Chapter 375 - 374: The Card

Chapter 375: Chapter 374: The Card

Seraphina Sinclair immediately inspected the item’s detailed functions.

The auction house hadn’t made any false claims about its functions; it really could simulate sunlight and release a nutrient-rich mist. You could place plants inside and then simply leave them be.

The device would care for the plants until they matured, at which point it would send another notification.

Seraphina Sinclair was very satisfied with this, but the device had one incredibly fatal flaw.

All the Portable Ecological Maintenance Device’s functions were powered by compressed energy blocks. Moreover, its energy consumption wasn’t calculated based on time per block like the training room; instead, it was determined by the number of plants being cultivated.

After all, the energy provided by each compressed energy block was fixed. Naturally, growing one crop versus two would require different amounts of energy, and thus a different number of compressed energy blocks.

This meant that if Seraphina Sinclair wanted to cultivate plants on a large scale and grow her own crops for self-sufficiency, she would need massive quantities of compressed energy blocks.

And this wasn’t the only thing she had that required compressed energy blocks...

Seraphina Sinclair had originally thought that gathering one hundred compressed energy blocks to craft the training room would be the end of it. She never expected that was only the beginning.

Seraphina Sinclair sighed, then checked how to repair the device.

She didn’t have a D-level repair toolbox, but she had quite a few E-level ones.

’If I use a few more... it should be repairable, right?’

Without wasting any time, Seraphina Sinclair took a few repair toolboxes from her Silver Moon Earrings and got to work on the repairs.

’She won a broken item at auction and just started repairing it immediately?’

’Even though she isn’t doing it by hand, isn’t this a bit too... down-to-earth?’

This was the first time the guide system had ever encountered such a peculiar VIP.

The other guests it had encountered were either arrogant, practically screaming ’I’m rich,’ or they were pompous, always speaking to it in a commanding tone.

A guest like this was a true rarity...

With this in mind, it took the initiative to ask for the first time, "Distinguished guest, shall I bring you your complimentary beverage? Additionally, would you like something to eat? We provide meals for guests who are actively participating in the auction."

Seraphina Sinclair hadn’t eaten yet, as a matter of fact.

She had originally planned on gnawing on some jerky from her Silver Moon Earrings after the auction, but she hadn’t expected meals to be an option.

The requirement was quite strict, though—only for guests who were actively participating in the auction.

Seraphina Sinclair was almost certain that even many regulars of the auction house were unaware of this rule.

She understood the guide system was making a friendly overture, perhaps because it saw her value as a high-potential guest, or perhaps for some other reason.

In any case, she accepted the gesture and had no intention of refusing.

"Yes, please. Thank you." Seraphina Sinclair gave a slight nod. "As for the food, what are the options?"

"Of course, distinguished guest." The guide system’s voice seemed a little more cheerful. "We offer three standard meal options. First is the Rapid Replenishment Set, which is primarily nutrient paste and energy bars. It provides efficient energy supplementation within five minutes, but as for the taste..."

It trailed off, but Seraphina Sinclair could guess the rest.

"The second is the Custom Soothing Set, which can fine-tune its nutritional components based on your real-time physiological indicators and comes with a mild Spirit-soothing effect. Preparation takes about ten minutes. Lastly, there’s the Auction House Standard Set, which includes a hot main dish, side dishes, and soup, and requires about fifteen minutes to eat."

It paused for a moment before adding, "The specific contents of the latter two sets are random, but all meals are guaranteed to be safe and will not leave any lingering odors in the room. As a VIP receiving this service for the first time, you may choose any of them, free of charge, courtesy of the auction house."

’Nutrient paste was out of the question. As for the other two...’

’Weren’t a hot main dish and side dishes what the waiter usually prepared for her? On the other hand, she’d never had this ’soothing set’ before. Since it was free, she might as well try something new.’

"I’ll have the ’Custom Soothing Set,’ please."

"Understood. Your order has been placed. The estimated preparation time is ten minutes."

The guide system responded, and simultaneously, a small countdown icon quietly appeared next to the main auction interface floating before Seraphina Sinclair. It read: "Meal preparation: Approx. 10 min."

The order was placed. Now, all she had to do was wait.

Seraphina Sinclair relaxed and turned her attention back to the Portable Ecological Maintenance Device. After using up several E-level repair toolboxes, the "Damaged" status displayed next to the item’s name disappeared.

To her slight disappointment, its grade hadn’t changed; it was still D-level.

Seraphina Sinclair stared at the Description page, thinking for a good while before she figured out what the repairs had changed.

Previously, cultivating a single crop required a full ten compressed energy blocks. Now, it only needed five. The cost had been cut in half.

Seraphina Sinclair’s eyes lit up. This was an excellent result.

It would be incredibly useful, no matter what she used it for in the future.

After stowing the device, Seraphina Sinclair turned her attention back to the auction.

The auction had entered its latter half. On the public channel, the attention of many had drifted from the items, and the number of participants had dropped by more than half. Seraphina Sinclair also noticed that the quality of items in this latter half had clearly declined.

Before, the items had at least been D-level, but now even E-level items were showing up.

Seraphina Sinclair looked them over one by one. While these items weren’t common, their applications were extremely niche.

It was like that D-level blueprint Nightingale had gotten. Who would want to set off a fireworks show in The Black Mist World?

After another item went unsold, a new lot appeared on the stage.

Seraphina Sinclair’s gaze sharpened.

On the block was... a card.

This unique item seemed to recapture the attention of the other participants, and the public channel buzzed with activity once more:

"A card?"

"What is it? A door card?"

"What good could a card that shows up in an E-level auction possibly be?"

"What’s that supposed to mean? What if it’s a Sealing Card?"

"A Sealing Card? Are you nuts? This is an E-level auction. The best you’ll see is a D-level item! Sealing Cards are either A-level or S-Class! No way!"

"What’s a Sealing Card?"

No one answered, the discussion still focused on the card about to be auctioned.

"Then what could it be?"

"A Navigation Card, maybe? Or just codex information. Both are pretty useless."

"What’s a Navigation Card? And what’s codex information?"

"The poster above is human, right? Only humans are this ignorant, constantly spamming the public channel with questions! Have some damn manners. That expert before answered so many of your questions, and you didn’t even say thanks."

"Seriously. So tactless."

"Sigh... Humans, right? I’m used to it."