However, those of high status and influence, seasoned by experience, didn't think so. On the contrary, wasn't it magical? Many esteemed guests sitting in the honored seats had now begun whispering among themselves... Although it was impossible to make out their conversations, they seemed to have taken some interest in the item.

"As you can see, this is a highly sophisticated magnetic field device. I wouldn't even dare to appraise it myself, for while in some people's eyes, it indeed has no value, in a certain sense, it could be considered priceless—like for a soldier,"

Bella half-joked, her laughter and conversation pausing occasionally on Feng Yi, knowing when to speak and when not to. Ultimately, successfully crafting her words was St. Marlo's greatest triumph.

As soon as Bella finished speaking, the tycoons sitting below suddenly came to a realization. No wonder they felt as if they had missed a detail; it was the military applications. If this No-Fly Zone gadget could be utilized for military purposes, its price could indeed be described in terms of physical goods.

Even those who were initially disinterested in the item began to weigh its true value upon hearing Bella's explanation.

Bella knew people needed time to digest the information, to re-evaluate its worth, and to confirm its effects through trial and error, rather than having it auctioned off immediately. After all, those who hadn't tested the device might not believe in its effects.

After three rounds of testing, including someone even suggesting to test it with a jamming-resistant device, all attempts failed within a short period, instantly stirring the crowd. This was an invention that could revolutionize existing theories in physics.

But the starting bid for the No-Fly Zone gadget was the highest of all items, with St. Marlo directly setting an opening bid of 50,000,000, which was the price range Feng Yi had hoped for. However, compared to the No-Fly Zone gadget, he cared more about whether he could acquire the equipment, as he had not spotted a single SE he liked, or a group sub-cannon, and Feng Yi now had a growing sense of foreboding. Could it be that he would have to remove a sub-cannon SE from someone else?

Indeed, a biological mecha had the ability to actively change its form, but the Blazing Revolver and sub-cannon SE missiles were different. Main and sub-cannons were integrated; you either disassembled them or worked miracles forcefully. To loot equipment from someone else, dismantling piece by piece was out of the question; the only option was to take it by force through some other means.

When the 50 million appeared, the mood at the auction was no longer as wary as before. Instead, because the No-Fly Zone gadget was not restricted by the rules—that is to say, anyone could join the bidding—Bella's string of detailed introductions only made the big shots even more eager.

Yet it was just eagerness. No one was bidding yet. They all looked at each other... you looked at me, I looked at you, not knowing what to say...

First, they considered whether 50,000,000 was worth it. It was no small sum, and even mountains of gold and silver could not sustain such wastefulness. However, the No-Fly Zone gadget indeed held boundless potential. Bidding on it was akin to a high-stakes gamble: if you won, the potential was unlimited; if you lost, it was a complete loss.

Feng Yi wasn't in a hurry. To be honest, this gadget did have quite a bit of room for improvement, but its military effectiveness had many limitations. It was virtually useless in space combat. Even if it could disrupt enemy mechas, it wouldn't help unless there was direct, physical contact. Moreover, once a real fight took place, one would also fall within the range of magnetic field interference, unless long-range weapons were employed for strikes.

But the use of long-range weapons also had its conditions. The magnetic field range of the No-Fly Zone gadget could limit most long-range guided locking, so its value could only be said to lie in the eye of the beholder. More valuable than the gadget itself was the potential for creative thought that could follow.

Just as the auctioneer called out for the third time, finally, a white-bearded gentleman offered 51,000,000.

"51 million, any higher bids?" the auctioneer's voice resonated throughout the venue.

Once, twice... It seemed the No-Fly Zone gadget really couldn't garner the favor of the masses. However, just then, another voice suddenly rang out, a girl's voice, unique and ethereal. Sadly, her bid wasn't much higher, "52 million."

"53 million!"

"54 million."

"I'm bidding 55 million," said the man, his emotions somewhat agitated, only to be drowned out the next second by a composed voice, "56 million."

" "

"56 million, someone has bid 56 million!" The auctioneer bellowed out excitedly, which was a perk Bella had promised him — a commission of one percent for any sale that went beyond a certain limit. But this wasn't even what excited him most. What was truly thrilling were the numerical values of the bids, something those who often attended auctions wouldn't find strange. The seemingly small incremental raises, but steadily so, were in fact a display of tremendous potential value. Clearly, the tycoons were testing the waters, first in increments of 100, then possibly 200, 300, or even more, depending on the determination of the bidders.

When this escalating bidding war evolved to its final stage, another scenario often occurred. You want this item, he wants this item, and I want this item even more. But there is only one such item. To break free from this cycle, one might just boost the price to another level in one go. The increase in bid might be half the original price, twice that, or perhaps even more.

Of course, this could also deter your opponents, causing many to choose to back out at this point – and not just a few but potentially all of them, leaving behind only the true competitors. Then begins another cycle, commonly known as a "death match."

At this stage, it's no longer just about the item's value but the boldness of the bid. Though this depends on the item, in most cases, bidders in this phase continue to intimidate with higher prices, with no clear consensus on how much they should raise.

By this time, the bids had escalated from the initial figures to 220 million, that is 2.2 billion. And still, the frequency of raised bids continued unabated, 2.3, 2.4... and very steadily so, yet no one chose to exit.

Finally, as the number climbed to 5 billion, a tycoon seated at the back, Feng Yi, seemingly could no longer sit still and directly jacked up the asking price to 10 billion. There was a moment of silence at the venue... as people turned their curious gazes... only to discover that the bidder was a man shrouded in a mask, clearly not wishing to reveal his true face.

It's worth noting that the item up for auction held tremendous business opportunities but also the risk of a total loss. Is something worth 10 billion truly worth it? That remained an unknown.

"10 billion for the first time, 10 billion for the first time. Does anyone want to bid higher than 10 billion?"

Everyone collectively maintained their silence. The auctioneer, too, was thrilled, shouting out the second time and repeatedly asking thrice more with no response. Then came the third time, but just as the gavel was about to fall, the woman to the right raised the bid to 15 billion.

It seemed there was indeed tremendous commercial value. To truly crush someone's spirit, there's no better way than to raise the bid unexpectedly at the very moment the auctioneer's gavel is meant to fall. This could significantly burden the psyche and suggest to your opponent that they perhaps won't continue to bid, and what you end up buying might just be a pile of scrap metal with no commercial value at all.

But the strong have their own way of being stronger, and there is always someone higher up the mountain. Just as the lady was secretly pleased with herself, in the VIP room, an elderly person who didn't want to reveal their identity instantly escalated the 15 billion price to 50 billion!

The crowd at the scene couldn't help but gasp in astonishment... with such a bid, it was much more than just doubling. He was clearly determined to win at all costs, and even Feng Yi couldn't help but be moved.

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