I walked out of the room and gave Wilfred back the shades he’d lent me, along with the hide clothes I’d removed. Wilfred carefully stored the hides, remarking, “You possess impeccable taste.” He then added, “The auction is about to commence. If you would be so kind as to follow me.”
We promptly returned to the auction house, now packed with people and robots. The air crackled with anticipation, a low hum of hushed conversations.
Wilfred led me to one of the VIP rooms. “Our Mistress has authorized a minimum reserve of five million for these pieces. Should they not achieve this valuation, she has assured me she will cover the discrepancy.”
Fi…Fi… FIVE MILLION! That’s almost the same as my entire life savings from my past life. My breath hitched. This is normal, this is normal, I am an isekai MC, being around exorbitant sums of money is normal!
A hush fell over the room. A spotlight snapped on, illuminating the center stage! And there she was, our auctioneer, beaming a smile that could melt glaciers. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to today’s extraordinary auction!” she announced, her voice ringing out clear and strong, easily cutting through the previous murmur. “For those unfamiliar, the rules are simple: highest bidder wins! Now, without further ado…” She gestured dramatically as a platform rose smoothly from the floor, bathed in soft, ethereal light. On it rested… a scroll. Just a scroll. After all that buildup, it was just a rolled-up piece of parchment. I almost fell off my chair.
"Behold!" the auctioneer proclaims, her voice filled with reverence. "Lot number one! The Words of the Harbinger! Yes, you heard right! The very knowledge bestowed upon Lord Cartier himself! This isn't some copy, folks! This is the real deal! Authenticated by the finest experts, sourced from a most reputable collector – I assure you! This scroll, ladies and gentlemen, held the secrets to mass production! Industrialization! A fine addition to any collection. A true treasure! Now… let's talk bidding. We're starting this magnificent artifact at a mere 500,000 Ads! Do I hear 500,000?"
Harbinger?
"500,000 I have! Do I hear 550? Yes! 550,000 from the lady in the front! The bidding is heating up! 600,000! 650,000! The numbers are climbing! 700,000! The excitement is palpable! 800,000! We're flying now, ladies and gentlemen! 900,000! The bids are coming in fast and furious! One million Ads! We've hit the million mark! Do I hear 1.1 million? Yes! 1.1 million from the gentleman in the back! A fierce competition! 1.2 million! The bidding war rages on! 1.2 million I have! Do I hear 1.3? No? Going once! Going twice! Sold! For 1.2 million Ads! What a fantastic price for such an extraordinary piece! Congratulations to the winning bidder!"
The auctioneer beams, clearly pleased with the opening sale. I watch as the scroll is whisked away, replaced by another item. This process repeats for the next couple of items. People here are interested in handcrafted, natural items, and antiques. Very much like Earth, rich people are only looking for rare and exotic items. It seems the fundamentals of wealth and collecting transcend worlds.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Finally, it’s my turn. A nervous flutter stirs in my stomach. This is it. The moment of truth.
"And now," the auctioneer's voice drops to a near whisper, a dramatic pause hanging in the air. The lights dim slightly, focusing on the newly risen platform. "Something truly… extraordinary." She gestures with a gloved hand. "A set of teeth from a 300-year-old Oroskaros."
A hush falls over the crowd. Utter silence. You could hear a pin drop. Even I hold my breath, waiting to see how this goes.
"Authentic," she emphasizes, her voice regaining its strength, "Wild Oroskaros. This magnificent creature, sadly, passed just as these teeth were retrieved. Ensuring their… pristine condition. A truly rare opportunity, ladies and gentlemen. A glimpse into a dangerous treasure few have ever seen." She lets the silence linger for a moment, then, with a sharp intake of breath: "We'll start the bidding on this exceptional lot at… 100 thousand Ads."
The silence is shattered by a booming voice from the crowd. "100 thousand!"
The auctioneer's eyes widen slightly, a flicker of excitement in her gaze. "One hundred thousand! We have 100 thousand! Do I hear 120? 120 thousand! Yes! From the lady in the blue! The bidding is off to a roaring start! 150 thousand!"
Another voice cuts through the air. "300 thousand!"
"Three hundred thousand! The numbers are climbing rapidly! Do I hear 350? 400 thousand! We have 400 thousand! The tension is palpable! This is a truly remarkable piece! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" The bids continue to escalate, the room buzzing with anticipation. "700 thousand! 900 thousand! The million mark is broken! 1.1 million! 1.2 million! The bids are flying in! 1.3 million! Do I hear 1.4? No? 1.3 million! Going once…" She raises her gavel. "Going twice…" The gavel falls with a sharp crack. "SOLD! For 1.3 million Ads! To the collector bot in the front row! Congratulations! A magnificent acquisition!"
“The bidding is… restrained today,” Wilfred commented, a dry note in his voice.
“And now… behold!” The auctioneer gestures towards the next platform rising from the floor. This one is significantly larger, bearing a massive rack upon which is stretched… an entire hide. The fur gleams, impossibly clean and vibrant, looking almost as if it had been taken from the animal just moments ago. “The complete back hide of a wild Oroskaros!” she announces, her voice filled with awe. “Observe the quality! No tears, completely intact! Peeling this magnificent specimen was done mere moments after its natural passing, preserving its pristine condition. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a truly unparalleled piece.” She pauses, allowing the crowd to take in the sheer size and splendor of the hide. “The texture… the sheen… it’s simply breathtaking.”
But before she can even delve into the specifics, a voice booms from the crowd. “2 million!”
The auctioneer’s eyes widen in surprise, but she quickly recovers. “Two million! We have an opening bid of two million! Do I hear two and a half?”
“3 million!” another voice shouts, cutting through the air.
“Three million! The bidding is heating up already! Do I hear three and a half?”
“3.5 million!” comes the immediate response.
“Three and a half million! The bidding war has begun in earnest! The energy in the room is electric! Four million! Five million! Six million! The numbers are climbing at an astonishing pace! Seven million! The tension is palpable!”
Suddenly, a calm, measured voice echoes from one of the VIP viewing boxes overlooking the auction floor. “10 million.”