Everyone, Tony included, was surprised that they started with one of their special auction items right away. Last time it had been as the last few items only, the starting items had been normal stuff, sure rare and expensive, but the downright super natural stuff was saved for last.
Everyone quickly shut up and listened intensely to the introduction of the item.
"It appears our hosts are wasting no time tonight," Tony muttered to himself, his fingers tapping idly on his watch as he waited for the auctioneer to continue.
The auctioneer let the silence linger just a moment longer, savoring the building tension in the room before he continued. He approached the ring, nestled on its velvet cushion, with a reverent air.
"This is no ordinary jade artifact, ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice carrying a smooth authority. "SAI-714, or 'The Jade Ring,' is a relic of considerable power and mystery. It grants its wearer immunity to most toxins, infections, and even mental intrusions that might otherwise compromise one's will. It offers a defense few could replicate."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd, and a hand went up at the back of the room. The auctioneer acknowledged the guest with a slight nod.
"Are we to believe this ring would make one invulnerable to any form of poison?" asked Jackson Reed, his skeptical tone indicating he wasn't convinced by the sales pitch.
The auctioneer's smile widened, clearly anticipating the question. "An excellent query, Mr. Reed. While the ring's defensive properties are remarkable, they come at a trade-off. The wearer will find themselves increasingly fatigued, mentally sluggish—a small price for protection, though perhaps inconvenient if one's plans demand a sharp mind. The ring grants an impressive resilience, though not absolute immunity. It's most effective against fast-acting toxins, pathogens, and certain… forms of influence."
Jackson leaned back, eyes narrowed thoughtfully, while others in the room exchanged looks, clearly calculating how valuable this defense would be.
A second hand rose from Evelyn Crawley's VIP booth, her voice sharp and clear. "And how does it fare against mind control? Does the ring truly shield the wearer's will?"
The auctioneer's gaze turned to her with a flicker of respect. "Indeed, Lady Crawley. The ring can deflect attempts at mental influence and mind control. While not foolproof—some extremely powerful individuals or entities may still find ways around it—the Jade Ring offers a layer of mental fortitude unmatched by conventional methods. It's been studied under the most rigorous conditions, and its reliability in such matters is… rather impressive."
The crowd seemed to lean in, hanging on his every word. Another hand shot up; this time, it was Zhao Ming, the CEO from Eastern Energy Conglomerate.
"And what about long-term effects?" Zhao's voice carried a practical edge. "Is this something one can wear indefinitely, or will it wear down over time?"
The auctioneer smiled, enjoying the volley of questions. "An astute observation, Mr. Zhao. The ring's effects are bound to the wearer's stamina rather than the ring itself. While SAI-714 has demonstrated no degradation over centuries of use, one's own endurance dictates how long the ring's protection can be enjoyed at one time. Prolonged use will lead to cumulative fatigue—a reminder, perhaps, that power demands responsibility."
This seemed to satisfy most of the crowd, though their expressions were taut with anticipation. As the auctioneer stepped back, he spread his hands in an inviting gesture. "Now that we've clarified this artifact's remarkable, though nuanced, abilities… shall we begin the bidding?"
He held up his hand. "We will start at ten million."
As the auctioneer delved into the intricacies of SAI-714, Tony leaned back in his seat, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on the jade ring. It was the kind of item that could be invaluable to those constantly targeted—like himself. Immunity to poisons? Mental fortitude against mind control?
The applications were endless, especially in his line of work. But that trade-off—the drain on mental sharpness and stamina—made him wary. He knew better than most the price of relying on a tool that could backfire at a crucial moment.
It's a nice safeguard, he thought, but more trouble if it slows you down when you need it most. Still, he couldn't deny the appeal of such a "failsafe." He glanced around, noticing a few calculating expressions among the crowd. If nothing else, this ring could serve as a decoy—an attractive prize for someone else to fixate on, leaving his own agenda undisturbed.
A few seats over, Norman Osborn's gaze was locked on the ring, his expression betraying none of the hunger swirling in his mind. Immunity, he thought, not just from poisons, but potentially from… anything. The ring might even stave off his genetic instability, the creeping disorder in his cells that not even his most brilliant minds had managed to fix. A cure. A defense.
He clenched his jaw, his mind racing through the possibilities. He could wear it in high-stakes negotiations, assuring himself that no one's tricks could alter his thinking. Or he could keep it close, waiting for a day when his condition might reach a critical stage. A trump card, he thought, a slight smile ghosting across his face.
Norman's fingers twitched, ready to raise his hand as soon as bidding opened. This was a prize he wasn't going to let slip away. As the auctioneer finished his explanation, he shot a glance toward Tony's VIP booth, half-expecting his competitor to pounce. But to his surprise, Tony was simply watching, assessing the room. A small smirk tugged at the corner of Norman's mouth.
Fine by me, he thought. If Stark isn't biting, it just makes it easier. He could almost feel the jade ring in his grasp already.
As soon as the auctioneer opened with ten million, hands shot up like clockwork, each one barely waiting for the previous bid to register. In the blink of an eye, the price soared to fifty million, then seventy-five, as the room seemed to pulse with the electric tension of those who knew exactly what they wanted.
"Two hundred million," Evelyn Crawley announced, her voice cutting through the murmurs with practiced authority. Her eyes were fixed on the ring, but she spared a glance toward Osborn, as if daring him to match her determination.
Unfazed, Norman raised his card, voice calm but edged with resolve. "Five hundred million."
Tony raised an eyebrow, a flicker of admiration tempered by amusement. This was becoming more entertaining than he'd anticipated. Zhao Ming chimed in with six hundred million, his tone just as composed as if he were haggling over stocks, not a supernatural relic. For a brief moment, Tony entertained the thought of nudging the numbers up to a clean billion, but he decided to sit back, letting the others reveal just how far they'd go.
"Seven hundred million," Crawley countered, her gaze unflinching, but Osborn barely hesitated.
"One billion," he declared, his eyes gleaming with a steely intensity that left no doubt of his commitment. He barely registered the astonished whispers around him, and even Crawley's poised facade slipped just slightly.
With a satisfied smirk, Tony leaned forward, his gaze locked on Osborn. So that's the price of desperation.
The auctioneer, perfectly composed, nodded. "One billion from Mr. Osborn. Any further bids?"
The room seemed to hold its breath. Evelyn Crawley hesitated, her hand hovering as she weighed her options, but finally, she gave a slight shake of her head. Zhao Ming, though intrigued, signaled his own retreat, realizing Osborn's determination wasn't worth challenging.
"One billion, then. Going once… twice…"
With the final thunk of the gavel, the room erupted in a mix of applause and hushed murmurs as the auctioneer confirmed the sale. Norman sat back, his face a mask of satisfaction, his fingers itching to feel the ring's weight in his hands.
The auctioneer maintained his polished smile as he closed the bid, but behind the mask of professionalism, a thrill surged. One billion, he thought, savoring the figure. Even in this world of boundless wealth, such an amount wasn't something they easily threw around, yet here it was used on the very first item of the night.
Looking over at Osborn, the look in his eyes, he couldn't help but feel slightly bad for the poor man. The Ring, something they had once bought off someone who stole it from the SCP Foundation wasn't as simple as he had described.
Items the Foundation kept locked away wasn't so beneficial, or at least if they are, they are also far too well protected to end up under the hammer. SCP-714, the jade ring did indeed offer the protections he had mentioned.
However, he had also downplayed its downsides. The reduction in metal capacity was crippling, making the wearer struggle with questions as simple as "What color is this red ball." So while wearing the ring did give the mental shield and the tolerance for chemicals, it wasn't something anyone could wear for long.
And that was without mentioning the most dangerous side effect, the need for sleep. The ring would compel anyone who wore it to sleep, and it was entirely possible they would die of dehydration since the wouldn't wake unless the ring was removed.
So poor Osborn would likely end up slightly disappointed with his win, but that wasn't any of his concern, his job was to sell these objects, and get the highest price he could.