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"5,000 gold coins." The bid came from a well-dressed VIP who looked both eager and determined. As soon as he finished speaking, several other VIPs joined in, their bids escalating with an urgency that suggested their lives might depend on it.

"Fools!" Leon muttered quietly, his disdain barely concealed. Ethan caught the words clearly and glanced at Leon with bafflement.

"7,000 gold coins."

"8,500 gold coins."

"9,000."

"10,500."

"15,000." The same imposing VIP bid, his voice dripping with arrogance as he glanced around the room, daring anyone to challenge him. His demeanor suggested he was a very high-level character, someone of considerable influence and power.

"He is the Devil Ape Clan's leader," Leon said, noticing Ethan's interest in the man. His voice was calm and controlled.

"Oh!" Ethan exclaimed, his curiosity piqued. "The Devil Ape Clan? Are there no other powerful clans that could rival him?"

Leon chuckled softly. "Haha, the real show hasn't started yet, dude. This is just the beginning. Watch closely."

As the bidding war intensified, Ethan could feel the tension in the air. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation and unspoken rivalries. He watched as the VIPs engaged in a fierce contest, knowing that the true significance of this auction was yet to unfold.

Just as the auction seemed to be winding down, a commotion erupted near the entrance, causing a stir among the attendees.

Dressed in luxurious robes, several new groups entered the auction hall, attracting immediate attention.

"Winged Tiger clan arrives!"

Following them, other prominent groups made their entrance.

"Thunder Leopard clan arrives!"

"Fire Crow clan arrives!"

"Silvermoon clan arrives!"

"Phantom Wolf clan arrives!"

Each clan was represented by 30-40 people, moving in organized groups of 5-6 important individuals each. The hall buzzed with excitement and curiosity as the new arrivals made their way to their VIP rooms, their presence adding an extra layer of tension to the already charged atmosphere.

Others watched in awe as these powerful clans entered, each one exuding an aura of authority and strength. They had heard tales of their influence, but seeing them in person was an entirely different experience. They were the five great clans of Arcadia City. Their mere presence commanded respect.

Ethan's interest was piqued when he heard the names of the Fire Crow and Silvermoon clans. He scanned the crowd and spotted Aria and her uncle among the Silvermoon clan members. Aria's father, a stern-looking man with sharp eyebrows, was in the center.

Among the Fire Crow clan, Ethan didn't recognize anyone immediately, but his thoughts were preoccupied with Lenora. She also wasn't present there. Neither was the leader of the Fire Crow clan. Instead, a few powerful elders were present.

The presence of these powerful clans brought an air of tension to the auction hall.

"Haha, how can you start the fun without us, Gideon?" laughed Mirrel Nortel, the leader of the Winged Tiger clan—a person in his fifties, while glancing disdainfully at the Devil Ape clan's room through the transparent glass.

The leader of the Thunder Leopard clan, Zephyr Stormclaw, chimed in, "It seems Gideon doesn't respect the five great clans anymore, now that he's achieved S-Rank. So arrogant!" He snorted.

"Hmph.." In response, Gideon, the leader of the Devil Ape clan, snorted in irritation. "Whatever! But you should all know this: the key will belong to our clan in the end. No one can change that."

The other clan leaders responded with disdain. "We'll see about that."

They all huffed and proceeded to their respective VIP rooms.

"See, brother, that Gideon never respects us. He's so arrogant," Astrid, Aria's uncle, complained to Aria's father.

Aria's father sighed. "I know. He's always been like that. But he'll get his karma today. Isn't this is why we're here?"

He paused before continuing after brief moment, "For now, focus on looking for any suspicious activity. Today's mission should not fail; this is our primary goal."

Aria, her uncle, and the rest of the Silvermoon clan members nodded in agreement.

As the Silvermoon clan members settled into their seats, Aria's gaze unexpectedly fell on Ethan. "What is he doing here?" she wondered and became worried recalling their mission of coming here. This could be dangerous for Ethan, she realized, and her face turned pale.

Their eyes met, and they exchanged a brief nod.

Her father noticed the interaction and inquired, "Who is that boy, Aria? Do you know him?"

Aria's uncle, recognizing Ethan as the boy he had saved from imprisonment, kept silent, curious about Aria's response.

"Ah, um…" Aria hesitated. "Yes, Father, he's a friend."

Her father shook his head disapprovingly. "Aria, how many times must I tell you? You can't just befriend anyone. It doesn't fit your image as a noble."

Aria lowered her gaze, feeling a pang of frustration and sadness. She wondered if her father would ever accept her feelings for Ethan if their relationship ever deepened.

Once everyone was seated, the auctioneer resumed. "We have received a few more honorable guests at our auction hall, so let's continue where we left off."

"Lord Gideon has offered 15,000 gold coins. Are there any higher bids?"

"We, from the Winged Tiger clan, offer 17,000 gold coins."

"25,000 gold coins from the Fire Crow clan."

"26,000 from the Thunder Leopard clan."

"28,000."

"29,000."

The bidding escalated rapidly as each clan vied for the prize. The other participants could only watch in awe, realizing the stakes involved in this auction.

"Brother, the time is here. Shouldn't we place our bid now?" Astrid asked, anxious.

Aria's father remained calm. "Not yet. Wait for a little more."

Aria, meanwhile, continued to focus intently on Ethan. Her uncle shook his head, realizing Aria's distraction.

Gideon, fuming with frustration, raised his bid to 33,000 gold coins, nearing his limit.

"35,000," the Fire Crow clan countered.

"36,000," Gideon snapped, glaring at everyone with bloodshot eyes..

"Ba*tards!"

It seemed the other clans were deliberately pushing Gideon to his limits.

"Brother, the price already gone so high," Astrid said, concern evident in his voice. "We should bid now, right? Everything had gone according to our plan, after all."

Aria's father nodded. "Yes. Raise the stakes now. Push Gideon to the limit. Only then will he reveal his true face to us."

"Okay, brother," Aria's uncle nodded and raised his paddle for an increased bid.

"Aria, focus! Where are you looking?" her father snapped.

"Hmph!" Aria pouted but returned to her seat in frustration. Her heart was full of worry regarding Ethan's safety.

"We have a bid of 36,000 from the Devil Ape clan. Are there any higher bids?"

"40,000," Aria's uncle announced loudly.

The crowd gasped. "40,000? The Silvermoon clan is really wealthy."

"Yes, as expected from an elite assassin clan."

"Bang!" Gideon, furious, smashed his chair. "Damn these cockroaches! It looks like I have no choice."

He turned to his subordinates. "Go and bring them here. It's time to make our move. We can't let them get the key for the humans."

His subordinates, clad in dark, imposing armor, nodded and quickly left the room, their movements precise and intimidating.

The tension in the auction hall escalated as people whispered among themselves, speculating about Gideon's next move.

However, even after awaiting for a while, there's no further offer from the Devil Ape Clan Leader, so the key went to the Silvermoon Clan.

"Congratulations to the Silvermoon clan for winning the auction at 40,000 gold coins," the auctioneer Gresham announced, prompting applause.

"Clap, clap!"

While the other attendees clapped, the major players in the room knew that something significant was about to unfold.

Ethan, sensing the rising tension, knew he had to stay vigilant. Despite his decision to avoid meddling, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was already too involved.