Ch.284284 – A Reliable Child

<284 – A Reliable Child>

Unlike Zaku and Rozini who bought supplies and defensive measures at the auctions on the first and second days with a late-game strategy in mind, Arcadia and Hestia chose an attack strategy.

“Let’s raid and take all the auction items from other teams.”

“Is that possible?”

“Trust me.”

The previous day’s raid on Zaku was abandoned due to the appearance of the Second Imperial Princess Massgakki.

“Why did you stop me? The princess is fine. If we fought, we might have managed somehow.”

“Instead, Zaku might have been controlled by the princess and died suddenly from using dark mana while trying to stop us.”

Arcadia remembered that Zaku was Oknodie’s person and requested to stop the raid.

Hestia also didn’t want to incur Oknodie’s hatred, so she agreed with the first day’s retreat.

“The second day won’t work either. If we can’t steal auction items here, we won’t be able to get quality auction goods with our meager ship points.”

One item given each day.

This isn’t an auction house where they could stay for days on end.

All the food they could gather had burned, and their brought supplies were limited.

Above all, they didn’t know when their stay on the deserted island would end.

Both Hestia and Arcadia steeled themselves for the second day’s raid.

“Kekeke. You were too hasty.”

The result was a victory without gain.

Rozini turned into a statue and returned to the cruise ship with Ppoi.

As Zhang mocked, all the other teams knew who had caused the commotion the previous night and showed clear wariness, though to varying degrees.

The closely bonded duo Giselle & Son Ocheon.

Hero Ishtar & Saint Yufi.

Zaku & Imperial Second Princess Massgakki.

Assassin duo Zhang & Oknodie.

Being the focus of attention from everyone except the Hestia & Arcadia combo among the five remaining teams was quite burdensome for the two.

“Not confident? About holding up in a raid.”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you try and find out?”

Zhang giggled and hid behind Oknodie.

From Zhang’s nonchalant attitude in the face of confrontation, Hestia sensed it.

There were no weak teams among those remaining that they could confidently raid and defeat.

Now they too had to focus on winning auction items and protecting them.

“Don’t be too disappointed. The previous day’s raid wasn’t completely meaningless.”

Arcadia whispered softly to Hestia so only she could hear.

“We just need to show that we can act like Rozini if necessary.”

“…Indeed.”

“Or we could put all our ship points into today’s item and return to the cruise ship immediately.”

Strong opponents who might make it difficult to even last a day if raided.

Both the suicide strategy of nullifying items and the all-in strategy of investing all points to secure at least one item and withdrawing immediately weren’t bad options.

But that’s only possible when the item is worth it.

“The worst case for us is if an ambiguous item with no value to nullify comes up, and we either leave with nothing or face a joint attack from other teams at night.”

“…Even against a hero, I won’t lose easily.”

“Don’t be reckless. The night is long, and it’s even more overwhelming to fight while protecting an item.”

Arcadia’s resolve was firm.

“Even if you want to stay, I’m definitely leaving today. So steel yourself.”

“…Alright. Let’s just pray for good auction luck.”

The third day’s auction.

The two prayed earnestly as if greeting a prayer meta.

For an item of even slightly higher value to appear.

“I will now reveal the third item of the deserted island auction. Today’s item is <Port Raid on the Kingdom of Florence>.”

Their prayers were answered. An auction item of such tremendous value appeared that they couldn’t even dare to imagine.

* *

Jona Wiheomhae declared coldly.

“The starting bid is 10,000 points. Bids will increase by 10,000 each. Are there any participants?”

Everyone turned to look at Arcadia, the noble lady from a demoted aristocratic family in the Kingdom of Florence.

The Kingdom of Florence and Arcadia had already suffered severe damage from the recent incident.

No one could guarantee how much more damage they would suffer if the Foundation launched a port raid on top of that.

“You said I wouldn’t take questions, but I can’t help but ask.”

The hero stared intensely at Jona with blazing eyes.

“What is a port raid? Are you selling an item that allows the auction winner to raid a port whenever they want?”

“I will not take questions. Please consider the value and usage of the item yourself and establish your auction strategy.”

Not even a hint of consideration for Arcadia could be felt in that extremely cold declaration.

The hero’s gaze then turned to Oknodie.

“Is this it? The reason you gathered your ‘friends’? Were you planning to show off the Foundation’s power and intimidate everyone into submission like this?”

Oknodie answered with an innocent face.

“The auction items appear randomly, so I didn’t know either. Jona, didn’t I tell you what kind of person Arcadia unni is to me?”

“Of course I know.”

“Then how could you bring out such an item? I came here to have fun, and now the atmosphere is getting weird!”

Oknodie was indirectly suggesting that the auction be canceled or the item withdrawn.

However, Jona’s resolve was even firmer than Oknodie thought.

“Even with your orders, miss, this one cannot be canceled.”

“Why?”

“There were special instructions from the Chairman.”

“By Chairman, you mean Papa…?”

“The Chairman said this: Make sure to put up an item that your friends cannot help but purchase.”

“To make me feel bad?”

“He was curious whether you would help your friends or choose an item that would help individual growth afterward.”

“!”

Not just Oknodie, but Ishtar, Arcadia, and everyone else realized the hidden intention behind this auction.

This was a test.

A test asking if they had accumulated enough ship points to protect themselves.

At the same time, a test of how much Oknodie cared for her friends.

A test of friendship’s value, asking if they could avoid fighting each other over an item that would endanger competitors for the sake of growth.

It blatantly mocked the human heart.

It incited desire.

It demanded proof of friendship’s value through points and auction items.

The participants’ faces turned serious.

They couldn’t help but be serious.

Because it was an auction item with too much value and risk to be given to mere first-year academy students.

“That’s just like Papa!”

Oknodie’s easy acceptance was the strange part.

The participants were certain that they weren’t the strange ones.

“Let’s all boycott the auction.”

If no one purchases the item, all items might be nullified.

At Saint Yufi’s unusually saintly remark, everyone began to look around cautiously.

“You all know without me saying it. If anyone raises points here… that person and I will become lifelong enemies. Please consider carefully.”

Arcadia’s stern warning followed.

“If there are no bidders for 60 seconds, this item will be withdrawn.”

Just as many were quietly hoping for the 60 seconds to pass safely, one person finally went ahead and did it.

“100,000.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the speaker.

Undisguisable betrayal showed on Arcadia’s face.

“How… how could you do this?”

“I apologize.”

“This is too much.”

With trembling lips, Arcadia uttered the name of the auction participant.

“Giselle!”

* *

Giselle mercilessly raised the bid.

“Arcadia. 110,000 points.”

“Giselle. 150,000 points.”

“Arcadia. 160,000 points.”

“Giselle. 200,000 points.”

Giselle, a collaborator who had even run a joint business called the Dark Association.

To Arcadia, who believed that they could compete in auctions but only in normal competition, Giselle’s attitude was nothing short of betrayal.

“Arcadia. 210,000 points.”

Only after the auction price had risen considerably was the auction item finally awarded to Arcadia.

Despite Arcadia’s trembling gaze full of betrayal, Giselle apologized with a smile that conveyed regret.

“I apologize.”

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“Lady Arcadia, you haven’t understood the true intention of my bid. Please calm down and listen to me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. After ensuring that my family’s last lifeline, the port that barely survived the academy raid, will now be attacked by the Foundation as well, you want to talk…? That’s impossible!”

Arcadia was furiously angry.

This moment needed mediation.

“Calm down, Arcadia unni! Giselle had a different intention!”

“Do you believe that? That Giselle had some other purpose than harming my family?”

“Of course!”

No choice then.

As I tried to whisper on tiptoes, a shadow fell over my head.

“…”

The proud noble lady’s tall stature was blocking my view.

I tugged at her clothes like a whining child, looking up at her, and Arcadia sighed and bent her knee.

Following her gesture of tucking her hair behind her ear, a strong scent of tangerines wafted through.

The posture of bending her knee and exposing her nape vulnerably while offering her ear was an openness I couldn’t have imagined when I was a man.

I’m so glad I’m possessed as a baby!

With a happy smile, I cupped my hands around my mouth and whispered into Arcadia’s ear.

“The auction needs to be prolonged for the ship rebellion to happen!”

“Ship rebellion!?”

“Shh!”

Arcadia, mindful of Jona’s watchful eye, asked with a face still unable to hide her surprise.

“All the students who collected points well are here, so who’s going to start this ship rebellion?”

“Obviously, the people who aren’t here!”

Arcadia recalled the skilled individuals not present and showed signs of understanding.

“Indeed. Northern Grand Duchess Irene and Eastern Swordsman Sing could certainly charm or cut down the crew. Those two are trustworthy.”

“There are three!”

“There’s another helper? But I can’t think of anyone comparable to those two in skill.”

That’s disappointing.

“The most important person is still there. Titosoga!”