Zagrax and Vexira survey the room with keen interest as every gaze, except for Thogar's, turns towards them. Zagrax, with a confident smirk, pushes his dark hair back and strides forward. "To think these humans would invite an orc," he comments audibly as he steps in front of Thogar.
Vexira, maintaining a stoic expression, follows beside him. Thogar, without looking up from his meal, retorts bluntly, "Weak demon," before returning to his food.
Zagrax laughs heartily at Thogar's response. "Hmhmhmhmhahahaha... You sure are blunt." Deciding not to provoke the orcish king further, he thinks to himself, 'He's the current king of the tribe; they're useful allies for now.'
His attention then shifts to Lilith, who stands out amidst the crowd. Approaching her, Zagrax greets her with a smirk. "Well, if it isn't the human mage."
Lilith, continuing to enjoy her meal, greets them with a warm smile. "You two must be the new representatives. It's great to meet you," she says, briefly glancing at Queen Celeste. 'Good, she's calm now. I was worried she might make a scene. It seems she's improved her temper,' Lilith thinks to herself, relieved.
Zagrax, observing the magic seals on Lilith, comments, "I see, they even sealed your magic, huh? How cautious of Darius. Has that crazy old man gotten sick?" His words carry a playful tone, more a musing to himself than an actual question.
Lilith, sipping the soda, finds herself pleasantly surprised by its taste. 'What is this...? It tastes so good...' she thinks, her eyes widening. Clearing her throat, she replies, "Darius is providing the stage, but the ones responsible for all these precautions are an unknown group or seller."
Zagrax's gaze then drifts to Queen Celeste, who seems to be deliberately ignoring his presence. "I see," he mutters, contemplating. 'Queen Celeste, given her history, it's understandable she dislikes us,' he concludes internally, aware of the historical tensions between their kinds.
Zagrax turns towards Queen Celeste, contemplating a strategic move. 'I wonder if making her an ally would be rewarding. Humans are relatively weak, but their production rate is impressive. We might need more resources soon,' he muses, bowing respectfully to her. With a sly smirk, he says, "I'm not sure how humans bow, so I apologize. My name is Zagrax ##### #####."
He gestures towards Vexira, who awkwardly attempts a bow. "And this is Vexira ###### #### ######. She's not much of a talker, so please be understanding. It's an honor to meet you, Queen Celeste."
Queen Celeste, in response, extends her hand silently towards them. Lilith, observing the scene, can't help but chuckle internally. 'Hahahaha, look at this kid. She's testing their pride, thinking they won't adhere to our customs,' she thinks, amused by Celeste's tactic.
Zagrax, visibly confused by the gesture, scratches his head. 'What does this mean? Is this a human greeting?' he wonders, looking to Vexira for a clue. She only shrugs, equally baffled. Smiling uncertainly, Zagrax takes Celeste's hand and shakes it. 'Is this right?' he ponders.
Queen Celeste regards him coldly and quickly withdraws her hand, cleaning it off. Before she can voice her thoughts, Lilith interjects, holding back laughter. "Queen Celeste, please understand that demons aren't familiar with our customs," she then turns to Zagrax, clearing her throat. "For us humans, it is customary and respectful to kneel and kiss the hand of a queen or any royal figure when they extend their hand."
Hearing this, Zagrax raises an eyebrow in surprise. 'Really? Are you serious?' he thinks to himself. "That's kind of... Barbaric, no? We had something similar in our history, but that practice ended about a thousand years ago. It's considered... unsophisticated." he comments.
Queen Celeste, feeling a mix of irritation stands abruptly. "Excuse me," she says tersely, signaling her intention to leave the dining area.
Mindy, catching the cue, responds quickly, "T-this way, please, Queen Celeste." Inside, her thoughts are in turmoil. 'Ah! Is she mad? She's definitely mad, right? I should've known it was too good to be true!' she berates herself internally, her mind awash with panic. 'They offered so much money, I didn't even read the job description... I-I'm so stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Am I going to die today?' Despite her internal crisis, she maintains a professional smile and leads the way.
Queen Celeste follows Mindy, ignoring the hooded figures who cast curious glances in her direction. 'I can't stand demons; they're all arrogant and ruthless. If this auction wasn't important, I would've dealt with them already,' she thinks, her disdain palpable.
As they walk through the hallway, Celeste inquires, "How long until the auction starts?" Her tone is direct, masking her growing impatience.
Mindy coughs, attempting to regain her composure amidst her internal meltdown. "Y-yes, the auction," she says, forcing a smile. Checking her watch, she informs Celeste, "It will start in about 45 minutes, maybe less. It starts as soon as all our guests arrive."
As they enter a quiet room, Mindy's thoughts continue to race. 'Why did they assign Queen Celeste to me!? I'm just a weak girl... I want to just roll into a ball and cry. It's so awkward standing here...' she laments internally, her anxiety overwhelming her despite her outward calm.
Queen Celeste, sitting motionless in the quiet room, turns to Mindy. "What can you tell me about the seller?" she asks, her gaze piercing.
Mindy, momentarily startled, clears her throat. "I have no idea..." she says confidently, albeit without further clarification.
Celeste, undeterred, presses on. "You must know something. They're paying you to keep quiet, right?" She then tosses a bag full of gold coins at Mindy.
Mindy catches the bag, her eyes widening at the sight of the gold. 'So much gold...' she thinks, her mouth watering. Her demeanor shifts as she says, "Actually, I do know something." Clearing her throat, she divulges, "I saw two of them. One has a mask covering his whole face with the number seven, and the other, a woman, has a mask with the number six. You should see them during the auction."
Putting the gold away, Mindy adds, "They're part of a secret organization planning something big." Her smile widens as she fantasizes about the possibilities the gold offers. 'I'm rich! I can buy a house and retire! The boss knew this would happen and said we could keep any bribes as long as we follow the script~'
Meanwhile, Queen Celeste rubs her chin thoughtfully. 'A mask with the number seven and a mask with the number six... And the man I met has the number 0 on his mask.'
Queen Celeste exhales a deep sigh, her mind piecing together the puzzle. 'This group definitely has a hierarchy. Their sudden emergence, announcing the sale of a national-grade weapon, and intervening in the cult incident... it's all too calculated. It was in their best interest to help me stop the cult,' she ponders, her thoughts analytical and sharp. Standing up, she moves to a table in her room, her movements deliberate. 'Whatever their endgame is, it'll surely be unveiled at the auction,' she concludes internally, her gaze fixed on a distant point as she contemplates the unfolding scenario.
Turning towards Mindy, she issues a simple command, "Have someone bring me something to eat." Her voice is firm, reflecting her royal bearing and the control she maintains over her environment.
Mindy, eager to please and still somewhat overwhelmed by the gravity of her assignment, quickly sends a text to arrange the meal. "Your food will be here shortly, Your Majesty. Please let me know if you need anything else," she says, her tone a mix of professionalism and underlying nervousness.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
-45 minutes later.
Smirking in the shrouded darkness of the stage, I feel an exhilarating rush. Hmhmhmhm, this is going to be one hell of a show. People begin filing into the room, led to their seats one by one. I glance up to the VIP section, noting with satisfaction that Lysandra hasn't moved an inch. Every VIP guest, except for Lilith, wears a cloak, but I've already identified each one of them. They want to remain anonymous to each other, fearing being targeted after the auction. The P.O.B. guys, I bet they're all kinds of confused right now. They might even try to start something if they see me as a threat, but it doesn't matter. In this room, they can't touch me.
The room falls silent as everyone is seated and the staff members exit. I'm standing there, invisible to them all, thanks to Umbra concealing my presence. Here goes nothing. I take a deep breath.
In a sudden, dramatic move, I step forward, materializing in front of everyone. The sudden appearance makes everyone clench their weapons in surprise, but I don't miss a beat. Hahahaha, that was great, look how surprised everyone is.
I stride confidently to the front of the room, spinning my cane with flair. Stopping center stage, I slam the cane down with a resounding bang, capturing every eye and ear in the room. "Ladies and gentlemen," I begin, my voice calm yet loud, like those seasoned speakers who know just how to command attention.
"Welcome to the auction of the century!" My words echo through the room, my tone a perfect blend of calmness and intensity. I can feel every pair of eyes on me, the tension palpable. This is my stage, my moment. I'm about to change history, and they don't even know it yet.
With a confident flourish, I grab my top hat and execute a perfect bow in front of the audience. Placing the hat back on my head, I announce with a touch of formality, "It's an honor to have you as my guests." I start to spin my cane, enjoying the smooth motion, then casually place my hands behind my back as I pace back and forth on the stage.
"I'm sure you are all wondering just who I am," I say, pausing for a moment to let the curiosity simmer. "It doesn't matter, but you may refer to me as Seven." I point to my mask, the number seven emblazoned on it, making sure it's clearly visible to everyone. Good, they're all paying attention, and everyone seems calm so far.
"I am part of an organization of nine individuals who have remained in the shadows for some time," I continue, spinning my cane again and holding it firmly in front of me. In a colder tone, I add, "If you think of looking into us, don't. For your own safety." I can't help but throw in a little threat for dramatic effect. It's always good to keep them on their toes.
Switching back to my normal voice, I lay down the ground rules. "Now, during the auction, you are to remain seated, or you will be terminated on the spot." With that out of the way, it's time to focus on the main event. Time to make some serious money. Sure, the Dragon's Eye sniper will fetch a pretty penny, but that's just a one-time sale.
Snapping my fingers, the lighting changes dramatically, illuminating the stage brightly. Two items, completely covered with sheets, are revealed. One is the Dragon's Eye sniper, and the other, my real source of income.
"Before we get into the main event, I will present to you all, the future of warfare," I announce, my voice echoing with excitement and a hint of pride.
I grab the sheet with a dramatic flair and yank it off, revealing a large display case that showcases a set of 11 guns, each occupying its own dedicated space. The weapons gleam under the spotlight, their innovative designs immediately catching every eye in the room. Hahaha, except for Rose, none of these people have seen anything like this before.
"This is the future of warfare," I announce, stepping back to ensure everyone has a clear view. "New weapons never before seen, created by us." I can feel the intrigue and awe permeating the room. It's exactly the kind of reaction I was hoping for.
"These weapons," I continue, my voice projecting confidence, "are similar to the national-grade weapon we're selling. So make sure to pay close attention for a better understanding."