Chapter 28: The Alchemical Firearm

Abigail, one of the few mid-sequence Transcendents on Paradise Island, was as renowned for his power as he was for his reputation. The moment he stepped out of the carriage, numerous Transcendents greeted him warmly.

Unpretentious and easygoing, Abigail responded cheerfully, puffing on his large pipe as if he had all the time in the world.

Following closely behind him, Ian and Leah presented their tickets at the ornately decorated auction house entrance and were ushered inside without issue.

The entry hall served as a waiting area for those participating in the main auction. Meanwhile, the Whaling Group, a dominant force in Paradise Harbor, had reserved a semi-private, open room on the second floor.

One side of the room faced the auction hall and was separated by a curtain emitting faint waves of magical energy. From inside, it was easy to observe the hall and stage below, but those outside couldn't see within—ensuring the privacy of second- and third-floor guests.

Under the guidance of a staff member, Abigail led Ian and Leah to their reserved room, where five members of the Whaling Group were already waiting.

Ian recognized four of them: Damir, Greg, Jill, and Uma. The fifth, a bald man named Warren, was a whaling ship captain who had recently returned to Paradise Harbor.

The room's atmosphere was amiable. Everyone exchanged updates, cracked jokes, and even the usually stoic Damir allowed a faint smile.

Ian noticed that Uma, full of mischievous energy, acted as the unofficial mood booster of the group. Damir, on the other hand, remained seated behind Abigail, listening without offering many opinions. Greg, Jill, and Warren seemed somewhat distracted, their minds clearly preoccupied.

Warren, in particular, stole several surreptitious glances at Ian. Thanks to his finely tuned perception, Ian could sense every gaze directed at him. Unsure whether Warren's curiosity was benign or something else, Ian decided to remain vigilant.

A resounding fanfare signaled the opening of the main hall, and a crowd poured in, filling the 300-seat venue to capacity. Counting the second- and third-floor rooms, nearly half of the attendees were Transcendents.

Among them were more than ten mid-sequence powerhouses, their unrestrained spiritual auras dominating the hall and keeping the other participants unusually "well-behaved."

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today's auction. I am Ryan, your auctioneer from the Royal Auction House," the host announced with a practiced smile.

"Tonight's event is extraordinary, graced by the presence of many esteemed guests. Allow me to introduce some of them…"

The list included Paradise Island's most influential figures: Bishop Idris of the Church of Truth and Justice, Bishop Salih of the Church of the Ocean, Andymeon of the Alchemist Guild's local chapter, Abigail of the Whaling Group, and even royalty like Crown Prince Deimos of the Potheria Kingdom and Lady Arlanis, daughter of the Emerald Duke.

Hearing the names of bishops from the Seven Major Deities and nobles from various kingdoms left many attendees awestruck. Ian noted the surprising presence of aristocrats from the Bema Duchy and the Winter Kingdom—two nations supposedly at odds. Had they reconciled?

"Once again, we extend our gratitude to our honored guests for joining us tonight. Now, let's commence the auction…"

The first item up for bid was an alchemical masterpiece: the Explosive Firearm.

At the auctioneer's signal, an attendant presented the item—a one-meter-long alchemical rifle displayed in an intricately crafted metal box. The firearm was adorned with exquisite engravings, accompanied by two smaller boxes—one containing 20 specialized bullets, the other alchemical gunpowder.

This firearm could fire explosive rounds or standard bullets but required alchemical gunpowder for optimal power. Without it, its performance significantly diminished.

The auctioneer elaborated on the differences between alchemical and magical equipment, warning against conflating the two. While magical equipment, spiritual tools, and forbidden artifacts bore spiritual properties usable only by Transcendents, alchemical equipment leveraged the unique properties of materials through alchemical manipulation to create powerful yet mundane weapons.

This alchemical rifle, for instance, lacked spiritual traits but boasted formidable power. Its heavy recoil made it unsuitable for ordinary people, rendering it a backup weapon for Transcendents or a substitute when magical gear was unavailable.

"Starting bid: 100 gold coins. Minimum increment: 10 gold. Let the bidding begin!"

"200 gold!"

"210 gold!"

…

"600 gold once… twice… sold for 600 gold!"

The firearm's sale concluded quickly. While impressive, it didn't spark fierce competition. Ian couldn't help but reflect on the staggering wealth disparity in any world.

For context, a common farm laborer's lifetime earnings couldn't afford this weapon. Back in his previous life, he remembered reading in The Hound of the Baskervilles that the victim's estate was worth £740,000—astronomical compared to a working-class income of £10 a year. The disparity was no better in modern times, where billionaires dined extravagantly while average workers balked at spending $3 on breakfast.

On the third floor, Lady Arlanis lounged indifferently in her chair, her emerald eyes unfocused as she gazed at the ornate ceiling.

Her alabaster chin, swanlike neck, and delicate collarbones formed a mesmerizing silhouette, exuding an effortless elegance that drew attention without her trying.

As the daughter of the Emerald Duke, Arlanis had been groomed for leadership from birth, attending countless banquets and auctions. These events had long lost their appeal.

Only her clever younger brother had managed to free her from this monotony. She had pleaded with their father for the chance to lead this visit to Paradise Island, finally escaping her usual routines.

After the alchemical rifle, several more items were auctioned, steadily raising the hall's energy.

"The next item is a unique artifact: the Living Rope."

Two attendants strained to carry a heavy box onto the stage. Inside was a coiled bundle of thick yellow rope, its ordinary appearance masking its extraordinary abilities.

"This Living Rope originates from a ghost ship. It can autonomously perform all the rigging tasks needed to operate a small sailboat—hoisting sails, tacking, and more.

"It also obeys its owner's commands, making it ideal for binding or moving objects.

"Capable of executing every knot and rigging technique known to sailors, it can even learn new methods it observes."