Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

When Lin Gui woke up, he could still hear the sound of mallets falling from time to time.

He got up from Elvia's shoulder, rubbed his slightly sore neck, and asked:

"Is it not over yet?"

Elvia said calmly:

"No, this is the final item."

"What about the mask?" Lin Gui asked.

Elvia chuckled softly:

"I've already sent it to that half-demon through someone."

"It won't be long before you see her coming over, burning with jealousy."

On stage, the auctioneer's voice rose with excitement.

Two burly guards carefully carried up a metal box that was nearly as tall as a person.

The box was engraved with intricate sealing runes, and wisps of cold air seeped out from the cracks.

"Distinguished guests! Next up is the first and final piece of our evening!"

The auctioneer solemnly opened the box with his white-gloved hands.

A chilling aura instantly spread out, causing the nobles in the front row to involuntarily shrink their necks.

Inside the box, on a thick velvet cloth, lay a two-handed greatsword that was entirely ice-blue and almost transparent.

The sword's blade appears to be sculpted from ice, with a faint, flowing halo of light inside.

A deep blue gem the size of a pigeon's egg was inlaid in the hilt of the sword, emitting a visible, cold mist.

"Legendary ice-type weapon, [Frost Soul]!"

The auctioneer's voice trembled.

"This sword was forged by a dwarven master using the core of polar ice marrow, and contains the power of extreme cold!"

"A swing can freeze enemies with ice! Starting bid—eight million gold coins!"

A collective gasp filled the room.

Immediately, the bidding erupted in waves, like a powder keg being ignited.

"Eight and a half million!"

"Nine million!"

"I'll offer ten million!"

Prices soared amid the frenzy, quickly surpassing the ten million mark.

Ultimately, the Frost Soul Greatsword was acquired by a rarely seen military leader for a staggering 13 million.

The atmosphere in the venue was completely ignited.

Next, the second, most impressive item was presented.

It was a crystal box no bigger than the palm of your hand.

Inside the box, a teardrop-shaped gemstone, emitting a soft blue light and a faint scent of the sea, lies quietly on a velvet cushion.

"The second and grand finale: [Mermaid's Tears]!"

The auctioneer's voice was full of allure.

"Legend has it that it was formed from the heartfelt tears of a deep-sea mermaid, containing the essence of life-giving water!"

"Wearing it long-term can help you maintain your youth and delay aging by at least thirty years!"

Before he finished speaking, almost all the women in the audience responded.

Even the elegant ladies in the front row had an amazing gleam in their eyes.

Even Princess Diana, who had always maintained a detached expression, subconsciously sat up straight.

His gaze was fixed on the gem.

Starting bid: five million gold coins!

"Six million!"

"Seven and a half million!"

"Nine million!"

Prices jumped at an astonishing speed, instantly leaving all previous prices far behind.

The female noblewomen's fervor far surpassed the men's enthusiasm for weapons.

Princess Diana raised her paddle several times, quickly pushing the price up to thirteen million.

She let out a slight breath, her face revealing a confident and composed expression.

however--

"Fifteen million."

A clear and calm female voice rang out from the back row.

It's Elvia again!

Diana's composure froze instantly.

She turned her head sharply, her gaze piercing behind her like an icicle.

"Sixteen million," Diana said through gritted teeth.

"Seventeen million." Elvia didn't even lift her eyelids.

"Eighteen million!"

"Twenty million."

Each time Elvia raised her bid, she precisely matched Diana's offer.

It was neither too much nor too little, yet it carried an undeniable sense of overwhelming financial power.

Diana's well-maintained cheek twitched slightly.

Finally, he stopped in Bengbu, abruptly stood up, stared at Elvia, and said coldly:

"My dear sister, when did you become so wealthy?"

"You can't possibly squeeze that out of your lowly allies, can you?"

Elvia covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her demeanor elegant, but her words were like knives:

"My charming older sister is almost fifty, but I don't have that much money."

"This money all came from my husband."

After saying that, Elvia took out a card that shimmered with purple metallic luster and intricate magic runes.

Many discerning individuals immediately recognized it and exclaimed in hushed tones:

"It's a gold certificate from the Union Bank!"

"A minimum of 50 million gold coins is required to apply!"

Many people were secretly astonished by this number...

If we only consider circulating gold coins, the nobles, generals, and knights present...

No one can produce it.

The eldest princess's face was extremely ugly as she stared intently at Lin Gui.

Lin Gui yawned and retorted casually:

"What are you looking at? With this little money, you can't even buy a piece of land in Central City State."

"What's so surprising, country bumpkin."

His undisguised contempt made the princess's face turn extremely ugly.

But instead of reacting immediately, she took a deep breath and asked in return:

"Oh? It seems my brother-in-law is someone important."

Lin Gui smiled but didn't respond.

The nobles present began to whisper among themselves, speculating about the true identity of this unfamiliar mage.

Even Charles and Joseph, who had already ascertained Lin Gui's identity, frowned.

The investigation report stated that the other party was a mage from the City of the New Testament.

But this is hardly credible.

According to the refugees, the other party, accompanied by an extraordinary ranger and a high-ranking knight, crossed the Withered Rift Valley and arrived at the capital.

The most crucial element is speed; it's eerily fast.

The advisors estimated that it would take at least a month to get from the capital to Karan, but judging from the dates on the letters the refugees received, it only took them a little over a week.

It's hard not to wonder if some unknown, powerful force is helping him behind the scenes.

Elvia wore a perfect smile.

Creating cards out of thin air has always been her forte.

Lin Gui's mysterious outsider identity gives him a lot of room to maneuver.

In particular, Lin Gui himself is a mage with bizarre abilities.

Attributing the sudden huge sum of money to Lin Gui, this "unassuming" outsider, is a very prudent approach.

Elvia was even considering taking Lin Gui to "borrow" some more funds from her rivals.

Many of the people here are people she secretly wants to get rid of.

Elvia said to the somewhat stunned auctioneer:

"Aren't you going to bring down the gavel yet?"

The auctioneer was startled and quickly brought down his gavel.

"Sold! [Mermaid's Tears] belongs to Princess Elvia for 20 million gold coins!"

Lin Gui leaned close to Elvia's ear and asked curiously:

"As a powerful faction, would the Eldest Princess be short of money?"

"What we got from the Duke's mansion was only a small fraction of what we got from that mountain of gold, wasn't it?"

Elvia smiled and whispered an explanation to Lin Gui:

"My father's condition is very serious, and it won't be long before we have to appoint an heir."

"More than 20 million is a lot. The eldest sister can afford it, but the people behind her won't let her."

"Mermaid tears are useless in the struggle for the throne. Using them to bribe the families of high-ranking nobles? That's overestimating the status of women in this world."

"Which great nobleman doesn't have a harem of wives and concubines?"

At this point, Elvia stroked Lin Gui's chest, leaned close to his ear, and seductively whispered in a moist tone:

"If you give up delivering the message and become my true husband... I will take all the beautiful ladies in the entire capital if you wish."

"I guarantee it will be no worse than those of dukes or nobles."

Lin Gui yawned and pushed Elvia's delicate face forward.

"You should find someone else."

"I have no interest in playing house with you about vying for the throne."

"Playing house?" Elvia raised an eyebrow.

"Countless high-ranking officials and nobles have died for this throne, and you call it child's play?"

She scoffed inwardly, extremely displeased with Lin Gui's remarks.

His statement is like pointing a finger at himself.

The throne that he had fought so hard for was nothing more than... trash that could be thrown away anywhere.

Elvia was angry, but she didn't show it; she still wore that charming smile.

The auction quickly reached its final item.

A maid brought in a long, narrow wooden box.

The moment the box was opened, a cyan light flowed out, and the rich aura of wind elements made the air in the entire hall seem a little lighter.

Inside the wooden box was a staff, entirely emerald green, as if carved from fresh bamboo.

The staff is wrapped in natural wind patterns, and at the top is a constantly rotating cyan gemstone that seems to contain a miniature storm.

"The final, grand finale, a semi-divine artifact—the [Windspeaker's Staff]!"

The auctioneer's voice was hoarse with excitement.

The audience erupted in cheers!

Especially the mages, and several knights who knew the value of the staff, their eyes instantly turned red!

Elvia was stunned and couldn't help but gasp:

"Joseph actually brought out something like this?!"

Without a word, Joseph sold the semi-divine artifact.

Looking at the artifact, Elvia leaned close to Lin Gui's ear and whispered.

"Do you need me, Elvia, to help you take him down?"

"That's a semi-divine artifact, extremely rare even in the central city-state."

Lin Gui replied speechlessly:

"Don't forget, 8% of the money you brought for the auction is mine."

"Besides, this thing is useless to me."

The importance of a staff to a mage is quite different from that to a warrior.

A good staff can greatly speed up a mage's casting speed, improve the precision of their control over magic, and even amplify the power of specific attribute magic.

These were still quite important to the former Lin Gui.

But now, he mainly uses several types of magic.

[Night Veil] is already at max level, and [Levitation] is also nearing its peak.

They are all almost instinctive and instantaneous, with unparalleled control precision.

Therefore, the staff's auxiliary effect is negligible for him, and it may even become a hindrance.

Even if it is a semi-divine artifact.

Elvia shrugged; she understood this too.

The bidding for the [Windtalker's Staff] was extremely fierce, and the price quickly exceeded 60 million.

The taciturn and almost forgotten second prince, Warren Carter.

The first time he raised his paddle, he announced a price that shocked everyone present.

"Ninety million gold coins."

This price carries an undeniable sense of determination.

It instantly crushed all possible competition.

The auction ended in an eerie silence.

After receiving the "Mermaid's Tears" from the back office of the Chamber of Commerce.

Elvia explained to Lin Gui.

"Go to the wedding venue first; there probably won't be many people there."

"I have almost no connections in the upper echelons, and I only temporarily invited some minor nobles and wealthy merchants to make a show of things."

"I need to get dressed up first, after all... tonight is also my wedding banquet."