CLAP CLAP
As those who had been attempting to flee in terror and those who were scanning the area in bewilderment for the source of the disturbance heard the sharp 'clapping' sound, they halted their actions and directed their gaze toward the noise.
They looked back and saw it was none other than Nigel.
Nigel, who had been clapping his hands, ceased as he observed the crowd's attention gradually shifting toward him. Normally, a person clapping from such a distance, even with considerable force, wouldn't be heard amid the cacophony of chaos.
However, Nigel had employed a technique to amplify the sound—by enveloping his hands entirely in mana and clapping with it. This method magnified the usual sound tenfold, effortlessly cutting through the surrounding noise.
He used the method knowing this will work wonderfully and he wouldn't have to exert anymore energy.
Nigel's eyes swept across the guests, noting the myriad of emotions etched on their faces: fear, anger, curiosity, submission, repression, excitement, and more. He addressed them in a manner that might not fully appease everyone but would suffice for the moment.
"Esteemed Guests, it is with deep regret that I extend my apologies for the grave mishap that has transpired within our establishment. I humbly request your forgiveness for this significant disruption on such a grand occasion," Nigel intoned, bowing to the crowd, who seemed more intrigued than understanding.
Looking at his bowing stance made many of the guests quiet as they waited to see the next spectacle.
After a moment of silence, when no response came from the crowd, Nigel straightened and continued, "Regrettably, on this momentous night, a madman's hubris has robbed us of an evening of wonder."
The crowd reacted with a collective gasp at the audacious insult Nigel had directed toward the Master of A Great House. They braced themselves for another confrontation, their eyes instinctively turning toward the second floor. Yet, they saw no sign of the man who had instigated such chaos, nor any trace of him anywhere in the auction hall, which only deepened their curiosity.
It was almost like the person had vanished in thin air.
Driven by a need for answers, one man in the crowd shouted, "Hey! What happened to Mr. Friggart? Where is he?"
"Yes," Delmar confirmed, "It's the Four Kings and Queens."
William finally understood. The true Kings and Queens, the rulers of the Four Kingdoms, were present in real-time and were inside the rooms. No wonder everyone was on high alert, anyone would have. They were terrified that their past behavior might have been noticed by the Kings and Queens of their respective Kingdoms.
One word. One word was all it would take for them to lose their heads as easily as a casual gesture. Now, they were all consumed with the fear that the Kings and Queens had taken note of them as well.
If they could so swiftly and discreetly dispose of a Master of a Great House in the midst of such a large crowd, then they—mere small fry—could be eliminated without anyone, not even their wives, knowing.
Nigel watched their faces, understanding the turmoil in their minds. He didn't attempt to quell their fears, but he did offer some solace with his next words.
"I regret to inform you, dear guests, that due to the unfortunate event that has just occurred, the auction house has decided that it would be prudent to close the auction for tonight and resume it at a later date. I thank you for attending this grand event of ours, and I apologize once again that it has been marred by such an inauspicious incident."
Upon hearing his words, the guests quickly rose and turned to leave without a word to one another. There was only one thought on their minds: to exit the auction as swiftly as possible, before they made any misstep in the presence of their sovereigns.
"WAIT!" Nigel called out, and the guests halted in their tracks.
"Even though the auction has been halted, the items that have already been sold are still available for collection. Please follow our employees, who will guide you to your designated items. You will simply need to settle the fees before collecting them."
The guests complied, following the employees who led them to various rooms. Adam and Carl trailed behind a lady, also an employee, and noticed that others around them were being escorted to different rooms as well.
Oddly, each guest was taken to a room that seemed to be reserved solely for them, with table numbers in the hundreds. Despite the need for a large number of rooms, the auction house had managed to accommodate each guest individually.
Adam and Carl entered a small, simply furnished room with two sofas and a steel table at its center. The female employee bowed to them and said, "Gentlemen, please take a seat on the sofas and wait for a moment while I retrieve your items."
Adam and Carl nodded and sat down. The lady exited through the door, and no sooner had she left than a man entered and said, "Well, isn't this interesting!"