CH327 Alex the Political Inept

***

The layout of the Auction House was relatively simple, yet grand in execution.

The two underground floors — each protected by their own independent but powerful defensive array — served as secure storage areas. The deeper one went, the stronger the security became. This was where the auction's treasures were kept out of sight, sealed behind layers of impregnable defences.

As for the four floors above ground, the ground floor functioned as the reception area, designed as a fusion between a luxurious lounge and an art gallery. Movable partitions could divide the space into private rooms or temporary offices for discreet negotiations.

The second floor, as the guests soon discovered, was a vast display hall. Hundreds — if not thousands — of items were exhibited there.

According to the Auction House staff, that floor was reserved for continuous mass auctions. Each displayed item would remain open for bidding over a set period, with the highest bidder at the end claiming ownership.

Of course, impatient bidders could activate the buyout option, paying anywhere from ten to fifty times the appraised value, depending on the rarity of the item.

The upper floors, to which Alex and the others were being led, housed the main auction hall — the true heart of the establishment.

The hall itself was colossal, merging two entire floors into one enormous space — a single chamber large enough that it was measured in units of football stadiums.

Its sheer size alone reflected the Auction House's ambition to host the grandest events and attract the most influential guests across the Arun Continent.

Though every group invited to this particular event was a major power, there was still a clear hierarchy among them.

Some were regional giants, dominant within their own nations. Others, however, were continental forces, their influence stretching far beyond any border.

Foremost among these were the Five Empires, the Craftsmen Associations, the Continental Mage Association, the Order of Valour, and the Merchant Union, to name a few.

The third floor — the lower section of the main auction hall — seated the national and regional powers. The fourth floor, known as the Upper Gallery, was reserved exclusively for the continental powers — the true VIPs of the night.

This upper floor was designed as a collection of private box galleries, each overlooking the grand auction hall below. It was a symbolic design — a reflection of how these mighty organisations looked down upon the continent itself, overseeing both the stage and the lesser powers seated beneath them.

Alex, Zora, and Eleanor walked into one of the VIP boxes.

As the Chairman of the Golden Palace, Alex naturally had a private VIP box reserved exclusively for himself.

Zora and Eleanor, however, were also destined to have their own private seating arrangements even without him. Eleanor would join the rest of the arriving Imperial Ludevicus Clan in their reserved VVIP box, while Zora could be expected to take her seat with the Enclave's delegation in their assigned private room.

Alex's VIP room had been discreetly reserved under his chairman status, though only Haggleworth and a few top-ranking Palace executives were aware of this fact.

The room reflected Alex's personal preference for understated opulence. Rather than lavish artwork or gaudy ornamentation, the space was fitted like a control chamber — packed full of intricate arrays forming what could only be described as a true Grand Array Formation.

Alex was captivated by the sight. Though its firepower was inferior to the faux Grand Array formation he'd deployed back at the Northern Dankrot Fort — since it wasn't designed for offence — its sheer complexity and elegance far outclassed his own creation.

This was the work of a true creator — a seamless blend of functionality and artistry — whereas Alex's formation had been more akin to a Frankenstein construct, a hodgepodge of working parts cobbled together without much regard for beauty or precision.

The interwoven design was so fluid that it was nearly impossible to tell where one array formation component began or ended. In contrast, his faux array clearly revealed its individual formation junctions to any competent Array Master.

'My formation was just multiple smaller arrays tied together to mimic a whole,' Alex sighed inwardly. 'But this… this is a true Grand Formation. I still have a lot to learn.'

What Alex didn't know was that Haggleworth had commissioned a Tier V Grandmaster Array Master to design the room's formation as part of the greater Grand Array Formation of the entire auction house — and a Tier IV Master Array Master to construct it.

Both were well beyond Alex's current level, as he was still hovering somewhere around a half-step Tier III Expert at best.

Once seated, the three of them settled in.

Alex took the central seat — a high-backed chair that served not only as the room's main seat but also as its control station, linked directly to the Grand Array Formation.

Among its many utilities, the Grand Formation allowed Alex to zoom his view in and out, clearly capturing anywhere — and anyone — within the auction hall.

Although a basic layer of decency was maintained, preventing him from peering into the private VIP boxes to see what went on within, the formation did inform him who each box was reserved for — or currently occupied by.

Through this, the formation casually presented Alex with a list of the true powers across the continent.

"I know the Mage Association serves as a governing council for the continent's mage towers," Alex said, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. "But what about the Order of Valour — the supposed governing body for warriors? Why all the secrecy surrounding them?"

The Order of Valour was a name shrouded in mystery, so much so that it only ever appeared in passing within the Enclave's public records — even those accessible to Alex and OmniRune.

"They were founded by some survivors of the First Interplanar Raid on the Infernal Realm," Zora explained, her tone turning solemn. "Those who refused to join Emperor Commodus and the other powerful factions in founding nations after the war. Instead, they banded together, forming an organisation untethered by national borders — dedicated to defending our realm from attacks like the one we carried out on the Infernal Realm… and those our realm still launches against smaller planes."

Alex leaned back, thoughtful. "Those who live by the sword will eventually face the sword. So, for our realm, they forged a shield, huh."

"In a sense," Zora nodded.

After a moment, Alex turned to Eleanor. "Then tell me — how come the Alchemy, Forgesmith, and Runesmith Associations each have their own private box? Why aren't they seated together under the Craftsman Association?"

Eleanor gave him a disapproving look. "You really should brush up on your politics and history."

Alex only shrugged. "I have better things to do with my time. That's why I have you two around to help me out." He winked playfully.

Eleanor sighed, shaking his head, while Zora smiled knowingly.

"You'll get used to it," Zora said to Eleanor.

"You've spoiled him," Eleanor replied flatly.

Zora laughed.

***

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