Emerging against the horizon, a gleaming structure of at least four stories, constructed from polished metal, asserted its dominance, standing sentinel-like amidst the green expanse of gardens. The bright beams of the reflectors lit up the entire building, reflecting on the shiny walls.
A plush red carpet unfurled like a river of velvet from the grand entrance, weaving its way to the ornate gate in the tall fence encasing the entire area.
With a clang, the gate closed, isolating the crowd of cheering people behind its bars.
Gracefully, a woman glided down the crimson path. Her opulent black ball gown trailed behind. Midnight-black hair flowed seamlessly down her back, reminiscent of liquid obsidian. Her face was concealed by a silver mask ornate with vibrant gemstones, mirroring the myriad of lights flashing around her.
Despite her poised demeanor, she battled the disorienting blaze of camera flashes from each direction, every burst threatening to steal her sight.
'Such absurdity," she mused, "still bombarding people with blinding flashes despite the advances in photography.'
The palace looked even larger as she approached, its walls of mirror-like metal soaring skyward, threatening to crush all the poor with its unnecessarily elaborate and extravagant facade.
Tia felt like vomiting after seeing the most disgusting building she had ever seen. 'I hate modern architecture. It is so unesthetic.'
Lining her path were guards clad in tailored black suits. The red glow emanating from the visors of their welder-esque full-face masks lent an otherworldly menace, their gaze unrelenting as they tracked her every move.
'I wonder if they are truly as dangerous as they look.'
Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself. With a clear mind and grace that masked her inner turmoil, she pressed on, each step measured and assured.
'Blend in. You belong here,' she silently coached herself.
Not a single guard moved to stop her or even question her. Unhindered, she soon found herself at the grand entrance of the imposing, dystopian mansion. She cleared her mind and strode inside.
The hall beyond was vast and lavish, constructed entirely from the mesmerizing, mirror-like material that extended from the walls to the ceiling and flowed down onto the floor.
Everywhere she looked as she walked, reflections danced—a kaleidoscope of attendees and lights that twisted and melded together, creating a dizzying sight.
Dominating the expanse of the hall was an elegant staircase sculpted from pristine chrome. It ascended with regal poise, illuminated by ethereal white beams, giving the illusion of steps leading to the very heavens.
'I wish I could just demolish this place... and replace it with something beautiful.'
Seamlessly, she melded into the congregation of extravagantly dressed individuals in black, their faces obscured by ornate masks. The voices of their chitchat constantly buzzed around Tia's ears like a swarm of annoying mosquitoes.
"Oh my, that is so scandalous!"
"Have you seen Marina's dress? It looks so cheap."
"I heard that the empire is again causing some trouble."
Surrounding her was a sea of luxury—jewelry that sparkled with expensive gemstones, masks made of expensive exotics whose worth probably surpassed that of an average apartment.
'Even all this glitter isn't enough to cover how trashy they are.'
Seeing all that, a strong sensation of dissatisfaction, envy, and even resentment ignited within her mind and heart, feeling it was supposed to be her enjoying the richness.
'When I reached the top in my last life, I was killed, and in this life, everything was also taken from me.' All the rich, useless brats around her who most likely never had to work, leeching off their employees' hard work, made her disgusted.
The mere thought of witnessing their bodies burning within the rubble of the disgusting palace brought an involuntary chuckle, muffled behind her ornate mask. However, she clenched her fists and suppressed her wild imagination.
'I must focus; this is my first real job.'
"Welcome." The chattering of the crowd ceased instantly, replaced by an anticipatory hush as a deep, resonant voice echoed throughout the hall.
From atop the chrome staircase, a figure began a deliberate descent. Clad in a pristine white tuxedo, its fabric glistened with the intricacy of interwoven silver threads, creating an ethereal glow. The stark contrast of his luminescent attire against the sea of dark-clad attendees was impossible to ignore.
'Here we go, the spoiled brat has arrived. The useless son of the planet's vice-governor's assistant for external security.'
All eyes were magnetically drawn to him, captivated by his striking presence. His face, unobscured by any mask, bore a confident smile, and it was evident that he reveled in the undivided attention he commanded.
Melding into the crowd, Tia also turned to face the man, standing amidst the rich brats.
'He should be my target.'
The single glance at him made Tia want to immediately proceed with her task and kill him on the spot.
"I am Darius Binks, and I wholeheartedly welcome you to the annual Binks Auction!"
However, she remained cautious as she scanned the entire venue, noticing all the guards standing in every corner.
'This makes no sense. Why would they send me, a newbie, on such a high-profile task? Do they trust me so much, or is there something else in play?' It all reeked of conspiracy to her. The sheer courage and brazenness of the organization to kill someone so high-profile was simply too shocking for her.
"Please enjoy the evening!" The man spread his arms wide as if he were playing god, his radiantly white teeth and suit shining within the lights of the reflectors aiming at him.