Soul of Water Moon

"Miss Isabelle, some things shouldn't be said carelessly. Just because I have a fiancée and can't marry you, you're going to turn your love into hatred and try to slander my reputation. That's far too cruel."

As he spoke, Hudson lifted Isabelle's chin with one hand, his gesture carrying a strong warning.

Upon seeing this, Isabelle was completely dumbfounded. Such a shameless attempt to shift the blame clearly showed that she had no intention of admitting responsibility.

"Love turned to hate"—this means she has to bear all the infamy.

Ironically, this view aligns with mainstream thought. Given the choice between a noble fiancée of equal social standing and a beautiful courtesan, the answer is obvious.

Deny?

The Church wants to silence her, but this seemingly lecherous fellow probably doesn't want her to leave alive either.

The reluctance to take drastic measures was largely due to considerations of reputation. A nobleman may be amorous, but he cannot be heartless.

The fact that he can kill even his "lover" at will not only make his followers feel insecure, but also makes the Hollisir Family question whether this marriage was the right thing to do.

People are prone to blindly following others, and many things inevitably involve "filling in the blanks" in their minds. After so many encounters between Hudson and Isabelle, everyone had long assumed that they were having an affair.

"Excuse me, Your Excellency. My mind is a little muddled. Could you please let me go? You're making me do something stupid by tormenting me like this!"

"Isabelle said, forcing herself to speak," she said.

Even though she knew Hudson was acting, she had no choice but to play along. Her intuition told her that her chances of escaping unscathed depended on the conversation that followed.

"Miss Isabelle, you're not being honest. You were nestled in my arms, how can you turn around and accuse me like that?"

I need an explanation now, an explanation that can mend my damaged reputation. If my fiancée finds out, she'll be unhappy.

As they spoke, Hudson's hands became increasingly audacious. He was showing Isabelle through his actions that if she continued to flirt, he wouldn't be so lenient.

The nobles judge only by their own integrity. If a beautiful woman repeatedly comes to him, and Hudson claims he did nothing, what will happen?

People probably wouldn't be thinking that "Lord Hudson" is a person of high moral character, but rather that they would be wondering if he is in poor health.

I can't let this kind of loss go unpunished. If I can't clear my name, then I can only believe the rumors and enjoy this moment of bliss first.

Having seen all sorts of tricks and understanding men very well, Isabelle was already secretly groaning.

This guy in front of me is far too rational. Even though his eyes are filled with desire for her, he still maintains control, as if he wants to manipulate her completely.

"Were you just acting all along?"

"Isabelle asked in a trembling voice."

"Ha ha..."

"Miss Isabelle, you are indeed very clever; you discovered the problem so quickly."

However, the loopholes today were too obvious. The guards let you in without any hindrance; a little thought reveals something is wrong.

The people from the Mysterious Organization have now left with their goods, and I've received the items from the transaction. It's a win-win situation for everyone.

The only remaining threat is you.

Don't be afraid. I have a soft spot for women. I can't bring myself to hurt a beautiful woman like her in my arms.

For your safety's sake, you will not be able to leave for a long time to come.

I know Miss Isabelle is a strong-willed woman and certainly wouldn't want to be a freeloader. Why not demonstrate some value and let me see..."

Upon hearing this explanation, Isabelle rolled her eyes, pressed her body against Hudson, and whispered in his ear, "I've already done this much, what more do you want?"

My knowledge of the Mysterious Organization is limited. Telling you everything wouldn't be of any real substance.

"I'm afraid that before the talent show is even over, some people will lose control and act like animals. Other families don't do that either!"

This is the truth. What the songstresses learn may seem like talents, but in reality, it's a way to deal with men.

For example, right now, the erotic scene is making Hudson a little overwhelmed.

"Having been in Mysterious Organization for so long, you should have learned something. For example, how to gather intelligence and train intelligence personnel?"

Of course, it's okay if you don't know these things. Just show me how you serve others, sir...

She was only halfway through her sentence when tears welled up in Isabelle eyes, and she buried her face in Hudson's neck and cried uncontrollably.

Her professional-level acting skills made Hudson realize that this woman was not so easy to tame.

Taking advantage of her vulnerability to win her heart is easy. Getting her to risk her life for him is incredibly difficult. Having been abandoned by a Mysterious Organization, Isabelle has become extremely wary of the outside world.

Having come from that kind of environment, accustomed to scenes of exchanging one's body for survival resources, he now prefers to be taken advantage of by Hudson rather than get involved in any new turmoil.

Hudson had anticipated this. If they could be easily subdued, he would suspect they might be moles sent by Mysterious Organization.

The negative impact has already been caused, and now all we can do is go with the flow and minimize the impact as much as possible.

If that's what the outside world thinks, then that's fine. As long as no new big news emerges, a mere romantic affair will soon be forgotten.

If you can't use Isabelle's abilities, then keep her as a decorative vase to showcase Lord Hudson's charm.

Talking about feelings is just asking for humiliation. A woman who can thrive in a singing troupe has already died of heart.

The only trouble is explaining things to his fiancée, but that's easy to handle. As a noblewoman, she's seen this kind of thing quite often, and her mental fortitude isn't that bad.

It's better to have a scandal with the same songstress than to be associated with other noble ladies. No matter how beautiful a songstress is, there are still social barriers she can't overcome.

The start of the auction shattered the sensual atmosphere inside. Bear, who had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines, was now lost in thought.

In the bear world, such scenes don't exist. If a bear finds a female it likes, it simply goes up and mates, and that's it.

This scene left Beldens completely bewildered. Based on his experience, he had no idea about the relationship between the two.

Perhaps to attract more participants, the warhorses were not sold as a single package, but rather auctioned off in groups of 100.

This greatly displeased the powerful figures who had secretly agreed to divide the warhorses. After the warhorses were separated, the lesser nobles also gained the leverage to bid.

It might be a little difficult for one family to buy a hundred warhorses, but if several families and friends pool their resources, it will be no problem at all.

With more people participating, the price naturally went up. After tentatively offering a price of 1,500 gold coins, Hudson became a spectator.

After the price of the first set of warhorses exceeded two thousand gold coins, the number of bidders suddenly decreased significantly. It ultimately sold for a staggering two thousand eight hundred gold coins.

Hudson's expression gradually darkened; this price exceeded the market value. Paying such a high price for a warhorse was simply not worth the investment.

Although he managed to extract a sum of money from the Mysterious Organization, it didn't change the fact that he was penniless. Instead of spending large sums of gold to buy warhorses, he'd rather go back and train his infantry.

Watching helplessly as group after group of warhorses were snatched up, Hudson knew that the previous agreement was null and void.

Compared to those in the private rooms, the lower-ranking nobles constitute the majority. Because their demand is smaller, they can afford a higher premium.

Even if a company purchases ten or eight warhorses, and pays a 50% premium, the additional cost would only be a hundred or eighty gold coins.

But Hudson couldn't afford that. The shortage of thousands of warhorses would result in an astronomical budget overrun if all were purchased at a premium.

Not only did Hudson not make a move, but almost none of the nobles in the private box participated in the competition.

The warhorses falling into the hands of minor nobles in various counties also enhances everyone's survivability on the battlefield. The elder brother doesn't need to fight with the younger brothers for them.

The main problem is that the price is too high. Their wealth was accumulated slowly over generations, and they don't allow themselves to squander it.

After the warhorse auction concluded, the atmosphere in the hall reached a climax. The astronomical transaction figures continuously stimulated Hudson's nerves.

No wonder these merchants love holding auctions. If they were sold outside, without so many potential customers vying for them, these warhorses would never have fetched such astronomical prices.

If you set up an auction house, you could probably make a profit just from the commission fees...

Suddenly, Hudson realized that this lucrative business had nothing to do with him.

The auction attracted so many people because it was held in Beda City. As the capital of the Southeast Province, it boasted the strongest purchasing power in the entire province.

If it's just a corner of the Mountain Territory, who would be so bored as to go to that remote and impoverished place to trade?

"The next item up for auction is our grand finale for today: a magical wand— the Soul of Water Moon!"

It is said to have been created by the first alchemist on the continent, Master Kaimberyn.

It is inlaid with an eighth-level Magic Core and is equipped with an energy replenishment device. As long as the Magic Power in the Magic Core is not exhausted at once, it can be replenished with Magic Crystal Stone.

When casting water-based magic, it can reduce Magic Power consumption by 30% and increase the original power by 20%, except for Forbidden Spell!

The starting bid is 8,000 gold coins, and each bid must be at least 500 gold coins higher. Bidding begins now.

The auctioneer's words instantly ignited the entire room. A magic wand that reduces Magic Power consumption by 30% and increases power by 20% is a rare sight under normal circumstances.

Anyone who possesses such a treasure would keep it for their own people. Even if it can't be used now, future generations will always find it useful.

It ended up at an auction most likely because of war; a nobleman who treasured this item couldn't afford to part with it due to financial difficulties in his territory.

"Ten thousand gold coins!"

Hudson raised his sign without hesitation.

As a mage, it would be unreasonable not to participate in the competition for such a high-quality magic staff.

While it might be a bit of a dud for Hudson, it would still be a great gift.

His fiancée is a Water Mage, so it would be a waste to give her to a Beginner Mage. But Hudson was in the wrong, after all.

Besides, even if such a gift is given away, it will likely be brought back in the future. The meat will ultimately remain in the pot.

"Twelve thousand gold coins!"

"Thirteen thousand gold coins!"

The price skyrocketed, quickly breaking the 20,000 mark, and showed no signs of stopping.

"Twenty thousand five hundred gold coins!"

"Twenty-five thousand gold coins!"

He raised his paddle again, increasing the price by 4,500 gold coins in one go; this was already Hudson's bottom line.

He'd spent so much money just to make a beauty smile. Deep down, he couldn't help but secretly berate himself for being crazy.

Unfortunately, it wasn't just the Hudson were insane; the family with a water-based Magister was the truly insane one.

"Thirty-five thousand gold coins!"

The moment that number was announced, countless people in the arena gasped. A one-time bid increase of ten thousand gold coins clearly indicated a determination to win.

"The VIP in Box 3 has asked for 35,000 gold coins. Is there anyone offering a higher price?"

This is a work by Master Kaimberyn. Not only is the wand itself valuable, but the craftsmanship of its creation also has high research and collection value.

The auctioneer urged them on.

Unfortunately, people nowadays value practicality, while research and collection value are completely irrelevant for a magic wand at this price point.

"35,000 gold coins per attempt!"

The auctioneer's gavel rang out, and Hudson had become a spectator. If he had a water Magister in his family, perhaps he would have fought hard, but now, forget it!

"Thirty-six thousand gold coins!"

"The esteemed guest in VIP room number two has offered 36,000 gold coins, and there are even higher bids..."

"Forty thousand gold coins!"

The battle grew increasingly bloody. Watching the nobles in the private boxes raise their bids wildly, Hudson began to suspect that his offer was in copper coins, not gold.

The price skyrocketed, eventually selling for a staggering 83,000 gold coins. Hudson exclaimed in disbelief, "Incredible!"

After calming down, Hudson quickly accepted reality. The price of magical weapons has never been low.

This "Soul of Water Moon" magic staff can reduce Magic Power consumption by 30% and increase magic output by 20%, making it an absolute game-changer in battles against equally powerful opponents.

A water-elemental Magister wielding this on the battlefield could easily take on two enemies at once. If used for a sneak attack, it could potentially stun the enemy in an instant.

It's like having an extra Magister's combat power out of thin air, and it can even be passed down. Is 83,000 gold coins still expensive?

The main problem is that there aren't many water-based Magister in the Southeast Province; otherwise, this battle would probably be even more brutal.

If this were auctioned in the capital, it could potentially fetch over 100,000 gold coins. For some long-established noble families with substantial wealth, gold coins might really just be a number.

After the initial excitement, the enthusiasm waned considerably in the subsequent auctions. Several items failed to fetch good prices.

Hudson also took the opportunity to buy two excellent Elf Bow. As the famous "Divine Bow Knight," it would be unreasonable not to prepare a few good bows.

The number of Elf Bow that ended up in the wild wasn't large, but it wasn't small either. Since they weren't magical weapons and didn't have Magic Power enhancements, there wasn't much competition for them, which benefited Hudson.

"Now we're auctioning off the second grand finale item, which is none other than these two beautiful elf ladies."

Pureblooded moon elves are extremely rare, there aren't many on the entire continent. Taking one out would definitely make you look good.

The employer originally wanted to split the items for auction, but the two Elves ladies refused to separate them.

The employer was a great knight who was unwilling to do something so unreasonable. So the two elven sisters were put up for auction together.

The starting bid is 5,000 gold coins, and each bid must be at least 300 gold coins higher. The auction is now starting.

Upon hearing the auctioneer's words, Hudson nearly spat his water onto Isabelle. Slave traders, somehow, could be associated with chivalry.

I don't know where the Dalton Family found this auctioneer, he's so shameless.

Of course, being thick-skinned is also an essential quality for hosting an auction.

Regardless of the quality of the auctioned item, it must be hyped up in a dazzling way to fetch a good price.

"Five thousand three hundred gold coins!"

"Five thousand six hundred gold coins!"

"Six thousand gold coins!"

Watching the various private rooms continuously raising their bidding paddles, Hudson simply watched the spectacle. The two beautiful women on stage were indeed stunning, but that wasn't enough to entice him to join the bidding.

Hudson vaguely sensed something was amiss. The appearance of the Soul of Water Moon in the Southeast Province might even be a collection brought out by a local nobleman.

The outside world is easy to sell for high prices, but it's also dangerous. Ordinary nobles simply don't have the ability to bring large amounts of gold coins home.

But these two elven sisters were different; they wouldn't fetch a good price in the Southeast Province. With the fighting so fierce on the front lines, even if they had money, they couldn't just squander it.

Despite the enthusiastic participation of the nobles, the speed at which the prices were rising revealed that none of them were truly determined to win.

Even if you manage to buy it, the chances of you taking it home to enjoy yourself are slim. You'll either give it away as a gift or trade it with someone else.

Under these circumstances, it's simply impossible to sell it for a good price.

The shrewd slave traders couldn't possibly be unaware of this. Yet they still insisted on selling them in the Southeast Province —wasn't that just throwing away money?