[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-another-world-mall":3,"chapter-another-world-mall-another-world-mall-chapter-998":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Another World Mall",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1682589,2148,"Chapter 998: Auction","another-world-mall-chapter-998",998,"\u003Cp>\"200 million.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"300 million.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"500 million!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sold!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The auction started as normal. Even though all these items were not as exciting as Clovis’ paintings, it didn’t change the fact that they were valuable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hana had arranged everything for the auction, letting the tension build up as they moved toward the last phase of the auction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they were waiting for the next item to be brought in, Kalarn Hatson couldn’t help but glance to the side, feeling a bit lonely with two empty seats. He was supposed to come with his two daughters, but the two daughters had run away before the auction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he knew why they didn’t accompany him, he thought they would at least push back their schedule and accompany him just for this auction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh? Raising daughters is useless...\" Kalarn sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sounds like you are having a hard time, Mr. Kalarn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, Ambassador.\" Kalarn shrugged. \"I’m fine. It looks like you are the ones in charge this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed. You must know the two next to me.\" Curea’s ambassador extended his hand, showing Iskandar and Arina. Iskandar was already famous as a Tier 7 human with a unique ability. People said that his strength was growing exponentially after the government took him in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They speculated that it would be just a matter of time before Iskandar became a Tier 8.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arina, on the other hand, had become Iskandar’s girlfriend. She was the government’s agent who had been assigned to take care of him, but with her continuous accompaniment, Iskandar finally gave in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. Nice to meet you two.\" Kalarn nodded. Since Iskandar’s problem had been solved, there was no more bad blood between them. Iskandar nodded his head gracefully, greeting Kalarn back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still, I wonder what you think about the paintings, Mr. Kalarn?\" The ambassador asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do I think about the paintings?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.. You are quite close with the Libation Fiesta, aren’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, even with our relationship, there is no way they will tell me anything about it, especially not this level of a secret.\" Kalarn shook his head helplessly. \"Besides, you may not know it, but Jay Havenson is a man with integrity. Do you think he will reveal any secrets that are not his?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s a shame.\" The ambassador sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All I know is that these paintings must be real.\" Kalarn’s expression turned serious. \"I may not know Clovis Hacfield that much, but I have met him a couple of times. From all my experiences, I can see that he is a man who takes promises seriously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iskandar added, \"That is indeed true. He may not reveal everything, but he is definitely not someone who lies. That’s what I felt when facing him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ambassador and Kalarn were slightly startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iskandar just looked away and continued watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kalarn coughed before nodding his head. \"Indeed. If you look around, I don’t think he will bluff in an auction like this. I can see a lot of organizations, mostly from this country.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were a total of 70 people inside the venue. It might not be much, considering each group only allowed three representatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all the people that had helped Clovis in one way or another. Jeremy from the Sky Group even participated in this auction. There was also Absalom’s first school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Obviously, their aim was the same. They wanted to see whether Clovis was bluffing or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like they had finally passed the boring side and reached the main event at this auction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, five paintings were brought in. Each of them was covered in a light quilt with an attendant standing behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Clovis walked onto the stage, showing that he was ready to be blamed if he lied to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for attending today’s auction. I believe most of you come for the same reason, so I won’t say much. This is an auction to thank everyone’s participation and help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At the same time, I have to be fair and give everyone a chance. Hence, I want to add one unorthodox rule for the auction of my paintings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyone who has bought a painting will not be allowed to bid for another painting. I know you might think this is a ridiculous rule, but I will just say that either you accept the rule or leave the auction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The paintings were created using my own unique ability, but I won’t share the details of my unique ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, this makes it a bit interesting. The first painting can become the one with the highest price, or it can be the lowest with my rule. We can only see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clovis raised two fingers. \"Before the auction starts, I want to add two things. First, after revealing my paintings, we will have a small break. Second, those who have met the paintings’ requirements will understand the power of paintings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These five paintings represent: ’Mobility’, ’Strength’, ’Flexibility’, ’Control’, and ’Defense.’ So, you may choose which one you will be aiming for.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clovis then stepped to the side and nodded to all five attendants. \"Please reveal the paintings.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people were quite skeptical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh? One organization can only bid for one item? What’s that supposed to mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There will be no one competing for the painting anymore if those big shots are gone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, I don’t care. I want to see what kind of trick he has up his sleeve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people were whispering, wondering what Clovis planned to show them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But half of those chatters suddenly disappeared when the attendants lifted up the quilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm... I am an art person. While it looks like they’re done by professionals, I don’t think they’re worth that much, right?\" One person scoffed and asked the person next to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he was stunned when the person next to him was staring at the painting with eyes wide open. It was as if he couldn’t take his eyes off the painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s going on? Eric? Eric?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Samuel? Wake up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hypnotized? Are you hypnotized?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait! What’s going on? Many people are in a trance right now?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clovis Hacfield. What have you done?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1026,"2026-06-06T13:32:37.451Z",1,"novelbin.me","b824e548ab59773fceb28054d7f9b70df164c6b8a0415658883c7645d2b88766","another-world-mall-chapter-999","another-world-mall-chapter-997",1047,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fanother-world-mall-cover.jpg"]