Extra's Perfect Ending

As the night wore on, Theia and Reeva enjoyed their meal while Hilda stood behind them. Reeva wanted Hilda to eat as well, but it would look out of place in this setting. If he had paid for the buffet himself, he would have no problem letting Hilda join them, but this was Holen's money. He couldn't afford to be careless, especially since drawing attention to himself could have dire consequences. However, Reeva wasn't just enjoying the food. He was also on the lookout for Ulla, the potential slave buyer, and possible blood mystic sponsor, based on the description and photo Holen had provided. Ulla was an overweight man with a thick mustache and a square face—features that should have made him easy to spot. But it was harder than Reeva had expected. The event required everyone to wear white masks, making it difficult to distinguish one person from another. Moreover, many wealthy people had larger bodies, making it even more challenging to identify Ulla from a distance. "Did you find him?" Reeva asked Hilda, hoping for some help. "I'm sorry, Master. I can't turn around without looking suspicious," Hilda replied, her voice tinged with regret. As a maid, Hilda had to stand by her master's side, attending to his needs, such as ordering more food. She waited for an opportunity to do so, hoping to get a better look around the dining room. Fortunately, Theia soon finished her plate and asked for more food. Hilda took the opportunity to glance around while summoning a waiter. However, the brief moment wasn't enough to locate Ulla. Hilda tried this tactic several times throughout the meal, but to her disappointment, she couldn't find Ulla. Theia and Reeva also looked around occasionally, but they too had no luck. Finally, a man stood at the podium. He wore the same white face mask as every other guest. "Hello and welcome. We are honored to have all of you esteemed guests here," the man said, his voice filled with respect. He was dressed formally, like everyone else, and his gestures were soft yet firm. "Welcome to the 104th Longland Auction House. I can guarantee that every item we offer today is curated and of top quality. As always, we have rare items, and perhaps some with supernatural properties." The man narrated his introduction with elegant hand gestures, preparing the guests for the prestigious items about to be shown. "Let me explain for those attending for the first time. Every item has a base price set by either the auction house or the seller. If there's no offer higher than the starting price, we won't sell it. For each item, we'll set a minimum bid increase. Every time you raise the rod we've provided, the price will automatically rise by the minimum increment. We do not handle bids higher than the set increase. This process is designed to streamline bidding and reduce noise. Are there any questions?" The man looked around, but no one had any questions. He smiled brightly before proceeding. "Great, then please welcome our first item on the list, a treasure map obtained from capturing a pirate. It's rumored to lead to thousands of stac. The map shows an island located in the southern sea. The seller has set the starting bid at 50 stac, with a minimum increase of 10." As soon as the host finished speaking, someone immediately raised their rod. The waiter near the time stand calls the price increase every time he sees somebody raise the rod. Reeva couldn't help but admire the reputation of this auction house. The buyers didn't even question the validity of the items. Either they had inside knowledge, or the auction house was that reputable. The map appeared to be nothing more than a roll of paper, brought out on a moving stand by one of the waiters. Reeva couldn't discern anything special about it—no mystic properties, just an ordinary map. The price rose steadily and eventually stopped at around 500 stac. Reeva suspected that any higher bids would have caused the buyers to overextend themselves. The auction continued, with a variety of items being presented. They sold a wide range of goods, including rare gems, lost treasures, and works of art that couldn't be bought anywhere else. Occasionally, they even presented items that sounded like mystic artifacts, though Reeva knew he would need to examine them himself to confirm their true nature. Items were sold for 400 to 700 stac, and even Theia's eyes widened at the amount of money being spent. Reeva, too, was shocked by the sheer wealth on display. Thousands of stac were being tossed around like pocket change. Finally, the auction reached a critical point. After hours of selling precious items, only a few remained. A waiter rolled out a stand with an ornate wooden box that exuded an aura of importance. "As one of the last few items we have, this one might have supernatural abilities! We call it the Blood Dagger." This was the time he came here. The item that Holen wanted so much. Reeva leaned in to get a closer look. The waiter opened the box, revealing a short red blade resting on a soft cushion. Even from a distance, Reeva could feel the ominous energy emanating from the blade. It was a cursed weapon if he had ever seen one. "It was obtained from the body of one of the victims of the infamous Blood Snow mystery case. The Blood Dagger is said to increase the user's speed twofold, but it requires blood to operate." Reeva felt the entire room grow colder as the wealthy bidders readied their rods. Some had been eagerly awaiting this item, like himself, while others simply sought a rare collector's piece to flaunt. The stand with the box was then pushed around the restaurant, allowing guests to get a closer look at the item. Some gazed at it with curiosity, while others displayed a clear desire to own it. Reeva was among those who needed this dagger—not for show, but because Holen required it. His determination to secure the item only intensified as the bidding began.