Creating A Succubus Army In A Fantasy World!-Chapter 93: Honoured Guest. [Bonus]

[Part 8/10 Of Castle Mass Release!]

The tall blue skyscraper stood proudly against the bustling skyline of the Azure Sky Bastion, its towering structure reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun.

Unlike some of the extravagant buildings surrounding it, which boasted intricate carvings, futuristic glass domes, and gravity-defying architecture, this one was remarkably simple in design.

Its smooth, polished exterior gave off an air of quiet confidence, as if it didn’t need to show off to prove its importance.

There were no massive banners or flashing signs announcing what it was, only a sleek silver plaque near the entrance, engraved with the words:

Azure Auction House – Private Transactions & Elite Auctions

Creed stood at the entrance, hands in his pockets, eyeing the building with mild curiosity.

He had expected something flashier, but this place exuded an almost understated elegance, like a hidden treasure only the truly informed would recognize.

Turning to the grinning tour guide, he raised an eyebrow.

"This is really the place?" Creed asked, skepticism in his voice.

Lucas, their tour guide, chuckled as he adjusted the cigarette hanging loosely from his lips.

"Definitely. This is where all the big shots come to throw around their ridiculous amounts of money."

He gestured toward the revolving glass doors. "But don’t let the simple look fool you. Inside, this place is as high-class as it gets."

Creed wasn’t entirely convinced yet, but he had nothing to lose by checking it out. He pushed open the doors and stepped inside.

It had all started when Creed asked Lucas whether he knew where the Azure Auction was taking place. The moment he asked, Lucas had let out a low whistle and given him a knowing look.

"Oh, I know where it is," Lucas had said, blowing out a puff of smoke. "But getting inside is another story."

That was when Creed learned just how exclusive the event actually was.

Unlike normal auctions where anyone with enough money could walk in and place a bid, prestigious events like this worked almost entirely on an invitation basis.

If you weren’t important, connected, or ridiculously rich, you weren’t getting in.

Lucas had leaned back, arms crossed, and grinned. "And no offense, Creed, but your status isn’t exactly high enough to get an invite."

Creed had frowned at that. He had already made up his mind not to rely on Amara or Layla, but if invites were the only way in, then he was out of luck.

Or so he thought.

"But..." Lucas had added, his smirk widening. "There is another way."

That was when he learned the loophole; the only way to get an invite without already being on the guest list was to sell an item through the auction house.

Anyone who provided a high-quality item to be auctioned off would be automatically granted an invitation as a seller.

Which led to the next big question; what could Creed possibly sell that would be worthy of this level of auction?

For a moment, he had drawn a blank. Everything he owned was either too valuable to part with or not nearly impressive enough.

But just as he was about to give up, a thought suddenly struck him.

Wait... the fragments!

His mind immediately raced back to the dimensional rift, where he had been lucky enough to snatch a small fortune’s worth of Fragments of Killing before the rift forcibly ejected him.

He had nearly forgotten about them since they were just sitting in his storage ring, untouched.

Curious about their value, Creed quickly searched online for similar items.

What he found left him stunned.

A simple Fragment of Water—just a small, broken piece of the Path of Water—was selling for 10,000 credits per gram. 10,000 credits per gram!

And Fragments of Earth? Same price.

That was insane.

These tiny fragments were valued so highly because they contained the essence of a Path, allowing people to slowly comprehend the hidden meanings within.

Those who sought to reach higher levels of power often spent fortunes just to acquire a few grams, hoping to gain insights that could propel them forward.

Creed immediately checked his inventory.

He had about 2,000 Fragments of Killing, each around 50 grams. He had been so caught up in escaping the dimensional rift that he hadn’t even stopped to count how many he had gathered.

If just one gram sold for 10,000 credits... then 500 grams would be worth 5 Million credits.

And he had 2,000 of them each of 50 grams!

Creed had to take a deep breath to calm himself.

Alright... let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

He wasn’t about to dump everything he had into the auction. That would attract too much attention and might even cause problems. Instead, he decided to sell just ten fragments, each 500 grams.

That would still fetch an insane amount of money, and more importantly, it would secure him an invitation to the event.

With that decision made, Creed and his group walked into the Azure Auction House.

The interior of the auction house was sleek and modern, with smooth marble floors and a tranquil atmosphere.

Despite how unassuming the building looked from the outside, there was an unmistakable air of prestige within these walls.

At the front desk, a polite-looking receptionist greeted them with a warm smile. She was a professional-looking woman in a well-fitted uniform, her eyes sharp but welcoming.

Creed walked up to the counter confidently.

"Good evening," the receptionist said smoothly. "How can I assist you today?"

Creed met her gaze and said, "I want to put some items into the auction catalog."

The receptionist gave a small, intrigued smile. "Oh? May I ask what you’re looking to sell?"

Creed paused for dramatic effect, then casually said:

"Fragments of a Path."

The moment Creed mentioned "Fragments of a Path," the receptionist’s pleasant smile faltered, and her eyes widened slightly in shock.

She was trained to maintain her composure no matter what customers said—after all, she dealt with high-profile figures, massive wealth, and rare treasures every day.

But Fragments? That was an entirely different level.

She instinctively glanced him over again, as if trying to reevaluate him on the spot.

Creed didn’t look particularly extravagant; his clothes were practical and simple, and while he had an air of confidence about him, he didn’t scream "powerful noble" or "secret heir of some hidden sect."

And yet, here he was, casually claiming to have Fragments of a Path like it was nothing.

The woman quickly regained her professional demeanor and gave him a polite but cautious nod.

"Sir, I deeply apologize, but transactions regarding Path Fragments are beyond my clearance level. I will need to call for a higher-ranking appraiser to verify the items and proceed with your request. Please wait a moment."

Without wasting another second, she tapped a small holographic interface on the counter and whispered into it in a low, urgent tone.

Creed caught a few words—"immediate verification," "high-value trade," and "private consultation room."

Not even a minute passed before the sound of soft but purposeful footsteps echoed through the hall.

A middle-aged man wearing a neatly pressed navy-blue suit approached, his silver-rimmed glasses glinting slightly under the pristine white lights of the auction house.

His sharp eyes locked onto Creed immediately, studying him with an analytical gaze.

"Good evening," the man greeted, offering a warm yet professional smile. "I am Dorian Vale, one of the senior appraisers here at Azure Auction House. I understand you wish to submit Fragments of a Path for auction?"

Creed nodded. "That’s right."

Dorian’s gaze didn’t waver, though his curiosity was evident. "Then, if you don’t mind, please follow me. A transaction of this nature requires a private consultation room."

With that, he gestured toward an elegant hallway, lined with frosted-glass doors leading to exclusive meeting spaces.

Creed glanced back at Lilith, Tierra, and Lucas, who gave him nods of encouragement, before following Dorian inside.

The room they entered was simple but refined, much like the rest of the auction house. A polished black table sat at the center, accompanied by a few high-backed chairs.

Soft, warm lighting illuminated the space, casting an intimate but professional atmosphere.

Dorian took a seat and motioned for Creed to do the same. "Before we begin, may I see the fragments?"

Creed nodded confidently and reached into his storage ring, willing out a small, shimmering red crystal about the size of a pebble.

The moment it appeared, a strange pressure filled the room, as if the air itself recognized the fragment’s significance.

A faint, almost illusory mist surrounded it, flickering with an eerie crimson glow.

Dorian’s eyebrows shot up.

"This... this is not just an ordinary fragment." His voice was hushed, almost reverent.

Creed smirked. "I figured as much."

Dorian carefully took the fragment with a pair of specialized white gloves, placing it on a thin silver plate embedded with scanning runes.

The device emitted a soft hum as tiny symbols of light danced across the surface of the fragment, analyzing its contents.

Moments later, the results appeared on a translucent holographic screen, and Dorian leaned in to read them.

When his eyes flicked back up to Creed, they held something different this time; not just curiosity, but deep respect.

"This is a Fragment of Killing—one of the rarest types of Path Fragments," Dorian stated. "It holds deep insights into the essence of slaughter, something that only the most battle-hardened warriors or assassins would dare to absorb."

He looked back at Creed with a newfound hint of admiration. "The fact that you possess these means you must have ventured into extremely dangerous territory. I won’t ask how you got them, but these are certainly valuable enough to be featured in our auction."

Creed leaned back in his chair, satisfied. "So, what’s the process?"

Dorian nodded and pulled up a digital contract on the screen in front of him. "It’s simple. We’ll register these items for tomorrow’s Azure Auction Event. As a contributor, you will automatically receive an exclusive black invitation card, granting you full access to the event, including the VIP sections."

He paused, then added, "Of course, the auction house will take a 10% commission from the final sale price."

Creed didn’t even flinch. He was expecting something worse, maybe even 30% or more. Losing 10% was nothing considering the profits he would make.

"Sounds good to me," he said, picking up the holographic pen and signing his name. The moment he did, a sleek black card materialized in front of him, its surface shimmering like polished obsidian.

Dorian smiled and pushed the card toward him. "Congratulations, Mr. Creed. You are now an honored guest of the Azure Auction Event."

.....

Walking out of the auction house, Creed felt light on his feet. He had managed to secure his ticket into the event without owing anyone favors, and the thought of what treasures might be available tomorrow filled him with anticipation.

Tierra smirked as she glanced at the black card in his hand. "You look pleased with yourself."

Lilith grinned. "He should be! He managed to outsmart the system without needing to rely on that annoying blue-haired girl or her snobby sister."

Lucas let out a low whistle. "Not gonna lie, Creed, I didn’t think you’d pull it off this smoothly. You’re full of surprises."

Creed just chuckled. "Now, let’s go get that steak. I’ve got a feeling tomorrow’s gonna be a big day."

.....

Later That Night...

After a long day of sightseeing, business dealings, and steakhouse indulgence, Creed finally found himself back in his room, lying on the bed with Lilith and Tierra curled up beside him, their bodies bare under the soft silk sheets.

Their slow, rhythmic breathing told him they had already fallen into a deep sleep, completely exhausted from their nightly activities.

But Creed was still wide awake.

His mind kept drifting back to the Fragments of Killing.

Seeing their insane value at the auction house had made him realize something—he had been sitting on a potential goldmine of power. And he hadn’t even tried absorbing one yet.

Without hesitation, he sat up, pulled out a single Fragment of Killing, and held it in his hand. The eerie crimson glow flickered around his fingers, almost like a living thing.

At that moment, his system interface flashed, and a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind:

[Would you like to absorb this Fragment of Killing?]

Creed hesitated for only a second.

Then, with a smirk, he selected—

[Yes.]