Chapter 412: Auction After completing his registration and receiving the golden badge, Ethan walked out of the Merchant Association building. He didn’t care about the lingering gazes of the staff or the blushing elf receptionist. His mind was already miles ahead, calculating the trajectory of an economic war that would bring the Ice Dragons to their knees. His goal was power, but not the kind that came from swinging a sword. He was already at a level where his true power could shake the foundations of the world. If he acted too boldly with his own hands, he would attract the eyes of the two Absolute Beings, the ones who watched the multi-verse like hawks. He needed to lay low, tucked away in the "space cube" , until he surpassed them. For now, he would use wealth, bloodlines, and influence to conquer. "Let’s get to work, Puffin," Ethan whispered. Ethan didn’t look for a small shop. He went to the most expensive property dealer in Flanoir City and demanded a map of the capital. With a casual flick of his spatial card, he purchased a 100 square kilometer plot in the heart of the city. It was a massive area that cost him 500 million Origin Coins, but to Ethan, that was pocket change. He stood in the center of the empty, frozen land. "Let’s decorate you," he said calmly. He didn’t hire workers. He didn’t wait for architects. He waved his hand, and the laws of Creation bent to his will. First, a magnificent, towering wall rose from the earth, surrounding the entire 100 square kilometers. The wall was made of a dark, indestructible alloy that shimmered with golden runes. Then came the centerpiece. In a flash of blinding light, a Primordial Tower erupted from the ground. It climbed higher and higher until it pierced the clouds, totaling 100 floors. The architecture was beyond anything the Dragon World had ever seen. Walls of translucent jade. Pillars of starlight. Windows made of compressed diamond. It was the most luxurious building in the history of the Ice Dragon Domain. At the very top, a massive, glowing sign appeared in a language every race could understand. "ETHAN HUNT." He would not hide behind a company name. He would make his own name the ultimate brand. The sudden appearance of a skyscraper that rivaled the Royal Palace caused the entire city to fall into a stunned silence. Merchants dropped their goods. Guards reached for their weapons. Even the ancient Ancestors of powerful families, beings in the Eternal Sovereign realm, opened their eyes in shock. Before they could send spies to investigate, a massive projection appeared in the sky above the city. Ethan’s face, in his cold, handsome Arch-Demon form, looked down upon the masses. "I am Ethan Hunt," his voice boomed, amplified by his authority so that it echoed in every corner of the Ice Dragon Domain and even reached the neighboring dragon territories. "I welcome everyone to my company. The day after tomorrow, I will host the first Grand Auction. I promise you things that have never been seen in this world." The projection shifted, showing glimpses of the treasures. "We will offer 10,000 Chaos Grade artifacts, 1,000 Axiom Grade artifacts, and 100 Paragon level artifacts and one eternal artifact," Ethan announced. The crowd gasped. A single Paragon artifact could start a war, let alone an eternal artifact and this man was selling one hundred? But Ethan wasn’t done. "And finally, the specialty of my company. The Serums." "First, the ’Bloodline Awakening Serum.’ It is for those who were not born into the kOriginal Races." "One vial will awaken the dormant primeval blood within you." "You will no longer be ’lower’ races." He then showed a vivid advertisement. A scrawny young man from a weak fox tribe drank the vial. Suddenly, his muscles expanded. His aura exploded. The golden phantom of a Mighty Titan appeared behind him. He had become a powerhouse instantly. "And for the Original Races," Ethan continued, his eyes sparking, "I have the ’Bloodline Evolution Serum.’" "It can evolve your current potential by up to 30%." "Strength, speed, and lifespan. All will be yours." The next advertisement showed an Ice Dragon who was being bullied by a rival. He drank the evolution serum. His scales turned into diamond-hard armor. He crushed his rival with one hand. He won the heart of his crush. The projection lasted for thirty minutes, showing the glory and power these serums provided. Then, it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Flanoir City was no longer silent. It was in a state of total riot. People were screaming. People were running to find money. People were sending urgent messages to their home worlds. In the Royal Palace of the Ice Dragons, the Emperor sat on his frost-throne, his face pale. "Do you think this new Demon merchant is telling the truth?" the Emperor asked his ministers. "Sire," a minister replied, his voice trembling. "We must check." "If he is lying, we will execute him for mocking the throne." "But if he is telling the truth and we miss this chance, the other Dragon Domains will evolve past us." "We will be destroyed." The impact was even greater among the "low-level" races. For millions of years, they had been the footstools of the dragons. If they could awaken an original bloodline, they could finally stand tall. In the Saint House, Rose sat with her younger sister, Zara. They had both seen the projection. "Sister," Zarah whispered, "that man. Ethan Hunt. He seemed so familiar. Do you know him?" Rose remained silent. Her heart was beating fast. That cold, handsome face in the sky felt like a memory she couldn’t quite grasp. "I don’t know," she murmured. "But we must go to the auction." "If that evolution serum works, your bloodline will become strong enough for the Saint Trial." "And Rey, he might finally awaken his own original bloodline." "Okay, sister," Zarah said, leaving to prepare. Rose looked out the window at the glowing tower in the distance. "Ethan Hunt. Who are you?" The next day, Ethan stayed inside his tower. With a single thought, his Authority of Creation worked at maximum speed. Thousands of artifacts and vials of glowing serum were materialized and placed in protective cases. To him, this was as easy as breathing. To the world, it was a miracle. Suddenly, his Merchant Association card began to vibrate. It was a high-priority call. "Hello, Ethan Hunt speaking," he said calmly. "Sir Ethan!" the voice of the elf receptionist from the association came through, sounding panicked and overwhelmed. "The world has gone crazy!" "Every powerful family, the Royal Court, and even the neighboring Fire and Wind Dragon domains are contacting us." "They are begging you to delay the auction for seven days so their representatives can arrive in time!" Ethan leaned back in his chair, watching Puffin play with a Chaos Grade pearl. "I am not delaying for anyone," Ethan said, his voice cold and final. "The date is set." "If they can make it in time, they participate." "If they can’t, it is their bad luck." "My company does not wait for the slow." "But Sir! These are Eternal Sovereigns and Royal Kings you are refusing!" "Then let them hurry," Ethan replied and cut the connection. He didn’t need to be polite. He wasn’t a businessman looking for friends. He was a predator looking to dominate the market. By refusing to delay, he made his products even more valuable. He made the world realize that he held the power, not them. He looked out the window at the thousands of people already camping outside his walls, waiting for the doors to open.