The door to the private auction room swung open without warning.
Baron Ravencroft stepped inside, flanked by two of his lackeys in matching golden-black uniforms. His hair was combed back neatly, but his sharp eyes immediately locked onto the scene.
Valentine D'Aramont pressed back against Lucas, her voluptuous ass grinding slowly against the thick bulge in his trousers, while Lucas's hand had slipped beneath the hem of her short plaid dress, fingers teasing the soaked fabric of her panties.
A dangerous, cold smile spread across Baron's face.
"It seems I came at the wrong time," he said, voice dripping with mock politeness. The words were calm, but the fury simmering beneath them was unmistakable.
Valentine didn't pull away immediately. Instead, she let out a soft, throaty laugh, still leaning into Lucas's body as if daring Baron to react.
"Oh? You're early, darling," she purred, emerald eyes gleaming with mischief. She made no effort to hide the flush on her cheeks or the way her nipples strained visibly against the tight dress. "We were just… getting acquainted."
Lucas remained perfectly composed. He slowly withdrew his hand from under her skirt, fingers glistening, but he didn't step back. Instead, he kept one hand possessively on her waist and turned to face the newcomer.
Baron Ravencroft.
He had heard the name in family briefings and campus whispers, but this was the first time the two of them had ever stood face to face.
Baron's smile tightened, eyes narrowing as he took in the intimate proximity between his girlfriend and the new Vanderbilt bastard.
"Valentine," Baron said, tone deceptively light, "I didn't realize you were giving private tours to the newest member of the family."
Valentine finally stepped forward—just enough to keep her ass brushing teasingly against Lucas's front. She tilted her head, looking at Baron with a mix of boredom and open challenge.
"Jealous already?" she asked sweetly. "We were only watching the auction. Lucas is new around here. I thought I'd be a good host."
The two lackeys behind Baron shifted uncomfortably, the rising tension in the room thick enough to choke on. Below the one-way glass, the auction continued, but none of the three paid it any attention.
Lucas's smirk deepened. He didn't move away. If anything, he pulled Valentine a fraction closer, his hand resting boldly on her hip.
"Baron Ravencroft," Lucas greeted calmly, as if meeting a stranger for the first time. "I've heard a lot about you."
Baron's eyes flicked down to Lucas's hand on Valentine's hip, then back up. The smile never reached his eyes.
"I'm sure you have," he replied, voice cold. "And yet here you are, with your hands on what's mine."
Valentine laughed softly, rich and unapologetic.
"Yours?" she echoed, amusement lacing every syllable. "Since when did I become property, Baron? Last I checked, I choose who I spend my time with."
The air grew heavy with unspoken threats. Valentine's eyes sparkled with dark excitement at the confrontation, while Lucas remained calm and calculating—like he had been waiting for this exact moment.
Baron took one step closer, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Let's enjoy the auction then." He forced a smile and dropped into one of the plush couches, gesturing for his lackeys to stay back. He crossed his legs, trying to look relaxed, but his clenched fists betrayed him.
Valentine glanced at Baron's sulking face and laughed lightly. She picked up a glass from the low table and poured herself a drink, the motion slow and deliberately sensual.
Baron extended his hand, silently ordering her to sit on his thigh.
Valentine smirked instead. She turned and walked straight back to Lucas, lowering herself onto his lap with graceful defiance. One arm draped around his neck as she settled her thick, soft ass firmly against the hard bulge in his trousers.
Lucas felt his cock throb. This crazy bitch…
Baron's fists clenched tighter, knuckles turning white. He had argued with Valentine that morning. This was clearly her way of making him pay.
The auction heated up below. Unlike the main floor, the private rooms had turned cutthroat. Baron started bidding aggressively—outbidding everyone on the next several items with cold precision. Rare skill scrolls, high-grade mana crystals, even a limited-edition tamed beast egg—he claimed them all without hesitation.
Whispers rippled through the connected private rooms and the main hall.
"Who the hell is that? He's buying everything like it's nothing…"
"Isn't that Baron Ravencroft? The side-branch heir…"
"Looks like the Vanderbilt family drama just reached the auction hall…"
Lucas took a slow drag from his cigarette, his free hand resting casually on Valentine's thigh. She sipped her wine, body relaxed against him, but her eyes sparkled with wicked amusement as she watched Baron's irritation grow.
Baron kept raising his paddle with icy determination. Most bidders had already backed off—no one dared openly challenge the Ravencroft heir. Only a few other top shots from the highest-tier rooms continued to compete, but even they were starting to hesitate.
Baron leaned back, a smug smirk on his face as he glanced sideways at Lucas.
"What's wrong, cousin?" he taunted, voice loud enough for the entire suite to hear. "Didn't find anything worth buying… or do you simply not have enough merits?"
He laughed, sharp and mocking.
Lucas remained silent, expression calm. There were a few items he genuinely wanted, but he knew Baron would outbid him purely to humiliate him.
Valentine leaned in closer, full breasts pressing softly against his chest as her lips brushed his ear.
"Don't worry about him, love," she whispered, breath warm against his skin. "I can lend you as many merits as you need. You can pay me back later… in whatever way you like."
She winked, emerald eyes sparkling.
Baron's jaw twitched visibly.
Lucas smiled slowly, hand sliding possessively higher on Valentine's thick thigh. "Well then," he said, voice relaxed, "I'm not going to stay silent for the rest of the auction."
The bidding continued, tension in the private room thickening with every item.
Finally, the auctioneer brought out the last piece—an ancient-looking scroll sealed in a glowing crystal case. The moment it appeared on the central platform, the entire hall fell silent.
"Final item of the evening," the auctioneer announced, voice echoing. "Secret Art Scroll. Origin: Reward from a Unique Dungeon that appeared only once, twenty years ago. No complete records exist, but appraisers confirm it contains a complete, self-contained technique—a rare 'Inheritance Art' that fuses multiple high-level abilities into one cohesive system. Believed to grant the user enhanced control over an unknown elemental or conceptual force. Starting bid: 80,000 merits."
Valentine whistled softly. "I didn't expect this little auction to actually have a Secret Art…"
Lucas leaned forward, interest instantly piqued. Secret Arts were legacies, not simple skills. Most powerful families guarded them like heirlooms.
The bidding erupted.
"85,000!" "90,000!" "110,000!"
Baron raised his paddle without hesitation. "150,000."
Lucas countered calmly. "160,000."
Baron's head snapped toward him. The auctioneer looked visibly confused—two bids from the same private room.
"170,000," Baron growled.
"180,000," Lucas replied smoothly.
Valentine's lips curved into a delighted smile. She stayed comfortably on his lap, hand resting on his chest, clearly thrilled by the rising tension.
The other bidders fell silent, watching the bizarre standoff. Whispers exploded across the connected boxes.
"Is that… Baron Ravencroft and the new Vanderbilt heir?"
"They're bidding against each other from the same room?"
"This is going to explode…"
Baron's face darkened with barely contained rage. "200,000."
Lucas didn't blink. "220,000."
The auctioneer wiped his forehead, voice shaky. "Current bid… 220,000 merits from the Senior Valentine private suite. Do I hear 230,000?"
Baron glared, jaw tight. He could easily outbid Lucas, but Valentine openly funding his cousin made every merit feel like bloodletting. He let the bid drop.
The gavel fell.
"Sold to Lucas Vanderbilt for 220,000 merits!"
The auction finally drew to a close. Disappointed bidders left with frustrated expressions while winners wore satisfied smiles. Staff began clearing the stage.
In the private room, Valentine finally lifted herself from Lucas's lap. She smoothed down her tight plaid dress, though a faint flush still lingered on her cheeks. She had irritated Baron enough for one day.
Lucas felt a strong surge of desire as she moved away—the warmth of her body and the teasing pressure left him aching. Yet he controlled himself. He was still building his foundation. Rushing now could ruin everything.
Staff soon arrived, carefully handing over the mountain of items Baron had purchased. At the side, Lucas received the ancient art scroll. A faint darkness pulsed quietly from within the crystal case.
Valentine took the case from his hands and examined it with clear interest. "I see… so that's why they couldn't sell this at the main auction," she murmured.
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Valentine turned the scroll slowly. "This art's primary element is probably darkness or shadow. Not many people have good compatibility with such arts. Every Secret Art has three levels of compatibility: Rejected—you can't integrate it at all. Partial—you can use it, but growth is slow and unstable. And Perfect—fast growth, smooth evolution, full potential."
She handed it back with a small smile. "That's why it went to this side auction. Otherwise, 220,000 merits would never have been enough. You're quite lucky, junior."
After a few more minutes of light conversation, Lucas decided it was time to leave. Valentine leaned in close before he reached the door.
"Meet me at my shop later," she said softly, emerald eyes gleaming. "I still have some… unfinished business with you."
Lucas gave Baron one final look. The man was twitching with barely contained rage, every inch the picture of a cuckolded husband. Lucas smirked and left without another word.
As he walked down the corridor, his bracelet buzzed. A message from Yuna appeared:
Yuna: Why didn't you attend the class? Everything okay?
Lucas cursed under his breath. "Shit… I totally forgot about it."
Back in the private auction room, the heavy silence lingered long after Lucas had left. Baron's lackeys quietly excused themselves, sensing the storm brewing. Baron stood slowly, fists clenched tightly at his sides as he walked over to Valentina.
"Did you really have to do that?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "In front of me? In front of that bastard?"
Valentina turned to face him, her expression cool and unbothered. She took a slow sip from her wine glass, the liquid catching the golden light before she set it down.
"I was bored," she said simply, her tone light and dismissive. "And you were being annoying this morning. Consider it payback."
Baron's face twisted with barely contained rage. "You're mine, Valentina. Don't forget that."
Valentina laughed softly, stepping closer to him with a mocking smile. She tilted her head, her long pinkish-purple hair cascading over one shoulder.
"Am I?" she asked, voice dripping with amusement. "Last time I checked, I belong to no one but myself."
"VALENTINA!!!" Baron shouted, his voice cracking with fury.
"Aish, don't shout, Baron," she replied, covering one ear with a bored expression as she lifted one leg and crossed it over the other. She looked at him with dark amusement. "Didn't you say you wanted to make him your lackey? Against the main family line?"
Baron's face slowly returned to a more controlled expression. "I did. So?"
Valentina's eyes sparkled with anticipation and hidden motives. "What if I make him my slave instead? Isn't that better? A Mythic-class slave…"
Baron sat down beside her with a heavy sigh, rubbing his temple.
"Didn't I tell you not to deal with lowlifes? I can make that bastard crawl by myself."
Valentina laughed again, the sound rich and unconcerned. She didn't reply, but her eyes gleamed with private thoughts.
We'll see…