Inside the auction hall.
Everyone stared in disbelief at the lively red baboon hopping around on the stage. Their expressions were filled with utter astonishment.
Especially the physician who had just questioned the credibility of the item—his jaw nearly hit the floor.
He was a professional physician nearing the Gold rank, and even when he used his most powerful healing skill, he couldn't bring back a red baboon that had been cleanly severed at the waist. The injury had been utterly fatal.
But now… it was practically resurrection!
He could say with certainty that even a Diamond-rank class physician wouldn't be able to replicate the effect that the green bandage had just achieved.
After all, the red baboon wasn't just any creature—it was a magical beast.
Magical beasts possessed bodies far tougher and more resilient than humans, but the trade-off was that once injured, the difficulty of a full recovery increased exponentially.
What's more, the green bandage had healed the baboon in an instant.
In that moment, every awakener present in the hall stared at the green-glowing bandage with burning desire and greed in their eyes.
Who in this world can live without ever getting hurt?
Recovery-type items were always in high demand, no matter where you went.
And this wasn't just any recovery item—it was extraordinarily powerful.
"What an astonishing life force... This bandage must be able to heal any injury!"
"No wonder it has such a high starting price. In a life-or-death moment, it's like having an extra life!"
At this moment, all the major tycoons and top-tier awakeners in Winterhold were breathing heavily, unable to take their eyes off the green bandage.
A treasure like this had never appeared before in Winterhold.
Whether it was used to heal oneself in a time of need or stored away as a precious asset, it was a brilliant investment.
If they missed this opportunity now, there might never be another like it in the future.
The auction hall, already buzzing with chatter, had now turned into complete chaos.
Every family and force with deep foundations had their sights set on the bandage.
But before anyone could even raise a bid, Appraiser Robert once again raised his voice.
"Everyone, please calm down. This green bandage doesn't just contain an incredibly potent life force—it also possesses another, equally important, ability."
As he spoke, a glint of light flashed from his storage ring.
A Hellwing Drake, caged just moments ago, was suddenly released into the hall. It soared above the crowd, circling menacingly, casting a heavy atmosphere of decay and despair from above.
"Hellwing Drake! That's a spirit beast from Hell—it has mind-corrupting powers!"
"Why the hell did Robert release that thing?! That's a death-type magical beast! Normal attacks hardly work on it!"
"If the Hellwing Drake runs amok in here, most of us will end up as lunatics!"
The moment they laid eyes on the horrifying and enraged Hellwing Drake, panic rippled through the crowd.
These kinds of evil spirits were notoriously troublesome and had a severe mental impact on most classes. Wherever they appeared, people would lose their minds or spiral into madness.
Some lower-tier awakeners immediately began retreating, terrified that they might be tainted by the dreadful aura emanating from the beast's wings.
Szzzz!
Suddenly, the arrogant Hellwing Drake, which had been flapping its wings ferociously, began to writhe in agony, letting out an ear-piercing screech.
Everyone looked closer and gasped—Appraiser Robert was holding the green bandage in one hand and lashing it at the Hellwing Drake like a whip.
Every time the bandage struck the beast, its body would blur and dissipate, as if melting snow under sunlight.
The Hellwing Drake was disintegrating before their eyes!
The scene stunned everyone in the hall.
That was a death-type magical beast—notoriously difficult to deal with. Most skills simply passed through them like air. They were some of the most dreaded creatures among awakeners.
And yet, it was vanishing in a matter of seconds.
"What a dense holy aura! Was the Hellwing Drake just purified?"
Quickly, some of the more experienced awakeners widened their eyes and stared hard at the green bandage in Robert's hands.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Robert clutched the bandage tightly, unable to hide his admiration.
"This bandage," he exclaimed, "is the most unbelievable item I've ever come across in my entire career as an appraiser. Not only does it contain an immense life force, but it also houses a powerful holy purification energy. Against the toughest death-type magical beasts, it exerts absolute suppression!"
"In the future, death-type magical beasts will actually become the easiest opponents when you have this bandage in hand."
Holy Attribute!
Purification Power!
Once Robert confirmed it, the entire venue erupted into a storm of voices.
"This bandage is god-tier! Who the hell crafted something this powerful? It has top-tier healing, carries a holy aura, and is super effective against death-type and toxic-based techniques. It's the strongest and most practical tool I've ever seen!"
"But why the heck is it shaped like a bandage? Shouldn't it have been made into a wand or staff? Unless… the craftsman intentionally kept it low-key?"
At that moment, every well-off awakener in the crowd found themselves coveting the green bandage more than ever before.
The atmosphere grew increasingly heated. Families and wealthy powers were eyeing each other, tension rising like the air before a storm.
Inside one of the private boxes, John smiled slightly.
"That appraiser Robert is truly something," he muttered. "He even figured out the bandage contains a hidden holy buff."
Although the bandage's main function was healing, its holy attribute shouldn't be underestimated. After all, holy energy had an innate advantage over many forms of evil.
"And now," Robert's voice rang out again, "we will begin the auction for this unique green bandage that contains both healing and holy purification properties!"
"The starting price is 500 silver coins! Each increase must be no less than 50 silver coins!"
As his gavel struck the platform, the hall fell into an instant silence.
Then, just as quickly, chaos erupted once more. Everyone who had been eyeing the bandage now burst out in a frenzy of bids.
"1000 silver coins!"
A burly man with a scarred face immediately doubled the starting price.
Clearly, he knew this item's value far exceeded 500 silver coins. By bidding high right away, he hoped to scare off some of the weaker competition.
"I haven't seen a strong healing tool in ages. There's no way I'm missing out—1200 silver coins!"
"Trying to take this at 1200? I'm Winterhold's richest man! Spare me the trouble, and we'll be friends. 2000 silver coins!"
A hoarse voice echoed from an elderly woman with silver hair, seated at the front of a VIP section.
Her offer brought a moment of silence to the hall.
2000 silver coins—for a single item. That price shattered the previous auction record in Winterhold's history.
Everyone recalled that the last record-breaking item had been an A-Class profession scroll, which had fetched a whopping 1200 silver coins and shook the entire city.
Now, with the green bandage still far from its final bid, the previous record had already been left in the dust.