Chapter 188 – Floor 20: Part 2

The glass pad felt cold to the touch as Mathew held his hand on top of it for a moment. He doubted anything would happen; the scanner couldn’t very well identify him if he wasn’t from this world. But, to his surprise, a light flashed green at the top of the pad, and Katie smiled from behind the desk.

“Thank you, Mr. Larson. When it comes to valuables held in our guest vault, we can never be too sure. Please, follow me.” She said while directing his attention to a closed door just off to the side of the desk.

Stepping out from behind the counter, she used a keycard to open the door and held it for him.

“Thank you.” Mathew said politely as he followed her through the door and through a narrow hallway. Mathew could hear the sounds of the lobby fade away, replaced by a silence that spoke of thick walls and soundproofing.

They passed through another set of doors, these ones much thicker than the others and through a vestibule with several guards watching monitors before they reached their destination.

The vault was open when they arrived; no doubt one of the guards had radioed ahead to warn them of their arrival, and Mathew was greeted with rows of sealed lockboxes that no doubt held the personal belongings of guests deemed important enough for extra security.

There was another employee waiting for them in the vault, a man in a black suit standing in front of a stainless steel table with a briefcase on top. Made of back leather, it had brass latches and was embossed with a symbol that Mathew was unfamiliar with.

“Here you are, Mr. Larson. Would you prefer to confirm the contents privately?” Katie asked, but Mathew shook his head.

“That won’t be necessary; I’m sure it’s all here.” Mathew replied, still having no clue what was in the case or who had left it for him. Did Ubiquitous Exchange have agents on this Floor to make deliveries? If that was so, why in the hell did a god need him to attend an auction?

Still full of questions, Mathew undid the latches and flipped the lid of the briefcase open. Inside, where he had expected stacks of bills or maybe gold bars, was a piece of artwork. Even as someone who didn’t follow art, Mathew recognized it immediately.

The Mona Lisa looked up at him in the bright, harsh light of the vault. Her small smile seemed like a smirk to Mathew, as if she was amused by the predicament he was in. The painting was pristine and set in a small, simple wooden frame.

He hurriedly closed the lid before anyone else could notice.

“Yup, all here alright.” Mathew stammered out quickly, taking a peek at the two other people. Neither Katie nor the guard reacted to the contents of the briefcase or his strange actions.

“Wonderful, if you are ready?” Katie asked him, gesturing toward the vault door.

“Sure. Hey, I’m looking to attend an auction. Is there one happening around here?” Mathew hurriedly asked as the pair exited the vault and returned to the lobby.

“Of course, Mr. Larson. Your company has everything arranged for this evening. Your private bidding room is on the fifteenth floor and is ready for you. The auction starts at 8 pm, and you can place any items you wish to place at the auction with the auctioneer.” Katie explained.

“Great, thanks….you wouldn’t happen to have the time?” Mathew asked after he realized he wasn’t wearing a watch. He recalled he used to own a Rolex, but that was decades ago.

“It’s currently 7:35, Mr. Larson.”

“Shit! Gotta go!”

Stolen story; please report.

Page Break

While Mathew was riding the elevator back up to the fifteenth floor, his wristband began to vibrate.

A Simple Business Transaction.

The god of Ubiquitous Exchange requires you to purchase the Crown of Lamentation, using the item in your possession to bid for it. After obtaining the Crown, place it into your inventory to complete your task.

“Sounds simple enough.” Mathew muttered sarcastically as he lowered his arm after reading the message. No Floor was ever simple, and no transaction that required someone like him to carry it out could be anything but extremely complicated and dangerous.

The elevator let out a ‘ding’ as it arrived on the 15th Floor of the Stardust Illusion Hotel and Casino. Getting off the elevator, he reached a large foyer filled with people waiting in line in front of a skywalk, a bridge connecting Mathew's building with another one across the street.

The Skywalk was lit in blue and completely made of glass. There were employees standing in front of it, speaking to people before they could walk across. Everyone was clothed in suits and dresses, making Mathew underdressed for the event.

“Hello, Sir, may I help you?” An attendant came up to him wearing a black and white suit and holding a tablet computer in his hand. Mathew must have drawn their attention from his outfit and large briefcase.

“Hey, I’m here for the auction. I’m supposed to have a room or something.” Mathew responded, unsure of what he was supposed to do now. The attendant looked at him doubtfully for a moment before holding out the tablet with the screen facing upright.

“If you would place your hand here?” The attendant asked politely. Having done this before, Mathew put his palm on the tablet and waited for a second. It lit green and let out a small sound.

“My apologies, Sir. I wasn’t aware you were a VIP member. Please, right this way.” The attendant said and led him forward. Bypassing the line, they were soon crossing the sky bridge, and Mathew marvelled at the view.

The glass had some enhancement or technology that changed what he was seeing. For a moment, it was the Las Vegas skyline and the strip below him. Then, there were beautiful green vistas and oceans, and then a beach.

“Through this door, Sir.” The attendant said, directing Mathew through a door to the right after they crossed the bridge. Climbing a flight of steps, they passed through another hallway lined with doors on the left before the attendant slid a card into a reader and unlocked a door.

“Here is your room, Sir. If you have anything to auction, you may inform the auctioneer inside, and they will scan the item. For security reasons, we require you to hold onto items until purchases are complete. We hope you have a pleasant evening.” The attendant gave him a small bow and then left him alone.

The room was small, with a couch, some chairs and a bar stacked with an assortment of drinks and snacks. One entire wall of the room was a black screen with the logo of the Stardust Illusion Hotel and Casino displayed.

Mathew set the cast down on a small table and made his way over to the bar. He didn’t know what he was expecting when he came here, maybe a giant auditorium with someone on a stage while people shouted bids?

It certainly wasn’t a small room tucked away in a building off of the main hotel without a single window. Mathew poured himself a soda from a brand he didn’t recognize, along with some snacks, and returned to the couch.

Putting his feet up on the table carefully so as not to bump the case that contained a priceless work of art, Mathew leaned back on the couch and opened a bag of chips. Savouring the greasy, salt and vinegar-flavoured chips, he washed it down with a sugary soda.

Heavenly.

“Alright, this isn’t so bad, Ubiquitous Exchange. If the whole transaction is as simple as this, we won’t have any problems.” Mathew said to himself.

‘Welcome! Welcome one and all to the Stardust Illusion Auction House! Boy, do we have one hell of an event for you all! We have art; we have limited editions; we have jewelry. We have items that you have to see to believe!’

An obnoxious voice began to speak through a speaker in the room, and the screen that covered the wall transitioned from the hotel’s logo to show a man dressed in a neon pink and purple suit so eye-wateringly bright that it threatened to give Mathew a migraine.

‘I’m your host, the illustrious and grand Auctioneer! You all may be wondering, how does this work? Where is the auction? Who is this stunningly, stupendous and sumptuous soul standing on stage before you?’ The Auctioneer said, and Mathew found himself wishing that he was back on the punishment Floor.

“I get it; this is the challenge. Watching this idiot is why you needed someone like me.” Mathew muttered.

‘This is the auction! Simply show the item you wish to auction to the screen in your room, and our talented appraisers will do all the rest! No muss, no fuss! Now, for the rules! There will be no cash at this auction, no way! No credit, no cards! Keep those bills at home! We are working on the policy of equivalent exchange for this auction!’

‘Equivalent Exchange! If you want something, then you better be willing to give something up!’

‘Now! Let’s get this show on the road!’

Mathew let out a groan and sank deeper into the couch. No amount of snacks, sodas or comforts could make this bearable.

“Just kill me now!”