Chapter 190 – Floor 20: Part 4
“The Crown of Lamentation! This sucker is power incarnate, provided you are strong enough to wear it!” The Auctioneer said as he walked close to the crown, and the camera zoomed in close. He seemed about to touch the silver crown with his finger but stopped, his hand hovering just above it.
“We’ve done extensive testing on the Crown, using willing subjects, of course, and we’re confident that you will be pleased with this magical item. But, as the saying goes, with great power comes great cost! And not just material wealth, mind you! We’re talking about serious negative side effects from the curse this beauty possesses.”
“But, let’s not be all gloom and doom! What’s a little curse when you compare it to U.L.I.M.A.T.E. P.O.W.E.R! Ultimate Power baby!” The Auctioneer screamed and started to dance, and Mathew was confident that the man had truly lost his mind.
After a few moments, the Auctioneer calmed down enough to continue.
“First up, the Crown possesses a Passive Aura from the lingering grief of its creator. It’s called the Crown of Lamentation, after all! Anyone who tries to get closer than ten feet while you’re wearing the Crown will find their steps slowed by the weight of loss. Get closer than 3 feet; that sorrow manifests physically.”
The Auctioneer paused, and his face came close to the camera.
“We almost lost one of our assessors to this baby; he was curled up on the floor, trying to gouge his own eyes out! Freaky stuff!”
“But don’t worry, if you’re wearing the crown, you never have to worry about that sort of thing happening to you. The Crown sucks away all your sadness, all your despair. No more depression while it's on top of your noggin!”
“So! Let’s start the bidding!” The Auctioneer said as he walked off-screen, and the camera panned around the crown as it sat on top of the table.
“Now’s my chance!” Mathew said as he stood from the couch and lifted the lid of the briefcase. The Mona Lisa stared up at him from within the case; her face still showed that small smile. Mathew carefully reached into the case and lifted the previous item from its resting place.
Turning it slightly so that it pointed toward the screen, Mathew cleared his throat and spoke.
“I’d like to place a bid for the Crown of Lamentation with this piece of art.” Mathew said, and the screen froze for a moment before turning black and then shifting to a new image. The screen showed a middle-aged man wearing a business suit and thick, gold-rimmed glasses.
“Good evening, Mr. Larson. I am an Assessor here at the Starlight Illusion Hotel and Casino. Please hold the item steady in front of the screen while I conduct the assessment. It will only be a moment.” The man said as he adjusted his glasses slightly.
Mathew was about to reply when he felt a strange mana sweep over him and the object he held. The mana stayed for a moment, ignoring him and sinking into the Mona Lisa painting before it retracted.
“Ah! A remarkable piece! The Mona Lisa, painted by Archmagus Leonardo da Vinci. Considered by some to be his crowning achievement, of course, those who have studied his work understand that his magical prowess lay in Artificing rather than enchanting his paintings. This was more of a hobby for him, a way to unwind after the intensity of forging Relics.” The Assessor explained.
“Truly, a one-of-a-kind magical item. I will relay the details of its magical abilities to the owner of the Crown if you wish to be a part of the discussion?” The Assessor asked, seeing that Mathew had no idea about the magical item he held in his hands.
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“Uhh…sure? I thought it was just a painting of the Mona Lisa. It’s pretty valuable in my world. I didn’t realize it was a magical artifact.” Mathew admitted, and the Assessor smiled slightly.
“Not to worry, Mr. Larson. Your employer relayed the details of your participation to us. You will not be required to provide any input into the transaction.” The Assessor replied.
“My Employer?” Mathew asked, slightly confused.
“Yes, the god of Ubiquitous Exchange.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m just here because the Tower sent me; I don’t work for Ubiquitous Exchange.” Mathew explained, and the Assessor continued to smile and shake his head in the negative.
“We all work for the gods, in one way or the other.” The Assessor replied. The screen shifted once more, and a third party was on the screen. They were cloaked in shadows and were merely a human outline against the backdrop of their private room.
“Good Evening. We have verified the item as the ‘Mona Lisa, Portrait of Enigmatic Beauty.’ I believe the value of this magical item is equivalent to that of the Crown of Lamentation.” The Assessor said to the shadowy figure, who nodded after hearing the explanation.
“Please explain the uses of the Portrait.” Their voice was oddly muffled and heavily distorted, so Mathew wasn’t sure if it belonged to a man or a woman. The Assessor bowed in response.
“Of course. ‘Mona Lisa, Portrait of Enigmatic Beauty possesses three enchantments. Two are passive, and one is activated.” The Assessor began his explanation, stopping for a moment to adjust his glasses with his finger.
“The first passive ability is the Enigmatic Aura. Attuning to the painting has a soothing effect on the mind, shielding you from intrusive thoughts and mental attacks. It can also lessen the effects of any curses or infirmities affecting the psyche.”
“A very useful power indeed.” The shadowy figure replied, nodding their head.
“The second passive ability is Concealed Sentinel. As you may know, Leonardo Da Vinci was an incredibly powerful Sorcerer, one equal to the 60 or 65th Floor of the Tower. His presence lingers on the artifacts he created, granting them a spiritual consciousness.”
“The painting will protect its bearer against Blessings and spells that possess a ‘Charm’ effect or ‘Panic.’”
“Provided you carry it with you, of course. A less than perfect defense.” The shadowy figure said, and Mathew could detect a hint of disappointment in their voice. A difficult feat since it was so heavily altered.
“The third is an activated ability, and the most powerful, in my opinion. The Enigmatic Portal allows the owner to enter the world of the painting itself. An entire world, created by a master Artificer. Even I cannot peer into the depths of the painting to determine what is within.” The Assessor said, finishing his explanation.
This time, Mathew was sure of the shadowy figure's reaction. They leaned forward, and Mathew could see they were visibly agitated.
“I agree to the trade.”
“Good, it has been our pleasure to assist you both today. We hope to see you again in the future.”
The screen went black momentarily before switching back to the main auction. Strangely, it seemed that little time had passed on screen despite Mathew and the Assessor talking for a long time. The Auctioneer was back in a flash, his vibrant suit blinding Mathew’s eyes once again.
“That’s it! Bids closed, and we’re moving on to the next item!” The crown disappeared in a flash of light, and so did the painting in Mathew’s hands, along with the briefcase that once held it. Instead, Mathew held the Crown of Lamentation.
It was frigid, like holding a block of ice. Shivering at the cold, he could feel a wave of grief wash over him. Hurriedly, he placed the Crown into his inventory. Predictably, a loud ‘Ding’ rang out in the small, private room.
Floor 20: A City of Sin (Completed)
Congratulations! You have obtained the Crown of Lamentation. It has automatically been removed from your inventory. The god of Ubiquitous Exchange thanks you for your service.
You have been awarded with the Blessing: Decoy!
The god of Ubiquitous Exchange is very pleased by your actions. They have donned the Crown immediately.
“You’re welcome?” Mathew said to the empty room as he lowered his arm.
“That’s it? There wasn’t much to it. I thought for sure I would have to fight my way out of here, maybe against an army of robbers. Or chase someone through the casino because they stole the thing from me.” Mathew muttered.
He was about to walk to the door of the room when he was interrupted by another notification.
A third party has requested your presence. Transfer to Floor 21 halted. You will be re-routed to an alternative Floor. Transferring to Floor 21b.
Before he could respond, Mathew was engulfed in white light.