<284 - Reliable Child>
Unlike Jaku and Rosgini, who set out to buy supplies and defenses with a focus on later strategies in the auctions on the first and second days, Arcadia and Hestia chose an ambush strategy.
“Let’s steal all the auction items from the other teams.”
“Is that possible?”
“Trust me.”
The ambush by Jaku from the previous day was abandoned due to the appearance of Second Princess Masugaki.
“Why did you stop me? The princess is fine. We might have somehow managed if we fought.”
“But Jaku, being controlled by the princess, could push themselves too hard using Dark Mana and may end up dead.”
Arcadia remembered that Jaku was from Oknodie and requested to halt the ambush. Hestia also didn’t want to incur the wrath of Oknodie, so she understood the retreat on the first day.
“On the second day, we can’t. If we can’t steal auction items here, we won’t be able to take quality auction items with our rather clumsy ship points.”
One item is given per day.
It was not a place where they could stay for several days.
All the food that could be gathered had burned, and the food they brought had limits.
Above all, they didn’t know when their stay on the uninhabited island would end.
Both Hestia and Arcadia were determined as they set off for the ambush on the second day.
Chuckle “You’re in too much of a hurry.”
The result was a victory without income.
Rosgini returned to the cruise ship, turned into a statue along with Ppyoi.
As Zhuang had sneered, every team was clearly on edge, knowing who had caused the commotion the previous night regardless of the degree of caution.
The close-knit duo Jezel & Son Ohchun.
Warrior Ishtar & Saintess Yufi.
Jaku & Second Princess Masugaki.
Assassin duo Zhuang & Oknodie.
With the team now reduced to five, it was quite a burden for both Hestia & Arcadia to capture the attention of everyone else left.
“You not confident? Can you withstand the ambush?”
“I don’t know. If you’re curious, why don’t you try it?”
Chuckle Zhuang slyly ducked behind Oknodie, easily handling the tension.
From Zhuang’s tranquil demeanor, Hestia sensed something.
Among the remaining teams, there were no weaklings they could confidently ambush and win against.
Now, they had to devote themselves to winning the auction items and protecting them.
“Don’t feel too regretful. The last ambush wasn’t meaningless.”
Arcadia whispered quietly enough for only Hestia to hear.
“If it comes to it, we can show that we can act like Rosgini.”
“…Indeed.”
“Or we could pool all the ship points for today’s items and immediately return to the cruise ship.”
They faced strong enemies who made it hard to even last a day if ambushed.
Strategies to eliminate items could be a suicidal strategy, and a total-all-in strategy to snag at least one item and retreat on that same day were both viable plans.
However, that would only be possible if the items held enough value.
“To us, the worst-case scenario would be an ambiguous item that isn’t worth cancelling coming out, and leaving without securing anything, or getting overwhelmed by other teams at night.”
“…Even if it’s a warrior, I won’t go down easily.”
“Don’t get cocky. The night is long, and it’ll be even tougher to fight while protecting the items.”
Arcadia’s intent was resolute.
“Even if you stay, I’m definitely leaving today. So brace yourself.”
“…Fine. Let’s just pray for good auction luck.”
The auction on the third day.
The two earnestly prayed as if facing a prayer meter.
Hoping for even slightly more valuable items to appear.
“I will now reveal the third item of the uninhabited island auction. Today’s item is [Port Ambush of the Kingdom of Florence].”
Their prayers were answered. An auction item of unimaginable value appeared, one they never dared to even imagine.
Jonnas Wahyhiemhai declared calmly.
“The starting bid for the auction is 10,000 points. The bidding will rise by 10,000. Is there anyone who wants to participate?”
Everyone turned to Arcadia, the noble lady degraded to a count due to the previous incident, from the Kingdom of Florence.
Neither Arkadia nor the Kingdom of Florence had fully recuperated from the severe damage of the recent events.
If the foundation were to conduct a port ambush, no one could guarantee how much greater the damage would be.
“I said I wouldn’t take questions, but I can’t help but ask.”
Warrior Ishtar stared at Jonnas with fiery eyes.
“What exactly is the port ambush? Are you saying that the person who wins the auction can ambush the port whenever they want?”
“I won’t accept questions. Determine the value and usage of the item yourselves, and strategize your bidding accordingly.”
From that exceedingly cold declaration, there was not even a hint of consideration for Arcadia.
The warrior’s gaze then shifted to Oknodie.
“Was this it? Why you called your ‘friends’ together? To flaunt the foundation’s power and intimidate everyone into submission like this?”
Oknodie responded with an innocent face.
“I didn’t know the auction item would be like this either, Jonnas. Didn’t Arcadia sister inform you of what kind of person I am?”
“Of course, I know.”
“Then why put out such an item? It’ll ruin the fun atmosphere!”
Oknodie indirectly suggested to rewind the auction or cancel the item, but Jonnas’s intentions were more unyielding than Oknodie may have thought.
“Even at the lady’s order, this item cannot be canceled.”
“Why?”
“Because there was a special directive from the Isajang.”
“Isajang? Papa…?”
“The Isajang stated: The lady’s friends must not be able to avoid purchasing this item at the auction.”
“You mean to make me feel bad?”
“She was curious to see whether you would help your friends or choose a product that would support personal growth afterwards.”
“!”
Not only Oknodie, but also Ishtar, Arcadia, and everyone else realized the hidden intent of this auction.
This was a test.
A test to see if they had the capability to protect themselves, whether they had enough ship points stocked to participate.
At the same time, a test of how much Oknodie valued their friends.
Would they manage to contend over a high-value item that risks their growth without them turning against each other?
It openly mocked the human heart.
Inciting desire.
Demanding proof of the value of friendship through points and auction items.
The participants’ faces hardened with serious expressions.
They couldn’t help but look serious.
An auction item that held far too much value to be given to mere first-year academy students, it posed a significant risk.
“Papa would do that!”
Oknodie’s ready acceptance seemed odd.
Participants were sure that they themselves were not strange.
“Let’s all boycott the auction.”
If no one purchased any items, all the items could vanish.
Saintess Yufi made a rare statement typical of a saint, causing everyone to look around.
“I believe you all realize without saying. If points are raised here… I and that person will become lifelong enemies. So please think carefully.”
Arcadia followed up with her stern warning.
“If no bidders come forward within 60 seconds, this item will be rejected.”
Please let this 60 seconds pass peacefully.
At that moment, as many quietly wished, one person ultimately messed things up.
“100,000.”
All eyes turned to the speaker.
Betrayal was written all over Arcadia’s face.
“How… how could you do this?”
“I’m sorry.”
“This is too much.”
With trembling lips, Arcadia uttered the name of the auction participant.
“Jezel!”
Jezel relentlessly raised the bidding price.
“Arcadia. 110,000 points.”
“Jezel. 150,000 points.”
“Arcadia. 160,000 points.”
“Jezel. 200,000 points.”
Having operated the Dark Trading Company as a partner, Jezels’s attitude felt like nothing less than betrayal to Arcadia, who considered competitive auctions to be a normal affair.
“Arcadia. 210,000 points.”
With the bid now significantly escalating, the auction item was finally won by Arcadia.
Even amidst the looks of betrayal that Jezels received, she offered an apologetic smile conveying regret.
“I’m sorry.”
“Do you realize what you’ve done?”
“Lady Arcadia, you seem not to have grasped the true intention behind my successful bid. Please calm down and hear me out.”
“Don’t make me laugh. Our last lifeline, the port, is being ambushed by the foundation, and you want to talk…? That’s impossible!”
Arcadia hissed in rage.
This was a moment requiring mediation.
“Calm down, Arcadia! Jezels has another intention!”
“Do you trust Di? That Jezels doesn’t intend any malice against my family but rather has other motives?”
“Of course!”
There was no choice.
As she stood on tiptoes murmuring, a shadow fell above her.
“…”
The strong-willed noble lady’s sense of pride towered over her.
Like a whimpering baby, she tugged at Arcadia’s clothes and looked up, watching as she sighed and bent her knees.
As Arcadia brushed her hair behind her ear, the sweet scent of citrus wafted through.
Kneeling, and exposing her nape defenselessly to invite a whisper—something she never imagined when she was a man—was an open attitude indeed.
Goo I’m really glad I’ve been reincarnated!
With a happy smile, she cupped her hands and whispered in Arcadia’s ear.
“The longer this auction goes, the more likely we can incite a rebellion aboard!”
“Rebellion aboard!?”
“Shh!”
After glancing at Jonnas, Arcadia still couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Who will incite a rebellion when all the students who piled up points are right here?”
“Why, obviously the ones who aren’t here!”
As Arcadia pondered on capable individuals not present at the gathering, a sense of realization crossed her face.
“Indeed. With Northern Grand Duchess Irene and Eastern Swordsman Sing, they could easily subdue or chop down even a crew member. I can trust those two.”
“There are three, you know!”
“Are you saying there are more allies left? But I can hardly think of any competent people who could rival those two.”
What a disappointing remark.
“The most important one is still out there. Titosso!”
