"Urgh..." Charles Rent felt a strong stream of warm liquid running up his throat, but he shallowed it in. Almost half of the Aura stones he brought, was spent on 4 Tier 2 pills, while there were 5 more of them. He struggled to sit straight, however, quickly regaining his consciousness. [The Giftir Amaryllis will still be mine for sure. After the auction, I will kill that boy and ask my nephew to send his body online to embarrass everyone associated with him.]
"The lowest bid starts at 2 Aura stones this time. Begin!" Concluding that one of their major competitors has lost the interest against the Tier 2 low grade Aura restoration pills, the auction house was packed with voices.
"All right kid." The middle aged man walked towards Atlas, declaring 12 Aura stones as the auctioneer chanted. "I know you probably don't even want the pills because you probably contributed it. No need to answer, I'll make a deal with you. Since you managed to embarrass that old bastard, I'll raise it to 20 just to make a new friend. After all, my enemy's enemy is my friend."
"16 Aura stone." The middle aged man declared the highest bid against a Tier 9 Tyro Aura Master.
"Deal!" Atlas smiled as the middle aged man shouted out 20 Aura stones, shutting the Aura Masters mouth.
"20 Aura stones going once. Twice. Sold! Congratulations on the 5 Tier 2 low grade Aura restoration pill!
It sounded like an insult to Charles.
He received 4 pills for 25 Aura stones, while his nemesis received 5 pills for 20 Aura stones! He couldn't stand this humiliation.
"Sorry to interrupt, but this auction is god damn rigged. This kid over here and the auctioneer are cheating our money and Aura stones!" Charles promulgated as he slammed the iron fence up in the gallery to grab attention. The fence bent inward, a fist imprint visible on the iron surface.
"Charles Rent. Are you assuming the integrity and reputation of the Kolt Organization? Do you think you possess the superiority to challenge today's auction?" Two presence instantly targeted onto him in hidden corners. The tension escalated.
The old man clenched his fist, answering in a clearly less righteous tone. "That's not I'm referring to. I was just wondering. Can a teenager like this boy even afford that many Aura stones? Isn't that a flaw in the system of bidding?"
"So now you're basically questioning the virtuousness of the clients and guests we have selected for tonight's auction?" Laura sustained to hold the upper hand.
The middle aged Axonn took the advantage. "Don't you think it's too rash to associate nonexistent scams with all the people in this stadium? In fact, you are the only one suggesting that! None here supports your frantic lies!"
Charles attempted to return the favor, until another presence reigned over him from the right. He turned to that direction, only to meet Atlas's threatening glower.
[The Third Eye. He's an Axonn too?] Both Axonns were traumatized at this point.
"I think I've proven my innocence." The presence vanished. "Problem solved, can we carry on with the auction?"
The two other mysterious Axonns withdrew their Third Eye, and Charles slumped on his seat, fiery rage encapsulating him.
"I apologize for the uncanny interruption. Why don't we proceed on with the next item?" Laura relieved the atmosphere with a few words, introducing the next item, which was a silver Battle Axe, forged with modern technology and precious metals. It was purchased by a Rank 8 Elite Aura Master for 23 million.
"Next up is what many of you have been anticipating! Theeeee Giftir Amaryllis!"
An extremely common looking clover, about the size of an adult's hand, was delivered up the stage. It had three leaves, dyed in muddy yellow, with immense amount of Aura emitting out from each of them. The appeasing smell roused the whole stadium, and Atlas's breathing intensified.
"Do you need that?" Kristine noticed the exhilaration and desperation in his eyes. She nudged his shirt. "I'll try my best to sponsor you."
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary Vanellope." He smiled warmly. It made her heart skip an extra beat.
"The lowest bid starts at 5 Aura stones...." Before Laura has even ended the sentence, the audience were already shouting out numbers.
"15 Aura stones." Atlas added onto the previous bid, soon drowned by the higher biddings.
"28 Aura stones." Charles broke the cacophony, a confident smile formed on his face.
"29." The middle aged Axonn said.
"30 Aura stones." Atlas threw out a higher number, dipping his head towards Charles provocatively.
"35." The gap increased by 5.
The middle aged Axonn shrugged at his female companion, a Tier 7 Elite. They are out of the competition.
"37." Atlas calculated. [Twenty plus twenty five, that's fifty five. I mean forty five. 10 percent commission... 4.5 can round off to... 5 Aura stones. As long as he has below 40...]
The next declaration ruined his plans. "40 Aura stones!" Charles face turned ice cold for a second. He brought 65 Aura stones. That was his last straw. Atlas caught that expression.
"40 Aura stones going once..." Laura's voice grabbed the attention of all, and Atlas saw the 4 fingers on Laura's hand. [4 stones. She rounded off to 4.]
Atlas prayed hallelujah and released a maniacal laugh. "41 Aura stones."
There was a moment of silence before a deafening metallic screech reverberated across the auction house, the result of an Axonn clawing through the iron fence. His wrinkles squirmed as he spoke into a device, leaving the auction along with 7 or 8 Warriors scattered around the auction arena.
"The last item of tonight is a rather recherché equipment. Many of you have obtained a desired weapons already, but what about an armor? Sturdy enough to withstand at least two strikes from an Tier 1 Axonn, it can save your life! The lowest starts at 50 million!"
The audience went ebullient and berserk once again for this once in a blue moon opportunity.
Uninterested, Atlas gently closed his eyes, putting on his ocean blue earphones. "Vanellope. You should linger to the end of auction. I'm going outside to settle some business."
"No. What are you thinking? It's definitely an ambush!" Kristine squeezed his arm, yanking him back with worry.
"No worries." Atlas swiped between playlists, selecting one titled 'Sleeping Songs'. He slid off her grasp, giving her an assuring tap on her elegant hand.
"Worrying is no need. I'm strong."
The music in his earphones blared a jumpy rhythm despite it emanating from a playlist called 'Sleeping Songs'.
The registration area was dead silent when Atlas retrieved his Giftir Amaryllis. Eerie and depressing were the only words to describe the night.
He warmed himself up at the entrance gate, syncing into the rhythm of the music with every movement as he stepped foot into the danger that lurks in the darkness.