"No matter the cost?"
"No matter the cost."
[The Black Auction shall now begin.]
The sound that resounded throughout the room and the entire auction venue came from the stage, where an emo girl stood.
"Hmm, an actual true 'youth [7 stars]'," I said as I looked at her through the curtain wall.
"Yes, she is the top genius of the Siglas, Jean Sigla," Jess told me as she scrolled through the items list.
The emo girl, Jean Sigla, had the same ethereal glow as Jess, though she was a bit taller. Dressed in a black crop top, a short blue-striped black skirt, and black boots, she looked like she didn't want to be here.
Strangely, everyone present seemed fine with it. As she scanned the auction venue, I noticed a faint glow in her eyes; I probably wouldn't have noticed it without Neon.
"Her abilities are related to the eyes, right?" I asked.
"Oh, how did you know?" she replied, still focused on the list.
"Because she's staring right at me, and I know she can see me—even through the glass," I said, staring back at the beautiful, black-purple-haired, tailed, emo demi-human staring directly at me.
"What! Isn't seeing through this glass impossible?" Jess looked up from the list.
"Yes, the glass isn't meant to be see-through, but I think that clause can be bypassed by high enough strength or just the right type of power." I replied her question.
"Uh, why was she staring at you?" she asked, having only caught a glimpse of Jean's gaze before she returned her attention to the auction.
"I think it's because both our powers are light-related or something along those lines." I replied. "It doesn't matter anyway. Let's focus on the auction for now. See, it's started."
"Okay."
Both me and Jess turned our focus to the stage, where Jean was in the middle of the opening speech.
"- and I sincerely welcome you all to the 1,019th Black Auction. May these era of peace lasts long. Once again, my name is Jean Sigla and I shall, reluctantly, be your host today." Jean speech came to an end as she gave a simple bow, before moving to the podium by the left side.
"Our first item today will be a little different from usual. This is a combat piece of jewelry: the blue Jrysaq amulet." Standing by the podium, Jean introduced the first item as it floated onto the stage on a hovering platform. The amulet, Jrysaq, featured a blue diamond-shaped gem in a circular silver frame as its pendant, attached to a silver necklace.
"It was found on the body of the Uni-Armanite after it was slain. It has been infused with a drop of blue blood by one of its former wearers and enchanted with various artifacts. Now, the amulet is a near-indestructible piece of jewelry with multiple supportive effects, including minor healing, increased mana affinity, a minor boost to strength and speed, and protection from mental attacks. These are the passive effects of the amulet, while its two active abilities are far more powerful."
Jean took out the amulet and activated its first ability for the audience to see.
"The first active ability, Full Protection, can be activated by those with mental strength above level 2. It creates a one-inch-thick, flexible layer of Armanite over the wearer's skin. The duration of this ability depends on the wearer's mental strength." Jean explained, allowing the audience to see the effect of the amulets ability. "You can also control the coverage area to prevent it from hindering your senses in combat or dangerous situations."
"The second active ability, Total Healing, can heal all physical injuries, no matter how grievous. It has a cooldown time of three months. It can be activated manually, but it also activates automatically if it senses the wearer approaching death." Behind her, footage displayed people using the 'Total Healing' ability. "Unfortunately, due to the cooldown time, there will be no live demonstration, but we have footage available."
Returning the amulet to its display box, she continued, "This amulet is perfect for casters and fighters with low defense capabilities. It also makes a perfect gift for our male customers, to give to that special someone. The starting bid price is fifty thousand CCC. The bidding shall start now."
"Fifty-five thousand!"
"Seventy thousand!"
"Seventy-seven thousand!"
****************
Back at the VIP room.
"Would you look at that? The first auction item is the perfect gift for you, Jess. The gem even matches your hair color." I smiled broadly.
"Hmmm, I mean... it's beautiful, but it's also very eye-catching. Almost everyone here will want it, including the VIPs. It'll be hard to get it." Jess looked conflicted.
"I said I would get anything you want here so just say if you want it or not." I said with the smile still on my face.
"Hmm.... I don't know, okay? Just bid for whatever you want." She replied after a bit of contemplation.
'I can tell she wants it, but she's too reluctant to say so. She doesn't want me to get into a bidding war with the others, huh? Well, I'll show her that when it comes to wealth, I, young master Neon, fear no one.'
"Hey, Black," I called out to the AI managing the VIP bids.
[Yes?]
"Bid for the amulet."
[Bid as _____ Price ______]
"Bid as Young Master Neon at a price of one hundred million CCC."
***************
[Jean's POV]
At the auction stage.
'Hmmm, this is boring… I told Dad I'm not cut out for these slow-paced events. All the good items are going to be bought by the front-row attendees, and the excellent ones by the VIPs, just to keep up appearances—even though no one knows who they are. Politics... tch. But... who was that unique? I don't think I've ever heard of a light ability unique in our empire before. More importantly, this amulet is really stirring things up—even the VIPs are bidding.' I thought, overseeing the bidding as the prices soared.
[Star-Buster from VIP 28 bids five hundred thousand CCC.]
[Death-Mirror from VIP 54 bids five hundred fifty thousand CCC.]
[Chyrid from VIP 20 bids five hundred eighty thousand CCC.]
[Arch-Kiss from VIP 18 bids five hundred ninety thousand CCC.]
[Crystal-Starball from VIP 20 bids six hundred thousand CCC.]
'Once the VIPs start bidding on an item, the regular attendees go silent—they know they can't outbid the VIPs. I can't blame them. The VIPs are known to bring at least fifty million CCC to these events. Fifty million CCC—that's enough to buy ownership of twenty solar systems in the outer territories of civilization.' I was pulled from my thoughts by the next bid.
[Cosmicpool from VIP 101 bids two million CCC.]
'Oh, seems he wants the amulet. Cosmicpool? That's Jacob. He's probably bidding to get it for me. Gross.' I waited for the next bid, but it seemed no one would outbid him.
"Two million, going once... going twice... go—"
[Young Master Neon from VIP 112 bids one hundred million CCC.]
'What the hell?'