The alluring pink glow emitted by the orb spread throughout the auction venue like a tangible mist, but since it was merely a faint light, it seemed to have gone unnoticed by most people present.

Even though it was only half of the 【Bewitching Orb】, could it naturally stir up the deepest desires and madness within people’s hearts…

Is the 【Bewitching Orb】 indeed so effective, or…

Discreetly, Miss White Fox glanced at the two people beside her. With the abilities displayed by the diviner and the Bright Light Saintess, Violet found it hard to believe that this residual power could affect them, and they had likely already noticed the situation below.

Yet… there was no reaction. Both remained silently focused on the unfolding situation, showing no intention of intervening or stopping the proceedings.

Recalling some of the things they had casually mentioned earlier, Violet understood the situation and chose to remain silent and observant as well.

The bidding below, influenced by some invisible force, had escalated further and was starting to veer into unusual territory. However, most of the attendees remained oblivious to these changes. They continued to throw out all the wealth they could think of, just to obtain the small crystal that emitted a bizarrely alluring sheen.

Perhaps some attendees, like the powerful and well-connected figure from the Austre Empire whom Violet had noticed earlier, such as the strong and shrewd Seer Wycliffe, had already sensed something was amiss and were beginning to prepare countermeasures. However, such individuals were extremely few, maybe not even one-tenth of the total.

So, at some point, in the once orderly auction hall where only verbal bidding and arguments had been taking place, a middle-aged man in magnificent armor, with a robust build and remarkable demeanor, suddenly punched a nearby half-beastman with great force!

“Dammit! Who do you think you are, daring to compete with us from the Olai Kingdom!!!”

The punch was both swift and brutal, clearly delivered by a man of considerable strength. The half-beastman, caught completely off guard, was hit squarely in the face and was sent flying backward!

The massive body crashed into numerous seats like a projectile, causing chaos and mayhem among the crowd. Blood and debris were scattered everywhere, and the situation below became instantly chaotic.

However, the half-beastman was clearly not an ordinary character. Despite the heavy blow, he seemed to have only sustained minor injuries. Most of the large bloodstains actually came from the unfortunate bystanders he had collided with.

“Roar! You’re asking for death!”

Wiping the blood from his face and spitting out broken teeth, the half-beastman’s injuries seemed to have only provoked the beastly fury within him. Ignoring the surroundings, he let out a furious, wild roar and charged at the man who claimed to be from the Olai Kingdom, engaging him in a fierce struggle!

And it wasn’t just them.

“I’ve been itching to beat the crap out of you for a while! You like to deliberately drive up the price, huh? Well, I’ll show you!”

“Want to fight? Bring it on! Whoever backs down is a coward!”

The sudden eruption of violence was like a spark falling into a barrel of explosives. The massive venue was immediately plunged into unimaginable chaos.

There were fights fueled by rage, curses and shoves, people hurriedly dodging out of fear, and even some individuals trying to take advantage of the situation to rush the central stage and snatch the 【Bewitching Orb】. Order was completely thrown into disarray.

The guards from the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild quickly mobilized to try to restore order and quell the disturbance. However, it seemed that the conflict had long been brewing, and with many participants possessing various skills and even being renowned strong figures, there was a shortage of personnel to manage the situation effectively.

After all, the guards’ primary task was to protect the treasure on the display, the 【Bewitching Orb】 with its alluring power, while other concerns were secondary.

The young auctioneer from the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild, clearly quick on his feet, saw that things were going south and had no intention of stepping in to maintain order. He didn’t dare touch the dangerously close 【Bewitching Orb】 and instead quickly retreated backstage, whether to call for backup or simply to hide was unclear.

The numerous guards from the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild surrounded the 【Bewitching Orb】 on the stage, making it impenetrable. In a short time, they had already subdued and knocked out several individuals attempting to seize the treasure amidst the chaos.

“Ah, it’s really lively down there~”

Sitting on the high platform, the fox girl watched the chaotic scene below with a light laugh, as if she was watching a good show. Mr. Diviner beside her, a high-ranking member of the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild, seemed in no hurry and casually engaged the girl in conversation.

“So, Miss Dawn, are you satisfied with this performance?”

“Wow… so you really intended to induce things to turn out like this?”

Mr. Diviner smiled.

“Oh, of course not. We at the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild would never deliberately cause trouble for ourselves. It’s just that we didn’t intervene with some little rats hiding in the shadows, letting them run wild. Just keep watching, Miss Dawn. The real show is only just beginning…”

At this point, Mr. Diviner meaningfully shifted his “gaze” toward the blonde Saintess on the other side.

“I wonder how Her Highness Yuna’s preparations are coming along?”

The golden-haired Saintess, also sitting high on the platform and observing coldly, nodded slightly. In her translucent, gem-like, pale blue eyes, there was a flicker of pity and helplessness.

“The desires of the people are even deeper than the darkness of the Abyss of the Far South. Just with the 【Bewitching Orb】 split into two halves and a few minor tricks, these nobles and powerful figures are fighting each other like common folk. It’s pitiful… May the light cleanse their hearts and bring hope and redemption…”

“Indeed. Otherwise, how would demons, who feed on the desires of living beings, continuously and persistently harass this world? Desire is a driving force, but if one cannot practice self-control, it will also become a source of destruction.”

While the Diviner and the Saintess on the high platform remained leisurely discussing the situation, the scene below suddenly changed drastically!

Dozens of powerful figures, scattered around and engaged in various activities, whether fighting or observing, suddenly seemed to respond to some unseen call.

Their eyes, now shimmering with a faint pink glow, were filled with an intense hunger as if they had seen bread after starving for days. They all simultaneously charged toward the treasure on the stage!

“The orb! The 【Bewitching Orb】 is mine!!!”