The item was sold?
Someone bought it?
No... that wasn't what happened.
Just as the Auctioneer was about to complete his statement, the glass encasing the sword exploded under the immense force of Nameful's fist. Shards of crystal scattered through the air like rain, sending gasps throughout the room.
The Auctioneer flinched, along with the audience, stunned by the audacity of her actions. Why had she done that? The shock rippled through the crowd, halting everything. All eyes zeroed in on her, waiting for an explanation.
'Damn it! What is this girl thinking?' Nameless's mind raced, but his face, hidden behind his mask, betrayed nothing. 'Is she trying to get us banned? Or worse, bankrupt?' Panic surged in him, though he maintained an outward calm. If things went south, he was prepared to sell Nameful to the house as a slave and cut his losses. His thoughts were cut off by her voice.
"You all think this is just a simple weapon?" Nameful began, her voice sharp, commanding attention. She strode forward, her hand gripping the sword's hilt with rough authority. "A simple blade forged by an ordinary blacksmith?" Her gaze swept the crowd, now enthralled by her brazen confidence.
The audience, including the Auctioneer, gradually regained composure, but confusion lingered. What was she getting at?
Nameless's eyes narrowed beneath his mask. He began to understand what she was attempting, but the path she was treading was risky. Still, the strategy had potential.
Nameful raised the sword, which towered over her by several feet. "This is not just a sword that slashes and kills." She hoisted it into the air, her muscles straining slightly. A thin veil of sweat shimmered on her brow as she called upon her mana, letting it flood into the weapon.
The room collectively held its breath as the sword began to emit green fumes, an eerie energy swirling from the blade. The air around it thickened with power, and even from the back of the room, the audience could sense the raw, palpable mana pulsing from the weapon.
Nameless smirked beneath his mask. 'So that's her play... She's giving them a taste of the sword's true value. Clever. She's raising the stakes—forcing them to reconsider and driving the bid higher.'
He shifted his gaze to the audience. Their eyes gleamed with hunger, hands itching to place higher bids. Nameful had ensnared them with her performance, the once-quiet crowd now buzzing with renewed anticipation.
The entire room fell into a stunned silence. One billion Kyota. The sheer amount echoed in the minds of everyone present. Some began to recline in their chairs, while others stared blankly at their phones, unsure of how to react to the madness that had just unfolded.
'I just spent a fortune on this sword... But no matter, it will be worth it. I will prove my dominance, and this weapon will be the crown jewel in my collection.' Williams smirked to himself, already imagining the prestige it would bring him. He glanced around, hoping, deep down, that someone would challenge his bid, but no one did.
"Going once."
"Going twice..."
"No! I'm not done!" Williams's voice cracked, but no one else moved. The silence in the room felt heavy, like a final exhale.
"Sold to the hunter in red!" The Auctioneer slammed his gavel, sealing the deal.
Nameful gently placed the sword back on its pedestal, her expression unreadable as she returned to Nameless.
"Sorry," she muttered under her breath, visibly annoyed. "That bastard still got the sword, and he spent a fortune on it."
Nameless chuckled, low and sinister. His mask only added to the eerie sound of his laughter. "You've done well, Nameful. Thanks to you, I've killed two birds with one stone. These fools are now desperate. They'll want my contact, hoping I have more weapons like this one.
And on top of that... I'm rich now."
Nameful stared at him, incredulous. "That's what you're happy about?"
"Hehehe... Velerium," Nameless addressed his familiar, still cackling. "Now, onto the next part of my plan."
"That's it, Master," Velerium's voice echoed from the shadows, joining in the sinister laughter. "The laughter of a true god."
Nameless's eyes gleamed. This was only the beginning.