Primordial Draconic Incubus With A Gourmet Chef System

After a moment of silence, Wang Ming spoke with a decisive tone, "Find a way to shine the Soul Seeking Mirror on him. If his Soul is as young as his physical body, capture him and make him our slave. Do the same with James and the others, but manipulate their memories and allow them to continue with their lives. But if his Soul shows he's an old man, back off for the time being.

We can't afford to pick a fight with the Orchard Family."

"Until you find the right time to shine the Soul Seeking Mirror, order the spies to continue monitoring them." Wang Ming ordered. "I want to know every move they make."

Number Zero bowed his head, and respectfully replied, "As you command, Master."

After that, the hologram above the Astral Eye Crystal flickered before disappearing.

'James. You're luck is quite good — you've found a Heaven-defying chef. But you allowed him to expose his ability to the masses.

This is the problem with you merchants; your brains only think about Mana Stones and resources.' Wang Ming smirked in disdain, but then his expression changed into a frown as he continued to ponder, 'But the main question is, does the Orchard Family know of this vendor's existence? If the Family Head knew, he would have kept the vendor to himself.

Or could it be the vendor's ability to make food that enhances Mage's Mana when consumed isn't as rare?'

For many minutes, Wang Ming continued to ponder before he eventually took a breath and resumed absorbing the Mana in the air.

—---------------

Presently, on the third floor of Dragon Phoenix Auction House, behind a desk, a middle-aged woman with red hair and red leathery wings was sitting as she looked through papers listing the names of everyone who had arrived at the auction.

The woman named Newt Yoshiko belonged to the Newt Race, a type of salamander Demi-Human Race, which were semiaquatic amphibians that could spend time in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

Newts had a three-part life cycle. They started off as aquatic larvae with gills, then they evolved into land-dwelling juveniles called efts with gills, and once they reached their adult phase, they returned to the water.

Just having reached two hundred years a month ago, Yoshiko finally acquired gills, allowing her to travel more freely on land without having to supplement herself with Mana. As part of the three-part cycle of life, she had been transferred from the Dragon Phoenix Auction House branch in Misty Sea City, located deep within the Misty Sea, to Harmony City's branch Auction House.

Compared to other Auction Houses, Dragon Phoenix Auction House opened every Sunday. Ever since the Dragon Phoenix Auction House was established they did not have to worry about a lack of valuable items.

Since her transfer Yoshiko had taken charge of two auctions. This would be her third. So far, everything had gone well, and she had even been praised by her superior, but this time's auction caused her to be nervous.

It was not due to the guests who would be participating today, she was used to dealing with leaders of families, clans, factions, and even sects.

The problem lay with the lack of a show-stopper. Until today, she had never encountered a situation where the auction items were sub-par. Usually, the special guests would always have a competition amongst themselves on who could have their item auctioned last. After all, it was common knowledge that the best item would be saved for last.

But this time, the discovery of the Secret Realm in Moon Grove Forest caused the experts in Harmony City to flock over there. Find your next read at empire

In doing so, mostly only their subordinates remained to bid for themselves and in their Master's stead.

Rubbing her forehead, Yoshiko sighed, not knowing what to do. As the Branch Leader of this Auction House, it was her responsibility to acquire the best items for each auction.

If the final item failed to create a commotion, she would be held responsible for making the Dragon Phoenix Auction House lose face. Losing her job would be the least of her problems then.

'Haah, what a troublesome situation.'

—----------------------

After a few more minutes passed, only one person stood in front of Lucian, Lily, and the rest before it was their turn to be inspected and allowed into the Auction House.

Dragon Phoenix Auction House did not allow just anyone to enter. Only Bone Tempering Realm Mages and above could enter. Furthermore, the person must show they had at least a hundred Low-Grade Mana Stones.

However, such rules did not apply to everyone.

As soon as it was their turn to be inspected, the beautiful young woman at the entrance, who had been writing everyone's names down in a journal, smiled sweetly and respectfully toward James.

"Greetings, Sir James." The young woman bowed to him, then straightened her back and continued respectfully, "Are you here to enter an item into the Dragon Phoenix Auction House's upcoming auction and participate in the bidding? Or do you have important business to discuss with our Branch Leader?"

"We are here to bid. Hopefully, we can find what we are looking for." James replied.

"There is nothing our Auction House doesn't have. I'm sure Sir James would be pleased with today's auction." The young woman smiled respectfully. "If you will, please follow me to your VVVIP Room upstairs."

"Mn." James nodded as he and the others followed the young receptionist to a room on the second floor.

As an Orchard, he obviously received special treatment.

The room was spacious and luxuriously decorated with more than enough cushioned recliners for them all to comfortably sit in and look down at the auction stage through the transparent glass.

They could comfortably observe past the glass wall, but no one was able to see into their room.

Once they were comfortably sitting, the young woman pointed to a table, "Over there are light refreshments, free of charge."

She then bowed, "If there is anything Sir James and the Honored Guests require, please press the call button located on the right side of your chairs and I will return immediately to attend to you."

After saying so, she turned to leave the room, but while doing so, she glanced at Lucian and Lily with a surprised and curious expression, wondering who they were after seeing the seating arrangements.

The seating arrangements were as so, Lucian was sitting in the front row flanked by Lily on his right and James on his left.

The rest that came with Lucian sat in the second row on a slightly elevated platform.

Just from the seating arrangements alone, the young woman could tell Lucian and Lily possessed a status on par or even above James'.

Sensing her gaze, Lucian turned his head behind his shoulders and looked at the young woman indifferently.

"Ahh. Forgive my rudeness." The young woman bowed and excused herself out of the room, closing the door behind her, which automatically locked.

"So this an Auction House," Lily said as soon as the sound of the door locking echoed in the room. "The venue is huge. But why are they all quiet? They're like statues."

Like Lily said, the venue for the auction was huge. Over five thousand tables and chairs were neatly arranged on the first floor. Currently, half or so were filled, with many tense-looking people constantly walking in and taking their seats.

James looked at the people below and smiled, "I would be more surprised if they were rowdy, given their status. Normally… it's not like this, but given the fact all the experts in Harmony City left for Moon Grove Forest, whilst the rest have responsibilities to handle, it makes sense."

Lily frowned. "Wouldn't the Auction House lose a lot of money today? I doubt the people below can afford to pay high prices."

James chuckled and nodded, "You're not entirely wrong. However, such a loss is insignificant to the Dragon Phoenix Auction House. Also, compared to the other Auction Houses, this Auction House allows its guests to take out loans."

"Loans?" Lucian, who had remained silent from the beginning, was inwardly surprised. He had been to a few auctions in the past, but this was the first time he had heard of an Auction House allowing its guests to take out loans.

James turned to Lucian and explained, "Yes, loans. It's a risky business, but the Dragon Phoenix Auction has perfected it. "

"Are they not worried about the loans not being paid back?" Lily asked James.

James continued his explanation. "They have their ways of ensuring that the loans are repaid, either through interest or by other ways. Just the young receptionist is a Bone Tempering Realm Mage and there are at least a hundred of them in this Branch Auction House alone.

That doesn't even include the other experts scattered throughout the building and the Branch Leader, who should be just as strong as City Lord Cai."