Chapter 86: An Advance Payment, An Honor!

At this moment, Lin Han had just set foot in the auction hall when a tall woman approached him.

“Mr. Lin? I was specially assigned by Manager Liu to wait for you here,” she said.

“I am he,” Lin Han replied.

“Mr. Lin, welcome to the Millennium Commercial City’s Annual Auction. I will be your personal consultant tonight. You may call me Peach. Your private box is on the second floor—please follow me.”

Her voice was elegant, her demeanor exuding an air of refinement that spoke of specialized training.

Lin Han followed her up to the second floor of the auction venue. The entire hall radiated lavish opulence. Countless lights intertwined above, making it feel as if one had stepped into a sacred temple.

Upon reaching the second floor, Peach took out a keycard and opened a door marked VIP888, gesturing for him to enter.

“Mr. Lin, this is your suite.”

He stepped inside, instantly greeted by a dazzling display of gold and splendor.

If the first floor’s decor gave the impression of a sanctuary, the second floor was truly a celestial palace.

Only now did Lin Han truly understand what it meant to be extravagantly wealthy beyond measure.

“Mr. Lin, the sofa you’re sitting on is crafted from the hide of a Silver-class Three-headed Azure Crocodile. Many nobles favor this material; it’s soft yet resilient, and its market value is around six million,” Peach explained warmly. She then pointed to a nearby table. “This table is made from the pelt of a Silver-class Steel-striped Tiger. The material is extremely sturdy—it could even serve as a shield in an emergency. It’s a bit less expensive, about three million.”

Just a sofa and a table—wasn’t this a bit much?

In the past, Lin Han wouldn’t even have dared to imagine such things. Who would spend millions on mere furniture? That amount of money was enough to support his family for a lifetime.

Truly, the world of the wealthy was beyond his comprehension.

“Mr. Lin, these were all crafted just this year. If you like them, we can have them delivered to your home after the auction,” Peach offered gently.

Lin Han considered for a moment. “Do I have to pay for them?”

Peach smiled. “You’re too funny, Mr. Lin. Of course, there’s a cost. The amount will be deducted from your black card after a discount.”

“No, thank you,” Lin Han refused decisively. If it were free, he might have considered it, but to pay millions for a table and sofa? Only someone mad would do such a thing! If his late grandfather knew he’d spent money on these, he’d probably crawl out of his grave to scold him for ruining the family.

“Of course, Mr. Lin.” Peach maintained her warm smile, her attitude unchanged by his refusal. She was, after all, well-trained.

Next, Peach handed him a small booklet. “Mr. Lin, this is a list of our standard auction items. The highlight items won’t appear on this list—they’re meant to be a surprise.”

Lin Han nodded as he accepted the booklet. “Very well.”

He flipped through the catalog. Most of the items were quite ordinary; a few were passable, but overall, they were of rather low grade.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Before Lin Han could look up, Peach had already stepped over to open it.

“Manager Liu, you’re here,” she greeted.

Manager Liu glanced into the room. Lin Han was looking at him, and without paying mind to Peach, Manager Liu walked straight over.

“Mr. Lin, are you satisfied with our arrangements?”

“To be honest,” Lin Han replied, “I’ve never sat on such extravagant furniture in my life. If I weren’t satisfied, I’d be impossible to please!”

Manager Liu laughed. “You have a way with words, Mr. Lin. With your resources, if you were interested, I’m sure you could have items made that surpass even these.”

Others might not know Lin Han’s true background, but Manager Liu was well aware. Lin Han was currently wearing a legendary-grade mage’s robe, a priceless artifact no less valuable than the Bloodslaughter Saber once left in his care. And those were just the items Manager Liu could identify at a glance; who knew how many treasures were hidden beneath the surface?

Now, having a vague understanding of Lin Han’s background, none of this struck him as unusual. If Lin Han truly had a Saint-level powerhouse supporting him, even legendary equipment would be nothing more than a drop in the ocean.

“Mr. Lin, the auction is about to begin. Please use this card.” Manager Liu handed a black card to Peach and explained, “There are fifty million on this card for your purchases tonight. This is a temporary card—after the auction, the house will reclaim it and settle the final balance according to your purchases. If you exceed this amount, just have Peach contact me. I can advance you up to one hundred million more, to be settled after the event.”

Lin Han did not refuse. Who knew—there might be something at this auction that truly caught his eye. The Bloodslaughter Saber and the Earthward Armor were previously appraised by Manager Liu at a combined one hundred and thirty million; back then, he’d already advanced Lin Han one hundred million, leaving a balance of eighty million. Now, with another one hundred and fifty million advanced, Lin Han effectively had two hundred and eighty million at his disposal.

With that much at hand, there likely wasn’t a single treasure at the auction he couldn’t claim.

As for repaying Manager Liu, offering a legendary artifact or two would more than suffice. They’d already reached a tacit understanding; Manager Liu would not pry, and would even help him keep things discreet, so Lin Han had nothing to worry about.

“Thank you, Manager Liu.”

“It’s my honor to be of service, Mr. Lin. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t disturb you further. If you need anything, just let Peach know,” Manager Liu said with a smile.

“Alright,” Lin Han replied simply, and Manager Liu took his leave.

Now, the only thing that could truly stir his heart was the Source of Calamity. To ascend further, he’d have to go to any length to acquire it.

And the Source of Calamity’s rarity even surpassed that of some legendary equipment.