Chapter 361 Chapter360-The Bustling Auction
At the entrance of Dawn Breeze Auction House, a cacophony of voices already filled the air.
Countless players had gathered, all quietly waiting for the auction to commence.
These players, hailing from various races and sporting a myriad of costumes, gave off the vibe of a grand cosplay convention straight out of the real world.
John, donning an Asura Mask, would usually turn heads on the streets of Silverglow.
Yet here, he blended in seamlessly.
The players buzzed with excitement, eagerly discussing the forthcoming auction and speculating about the treasures that would be unveiled.
Among the crowd, John's gaze quickly found Isabella.
With a demure and graceful smile, the young woman stood at the doorway, greeting each distinguished guest.
Those welcomed by Isabella herself were surely no ordinary individuals.
John stood to the side, silently observing for a while, and recognized several familiar faces, including the leaders of some of the world's top ten guilds.
Among them was Kingserp, the leader of Dawn Guild, who John had previously vanquished with a single move, as well as Snowla, the amiable leader of Black Rose Guild.
However, John did not spot Adam and Blue Sea.
It was unclear whether they had already entered or were simply late arrivals.
As John pondered, a disturbance suddenly broke out at the entrance of the auction house.
Curious players swarmed closer to catch a glimpse of the commotion.
It appeared that the leaders of two minor guilds, already at odds, had crossed paths at the entrance and, exchanging harsh words, had swiftly escalated to crossing swords.
Bursts of light from skills sporadically erupted among the crowd, providing an entertaining spectacle to the onlookers.
John shook his head in resignation from the shadows.
Such foolish players were not uncommon in any game.
They actually fought in the town area where combat was prohibited, blatantly disregarding the City Guard.
As expected, soon the rhythmic and orderly sound of hooves echoed from the end of the road.
The knights of the City Guard promptly arrived at the scene and arrested both combatants.
And just like that, the minor disturbance was quelled.
The onlooking players, however, seemed to relish the drama, lamenting the foolishness of the two individuals.
As the host of the auction, Dawn Breeze Auction House handled the situation quite adeptly.
Before the City Guard could arrive, they had already intervened in the fight.
Particularly, Isabella's composure and poise in dealing with such sudden incidents impressed John greatly.
Choosing a corner where the crowd was thin, John stood in the shadows, silently observing the players' behaviors and actions.
It was something he enjoyed doing.
Not just in the game, but in real life too.
Sensing the joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure of these strangers gave John a sense of being alive in this world.
As the saying goes, the same rice feeds a hundred different people.
Each person has their own character traits, and observing these can lead to better self-reflection.
Isabella, however, was too busy to notice John in the corner, warmly greeting every distinguished guest as they arrived.
Though physically and mentally exhausted, she relished the task.
A few months prior, she could never have imagined herself mingling with so many important figures.
In real life, Isabella was just an ordinary worker, no different from the countless others striving to make ends meet.
It was Godslayer, the game, that had utterly transformed her life.
Now, Isabella exuded a mature and elegant charm.
No matter the stature of the person she faced, her every smile and frown was marked by a calm grace, neither servile nor overbearing.
As the auction drew nearer, John's awaited companion, Loving_Lollipop, was nowhere to be found.
His brow furrowed, he accessed his communication channel.
There were no new messages in the friend request list, leaving him to wonder what that young man might be doing...
Had he been stood up?
With a light flick of his right hand, a black invitation with gold embossing appeared.
It was the same one Isabella had handed him during their last encounter.
The name of the private box was identical to the last; it seemed there had been no change.
But the previous auction had been different; he'd had Emma's company, which had spared him from boredom.
Today, it looked like he'd be attending alone.
At that thought, John let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
When had he become so sentimental?
Before he'd met Emma, he had always been a loner, accustomed to a solitary life—loneliness had never been an issue.
His fingers tapped the invitation's casing absentmindedly as he fell into contemplation.
Perhaps this was the infectious nature of human connections?
He had been striving to mold Emma into a strong, independent girl, only to realize that he, too, had been unknowingly influenced by her.
Lost in these reflections, a group of players hurried along the road.
It was the local congregation from the Silver Church, including White Feather, who had made a lasting impression on John.
Maybe it was a woman's innate sixth sense, but as John looked up, White Feather's gaze met his.
She paused, then stepped out from the group and approached John with a tentative air, asking, "Galewind?"
John replied with a light chuckle and a nod, asking in a mild tone, "How did you recognize me when no one else did?"
The smile that spread across White Feather's face suddenly shone with radiance.
The girl, covering her mouth with a light laugh, said, "Actually, I didn't recognize you at first either; I've never seen that mask on your face before. But your cloak, the one you wear on your back, left a deep impression on me..."
John turned to glance behind him and shook his head with a wry smile.
The tattered skin he wore was indeed conspicuous; after all, most players in the game sought perfection, and few would choose to wear such a ragged cape while running about.
But there was nothing he could do—such special items couldn't change their appearance.
"Galewind, where has Emma been lately? I haven't seen her around for so long!" White Feather sidled up to John, her face brimming with curiosity.
John responded with a gentle smile, "She's just started school and has a lot on her plate. She probably won't be able to game with you for a while..."
White Feather had an epiphany and muttered softly, "No wonder I haven't seen her online these days..."
"Without Emma's powerful damage, our leveling has been much slower recently."
"Don't worry," John chuckled lightly. "She's just busy for these couple of weeks. You'll see her in-game soon enough..."
White Feather nodded with a playful laugh, her previous dismay dissipating.
After discussing the trade of Silver Tears and confirming John's continued interest in purchasing them, her face relaxed with ease.
After all, it wasn't easy to find such a generous buyer like John elsewhere.
"Galewind, I should head inside then; my companions are waiting for me..."
With a wave to John, White Feather rejoined her group's ranks.
Not long after White Feather entered the Dawn Breeze Auction House, a slender figure stealthily approached John.
"Galewind? My goodness, you're actually here waiting for me?"
Surprise was written all over the youthful face of Loving_Lollipop.
John rolled his eyes, his tone laced with irritation. "What do you think? I've been waiting here for you for over half an hour."
Loving_Lollipop's face twisted into an awkward smile, and he rubbed his hands together apologetically. "I thought you were joking with me. I was about to not show up, but then curiosity got the better of me. I figured I'd at least come by and check out the commotion..."
John glanced at him dispassionately and said in a casual tone, "I never joke. You indeed have talent. It's a waste for you to play solo. Today, I'll introduce you to some big shots in the gaming circle. Whether they take a liking to you is up to your own abilities..."
Puffing out his chest with a look of pride, Loving_Lollipop boasted, "That's to be seen, whether I deign to meet them or not!"
A swift slap to the back of his head sent him tumbling to the ground, face first.
"Quit being so smug. Having talent doesn't guarantee success. Sometimes, opportunity is more important than personal effort!"
"Try to rein in that unwarranted arrogance of yours a bit. It's good to be fearless like a calf unafraid of tigers, but too much pride can be an excess..."
The young man scrambled up from the ground, muttering under his breath, "Why do you always slap the back of my head? You're going to knock me silly!"
A faint smile played on John's lips.
For some reason, he felt an inexplicable fondness for the boy.
With his hands clasped behind his back, John walked slowly toward the entrance of the Dawn Breeze Auction House.
Loving_Lollipop followed closely, his gaze darting around in curiosity at everyone entering the auction.
"Galewind, can you really get me into the auction? I heard it's a high-profile event this time, with a fixed number of invitations. It'd be pretty embarrassing to be turned away at the door."
"Whoa, was that the guild leader of Silent Ones just now? He's as handsome as a celebrity!"
"And who's that guy with the cold look on his face? He seems pretty scary!"
Suddenly, John halted in annoyance and turned around to complain, "Can you keep it down for a while? You're too noisy!"
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