Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 83: The Auction (Part-1)

The old man looked at her anew. Anyone who could casually take out three Bone Cleansing Potions either had a terrifying alchemist backing them... or was one themselves.

Either way, this girl was not someone to offend.

His attitude shifted instantly.

"Little girl, what’s your name?" he asked.

"Zora," she replied with a faint smile.

The old man paused, then laughed aloud. "So it’s you. The famed Princess Consort, who’s been shaking the imperial city lately."

He placed his palm on his fist and bowed slightly. "This old fellow is named Darius."

"Elder Darius." Zora returned the greeting. "May these Bone Cleansing Potions still make it into today’s auction?"

"Of course!" Darius nodded decisively. "Three Bone Cleansing Potions are more than worthy of being today’s finale."

He waved his hand grandly. "Princess Consort, rest assured. These potions will fetch an astonishing price. And as for the handling fee, the Auction House will waive it entirely."

Zora’s eyes widened slightly, waving her hand. "That won’t do. Rules are rules. The fee should be paid."

Darius chuckled, shaking his head. "The presence of these potions alone will elevate today’s auction to a new level. The crowds they’ll attract are worth far more than any handling fee."

He smiled warmly. "In any case, I won’t charge it."

And with that, the matter was settled.

Seeing Darius’s firm stance, Zora stopped declining and inclined her head slightly. "Many thanks, Elder."

She understood this kind of exchange very well. For an auction house, nothing mattered more than the value of the items on display.

Although Elysia Trading Hall was the largest in the imperial city, it was far from the only one. Competition between auction houses was fierce. Whichever house presented the most valuable treasures would naturally attract more powerful clients next time.

Three Bone Cleansing Potions were more than enough to let the Auction House dominate this round.

Elder Darius’s generosity was not charity, but foresight.

"If you have similar treasures in the future," Darius said with a laugh, "I hope you’ll give the Auction House priority."

"Of course," Zora replied readily.

After leaving the appraisal hall, she pondered Darius’s identity. Waiving the handling fee for three Bone Cleansing Potions was no small decision. If he were merely a clerk, he would never have the authority to do so.

It seemed this old man held a very high position within the Trading Hall entirely. After all, the auction house is just one of the departments that was controlled by the Trading Hall. No staff member of the auction house can just waive off the fees.

When Zora returned to Nigel’s side, Rose asked curiously, "How was it? Too late to add the item?"

That was normally the rule. Auction items were finalized days in advance, and announcements had already been sent out. Adding something last-minute was no simple matter.

Zora smiled faintly. "I was lucky. It made it in."

Both Rose and Nigel froze, staring at her as if they had misheard.

"It seems the item you brought has extraordinary value," Nigel said after a moment, understanding dawned on him.

Rose nodded in agreement. Otherwise, the auction house would never bend its rules.

Just as the three were speaking, a sharp and rather rude voice cut in.

"Are you Zora?"

The tone was crisp and arrogant, dripping with disdain.

Zora raised her brows slightly. She didn’t recognize this voice.

Turning her head, she saw a young woman standing behind her, about seventeen or eighteen years old. Her features were striking, but her lifted chin and narrowed eyes revealed arrogance without restraint.

She wore a bright red dress, flamboyant and eye-catching, her presence domineering and self-assured.

The contempt in her apricot-shaped eyes instantly dulled any interest Zora might have had.

"Serestia!" Rose exclaimed softly, clearly surprised.

Hearing the name, Zora immediately understood.

Serestia, daughter of General Ronald, is known to be talented, beautiful, and famously proud. Last year, she had passed the Academy assessment and entered the academy, spending the past year cultivating there. No one expected her to appear at the Auction House today.

Among Elysia’s generals, General Helius was the most prominent, followed closely by Ronald.

Yet Zora had never had any dealings with Serestia. She couldn’t fathom why this woman suddenly sought her out.

Seeing that Zora didn’t answer, Serestia frowned impatiently.

"I asked if you are Zora."

Zora met her gaze calmly, her voice indifferent.

"I am. Is there something you need?"

When Serestia returned to the imperial city, the streets and alleys were already buzzing with one name alone—Zora.

What shocked her most was not that Zora had taken first place in the royal hunting competition, but that the academy tutors had personally issued her an invitation letter.

An invitation letter.

Within the Imperial Academy, an invitation letter symbolized absolute recognition.

Anyone who received one was, without exception, a core seedling of the academy.

Yet what Serestia found even more unbelievable was this—Zora had actually rejected it.

Rejected.

What kind of arrogance was this?

If Zora truly possessed such heaven-defying talent, then receiving the tutors’ attention was only natural. But to dare refuse them outright—who did she think she was?

Serestia had originally intended to give Zora a sharp lesson. But now, standing before her calm and indifferent expression, she found herself momentarily at a loss for words.

"I heard you rejected the academy’s invitation letter?" Serestia finally said, her gaze filled with disdain. "Don’t think that just because you have a bit of strength, you’re anything special. There are far more powerful people in this world than you."

At those words, Zora instantly understood.

This wasn’t a conversation.

This was jealousy looking for an outlet.

"And what are you?" Zora replied lightly.

Three simple words, yet they struck Serestia right where it hurt. Her beautiful face instantly twisted with anger.

"You think I’m jealous of you?" Serestia snapped, forcing down her fury. "Don’t be ridiculous. Someone like you—what could possibly make me jealous?"

"If you’re not jealous," Zora said calmly, "then why are you saying so much nonsense?"

Nigel and Rose stood nearby, inwardly stunned.

Serestia was clearly provoking her, yet Zora neither raised her voice nor lost her composure. Each sentence landed cleanly, effortlessly, leaving the other party choked with anger.

They suddenly understood something.

In the past, Luna had never managed to gain the upper hand in verbal sparring against Zora—not because she was unlucky, but because she never stood a chance.

Serestia took a deep breath. She truly couldn’t understand Zora’s way of thinking.

Everything had gone completely differently from what she had imagined.

"You dare say I’m talking nonsense?" Serestia’s eyes blazed.

"I don’t see why I wouldn’t," Zora replied coolly. "You came out of nowhere, barking without reason. Tell me—who do you think you are?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly, icy light flickering within. The faint curve of her lips carried unmistakable mockery.

Zora had never liked stirring trouble, but that didn’t mean she welcomed it either.

Silence did not equal weakness.

If anyone thought they could trample over her just because she didn’t speak much, they were gravely mistaken.

Nigel and the others could clearly feel the shift in her presence. The usually composed and elegant Zora now carried a sharp, chilling edge that pressed down on the surroundings.

"Oh?" Serestia laughed coldly. "You really think that just because the academy values you, you’re something great? A waste like you is still no match for me!"

Zora’s gaze turned frigid.

"Waste?" she echoed softly. "Let me ask you this—if someone who received an academy invitation is a waste... then what does that make someone who couldn’t even get one? Trash? A dumpster?"

Those words landed like a thunderclap.

Serestia’s face darkened to its limits.

"You’re courting death!"

With a furious shout, she reached out and yanked a long whip from her waist, the air cracking sharply as it unfurled.