As the auctioneer and the staff members continued setting up the event, a group of four men with an olive complexion and black hair walked into the room, each one with a backpack in hand. Delphina looked over at them, who simultaneously glanced at her briefly before turning their attention back to each other, discussing something in Valorian.

  Some of the other bidders also noticed the group of men, their eyes narrowing as they observed their casual attire. They looked out of place among the formal crowd, standing out in a way that made them seem slightly suspicious…

  One of the men from the group, who appeared to be their leader, scanned the room, his sharp eyes locking with Delphina's for a prolonged moment. He raised an eyebrow, seemingly studying her before turning to his companions and saying something in a hushed tone.

  The other men in the group followed the leader's gaze, their eyes landing on Delphina. Some of them smirked, others simply nodded, all while casting glances at the shark lady, seeming to note down details about her appearance.

  The leader of the group looked back at Delphina, his gaze steady and unflinching. A small smirk appeared on his face, seemingly satisfied with whatever conclusions he had drawn from observing her.

  Meanwhile, the auctioneer cleared his throat, signaling that the event was about to officially begin. The lights dimmed further, and the chatter in the room quieted, everyone's attention now focused on the center stage.

  More people kept coming in one after the other, until a group of men wearing all black with black snake tattoos on their arms entered the space. Members of the Black Snake's mob.

  The mobsters scanned the room like hawks, taking note of every person present at the auction. Their eyes lingered on the shark lady, taking in the details of her appearance, specifically her shark tail sticking out beneath her trench coat.

  They whispered to each other, some chuckling under their breaths, clearly intrigued by the sight of her. Their leader, who was standing by the entrance, gave an almost imperceptible nod, silently signaling for his men to keep an eye on the shark lady.

  The Black Snake mobsters slowly dispersed throughout the room, blending in with the other bidders, the only hint of their presence being the occasional glimpse of the black snake tattoos on their arms.

  Entering the room now were snazzily dressed women wearing expensive jewelry. They were the Valorian Royal Family. The women stepped into the room, their presence commanding attention. They wore lavish dresses with extravagant jewelry, their expressions cool and composed. As they scanned the room, their eyes briefly settled on the shark lady, taking in her attire. However, their expressions remained indifferent, not showing any outward reaction to her presence.

  The Royal Family's gaze eventually shifted away from Delphina, focusing on the other bidders in the room. They conversed quietly among themselves, occasionally casting glances at the other powerful participants.

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  Before the doors at the main entrance closed, one more group of people walked in: several inconspicuous individuals and a female gem sprite. Her appearance was that of a young woman in her early 20s, with a curvy figure that is typical of her people. She has fair skin, short, shimmering amethyst hair, and sparkling purple eyes. She dons a black leather jacket over a grey shirt, along with tight-fitting dark blue combat pants, the cloth being weaved with threads of a lightweight, but very strong metal, giving the material a lot of durability while also making it more flexible than any normal metal would be. Tiny gems have been woven into the fabric, creating a unique kind of armor that's both hard and flexible, yet also very shiny and eye-catching, almost like a second skin for her.

  As the new group walked in, the atmosphere in the room shifted subtly. People's gazes lingered on the gem sprite, taking in her unconventional attire. Some whispered comments were exchanged among the audience…

  "What's a gem sprite doing here? And in combat gear no less..."

  "This should be interesting... I wonder if she's carrying any gems with her."

  "Those gemstones in her jacket are pretty, I wonder if they're real…”

  The leaders of the Black Snake mob and the Royal Family both noticed the newcomer, their interest piqued. The leader of the mob raised a brow, his gaze flickering in recognition, while the royal family's women exchanged a glance, their eyes narrowing slightly, sizing up the gem sprite.

  The gem sprite herself looked calm and composed, not acknowledging the whispered comments or the subtle scrutiny from the other factions. Instead, she scanned the room with a subtle, yet observant eye. One of the women walking with her whispered in her ear: "See what you're looking for, Elara?”

  Elara merely nodded in response. She continued to observe the people around her, trying to spot the specific item she was after, her expression betraying no hint of her intentions. Meanwhile, the auctioneer on stage continued to set up the stage, eager to present the event's first item…

  As Elara and her group took their seats, the auctioneer spoke into the microphone once again.

  "Are you all ready for the first item, our main attraction of the night?"

  The buzz of anticipation filled the room, and all eyes were fixed on the stage, waiting for the auctioneer to reveal the item.

  The auctioneer cleared his throat, signaling that the event was about to commence. The lights in the room dimmed even further, casting shadows across everyone's faces, including Delphina and the group of men.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, presenting item number one..."

  The room fell completely silent, the anticipation palpable. Everyone leaned in to see what was under the cloth, their gaze fixated on the stage…

  "...The Gem-Carved Flask!"

  On cue, two men walked onto the stage, carrying a large, black box. They placed it on the pedestal and stepped back, standing to attention on both sides of the stage. A sense of awe and wonder filled the room as people's gaze fixated on the mysterious object. The auctioneer continued his narration:

  "This item is an extremely rare artifact, crafted from solid silver and engraved with intricate gemstone carvings...“

  The Gem Carved Flask was indeed an impressive sight, the silver gleaming under the lights. The gemstone carvings were meticulously carved into the surface, their sparkling beauty catching everyone's attention. But Elara was anything but amused. The flask wasn't made of just any gemstones, but the bones of her people, making her eyes seethe with rage.

  The Black Snake members, having noticed the subtle change in Elara's expression, narrowed their eyes thoughtfully, making a mental note.

  The members of the Royal Family, on the other hand, showed no outward expression, keeping up their indifferent facade. They observed Elara, silently noting her reaction. The auctioneer continued, oblivious to the underlying tension in the room…