The trio explored the first floor of the Sister Of Fate for a bit before they were eventually guided by a helpful staff member who noticed their bewildered and lost expressions.
"The auction sector is right this way, esteemed guests. Please take your seats, as the program will begin shortly."
With that, the staff member left the three of them to their devices. The area they were currently in was quite dark, with there only being small instances of light shining from the few Light Affinity blinkers that were built into the stairs or beside the chairs.
It was quite similar to what a movie theater would look like. Without much regard for the other guests' experience, Dignitas led his teammates through the almost pitch black room noisily before they were eventually able to find three empty seats side by side.
Thankfully, no one stopped them to ask why they hadn't submitted Evangeline to the organizers. They simply assumed that she was a personal "pet", and not one up for sale.
"Whoa… a Lunalite…"
"I've never seen one before. They really are as beautiful as they were told to be."
And yet, that didn't stop the awkward glances and backhanded gossiping that transpired throughout the entire crowd. Indeed, a Moon Elf wasn't something you saw every day.
A few minutes later, the lights in the area dimmed even more and began to focus on the stage in the middle. Like the spotlight in a concert, it highlighted every single thing that happened.
"And a good day to you all, esteemed guests! I see we have quite the gathering here today. I sure hope the treasures we have up for auction are enough to entice your interests! I shall be your host for today, here to guide you through our selection for the night!"
A man dressed in a formal suit and a top hat walked up to the stage and began commencing the program. His voice was rather loud, but still quite pleasing to the ear. The man pressed his hand to his ear, almost as if he was talking to someone on an earpiece.
"Oh-ho? What is this? Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to report to you all that perhaps our greatest treasure of all time has just been confirmed for auction!"
"The most expensive of all, the All-Seeing Eye Implant! Stay tuned, ladies and gentlemen! As the saying goes, "keep the best for last!"
Dignitas murmured to his earpiece. "Yup, it really is here. The question is… how are we going to steal it without getting caught? Better yet, how are we going to get close to it?"
While on the way to the theater-like room, Dignitas had spotted one of the staff members entering the room beside the one where they were in. It was only for a short moment, but he saw a large amount of treasures when the door was pushed open.
He concluded that the products that were auctioned off would be temporarily stored there and only brought out when it was time to be presented.
"Without further ado, let us start the auction! Our first merchandise of the day… an egg of the Pearlians Royal Family! This egg is the only one that Empress Milyst, the ruler of the Pearlians, has produced this century! Who knows what lies inside?"
The rarity of the treasures on exhibit were truly out of this world. The trio spotted another staff member come in through the door and bring in a beautiful crystalline egg, neatly placed on a royal cushion.
"Bidding starts at five hundred Midanian dollars!"
"Five hundred fifty!"
"Five hundred seventy-five!"
"Six hundred!"
Once the bidding started, people from all around the room started voicing their prices.
Of course, the trio had no such money to bet. And even if they did, there was no way they would be able to compete with the big shots who attended the auction. Even Dignitas could discern a few well-known individuals among the crowd.
"John, indulge me for a second."
"What is it? Do you have a plan to get the implant?"
"Something like that. Now I know our best method to get the implant without getting caught, but the plan I have in mind is the complete opposite of that. For starters… Eva, that trident of yours… you can create it anywhere you want, yeah?"
Evangeline had displayed this aspect of her trident twice during their battle with Baldurai. Both were to save John and Dignitas.
"As long as it is in my sight."
"That's good. Then, I think I've got an idea. I'll tell you guys when the implant is about to be brought in. In the meantime, we should look for any potential escape routes. This place is armed to the teeth, and escaping won't be easy once they've realized one of their treasures is gone."
***
"And that's all for the first half of our treasures! Please, esteemed guests, take some time to rest, because the final half of our exhibit will be presented in an hour!"
Forty-five minutes later, and the first half of the auction had concluded. The next half was the trio's target.
Dignitas left the surveying entirely to John and Eva during this time. He was busy doing other things, namely, browsing the Author's Log.
His mind went back to the time he had used the Log's power to change John's and everyone's fate. If he wasn't there, they surely would've died at the hands of Varnier.
Since then, he hadn't quite relied on it much to rewrite scenes, instead occasionally opening it in his free time so as to spot any odd changes in the story.
The Log indeed told the story of the novel down to the very last letter, but that seemed to be losing its usefulness as time went by. Every day, something new was plaguing Dignitas' story, changing what should've happened.
For instance, Lorelai's sudden change of behaviour. This was what caused this entire chain of events to transpire, and Dignitas was definitely not happy in the least that he was losing some of what separated him from the lesser beings in this world.
That being his knowledge of what would happen as time passed.
"I wonder how much the backlash will be if I use the Log to change something here…"
Of course, the Log wasn't all-powerful. The system secretly placed a catch when using its reality-altering powers. Depending on the degree of the change and how much if affected the story, then Dignitas would receive an apt punishment.
It was almost as if the system was fighting back against his authority. This was part of the reason as to why Dignitas was never too keen on using its ability. He was no stranger to pain, but the pain the Log inflicted on him was completely different.
"Screw it. What's life without a little pain?"
The time soon came. An hour later, the trio returned to the theater-like room and sat in their original seats.
"So, what's the plan, Dignitas?" John asked.
"This works primarily on your Chronos Interval, so make sure you keep it activated for as long as you can."
Dignitas continued. "When they start to bring in the implant, I'm gonna pull out one of my hidden tricks. Just close your eyes, and the thing we need will be right in your hands."
"Close my eyes?" John asked, clearly not understanding what Dignitas meant.
"Indeed. You'll feel something in your hand, and when you do, I need you to make a break for the nearest exit you guys saw."
"From there, just bolt it as far as you can to escape security. Don't worry about me or Eva, we have a way for you to find us."
"We do?" Evangeline thought to herself.
"Okay… I trust you, Dignitas."
"Just do as the script says, and everything will play out to perfection. Come then, the stage is calling us."
***
"Finally, ladies and gentlemen, possibly our most wanted artifact of the night. Indeed! It's the only artifact said to be able to replicate the fabled hereditary trait the Seraph family possesses, the All-Seeing Eye!"
"Feast your eyes on the All-Seeing Eye Implant!"
The audience audibly gasped as a staff member brought in possibly the most expensive-looking treasure they had seen. Just like the others, it was laid on a cushion, but the designs adorning it were simply over the roof.
Without taking into account the implant itself, the various gems, carvings, and the material the cushion was made of would've bumped the price up to an unfathomable scale!
Laid neatly on the cushion was what looked like an artificial eye. The only way to use this artifact was to mutilate one' eyes and replace it with the eye.
"Positions, guys." Dignitas ordered. "Today, Mislokur will lose the treasure of treasures."