The rounds continued with James accurately distinguishing the treasures from the ordinary objects, while Trash just said good or bad.
Coincidentally, every time James spotted a treasure, Trash wrote bad, and every time there was an ordinary item, Trash wrote good. It was almost like Trash could tell whether the object emitted mana or not, but decided to write the opposite.
James was confused yet still confident. Is he trying to let me win? Maybe they let his answers count as the exact opposite and want to lure me into a false sense of security? He decided to look at G, trying to decipher her secrets. This bitch is still smiling.
I doubt she would let me get away knowing that I'm from a mighty background. It doesn't matter anyway; regardless of whether they play tricks on me or not, I will just get everything right, and then they can't claim that I lost, he finally decided. If he gets everything right, there shouldn't be a problem for him.
The next item was presented, and it was a rusty silver sword. It looked quite old and in terrible shape. A common tactic for auctioneers, James thought. To use old and rusty swords at auctions to trick normal people who know of magic into thinking: Why would they bring up such an old and rusty item? But after just a few fake bets, these people would be the first to doubt themselves and might even bid on it since they wouldn't want to miss out on a magic item.
James still probed the sword for any possible magic just to be sure. Hmm, I can't feel any mana emmiting from this sword, but something tells me that it is indeed a magic item. Was it a hunch or a real feeling? Is this really a magical item?
He looked at Trash, who, as always, wrote down his answer without hesitation. Is this guy a genius in disguise, and they are playing a prank on me? I need to know the score right now. "Hey, what is the score? He has got nothing right, right?" He finally asked.
G just slyly smiled at him. "Well, I think right now the score is completely even. What do you think about that?" she asked.
"You! How is the score even? We always said the exact opposite. My score has to be higher," he protested.
"You see," G started. "This guy just doesn't like magical items. Basically, if he says something is bad, it means that it is a magic item, and if he says something is good, the item is ordinary. That's just how he is. So far, both of you were quite impressive with getting everything right. Let's see who is wrong first," she said, still smiling.
James was too shocked to answer. Doesn't like magical items? What kind of scam is that? There is no one in the entire world who doesn't like magical treasures, assuming they know what magic is.
He wanted to protest against the scheming duo but realized they would never listen to him. People who use such an excuse to scam him would never admit that they were wrong.
"Well, the item should be close to being sold. You need to write down your answer," G said with a smile.
At this moment, James was in a complete panic. He couldn't feel any trace of mana on this item, but his feeling told him that he was wrong. What do I pick? My rational mind or my natural instincts? Who can I trust more? James hands were sweating, knees weak, mom's sp... This single decision could make him win or lose the entire game. He needed to write the answer in exactly one moment. Would he capture it, or just let it slip?
His brain was working at the highest speed possible, and he finally put down the answer in the last possible second. Uninterested in James inner turmoil, G said, "Now let's reveal the answers," without any emotion in her voice.
"No magic," "bad," the two books said one after the other.
James was shocked. It was the first time they agreed, or rather disagreed, on the nature of any item. Had he guessed right, or was he wrong?
"Well, James Baltasar. Sadly, you were wrong. Now Trash is one point ahead," G said.
James was shattered. I got it wrong? My brain was wrong? I just needed to trust my instincts, and I would have been right. Is this just a me problem? He thought about the situation for a second, but soon his thoughts of his own unaccomplishments turned into pure rage regarding the other party.
"Hey! I don't believe it! Prove that this item was magical! Then prove that he isn't cheating!" he pointed at Trash. "This guy seems like a braindamaged mess. How could he get everything right? And he doesn't like magic items? No one ever tried to fool me with stupid shit like this!" he shouted in full rage.
But G just quietly listened to him. "Well, I made the rules, and I decide who is right. As for cheating or breaking the rules, there is no rule against cheating. What if I gave and would give him every single answer? What could you do about it? Just shut up. The next time you scream like the little bitch you are, I will make you shut up permanently. Understand?" G was quite entertained by this clown, but enough was enough.
James wanted to continue on his fit of rage but could only nod in front of G. This woman is crazy; she even admits to cheating. I will survive this, and once I'm out of here, even if I lose everything I have on me, I will take revenge on both of them. It doesn't matter what it takes. They will not get away with messing with me, he cursed deep inside of his heart.
The auction continued, and although James thought the game was rigged against him, he still accurately guessed each item. After all, there was a tiny chance that Trash would eventually fail even if they were cheating. Someone as dumb as this guy could even fail while knowing the correct answers. It is truly comical how stupid that guy is.
He was looking at Trash with pure malice in his eyes, while Trash was seemingly enjoying this new fun game in the outside world.
"Hey friend. How do you enjoy this game?" Trash asked with a smile. "It is fun, right?"
James wanted to scream at this dumbass but couldn't due to G standing beside him, but suddenly a weird thought entered his mind.
This guy. He is not just stupid; he is simply too stupid. It feels like he knows nothing about society. It is almost like he is playing a role. James started to think more and he got even more perplexed. I say he is cheating, but how would he cheat? There is no way for that scarry woman to just tell him the answers without me at least sensing something. Also, he wasn't the one who opened the door. It was her. She talked to me while he was watching the auction. She explained the game while he said nothing. It almost seems like she is his assistant and not the other way around.
The first thing I heard after I woke up was him calling her master, but they had enough time to prepare their plan. Yes. They don't just want to trick me; they want to completely humiliate me. Someone whose name is Trash, who hates magic items, who sits in a wheelchair, yet he can accurately predict every single item. The woman said he never learned any magic, so of course I couldn't detect any magic from his body. But what if he was just that much stronger than me? I wouldn't be able to detect magic from him as well.
James was suddenly even more afraid of the duo in front of him, yet even more enraged. Sadly, there was nothing he could do against the humiliation of losing against someone who called himself Trash.
As James was deep in his thoughts, suddenly the auctioneer shouted, "We move on to our last item!"
It was his last chance. James had to get it right even so the chances were slim he wouldn't give up, and if he ever got free:
HE WOULD NOT REST UNTIL THEY WERE DEAD!