MTL NOVEL Chapter 28: chapter 28 lazy and poor
Kaelith strolled lazily through the bustling streets, his coat billowing slightly in the warm breeze. The market district of the city was alive with energy, merchants shouting their wares, customers haggling, and the scent of roasted meat and fresh herbs lingering in the air.
> "Ahh~ What a lovely day~!"
He stretched his arms dramatically, completely unbothered by the chaos he had just left behind. Somewhere back at the lab, Veyron was probably on the verge of tearing his hair out.
> "Hehe~! Good luck, partner~!"
With a carefree bounce in his step, he navigated through the crowd, occasionally pausing to admire random objects on market stalls—some enchanted trinkets, exotic fabrics, a mysterious glowing rock that the merchant swore was cursed.
> "Ooooh~! A cursed rock! How exciting!"
> "It will bring eternal misfortune!" the merchant whispered ominously.
> "Pfft, like I need help with that!" Kaelith giggled before continuing on his way.
Eventually, the crowded streets opened up, revealing a grand building standing at the heart of the district—
The Auction House.
It was massive, a towering structure of marble and enchanted glass, glowing runes inscribed along its pillars. People from all over the city—wealthy merchants, desperate traders, and shady individuals with too much gold—flocked here to buy and sell rare goods.
Kaelith strolled up the stairs, flipping a gold coin between his fingers as he approached the entrance.
Two heavily armored guards eyed him warily.
> "State your business."
Kaelith beamed.
> "Why, shopping of course~! Can't a humble archer indulge in some good deals?"
The guards didn't look convinced, but stepped aside regardless.
Kaelith winked as he passed.
> "Don't miss me too much~!"
Inside, the auction house was a spectacle.
Rows of luxurious seating, a grand stage where items were displayed, and magical screens that listed the latest bids. Wealthy buyers sat in private booths, sipping expensive wine as they calmly bid thousands of credits like it was pocket change.
Kaelith sauntered in, hands in his pockets, whistling.
> "Alright then~! Time to go shopping~!"
His eyes sparkled with mischief.
After all… he had no money.
But that had never stopped him before.
As Kaelith waltzed inside, a finely dressed attendant immediately stepped forward, his expression polite yet firm.
> "Entry fee is 20 copper," the man said, extending a hand expectantly.
Kaelith arched a brow, lazily flipping the gold coin he had been playing with.
> "Oh my, charging me? Surely, you jest~?"
The attendant's brows twitched, about to insist—until he noticed the faint shimmer of Kaelith's insignia, marking him as a third-class citizen. His lips thinned, and after a moment of hesitation, he stepped aside with a bow.
> "My apologies, sir. Third-class citizens may enter freely. Please, enjoy the auction."
Kaelith chuckled, slipping past with a smug sway in his step.
> "That's more like it~! Good man, good man."
Ordinary folk had to cough up 20 copper just to step inside, but Kaelith? He walked in without paying a single coin. Perks of having a recognized status.
Kaelith's usual carefree demeanor shifted slightly as he stepped inside the grand hall of the Auction House. This wasn't the kind of place where he could just play around—at least, not without consequences.
The room was filled with powerful individuals—merchants with deep pockets, noble families looking to expand their influence, and ruthless traders who could smell weakness from a mile away.
Here, gold was power.
Kaelith's sharp amber eyes flickered across the room, taking in the surroundings. The layout was elegant, designed for both comfort and efficiency. Rows of seats led toward a lavish stage, where enchanted artifacts, rare materials, and powerful alchemy ingredients were displayed for bidding.
Above the stage, floating magical screens showed the latest bids and upcoming items.
At the front, a finely dressed auctioneer adjusted his monocle, his expression poised and professional.
> "Welcome, honored guests. Today's auction will feature only the finest goods from across the lands. Please take your seats, and we shall begin shortly."
Kaelith didn't rush. Instead, he walked with purpose, his every movement calculated yet relaxed.
He passed by private booths, where high-profile buyers sat behind enchanted glass, their expressions hidden. Some were nobles, some were powerful guild leaders, and others… well, some things were better left unknown.
Kaelith smirked slightly.
> "Serious people in a serious place. Let's see if I can shake things up a little~."
But for now, he had a mission.
He needed alchemy ingredients. And considering the kind of materials this auction house handled…
He was about to find some of the rarest ones available.
Kaelith leaned casually against a pillar, watching the auction preparations with mild interest. Before bidding started, he decided to check his balance, just to see how much he could throw around.
With a quick flick of his fingers, he opened his holographic wallet. A glowing golden interface appeared before him, listing his funds.
> Current Balance: 1 Gold Coin
Kaelith blinked.
Then he squinted.
Then he rubbed his eyes and checked again.
> 1 Gold Coin.
A slow, dramatic pause followed.
Kaelith tilted his head.
> "...Oh."
He let out a small chuckle. Then another. Then he burst into laughter.
> "Pfft—AHAHAHAHA! Oh wow, I'm actually broke~!"
The wealthy merchants nearby turned to glare at him, some raising an eyebrow at his strange reaction.
Kaelith didn't care.
He flipped the single gold coin between his fingers, watching it shine under the chandelier lights.
> "Hahh… so this is all I've got, huh?"
Gold coins were ridiculously valuable at this stage—more than enough to buy a small property or a high-quality weapon.
But here, in the Auction House?
It was nothing.
Most of the serious bidders had pouches full of gold or entire bank accounts dedicated to purchases.
Kaelith, meanwhile, was carrying the equivalent of a diamond… but only one.
> "Tch. Alchemy ingredients are gonna cost way more than this..."
His eyes gleamed with mischief.
> "Looks like I'll have to get creative~!"
Kaelith straightened his coat, grinning to himself.
He might have only one gold coin, but that didn't mean he couldn't walk away with everything he needed.
After all…
Who said you had to be rich to win an auction?
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