novelraw Chapter 80
Chapter 80
Chapter 80
Arrival at the metropolis Electra.
It is already evening, but the city is dazzling. Casinos, hotels, theaters. Nothing but tall buildings.
In the center of the city stands a large lake, and in the middle of the lake rises the golden tower directly controlled by the Oceanus military, 'Iris Tower'. You can reach the tower by crossing any of the four great bridges spanning the lake.
The auction is held in the grand hall on the top floor of Iris Tower. Eve-san and I wait in the parking lot at the tower's base.
"Inside is packed with military police. If things go badly, there'll be more MPs than spectators in the auction hall. Do we even get a turn?"
Sitting in the kei-truck's cargo bed, we stare at the venue through our PCs under the night sky.
"Still, to think they won't even let us in. An auction's no good unless you're actually there. We came all this way—remote participation is just wrong, right?"
"Personally, I prefer it here where there are fewer people."
"Ehh~? But that heat's the best part. Oh, looks like it's about to start."
A woman in black steps onto the auction stage and begins explaining the rules.
Eighty-nine items are up for sale this time. Eve-san's target, the Phoenix, is Lot No. 12. My coveted Hi-Odoshi is Lot No. 22. And the orb Triad that the Phantom Thief is after is last—Lot No. 89.
"We will now explain the basic flow of the auction. First, we present the starting bid for each item. If you wish to purchase at that price, please tap the 'Bid' prompt on your terminal. If there are no other bidders you win the lot. If two or more bidders appear we move to a 'contest'."
With this many people, hardly anyone will win on the first bid.
Besides the on-site guests, plenty are joining remotely like us.
"The contest rules are simple. When we give the signal, bidders raise the price using their terminals. Whoever submits the highest amount before the time limit wins."
No different from any ordinary auction.
"Price increases must be in increments of 100,000 chips. The standard time limit is three minutes per item, but management may shorten or extend it at its discretion."
If they decide it's settled early they'll cut it short, and if they think they can squeeze out more cash they'll extend it...
"Listen, Shiki. The first rule of auctions is... 'don't compete'."
"Huh? But it's an auction..."
"Exactly. First decide your maximum in your head, and if it goes over that, back out cleanly. Simple, but crucial. Chase it too hard and you'll get burned."
"Y-yes, sir! That's enlightening!"
Hi-Odoshi is an excellent weapon, but it's still just a weapon. I've got 35 million on hand, but 10 million is about all I can spend. Anything more would be a waste.
"Here we go."
Eve-san and I stare at the PC sitting on its cardboard box.
(Labyrinth might not show up the instant Triad is listed. Triad is probably already backstage. Most likely it'll be defenseless only after it's brought on stage, but there's every chance she'll try to steal it before that. Gotta stay sharp.)
By the way, we only know four of Labyrinth's weapons.
- • Trick Arm (hands that can fire wires or smoke from the palms) × 2
- • Nocturne (special coat. Stealth effectiveness ×1.5 at all times, ×3 at night)
- • Serenade (dark-light laser dagger)
Gear fit for a phantom thief. The most powerful is Nocturne; with loose conditions it still gives a big stealth boost.
Labyrinth is said to operate mainly at night, so it's natural she'd favor night-boosted gear. Radar's unreliable.
(Our turn comes after Triad is "stolen." Labyrinth grabs Triad, escapes the venue, exits the tower, and only then do we pursue. No matter how alert we are, we can't stop her theft.)
We can hardly open sniper fire in a packed auction hall.
(But observing how she moves and uses her gear is vital.)
There's too little info on Labyrinth. I can't miss a single move.
(There's no way Labyrinth will be caught by the MPs inside.)
Judging from her track record, even this level of security is still too lax.
Unless they've got some secret weapon, Oceanus military's defeat is certain.
"Next up, Lot No. 12! The Core Engine Phoenix, supplying energy semi-permanently and boasting high output!!"
"It's here, it's here!"
Inside the crystal sphere flickers crimson flame-like energy. A fantastical item. That's Phoenix...
"Starting at 20 million chips!"
Of course, Eve-san joins the contest.
Six bidders. The price climbs one after another.
"25 million... 27 million... 27.5 million..."
"30 million, come on!!"
Eve-san hikes the price to 30 million.
"Eve-san, what's your limit?"
"...30 million."
She's already at the very limit. But—
"40 million! We have 40 million!!"
"What!?"
Only two remain in the contest. Eve-san and one other. A one-on-one duel.
"You're retiring here, right, Eve-san?"
"G-go, 42 million!!"
"Eve-san!?"
"Back out after coming this far!? I've got 60 million on hand... I can still bid!"
That's not what you said earlier!
"We have 43 million!"
"44 million!"
"45 million!"
"48 million!!!"
"50 million!!!"
"Then... 60 million!!!!"
"Sold! 60 million, sold!!"
In the end Eve-san spent her entire fortune.
The moment she won she struck a guts pose, but instantly realized her blunder and her soul half slipped out of her mouth.
"...I-I messed up..."
(I'd better not make the same mistake.)
The auction proceeds smoothly, and—
"Next up, Lot No. 22, Hi-Odoshi! A coat equipped with a special mode! When the special mode 'Enten' is active, Hi-Odoshi can even burn through Guardian armor!! Starting price... 10 million chips!!"
Eh...?
"Wh-what!? 10 million!? Why!? It's just a weapon!?"
"...If it's listed here it's bound to be rare. The details say Hi-Odoshi is a limited item—only three in the entire world. A hard-to-market special coat, limited quantity, and high specs... of course it'll fetch that price."
"W-w-w-w-wha...!? What do I do!?"
"Oi, it'll be cut off in thirty seconds. What's your move?"
"I'm joining!"
Eve-san operates her PC and enters the contest. Nine bidders.
In no time the bid swells to 20 million.
"Uwaah...!"
"What now, Shiki!? No time left!"
"T-twenty-two million!!"
The contest accelerates further—
Three bidders remain. Bid price—26 million.
(I'm already way past my original limit!!)
Give up! Give up, me! Quitting's the smart move... but, but...!
(If I let this chance go, I may never get another. B-but paying nearly 30 million for a single weapon is insane...!)
That battleship I call home only cost 1 million!
(B-but... but...!)
My throat clicks.
I want it. Want it, want it, want it!
It looks so cool! I love red ragged cloaks!
"30 million!"
One more drops out.
The bidding becomes a duel.
"31 million!"
"32 million!"
"33 million!"
"34 million!!"
And then, finally, the conclusion arrives.
"34 million! Sold for 34 million!"
"I won the bid......but......my entire fortune dropped to 1 million......"
I have no regrets. If I'd let it slip away here, I'd surely have been haunted forever. Compared to that, this is still better. It's fine......I can earn the money again.
It's a strange sensation. Half my chest is burning hot, yet the other half is hollow, as if a hole had opened up.
"Auctions are scary......"
"Yeah. Terrifying......"
Both Ms. Eve and I were dragging our feet for about thirty minutes after that, but as the auction entered its final stages we pulled ourselves together.
At last......it's coming.
"Thank you for waiting, everyone! Today's star item! The orb 'Triad' is now on the stage!!"
The very item the Phantom Thief came for—Triad.
The auction hall is flooded with tension.