The God Virus

'I wonder who he is, though? And why do the other four seem so conscious of his existence? He must be the leader.' Being shrewd enough after dealing with all types of clients so far, Ports accurately determined.

"Ah, right… we've brought a Mid-Human class Longsword Technique we want to auction off, here it is." Extending his arm, Archibald placed the Twisting Tempest Thrust book on the desk. At the same time, he could not stop sneaking a peek at her great figure.

On the opposite side of him, witnessing this scene, Virus was tongue-tied. 'Birds of a feather flock together indeed. That old friend of his marries someone around his daughter's age and now this oldie's shamelessly eyeing this woman.'

Since she had been notified of the merchandise already, Ports promptly reached out and grabbed the book.

Then, opening it, she skimmed through it for around five minutes before she closed it at last and let out an impressed gasp.

"Amazing!" She said without holding back. "And there is also an insight section which is going to make learning the technique so much easier!"

  "Hahaha, of course, what else did you expect?" As if Ports was complimenting him per se, Archibald proudly held his chin high.

"Can you sell this to me? I'll pay a thousand first-grade Qi Ingots this moment if you agree!" Excited about the prospect of getting her hands on the book, she offered. However, looking at the direction of her gaze, it was clear she wasn't asking Archibald that question, rather, she was negotiating with Virus.

Although that act of being ignored promptly made Archibald annoyed, there wasn't anything he could do except forget about it. 'Hmph, does she think she's a big shot just because she has a big butt and huge cow-like breasts?'

On the other hand, seeing that Ports had figured out he was the leader, truthfully, Virus wasn't surprised since the other four's body language was screaming they were his lackeys and that they were merely tagging along.

Thus, locking gazes with her, Virus outright rejected her, "No need. Just auction it off for us. I heard you're holding an auction event right now, sell it there." That was all Virus had to say to this strange woman.

Unfortunately, sitting with locked ankles, Ports shook her head. "Ah, about that… except the main surprise merchandise, we usually spread a list of our items that will be sold a week prior to the auction itself, so I don't think we can do it."

"Ah, is that so? Guess we'll just go to another auction house, then. Goodbye." Standing up, Virus honestly wanted to go try the other auction houses and see what they had to offer. He wasn't just faking a strategy to prompt the branch chief to change her mind.

Nonetheless, observing his abrupt course of action, feeling restless, Ports vocalized, "Please stop!"

"Hmm? What is it?" A simpering smirk creeping on his mouth, Virus vocalized.

"Okay, w-we'll sell it in today's auction!" Fidgeting with the corner of her dress, in a tremulous voice, she exclaimed.

"Hmm? What? You don't really need to though. Don't change the rules of your auction house for us alone. Honestly, I can see where you're coming from, if it can't be done, there's no helping it, so we'll leave." Insisting on leaving much to the frustration of Ports, Virus was about to turn around and walk away again.

That reaction, however, only made Ports' eyes go wide open as she pondered speechlessly, 'I just agreed to sell your book for you so why are you the one rejecting now?!'

Luckily, she provided a logical answer outwardly, "No worries, I wouldn't be really breaking the rules of the auction house if I sell it as the second surprise merchandise."

"Hooh? There was such a thing too? Okay then." Smirking, a mocking tone was clear in Virus' sentence.

…

After going through a few processes, Ports personally led them to a private client area and left them alone there.

Meanwhile, down below, one item after another was being auctioned off by the auctioneer.

There was a variety of items and equipment such as weapons of First- and even Second-Tempering, there were also many types of pills. Alas, so far, there was no technique whatsoever.

Apparently, techniques were much rarer compared to equipment and pills.

Meanwhile, since none of the items were garnering Virus' focus, he began inspecting his surroundings while looking at the various other private cabins that could be perceived from his position.

Beside him, discerning Virus' passing curiosity, Archibald introduced the few people he could identify.

"That guy is a famous disciple of the Poison Deity clan's Poison faction."

"I don't know that one."

"No idea who that is as well."

"Well, I haven't seen that person in my entire life."

"Oh, that's the notorious drunkard younger son of the Deity faction's leader. Everyone knows about him."

After speaking about the so-called drunkard younger son of the Deity faction leader, Archibald was expecting Virus' eyesight to move to the next target when much to his surprise, he realized Virus' eyes remained fixated on the drunkard.

"Tell me more." Came Virus' casual prompt of curiosity.

"Ah, well, some call him the 'dreg' while some others address him as the 'drunkard'."

"The dreg title is because, unlike his older brother, his talent is very mediocre in cultivation, therefore, people have marked him as the undesirable dreg of his father. Everyone believes his father passed all the good seeds to his older son and pumped all the remaining dregs into making the younger son." Agreeing with everyone else himself, a glimmer of contempt was beaming in Archibald's pupils as well.

"As for why they call him a drunkard, obviously, that's because he's a drunkard who's always hanging out in the brothels of the city, tch, garbage."

"Hmm, I see." With his thoughts totally unknown to the other four, Virus focused on the ongoing auction again.

After a few items were sold, the auctioneer suddenly started announcing the part that was relevant to Virus.

"The next object is going to astonish you all…"

Afterward, the auctioneer kept complimenting the technique until the book was pushed onto the stage.

"And here is the amazing Twisting Tempest Thrust! A rare Mid-Human class longsword technique that's extremely potent for all those who are in the Liberation stage!" 

With entertaining observations, the auctioneer was chucking, snorting, and even cackling at times.

"Furthermore, according to our branch chief, there is even an insight segment which will help you comprehend and grasp the technique in the shortest duration imaginable! Bear in mind, our branch chief has personally stepped forward to guarantee its quality! Do not lose this rare opportunity." Like he was about to sell his wife, a painful and reluctant light started emitting from his eyes and face.

"Let's begin then, the bids will start from a hundred first-grade Qi Ingots! I repeat, do not lose this chance, even if you are above the Liberation stage already, you could always buy it for your children and other family members! This will be a top-notch Human technique for you!" Shifting his weight from one leg to another, he spread his arms before pointing them both at the book on the board.

When the auctioneer was finally finished elaborating and tempting, the first bid reverberated in the house.

"Two hundred!" By that, the bidder meant two hundred first-grade Qi Ingots.

"Five hundred!"