Chapter 50 – The Awakener Auction

7:45 AM – The Auction Begins

Kyung-min walked through the entrance of the Seoul Awakener Auction Hall, his butler following a few steps behind.

The atmosphere inside was controlled chaos.

Hundreds of attendees moved with purpose—awakener guild representatives, private buyers, corporate figures, and even a few high-ranking solo hunters.

The air buzzed with tension, subtle glances exchanged between those who viewed each other as competition.

This wasn't just a marketplace.

This was a battlefield.

A battle of influence, wealth, and power.

7:50 AM – The Mask & The Rules of the Auction

Kyung-min made his way to the registration desk, where a woman in a sleek black suit greeted him.

"Welcome to the Seoul Awakener Auction, Sir. Your name and registration?"

His butler stepped forward, handing over a black card embossed with the Han Family crest.

The woman's eyes flickered slightly in recognition, but she remained professional.

"Everything is in order. Will you be requiring a private booth or will you be joining the open floor?"

Kyung-min glanced at the auction list displayed on a nearby holo-screen.

Among the countless high-grade weapons, armor, and artifacts, one item stood out.

🔹 [Phantom Veil] – A rare concealment artifact that suppresses the user's mana signature and face recognition.

The exact thing he needed.

He turned back to the woman.

"The open floor is fine."

8:15 AM – The First Bidding War

The auction hall was enormous, with multiple levels of seating arranged in a grand amphitheater-style layout.

Kyung-min took a seat near the middle rows, keeping a low profile.

The first few items were displayed—mana-infused swords, protective armor sets, enhancement potions—all high-quality but nothing he needed.

Then—

The Phantom Veil appeared.

The auctioneer, an older man with a commanding presence, gestured toward the floating artifact displayed in a transparent case.

"Next, we have an extremely rare concealment item—the Phantom Veil. This artifact is designed to completely mask an awakener's identity, erasing their mana signature and preventing identification through ordinary means. Perfect for high-risk missions or those who value privacy."

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

This wasn't a combat item.

It was a strategic tool.

Which meant only certain types of people would be interested.

The bidding started at 5 million won.

"Five million."

"Ten million."

"Fifteen million."

A few solo awakeners and smaller guild members began placing their bids, clearly interested in staying off the radar.

Kyung-min waited.

He observed.

Then—

"Thirty million."

A new voice.

A man sitting in one of the private booths on the second floor.

Unlike the smaller bidders, this was someone with real money.

And he wasn't interested in losing.

8:18 AM – The Pressure Rises

Kyung-min tapped his fingers against his knee.

The bid was climbing fast.

"Forty million."

"Fifty million."

The numbers increased rapidly, and soon, only two bidders remained.

Kyung-min.

And the man from the private booth.

The auctioneer looked between them.

"Fifty-five million."

The man in the booth leaned forward slightly. "Sixty million."

A few murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Even for a rare artifact, this was becoming expensive.

Kyung-min's expression remained unreadable.

His butler glanced at him, silently asking if he wanted to continue.

Kyung-min didn't hesitate.

"Seventy million."

A beat of silence.

The auctioneer raised an eyebrow.

"Seventy million from the young gentleman in the open floor. Do I hear seventy-five?"

The private booth remained silent.

The man inside was measuring his opponent.

Then—

"Seventy-five million."

8:20 AM – The Final Decision

Kyung-min exhaled slowly.

This guy wasn't letting up.

But Kyung-min wasn't here to lose.

He had already planned for this.

"One hundred million."

The entire room froze.

Even the auctioneer hesitated.

The murmurs turned into full conversations.

"Is he insane?"

"Who is that guy?"

"Even high-tier guilds wouldn't go that far for a concealment item."

Kyung-min ignored the stares.

His eyes remained locked onto the booth above.

A silent challenge.

The man inside paused.

Then—

A soft chuckle echoed from the booth.

And finally—

"…I concede."

The auctioneer's voice carried through the hall.

"Sold! To the gentleman in the open floor for one hundred million won."

A round of polite applause followed.

But Kyung-min didn't care.

The Phantom Veil was his.

And now—

He would never have to worry about being recognized again.

8:30 AM – The Aftermath

After finalizing the transaction, Kyung-min retrieved his new mask.

A sleek, dark piece of enchanted material that seamlessly attached itself to his face, activating with a single thought.

His mana signature vanished.

His appearance blurred.

It was perfect.

His butler handed him a case with additional gear.

"Young Master, your father suggested you pick up a few more essentials."

Inside—

A durable black combat suit, a pair of reinforced gloves, and a storage ring.

Nothing fancy.

Just practical.

Kyung-min nodded.

"This will do."

He turned toward the exit.

His first dungeon run was coming soon.

And when he stepped into that dungeon—

He wouldn't be weak anymore.

9:00 AM – A New Identity

Kyung-min sat in the back seat of his family's black luxury sedan, the Phantom Veil resting in his hands.

His fingers traced the smooth material.

With a single thought, the enchanted mask activated—morphing seamlessly onto his face.

The reflection in the tinted window blurred.

His facial features became unrecognizable. His mana signature vanished completely.

For all intents and purposes—

He no longer existed.

Kyung-min smirked slightly.

This would make things much easier.