allowing others to expend their efforts. Yet, even after numerous rounds, the crowd displayed no inclination to cease their bidding.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward.

"One point five billion gold coins." His voice, amplified by the sound transmission array, sliced through the clamor like a honed blade.

Instantly, the hall was plunged into silence. All gazes turned towards his private chamber, and even the auctioneer faltered for a brief instant before resuming her duties. The abrupt, substantial increase in a single bid stunned everyone present.

The bidding recommenced, but with a markedly reduced intensity.

"One point five one…" "One point five two…" The prevailing atmosphere had shifted, caution now superseding the initial fervor.

Ethan's dwindling patience manifested in his voice, which grew noticeably colder. "One point six."

A short silence ensued, broken by another voice responding, "One point six one."

Without hesitation, Ethan countered, "One point seven billion."

This pronouncement finally brought the hall to a standstill. Numerous bidders withdrew, leaving only a select few. The less affluent participants had been culled, precisely as Ethan had anticipated. Then, a voice broke the silence again. "Two billion." It was the same persistent voice. Ethan's eyes instantly sharpened, his demeanor growing serious.

However, this time, he was prepared. "Three billion."

The dramatic leap sent a shockwave through the hall. Even his mysterious competitor paused momentarily before responding once more. "Three billion and fi—"

"Five billion," Ethan interjected icily. His tone was resolute, and the palpable tension in the room intensified.

Another bid followed swiftly. "Six bill—" "I quit."

Ethan's voice pierced through the air, abruptly halting all proceedings. The entire assembly froze, its occupants staring in stunned disbelief. Merely moments before, he had been escalating the stakes without reservation, and now he had inexplicably withdrawn his bid.

Before anyone could fully process this turn of events, Ethan stood. The chair behind him screeched loudly against the floor, its harsh sound echoing in the unnervingly silent room.

In the subsequent moment, he emerged from his private chamber, exuding a potent and imposing aura. He proceeded directly towards the central platform.

"Miss Juliet," Ethan stated, his voice resonant and clear. "I believe that individual is engaging in deceit."

A heavy silence descended upon the hall once more. His pronouncements held significant sway, and none dared to interject. "When combined with the prior bids, he has already expended approximately ten billion gold coins," Ethan elaborated, his gaze sweeping slowly across the attendees.

"Could there truly be someone so affluent as to squander ten billion gold coins in such a manner?"

His inquiry ignited a flurry of whispers among the assembled crowd, with many nodding in contemplation while others knitted their brows. Even for those of noble standing, ten billion represented a substantial sum, far from a trivial amount to be discarded lightly.

A figure emerged from the periphery. An elderly man, whose keen eyes harbored a chilling glint. "Marquise Ethan," he intoned, his voice low, "are you casting doubt upon our proceedings?" Despite the thinly veiled threat in his tone, Ethan remained unfazed, maintaining an aura of serene composure.

"Observe… I am not casting doubt," Ethan countered equably. "However, errors can occur." He folded his arms loosely and continued, "What if the participant is an imposter, a rogue who employed illicit means to gain entry?" His insinuations fostered even greater disquiet among the onlookers.

At that precise moment, a gentle voice emanated from the side. "I concur with Sir Ethan."

All heads swiveled in unison. A woman advanced, her cascade of violet hair trailing behind her, her mist-like purple eyes exuding a calm yet piercing sharpness. A fan was held delicately in her hand, and her mere presence compelled several individuals to swallow nervously.

Regalina El Osantara. The esteemed daughter of Duke Osantara. Ethan identified her instantly, offering a subtle inclination of his head.

She returned the gesture with a fleeting smile before resuming her address. "I am of the opinion that we ought to ascertain if that person genuinely possesses the requisite funds," she declared coolly, her conviction evident in her steady tone.

Juliet faltered for a moment. "But Miss…" she commenced, but before her sentence could be completed, another voice resounded from the throng. "I agree." Soon, a chorus of affirmations followed.

"That scoundrel is quite vexing."

"Indeed, let us investigate."

"This is exceedingly suspicious."

"We cannot permit someone to disrupt the auction in this fashion."

The ambiance palpably shifted. Although the focus of suspicion had initially been directed at Ethan, the ostentatious display of wealth had unsettled everyone present.

The situation felt inherently wrong, and the burgeoning suspicion permeated the entire hall. Protests intensified, and the pressure mounted upon the auction house.

Amidst the rising clamor, Regalina advanced slightly. Her gaze drifted deliberately across the hall, encompassing the private chambers. She then spoke anew, her tone measured yet incisive.

"How peculiar…" she murmured softly. "Everyone else has emerged…"

Her eyes condensed subtly as she continued, "Yet, the gentleman with the overflowing coffers has yet to reveal himself." Her words struck with palpable force, draining the color from the faces of Juliet and the elder man.