The leader gritted his teeth, his dagger glowing faintly with enchanted energy. He dashed forward again, this time faster and more precise. Leon''s axe intercepted the blow with ease, but the leader twisted, aiming a second strike at Leon''s side.

    Anticipating the move, Leon used his free hand to grab the leader''s wrist mid-strike. His grip was like iron, and the leader''s expression turned to one of panic.@@@@

    "You really thought this would end well for you?" Leon said, his voice low and dangerous.

    With a quick motion, Leon disarmed the leader, sending the enchanted dagger clattering to the ground. He followed up with a swift knee to the man''s stomach, causing him to collapse in a heap.

    The remaining thugs exchanged nervous glances, their resolve crumbling. One by one, they began retreating, dragging their unconscious or injured comrades with them.

    As the chaos subsided, the shop guards finally intervened, though they seemed more impressed than concerned. One of them, a grizzled veteran, approached Leon with a nod.

    "Impressive work, Ascender. We''ve been watching that group for a while. They''ve been causing trouble for others too."

    " Why don''t you guys deal with them too? " Leon asked curious.

    " Didn''t you see they didn''t harm any shops or even any other residents" Guard shrugged as Leon looked around, and nodded " Yes, it didn''t even look like there was an fight just now" He said impresses by their efficiency.

    " They cause trouble like this, avoiding breaking any Tower association laws, hence we can''t do anything about them, as for fights between ascenders, Tower official encourages it as the ascending system is easy, people can just complete some tasks and ascend " Guard said.

    " Still, there are always people like you who took care of them " He said looking at Leon approvingly.

    Leon shrugged, resting his axe on his shoulder. "They picked the wrong target today." Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

    The guard chuckled. "Fair enough. Still, you might want to be careful. If they were working for someone higher up, this might not be the last you see of them."

    "I''ll keep that in mind," Leon said, turning towards the next destination.

    He had heard of the Auction going to happen three hours from now and it''s an weekly based Auction, where people can find many good things, so Leon decided to participate in it.

    As for money, he has his charity system to take care of.

    Leon made his way through the bustling streets, his axe now securely put back in his inventory. The Tower''s intricate and well-maintained pathways led him to the central plaza, where the auction hall stood—a grand structure with golden accents and large, ornate doors. The excitement of the crowd was palpable, with people of all classes and origins discussing the rare items rumored to be featured in today''s event.

    Before entering, Leon glanced at his "charity system." With a smirk, he mentally accessed the resources he''d gathered during his time in the Tower. A generous "donation" from defeated opponents and completed quests ensured he had enough funds to outbid most challengers.

    "Let''s see what treasures this auction holds," Leon muttered as he stepped inside.

    The interior of the auction hall was luxurious, with rows of plush seating arranged in tiers for optimal viewing. A large stage dominated the room, adorned with glowing symbols that enhanced visibility and protected the displayed items from potential theft or sabotage.

    Leon secured a seat in the mid-tier section, blending in with the crowd while still keeping an eye on the higher-tier VIP section above. The attendees varied from well-dressed merchants to rugged adventurers, each with their own motivations for being here.

    "Come on, give me another bid!" the auctioneer urged, raising her gavel dramatically. Her movements caused her dress to accentuate her figure, drawing the attention of many men and a few amused glances from women.

    "14—" someone began, hesitating.

    "20,000!" Leon interrupted with a commanding bid, silencing the room.

    The auctioneer''s radiant smile returned, and she cast a sweet glance toward Leon. "It always works," she thought smugly, assuming he''d been charmed.

    Leon, however, remained unfazed. "I just wanted to end the bidding quickly," he mused, indifferent to the ploy.

    As the gauntlets were handed over, the auctioneer moved to the next item.

    "Our next item is..."

    A series of items followed, and Leon watched with mild interest until one caught his attention—a Bright-Scaled Dragon Sword.

    "This sword, though currently graded as Uncommon, was once a legendary artifact in its prime," the auctioneer announced.

    The blade was chipped, its hilt missing, and numerous cracks ran along its length, making it look like it would shatter with a single swing.

    "While it is no longer usable as a sword, we are not selling it as a weapon but rather for the materials it contains," she added, immediately sparking interest.

    "If reforged by a Grandmaster Blacksmith, the Bright Dragon Scales within can be extracted to create a dagger of legendary quality," she explained, her words causing a stir in the audience.

    Many participants sat up straighter, their gazes fixed on the broken sword.

    Meanwhile, in VIP Room 3, Hades lounged comfortably, three scantily clad maids draped over him. Their barely-there shirts left little to the imagination as they giggled at his roaming hands.

    But as soon as he heard about the Bright Dragon Scales, his demeanor changed. He shoved the maids aside, his heated gaze locked on the stage.

    "That''s it—I want it," he declared, eyes blazing with desire as he stared at the broken sword.

    " If I gift it to Arshia she will definitely go out with me " He mumbled to himself as he gazed at the dagger.

    The auctioneer smiled, sensing the growing intensity in the room. "The starting bid for the Bright-Scaled Dragon Sword is 5,000 gold coins," she announced, her tone confident as she knew this item would spark a fierce bidding war.

    "6,000!"

    "7,500!"

    "10,000!"

    The bids escalated rapidly, and the tension in the hall was palpable. Leon leaned back in his chair, observing the room''s energy with a smirk.