Auction

Ling Chu couldn't possibly show him the Gambler's Coin. Equipment that increased luck was extremely rare, and she had no intention of selling it. Besides, if she told him the truth and he developed malicious intent—forcing a buy or secretly causing her trouble—both were entirely possible.

Ling Chu didn't want trouble.

"I don't have anything that can increase luck, and I'm not always this lucky."

Ling Chu told a small lie. Karl Claude had been watching her expression the whole time and found no flaw in it.

"Alright, I still have some personal matters to attend to. The auction is about to start. If you're interested, you can check out the fourth floor. Have fun, miss." Karl Claude snuffed out his cigar, signaling his patience had run out.

The moment Ling Chu stepped out of the Captain's Cabin, the double-luck effect on her just happened to end.

She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. The native NPCs in this world were sharper than one another—or rather, were they really NPCs?

Ling Chu felt they were more like real people from a real world.

An Attendant waiting in the corridor guided her. Perhaps because she had just come out of the Captain's Cabin, the Attendant dared not be negligent. Upon learning she wanted to attend the auction, he directly led her to the venue on the Fourth Floor.

At the end of the corridor was a pair of Black Velvet Curtains. Two burly, expressionless Guards stood on either side. Seeing the Attendant give a slight nod, they silently pulled the curtains open.

The scene behind the door made Ling Chu's gaze sharpen slightly. This place was less an auction hall and more a small Amphitheater.

The lighting was dim, all focused on the circular stage at the center. Surrounding it were rings of Private Boxes rising tier by tier, not public seats. Each box was draped with heavy Dark Curtains, only slightly parted to ensure the guests inside could see the stage clearly while being hard to glimpse themselves—extremely private.

Inside the boxes were spacious Velvet Sofas, Crystal Ashtrays, and bells to call the Attendants.

The air echoed with a very low, almost inaudible Classical Symphony, making the entire atmosphere heavy and eerie. Occasionally, the crisp sound of a bell ringing came from a box, and a shadow-like Attendant would silently hurry over to listen to instructions.

The Attendant then delivered her chips.

A full thousand White Chips were neatly stacked on three trays, worth a hundred thousand Sea Shells!

Ling Chu might have cursed Karl Claude three hundred times in her heart, but when the guy gave money, he really gave it. She had become rich overnight, turning her luck around completely.

An Auctioneer in a sharply tailored suit, his hair slicked back with oil, stood at the center of the stage. A warm smile on his face, his voice carried clearly to every corner through some hidden Amplifier—neither harsh nor lacking penetration.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Golden Finger Casino's Midnight Auction!" He spread his arms, his tone highly provocative. "Here, you will gain not just items, but opportunities, companionship, and even experiences beyond imagination! Tonight, each one-of-a-kind 'product' yearns to find a home that appreciates its true value! Please prepare your chips, and let us witness together who will be tonight's most discerning collector!"

As his words fell, the music rose slightly, and the stage lights focused on the first Display Stand wheeled out.

It was a young White Man, Blonde Hair Blue Eyes, tall and sturdy, wearing only a simple Linen Shirt and Pants. His eyes were somewhat hollow, carrying humiliation and a trace of fear. Around his neck hung a Metal Tag with a number written on it.

Ling Chu was a bit surprised. The first item here was actually a person?

The Auctioneer enthusiastically began introducing his "merits": healthy, strong, skilled in carpentry and navigation—an "excellent laborer and loyal servant."

Bidding began.

Sporadic, lazy bell rings came from the boxes.

Ling Chu wasn't interested in this human and had no intention of bidding. Her Skeleton Henchmen didn't need to eat, drink, or rest—they completely outclassed those human servants.

The price climbed slowly, eventually closing at a low, almost symbolic five chips. After the successful sale, the man was immediately led into one of the boxes.

Ling Chu watched expressionlessly, but inside she gained a deeper understanding of the ship's cruelty.

Soon, the second item was brought up.

This was a black-haired Eastern woman, with a fit, athletic build and skin tanned a healthy wheat color from years of sun exposure. She didn't lower her head but held her chin high, her eyes sweeping like fire-tempered knives over the shadow-hidden boxes, burning with unyielding anger.

Ling Chu raised an eyebrow slightly. This was actually a player!

She recognized it entirely from the woman's clothing.

First, most people here had Western features, so her Eastern looks stood out. Second, she was wearing Sweatpants, Nike Sneakers, and something like a Sports Watch on her wrist. The natives here dressed in a style close to medieval Western attire—such outfits were absolutely impossible.

The Auctioneer seemed a bit troubled by the second item's attitude but still forced himself to introduce her: "...Uh, a special 'product,' with a... uh... fiery personality! Possesses extensive... survival experience at sea! Starting bid, one chip!"

Ling Chu used her Eyepatch to read her information.

[Player ID: Stay Away From Gambling, Drugs, and Vice]

[Class: Gambler (Tier 2) / Pirate (Tier 1)]

[Physique: 6]

[Strength: 7]

[Agility: 9]

[Intelligence: 7]

[Sin Value: 20]

[Justice Points: 0]

[Bounty: 66 Sea Shells]

[Skills: All In, Fate Dice, Knife Mastery.]

[All In: Increases the critical hit chance of the next attack. Consumes 20 mana.]

[Fate Dice: Rolls a virtual die. Gains buffs or debuffs based on the result.

1 point: Attack power decreased, movement speed decreased; 2 points: Defense decreased; 3 points: No effect; 4 points: Attack speed increased; 5 points: Critical hit rate increased; 6 points: All stats greatly increased.]

[Knife Mastery: Proficient in using throwing knife-type weapons.]

Stay Away From Gambling, Drugs, and Vice?

Ling Chu was even more surprised—wasn't this someone from her friend list?

She had gotten her Gambler's Coin from this person.

She had always assumed this ID belonged to a guy. No wonder she had specifically asked for a pink Fluorescent Starfish before—turns out she was a girl.

She immediately sent a private message to Stay Away From Gambling, Drugs, and Vice: "Were you kidnapped onto the Golden Finger Gambling Ship and put up as auction merchandise?"

The moment she sent the message, the Black-Haired Girl on the Auction Stage froze for an instant, then lifted her head to look around. But the Dark Curtains completely concealed everyone in the private rooms.

Stay Away From Gambling, Drugs, and Vice replied frantically, as if seeing a lifeline: "Yes, are you at the Auction too?"

"Can you help me? I've been trapped here for days. They took all my ships away. I really have no way out."

Ling Chu replied: "I don't do business at a loss."

Saving her was fine, but she had to get something in return.