Hill's buying spree through the Dragonborn artworks drew countless eyes. They weren't filled with envy, though, but anger, resentment, and greed.
If he hadn't shown so little interest in the high-level curiosities offered by certain dubious characters, someone would probably have started cursing aloud.
Many official merchants were displeased too. Dragonborn artworks were popular with kings and nobles, and Hill hadn't even passed over the finer silks. Why were rich people so infuriating?
They tried to use their status to make Hill give up some of the brighter brocades and the largest Emerald Mountains. Annoyed, Hill pushed open the front window of his VIP room, letting everyone see the Radiant Orbs floating around him.
In Toril, no king would dare demand that an Archmage capable of casting ninth-level spells yield to him, let alone these royal subordinates.
Hill swept a cold gaze over the VIP rooms above and the clusters of blood-soaked sea merchants below. "If you want to take something from me, bid higher. Spare me the rest."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the pirates from northern Faerûn. Their faces twitched almost in unison. It seemed they all knew who he was.
Hill hadn't been bluffing. He had set himself a limit; otherwise, wouldn't the Dragonborn be getting off too cheaply? If someone bid that high, he would let them have it.
But before he even reached that limit, these people decided they couldn't afford it... even though they would sell the pieces for just as much once they got them back to Faerûn!
As Hill withdrew his gaze, he noticed that many of the organizers seated on either side of the auctioneer's platform looked delighted. They clearly thought the lots would fetch good prices.
An Yanfei smiled at Hill. Beside him, the chief supervisor