Chapter 29: The Enchanted Rope and Rising Stakes
The auctioneer paused briefly after introducing the next item and continued,
"Before we proceed, I must clarify two limitations of the Enchanted Rope. First, its length is only 100 meters, making it suitable for small sailing ships only."
Hearing this, Ian's initial excitement quickly cooled.
In his plans, Wawa would eventually become a propeller-driven warship powered by its unique abilities. However, during its initial phase, it needed to masquerade as a conventional sailing vessel. At present, most steam-powered warships still relied on a hybrid propulsion system of steam engines and sails.
An enchanted rope capable of operating sails automatically would eliminate the need to recruit a large crew. However, with a mere 100-meter length, its utility seemed limited.
On a ship, rigging includes various ropes for handling sails, such as halyard ropes for hoisting, backstays, mainsheet lines, and reefing ropes. For example, a foremast halyard typically requires three lines, each about 1.5 times the ship's length. Jib sail lines could be even longer, stretching over twice the ship's length.
The 100-meter rope was far from adequate.
The auctioneer added, "The second limitation is something we term compulsive correction syndrome. In simple terms, the rope insists on perfection. All knots must be impeccably tied, all lines must be precisely arranged—left shoe on the left foot, right shoe on the right."
"If anything fails to meet its standards, the rope will actively try to 'correct' the issue. If repeated attempts prove futile, it will lapse into temporary 'unconsciousness,' for an unpredictable duration."
"This trait may also subtly influence its owner over time."
Ian smirked. A peculiar item indeed.
With these quirks, using the rope for regular rigging seemed like a waste of its potential. Instead, it might serve more niche purposes—such as cleaning chores.
"Starting bid: 1,000 gold coins. Minimum increment: 10 gold coins. Please place your bids."
"1,050 gold coins."
"1,100 gold coins."
Contrary to Ian's expectations, enthusiasm for the rope remained high despite its flaws.
"2,600 gold coins!" Ian called out, waiting for the bids to slow down before making his move. He was determined to secure the item.
His bid drew curious glances from the members of the Whaling Crew. Why would an alchemist with no ship need such an item? They chalked it up to the whims of the wealthy. Only Leah, aware of Ian's intention to leave, cast him a knowing glance.
"2,610 gold coins!"
"2,700 gold coins!"
"2,700 gold coins, once... twice... sold!"
Ian exhaled in relief. Luck was on his side. If the bidding had climbed beyond 3,000, he would have been forced to bow out due to a lack of funds.
"Congratulations," Leah whispered, noting Ian's satisfied smile.
Ian grinned back. Winning his first auction item was an exhilarating experience.
The auction continued with an array of extraordinary artifacts and equipment, each broadening Ian's horizons.
"The next item up for bid is a Superior Awakening Elixir, crafted by the Alchemists' Guild. Each set contains six vials, with five sets available for auction."
Ian's focus sharpened. He peered intently at the display—a fine leather case housing six black glass vials, neatly arranged.
The dark glass not only obscured the contents from view but also blocked any attempts at spiritual probing. This wasn't about theatrics but a critical measure to prevent spiritual contamination.
Awakening elixirs had become a rarity in auctions, with prices steadily climbing. Years of maritime exploration had resulted in a flood of inferior awakening potions, leading to a surge in spiritually corrupted individuals. While a minority experienced uncontrolled awakenings, the majority suffered due to substandard potions.
Despite numerous known formulas for awakening elixirs, their production remained limited. The main bottleneck was the scarcity of critical materials, such as Blue Silver Grass, a plant imbued with gentle and pure spiritual properties—essential for preventing contamination. Unfortunately, it thrived only in harsh environments and resisted artificial cultivation.
Moreover, unlike sequenced potions, awakening elixirs couldn't be synthesized—only blended. Even the slightest interference from spiritual energy or magical power rendered the process a failure.
Ian couldn't help but suspect whether major extraordinary factions deliberately controlled the number of new awakeners. Was this scarcity entirely natural?
In truth, Ian's speculation wasn't far off. A recent discovery of high-quality Blue Silver Grass in the New Continent had significantly bolstered the elixir's availability. During the chaotic clashes between the Sacred Empire and the Silver Star Trade League against the continent's indigenous forces, daring adventurers smuggled samples back, igniting a new gold rush.
More significantly, high-sequence transcendent beings had emerged on the battlefield—figures unseen since the Fourth Epoch, over 2,600 years ago.
Unlike lower-sequence extraordinaires, whose capabilities faltered against modern firepower, high-sequence transcendent beings had transcended humanity. Their formidable spiritual force fields rendered them immune to gravity, enabling flight, while their immense power made devastating forbidden spells a reality.
The return of high-sequence extraordinaires was a game-changer, threatening to upend the current balance of power.
Under mounting pressure from the West Continent, Eastern factions had reluctantly formed fragile alliances. This auction itself was an effort to foster collaboration, with resources like equipment, materials, and even warships exchanged to strengthen collective capabilities.
By the end, all five sets of awakening elixirs had been snapped up by kingdoms and duchies, with the lowest bid exceeding 20,000 gold coins.
Alanise, the Emerald Duke's daughter, secured one set herself. Leaning back into her chair with a languid posture, she resumed her indifferent observation of the proceedings—her interest clearly exhausted.