Flash — five cards of the same suit. And how could I forget about this combination? When I think about how many opportunities are wasted… Anyway, the main thing is, I won, the rest is bullshit. Now I was sitting at one of the glass tables with Aneko and drinking juice, snacking on something airy and creamy. The end of the game was marked by applause, I would even say ovations from the people around us. However, I did not understand who they were intended for: to me as a winner or to me as a Risk taker. It's not every day that ancestral lands are put on the line. I suspect that not every decade. The receipt was dismissed by an employee of the hall, explaining to me that I would receive the papers for the lands already issued in my name tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and the prince's courier would deliver them. In the meantime, I can relax, chat with the guests and wait for the auction, which should start an hour after the last game ends. Well, now, about half an hour before the start of trading, I watched Sogi and Ishikawa approach our table, accompanied by their wives, apparently.
— Well, Sakurai-kun, — Ishikawa asked after introducing our ladies to each other, — what do you say about this evening?
— The level of people who came is amazing. I didn't know there were so many poker fans among the aristocrats of the empire.
— Ha ha. To get here, you will become everything. There are not so many true connoisseurs, unfortunately, — said Soga.
— And you, as I see, decided to stay at the auction?
— Well, I have to thank Aneko-san for the luck that she brought me, — I spread my hands. At these words, the girl squinted in my direction and pulled a smile from the corner of her lips. — I hope there will be at least something suitable.
"Don't worry about that, Ishikawa—san and I decided to stay for today's auction for the same reason. Gifts to wives are sacred.
"You won't buy it once, then they'll remind you of it for ten years," put in Father zelenovoloski.
— Kisho-san! Michiko exclaimed. — How can I?
— I'm silent, I'm silent.
After ten minutes of conversation, Hatano and his wife joined us. His full name, as it turned out, was Hatano Osamu, and he came from an ancient family of the imperial aristocracy, which had been associated with the sea and ships for four hundred years. The eldest sons went to the merchant navy, and the younger ones went to the military. Also, Rod Hatano owned a small private shipyard that produces luxury yachts. Abruptly scrolling through the information I had just received in my head, I admitted that I only understand the ship's armament, if there is one.
— Do you really understand?
Considering that at least half of these weapons were forced to teach me back in my world, and I studied the second one when I tried to delve into this issue already here…
— You may not believe it, but it's true. In... a few years, I'm going to buy a shipyard one way or another and start producing something like combat boats. Ideally, the same yachts, but armed to the very top.
— Heh, almost a competitor? he chuckled.
— It's unlikely. I definitely do not intend to stop at boats.
— Quite a lot of plans for such a young age.
"Just one of many, Hatano—san. Just one of many.
— It will be interesting to discuss the development of such ships... when the time comes.
— Really… As a combat officer, you will be able to make a lot of suggestions.
— In a few years? Hatano said thoughtfully. — I think Soga-san can also make a lot of suggestions. Still, his clan has been engaged in weapons for hundreds of years.
— I would be grateful to touch the wisdom of more experienced ones. But surely Soga-san is a pretty busy person," I replied with a respectful smile.
— Well... I think I can allocate time for educating young people. In... a few years.
Phew. A preliminary agreement has been concluded. Now we need to raise the project postponed until better times and think it over carefully in the light of new circumstances.
During the hour that was allocated for the preparation for the auction, strong men took away the poker tables and brought additional glass tables with chairs. Also, tables appeared in the hall, on which some equipment and a huge liquid crystal screen were placed. They brought a couple of speakers and a podium made of ebony. The fuss had subsided—the auction was due to start any minute. And now the prince comes to the podium:
— Greetings once again. I will not make speeches, I will only say that the pride of today's auction is jewelry. Lots, as always, are rare, unique, unusual and just funny. Let's welcome Nishizono Satoru, our permanent auctioneer.
The first lot was a painting of an eel, stolen from some Frenchman about forty years ago, which is why this Frenchman had a heart attack. The painting went for six hundred and eighteen thousand. Then they presented a battered-looking golden nail, which allegedly closed the construction of the first railway in Japan. But the third lot surprised me. It was the same statuette for which a certain Indian and two of his fellow Veterans died. I hope Akemi did not lose and gave the raccoon to someone who needed it. We bought this piece of clay for ten million kopecks. The fourth lot was an artifact in the form of... I don't even know... a piece of dirt, perhaps. Despite its unpresentable appearance, the artifact could structure the flows of the bahir, which slightly increased the speed of creating the technique. He left for a ridiculous, as for me, the sum of one hundred and twenty-three million rubles. And finally, the first decoration. Platinum necklace in the form of many small flowers encrusted with diamonds. It originally belonged to an Indian princess who followed her deceased husband to the bonfire. Who, in turn, was killed by a representative of the Soga clan one hundred and eighty years ago.
— It seems to me that a thing with such a history should not hang around the neck of such a beautiful lady as you, madam. Or am I wrong? I whispered, bending down to the girl's ear.
— Too pretentious. And yes, you're right, the story is so-so.
But she may refuse to accept gifts from me at all. And we are not very familiar with her, and the lots here are not cheap, and I ... am not the limit of the dreams of the first girl of the clan. How would it be so unobtrusively to clarify this point? However, I am a commoner, you can ask me a direct question. I'll do that.
— Tell me, Aneko, — to hell with it, sometimes it's harmful for commoners, — and your relatives won't mind if I make you an expensive gift?
— Why would that be?
Not exactly what I wanted to hear. Let's push:
"A commoner giving a few million worth of jewelry to a high—born woman... isn't that too brazen?
— What kind of nonsense?
She doesn't seem to be catching up.
— So if I give you something I bought at this auction, no one will tell me anything?
— Of course!
— That's great.
Indeed, figs she will now refuse. Permission has been given.
Defiantly fidgeting on the chair, I cast another glance at Aneko, who was looking at me with slightly narrowed eyes. Then, rolling her eyes for a moment, she pretended to sigh heavily. Wonderful, carte blanche is given.
The next three lots were combat artifacts: a dagger, a short sword, a European style and ... a pistol, perhaps, only instead of a barrel there was an awl. The knife, by the way, is cool. They called him an Autopsy Man and said that with his help you can summon up to eight earth wolves. He left for four hundred and ninety-five million. Rough. The cost of a good such destroyer.
So, what do we have there? Earrings, a necklace made of transparent plates... a metal glove! M-yes-a-a. Oh, this will do. Platinum pendant decorated with sapphire. How many carats, I listened, but in size — five centimeters. Melania's Tear is an artifact that slightly enhances lightning—based techniques.
- hm. Aneko, beauty, I have a question here.
— I'm listening, Shinji.
— Does everyone in your family radiate lightning?
— Absolutely.
— Do you like sapphires?
— Well, how to say… I would have found a suitable dress for this pendant.
—I like sapphires," I blurted out at random. — Fifty! I raised my voice, raising my hand.
In the end, I got the pendant for ninety-eight million. The most expensive piece of jewelry I bought in both worlds. It would be nice to also buy something for yourself, just for the sake of status.
The next lot that interested me was a ten-centimeter cube glued together from small golden balls. And, judging by how the hall stirred after the appearance of this thing on the screen, the cube is known to the people.
—Yes, yes, gentlemen,— the auctioneer was saying. — Your eyes do not deceive you — this
is it
. The cube of silence. The artifact belongs to the class of "suppressors". Able to block the use of bahir. Completely, gentlemen, and not as Simon's blocker. And there is no protection against it.
Humanity knows only two ways to block abilities based on bahir. These are artifacts of the "suppressor" class, similar to the cube currently presented, and the Simon blocker, invented by British scientists in the sixty-seventh. Because of the rumors leaked about the blocker at that time, the Third World War almost broke out, which the Limes preferred not to unleash by publishing the research. On the one hand, the stupidest thing to do is to give
such a
a trump card, but the fact is that the British blocker is actually not suitable for much. No, it blocks the possibility of using bahir, even the techniques themselves become less deadly, although they do not disappear completely, only the installation turns out to be the size of a cargo container, and at the same time the coverage area is only fifty meters. That is, in battle, and not only, Simon's blocker is not particularly used. And now add that it is quite easy to protect yourself from it, it is enough to have any kind of corundum or its synthetic substitute with you. I put on a couple of rings with a sapphire or a ruby there — and that's it, you're protected. But there are cheaper options. The only thing that makes the product of people differ favorably from artifacts is that the blocker is able to change the intensity of the impact, which just perfectly fits into the sports life of the planet. Now you don't have to worry that at some tournament opponents will get into a rage and kill each other. Complete with clothes made of dilettante fabric, the development of the British practically eliminated deaths.