The VIP auction room radiated opulence, its walls lined with shimring obsidian and adorned with intricate golden inlays that pulsed faintly with demonic energy.
The air buzzed with tension and anticipation, every guest exuding an aura of authority or malevolence.
Jack, Gale, Alisha, and Nephris had settled into their seats, their presence drawing the occasional curious glance from other attendees.
It was clear they weren't regulars in such elite circles, and their casual deanor only added to the intrigue.
As they sat quietly, the door to their section creaked open. A demon guard entered, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group before focusing on Gale.
The guard's aura exuded discipline and purpose, his scarlet cloak swaying slightly as he strode forward.
Unlike the other guards clad in heavy armor, this one carried himself with the air of a mage—his single, polished horn tipped with a bright brown hue that glead under the dim, magical lights.
He stopped before Gale, bowing slightly.
"Good day, sir. Our chief alchemist has appraised your goods—"
Before he could finish, Gale raised a hand, his tone calm but authoritative.
"You're mistaken. I am not the one you should be addressing." He inclined his head towards Jack, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"He is the master here."
The guard's eyes flickered with confusion. His gaze shifted from Gale to Jack, lingering on Jack's casual posture and understated deanor.
The idea of such an unassuming figure commanding soone as powerful as Gale was difficult to reconcile.
'How can such a weak demon be master over this powerful one? Just who are these people?' the guard wondered, suppressing his unease.
Clearing his throat, the guard approached Jack.
"Young Master," he began, his voice respectful yet tinged with caution.
"the master of the house has appraised your weapon. He values it at over hundred million moonlight stones. You are free to participate in the auction, but your purchases must not exceed this limit."
Jack offered a slight nod, his expression betraying no emotion.
"Understood."
As the guard withdrew, Alisha's face was forward, her eyes fixed before her, her lips barely moving as she whispered, "They're underestimating you. Makes them easier to manipulate, doesn't it?"
Jack's lips curved into a faint grin. "It's not underestimation. It's misdirection."
The soft murmur of conversation faded as the stage at the center of the grand hall lit up, drawing all eyes to the auctioneer.
The demon announcer was a vision of extravagance, his golden robes gleaming like molten sunlight.
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Every thread seed infused with magic, his attire designed to command attention. Even his eyes glittered with an unnatural golden hue, though his pupils remained an abyssal black.
"Welco, esteed guests," the announcer began, his voice rich and captivating, resonating through the vast hall.
"It is an honor to host you all for the 20th Gold House Auction. Tonight, we bring you treasures from across the planes—artifacts of unimaginable power, items that transcend realms, and secrets that could shape destinies."
The crowd buzzed with excitent, their anticipation palpable. Jack leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping the room.
This wasn't just an auction—it was a battlefield of wealth and influence, and every bid was a declaration of power.
The announcer continued, his voice laced with theatrics.
"Allow first to acknowledge the distinguished guests gracing us tonight. From the Sixth Plane, we have Lord Herald, who journeys far in pursuit of the rarest treasures."
Jack's gaze shifted to the ntioned demon, a towering figure dressed in human-style butler attire that was both elegant and intimidating.
His coiled horns glead like burnished steel, and his sharp eyes seed to pierce through the veil of pretense that hung over the room.
Jack frowned, trying to recall if this demon had been ntioned in the records he'd read, but nothing ca to mind. Herald was an enigma, and Jack disliked mysteries he couldn't unravel.
The announcer's introductions continued, each na and title accompanied by murmurs of recognition—or disdain. When he finally reached Alorinel, the hall fell into an uneasy silence.
"Next, we have Alorinel, young master of the Gremart family," the announcer declared. The words hung in the air like a challenge.
Laughter rippled through the crowd, cruel and mocking. Whispers followed, their sharp edges cutting into the young demon seated in the VIP section.
"A weakling born into a noble house? How embarrassing."
"One horn at his age? He's barely worth the seat he's in."
Jack studied Alorinel with interest. The demon sat motionless, his face a mask of indifference as the ridicule washed over him.
But his hands, resting on the armrests of his chair, betrayed a faint tremor.
'A quiet storm,' Jack mused, filing the observation away for later.
The announcer, sensing the discomfort, moved swiftly to reclaim the room's focus.
"And now, esteed guests, let us unveil the first treasure of the evening!"
A cart rolled onto the stage, its contents hidden beneath layers of black silk. The crowd leaned forward, their curiosity sharpening to a collective edge.
The announcer's grin widened as he milked the suspense.
"Behold, an artifact that bridges the seen and unseen! A guide to secrets hidden in the folds of reality itself!" With a flourish, he whipped away the silk, revealing a shimring map etched onto a tallic sheet that seed to ripple like water.
"The Never Map," he announced, his voice ringing with triumph.
Gasps filled the hall, followed by an undercurrent of murmurs. The map's surface pulsed with shifting patterns, its inscriptions glowing faintly.
It was said that the Never Map could reveal hidden pathways, lead its bearer to lost realms, and even uncover the locations of forbidden treasures.
Alisha's eyes widened, her breath hitching. "The Never Map," she murmured, her voice filled with awe. "That could lead us to the Chapters of Ti."
Jack's gaze snapped to her, a spark of interest igniting in his eyes. "And here I thought you weren't the impulsive type."
She shot him a sharp look. "Don't get cocky, Asriel. This could be the key to ending all this madness."
Jack's grin returned, tinged with a dark humor.
"When you say 'ending,' you're not referring to , are you?"
Before she could retort, the auctioneer's voice bood again.
"We will start the bidding at one million moonlight stones! Who dares to claim the map that holds the secrets of the unknown?"
The room erupted into a frenzy of bids, each shout rising higher than the last. Jack watched with keen eyes, weighing his options.
He knew this was just the beginning, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this map was more than it seed—a feeling that, in the coming hours, would prove to be both a blessing and a curse.
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