Compared to the things before, this cap didn't seem very high class, but given the way he had introduced it, everyone expected that just like the items before it, there was something special about it, and so they all waited with bated breath for him to continue the introduction.
"This cap," the auctioneer continued, "is no ordinary headwear. When worn, it renders the wearer virtually unnoticeable—a shadow slipping through the world, unseen and undisturbed. You could walk unseen past guards, evade cameras, and even avoid detection in a crowd." His gaze swept across the room, catching the glimmers of interest in several eyes.
The reaction was immediate. For those who sought influence and power, the Cap of Neglect was a tool that could tip the scales in their favor without any of the grand, risky displays of power the previous items entailed. It was a cloak of invisibility for a world where being unnoticed could be the greatest advantage.
The auctioneer allowed a pause, savoring the ripple of excitement. Then, he continued, "Though subtle in appearance, the Cap of Neglect provides a unique advantage for those who must tread carefully… those with rivals who watch too closely. And unlike most artifacts, it leaves little trace. Your actions, concealed."
Tony leaned forward, his attention piqued. An item like this had a thousand applications. Nick Fury, for example, would be intrigued by it, as would Norman Osborn. From his peripheral vision, he noticed Osborn's eyes narrow as he assessed the cap with barely concealed interest.
The auctioneer smiled, catching the intensity growing in the crowd. "Let us begin the bidding at ten billion," he said, his voice calm, though he could sense this item might spark yet another fierce bidding war.
Gregori Forson lifted his hand immediately. "Fifteen billion," he called out, his voice steady, signaling his clear intent. Forson had missed out on the desk, but this cap presented a more subtle, less compromising advantage.
Zhao Ming followed with little hesitation. "Twenty billion." His interest was evident—an invisible presence in his line of work would allow him to secure assets and secrets without raising alarms. He seemed determined to claim this for himself.
Tony considered the cap, weighing the potential applications for his own interests and security. Though it wasn't something he needed immediately, he couldn't deny its appeal. Before he realized it, he had raised his own card.
"Thirty billion," he called, watching the others to gauge their responses.
From across the room, Norman Osborn raised his hand, his expression fierce. "Forty billion." His tone held a finality that made it clear he was prepared to fight for this one. Osborn, forever burdened by the threat of discovery and the fragility of his health, knew that this cap was exactly what he needed to keep his enemies—and his condition—at bay.
The auctioneer nodded approvingly, his voice inviting them to continue. "Forty billion from Mr. Osborn. Any further bids?"
Evelyn Crawley's hand went up, her smile unwavering. "Fifty billion," she declared, her tone as calm as ever. Tony knew she wouldn't let an item of this caliber go easily; the Crawley family thrived on secrets, and the cap was the perfect tool to acquire them.
The bids continued to rise, each elite revealing their hunger to become unseen, unstoppable forces in their fields. Finally, Zhao Ming raised his hand with quiet determination.
"One hundred billion."
The room fell silent. Zhao's bid was bold, a reminder of his intent to claim a significant advantage tonight. Yet, just when it seemed Zhao might secure the cap, Harlan Brune raised his hand once more.
"One hundred twenty billion," he called, his voice calm, his expression composed.
Tony watched, realizing that, once again, Brune was poised to win. BlackRock's relentless pursuit of these items had become undeniable; with the cap added to their growing collection, they would be nearly unstoppable. The thought unsettled him, but he knew his resources had limits. He was holding back, waiting for the one item he truly couldn't afford to let go.
The auctioneer glanced around, noting the hesitation in the room, then raised his gavel. "One hundred twenty billion going once… going twice…"
With the final thunk of the gavel, the Cap of Neglect was awarded to Harlan Brune, sealing yet another win for BlackRock. The murmurs rose once more as Brune accepted his victory with quiet satisfaction, the cap now secured under his control.
As the auctioneer prepared to introduce the next item, Tony settled back, his mind racing. BlackRock's influence was growing faster than he'd anticipated, and he could sense that tonight's auction was tipping the balance of power in ways that would alter their world. But the night isn't over yet, he thought, his gaze steady, as he waited for the next challenge to appear on the stage.
The auctioneer, his expression alight with satisfaction, allowed the murmurs to die down before he gestured to his assistants to bring forward the next item. This one, however, seemed larger, covered by a heavy black tarp that hung over it with an imposing weight. The atmosphere in the room shifted, a tension filling the air as the guests sensed this item would be unlike anything they'd seen so far.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer began, his voice dropping to a solemn tone, "our next offering is one that comes with significant risk. For those of you well-versed in the extraordinary and the uncontrollable, I present SAI-682, 'The Hard-to-Destroy Reptile.'"
With a sharp pull, the tarp fell away, revealing a massive reinforced glass chamber, layered with dense metal grates and chains. Within it lay what appeared to be a fragment of something—a shard of blackened, thick-scaled skin resting on a heavy metal platform surrounded by containment fields. Even this small fragment radiated a dark energy, something primal and unbreakable, a shard of a creature that defied destruction itself.
"I'm sure you are all aware of the battle that took place in Tokyo not long ago, a fierce battle between a lizard and a green giant, that lizard, is a unkillable monster, able to survive everything, and here we have a rare fragment of its body, what secrets of immortality could it hold?"
The crowd's reaction was immediate, a mix of shock and awe rippling through the room. The tale of the unkillable lizard's clash with a "green giant" had made waves around the world, sparking rumors and speculation, but most hadn't expected any part of that creature to ever end up at an auction.
Tony sat up straighter, his mind racing. The Hard-to-Destroy Reptile—a creature whose biology alone defied natural laws. A fragment like this, if studied, could hold answers to regeneration, invincibility, or even biological immortality. He exchanged a quick glance with some of his competitors, each one calculating the value of such an indestructible sample in their own way.
The auctioneer allowed the tension to thicken, clearly pleased by the anticipation he'd generated. He continued, "The fragment of SAI-682 in this containment unit maintains its remarkable resilience, unmatched by anything in this world. Though it's a mere fraction of the creature, it embodies the very qualities that make the reptile feared—its indestructibility and ferocity."
As he spoke, Vincent Blanc leaned forward, his eyes glittering with fascination. To him, this fragment was the ultimate artifact, a piece of a living legend he could add to his growing collection. He raised his hand without hesitation.
"Fifty billion," Blanc declared, a daring smile playing on his lips.
Forson was next. "Seventy billion," he countered, his voice firm, seeing the piece as a way to unlock secrets for resource extraction and engineering. This was more than just a marvel; it was an unbreakable sample that could open doors to technologies no competitor could replicate.
"Eighty billion," Zhao Ming said, his voice steady, and the room took note. Zhao was drawn to the fragment's implications for military applications, envisioning armor or vehicles that could resist any assault.
But Evelyn Crawley was quick to raise her hand. "Ninety billion," she announced, a gleam of interest in her eye as she considered the prestige of possessing such a powerful artifact, one that could elevate her family's influence in ways even she hadn't dared imagine.
Tony watched as the bids soared, knowing that while the fragment was immensely powerful, its risk was equally monumental. But if BlackRock won, they'd have yet another near-invincible asset in their hands. It was a gamble, but the possibilities this fragment held were too vast to ignore. He raised his card.
"One hundred billion," Tony announced, his voice firm.
The room fell silent, the weight of his bid hanging in the air. Tony glanced around, noting the narrowed eyes of his competitors, each one considering whether to push further.
However, it wasn't Brune that bid next, but instead Normal Osborn. "One hundred twenty billion." He called out, desire burning in his eyes.
He had gotten the jade ring for cheap, people had still been unwilling to throw around billions, had it been put up now it would likely have gone for much much more. Yet he couldn't help but desire this sample.
While the ring might be able to keep him alive, there was always the risk of his son also falling to the genetic illness that plagued him. He was always looking for a cure; he currently had some doctor working on some regenerative serum using lizard DNA.
He couldn't help but wonder what would happen if, rather than using a normal lizard, they instead used this, a sample of a creature able to heal and evolve endlessly. He had to get it!