(POV Cyrus)
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" I scream as I harshly crash into something.
<- 12HP>
"Oi Cyrus you okay? You took quite the tumble." I look up and see Darius extending his hand forward with a medieval sealing like structure behind him.
I grabbed his hand and pulled myself up as I looked around finding myself in a giant auditorium.
{Image}
"Where the heck are we!?" I look at Darius who grinned.
"This is the 'Grand hall' a building that floats around in the omniverse used as a place for large events such as briefings from deities, parties, meetings, and in this case auctions. We're lucky no one usually uses this place that much but when people do use it the place is flocked by sentries." He explained with a grin.
"How would they even know an auctions taking place?" I ask him out of curiosity s I dusted myself off.
"Well-"
<Basically the system of whoever is holding the auction sends a message to all available sentries that an auction is being held. Now if you wouldn't mind people are coming in so get ready you two!> Lyra said as a few people started getting teleported in.
"Uh I'll pass on being the auctioneer I'll just be the one on the sidelines keeping track of who's items who's…" He said as he took out two panels one that looked like a keyboard and the other blank as a canvas.
"Huh, why-… Right, you were never fond of crowds. Well, worry not I have some experience with auctions so this should go smoothly." I say as I put down the hood and took off my mask.
(If I'd known I'd be the one announcing I would have bought a suit… Oh well in this case scenario most of them will be wearing armor or something similar so I shouldn't stand out too much.) I thought as I slid my hair back and observed the bidders.
Out of nowhere a wooden podium and mallet appeared on the stage along with a large blue system panel that plastered itself on the stage.
<Don't go to the stage just yet you two wait for a few minutes. For now, just think of a good way to introduce yourselves as the bidders roll in.> Nexus stopped us from going to the stage.
For the next few minutes, we stood on the sidelines going over our rolls and how to present our items as more and more people rolled in.
<Yeah you guys should start now don't forget your rolls and lines!> Lyra said as the lights cut off.
"*Deep inhale and exhale* It's show time…" I say as me and Darius make our way to the podium.
Then with a clap of my hands, the lights returned and all eyes locked on us.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen old and young alike, my name is Cyrus Ryker and this is my assistant Darius Greenwood. I'd just like to say thank you for attending my humble auction." I take a small bow along with Darrius trying to be as charismatic as possible.
"Now let's get this show on the road and I hope these items that we've presented today are to the liking of all of you." I clap my hands shutting the lights off and multiple small panels appeared in front of everyone present.
"Now the first item on today's list is a poison not like any other." The large screen and all the panels showed an image of a vile green substance contained in a small jar.
"An ounce of this noxious liquid here can cause a plethora of status conditions ranging from damage overtime to Paralysis to Sleep to acidic corrosion all within a matter of minutes." I say in a mysterious tone to lure in any byers.
"Today I present to you all five 1-liter jars of this toxic liquid with each jar's starting price being 10,000 SP. NOW THE BID FOR THE FIRST JAR STARTS NOW!" I slam the mallet onto the table signaling the start of the bid.
"12,000 SP!"
"12,875!"
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"I bid 14,900 SP!"
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"20,000 SP!"
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"26,500!"
"…"
"Can I get any higher than 26,500 Sp?" I looked around and heard absolute silence.
"Going once, Go-" I was interrupted.
"33,000 SP!" A booming voice erupted from the crowd.
"…"
"Can I get any higher bid?"
"Very well going once… GOING TWICE… SOLD TO THE MAN IN ON SEAT 165! And I must say those scars are quite badass!" I complimented the man as a stage light shined on him.
"HAHAHA THANKS KIDDO YOUR SCAR IS NICE TOO!" He pointed towards his eye.
"Now let's get onto the next jar starting bid id 10,000 SP!" I said in an enthusiastic and charismatic tone with an excited grin on my face.
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"SOLD TO SEAT 579 FOR 35,600 SP!"
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"SOLD TO SEAT 68 FOR 50,600 SP!"
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"SOLD TO THE MAN IN THE YELLOW SUIT ON SEAT 37 FOR 23,000 SP!"
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"SOLD TO SEAT 96 FOR 45,000 SP!"
"Now that we are done with item-1 let me present to you item number-2! To all the gamers out here in the crowd let me introduce you all to a creature that may interest you all!" I them up hyped up as the soft and light melody of 'Proof of a Hero' started playing.
"THE RADOBAAN!" I shouted as the image changed to that of a black trex-like creature with large bone protrusions on it.
{Image}
"I can see many of you monster hunter players excited out there and don't worry it only gets better cause this is not the only creature or item I have from the Monster Hunter dimension!" I hyped up the crowd even more.
"The starting price for this beast is 40,000 SP!" I shouted as the crowd hurriedly placed their bids.
"54,800 SP!"
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"65,000!"
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"78,400 SP!"
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"90,100 Sp"
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"120,000 SP!"
"…"
"Any other bidder willing to bid higher than 120,000 SP?"
"GOING ONCE… GOING TWICE… SOLD TO SEAT 96 and let me tell you this if you are planning on raising this thing I wish you good luck cause it is aggressive as a honey badger on steroids!" I put the mallet down and start clapping in pity for the hell the man on seat 96 is going to experience.
The crowd joined in and started pitying the man "NOW THE NEXT ITEM ON THE LIST IS-".
For the next three hours, I presented numerous things ranging from ore to monsters dead or alive to plant matter getting a lot of Sp and laughs from the crowd with some of my comments.
"Now to the dwarf on seat number 206 congratulations on winning your 680500 Sp bid on 2.7 tons of armor sphere ore!" I slammed the mallet and congratulated the short burly man.
"YYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!" The dwarf in blacksmith attire pumped his fist into the air.
"Now with item number 87 out of the way I am commencing a half an hour break for all of you to take some time off from biding." I say as the curtains closed.
I immediately fell to the ground out of sheer fatigue (Damnit fighting the Girros was easier than this!).
I then conjured a small block of ice and molded it into a cup before I put a finger on top of the glass and water gently poured out of it.
I then chugged the glass down before repeating the process a few times over.
"*Deep exhale* Man that was tiring I tell ya!" I say with a slightly tired tone.
"I can imagine that." Darius sat down beside me and tossed me a brown fruit with green highlights on the side of it.
"That one should help with your… tiredness it has about seven cups of coffee worth of caffeine in it." he said as he passed me a panel.
"Well, this would have helped a lot back when I pulled those all-nighters in the lab!" I exclaim as I chomped on it.
"Yeah well, we need to figure out what to do with all this money… We have not even started on the soul pieces or anything from the Namielle and we've made 3258700 Sp!" He said in an overwhelmed tone.
I laughed merrily as I replied "I KNOW RIGHT! We can get so much gear, potions, items, hell maybe I can bid in an auction!".
"Yeah, I think I'll take a leave of absence from work after this. I need to check up on my world and figure out what to do with the Sp." He said in a reluctant tone as he scratched his head.
"Yeah it's fine if you want to take a leave can't have my only employee overworked. Besides, I also have to figure out what to do with the money but be sure to come back in a week or so, I'm planning on building a mobile combat base with all the money." I say in an excited tone.
"A mobile base? Like a giant rover?" He looked at me as if I was a dumbass.
<Boi are you an idiot?> Nexus blurted out.
<You got to be kidding me…> Lyra said in an exasperated tone.
"What it's a good idea I mean imagine fighting an elder dragon with a super tank!" I say as I create a small ice sculpture of a wired tank and Fatlis.
"Although it's a cool idea it's completely useless as a base and weapon with you know having the ability to tame monsters that are faster stronger and low maintenance compared to a tank that you have to oil, pay for ammunition, repair after every battle…"
<He's right once you get to level 10 you'll be able to use the subspace and won't it be easier to fight them with your tames. You'll be hatching three elder dragons as in walking breathing living natural disasters so just give up the idea. The Sp from the auction would be better spent on your gear and materials to strengthen your tames rather than spending it on a giant tank with no other purpose other than showing off.> She shattered my plan.
"…." I put my head down and just drew circles on the ground.
"PHHAHAHA Dude you keep forgetting that your system enables you to become a living fortress!" Darius fell to the floor laughing like he inhaled Joker gas.
"Oh shut it!" I punched him on the shoulder before I started laughing as well for a few minutes.
"I don't know where I'd be without you if you didn't buy that Jagras corpse man… You don't know how many times the equipment you gave saved me let alone how many times you've saved and helped me…" I say with seriousness as I wonder just how lucky I was to meet an old friend out of the thousands of sentries out there.
"Probably out and about roaming the afterlife after getting brutally mauled alive by that Deviljho." He patted me on the back before he stood up.
"I believe our breaks are over now." He extended his hand to which I grinned and pulled myself up.
"Yeah now let's continue this conquest of riches of ours!" I exclaimed with happiness and excitement for what the future had in store for me.
(Just wait Logan by the time you get a second chance this failure of a big brother and father of yours will reach the top of the world….) I thought with longing and excitement as the curtains opened to reveal a crowd hungry for new items to bid on.
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(POV Cyrus)
"120600!"
"I bid 147900 SP!"
"198400!"
"…"
"Going one… GOING TWICE… SOLD! Congratulations to seat 56 for winning the bid for the emperor Girros soul piece!" I slammed my mallet as the spotlight honed in on the winner of the bid.
"Now that item number 128 is out of the way I'd like to present to all of my fellow sentries here something that will boost your strength by tenfold if you buy it." I said in a dramatic tone.
"I present to you all the corpse of an elder dragon that mastered the wrath of the seas and the might of thunder! I present to you all the corpse of the Namielle!" I dramatically pointed to the large panel that displayed the image of the Namielle.
"Now due to me wanting to get as much Sp as possible call me greedy if you want, I will not sell the corpse as a singular item and will instead split the corpse into parts with each part being bid on as a singular item!" I say with a sly grin on my face.
"Now the first carve of the beast being sold is-!" A dramatic drumroll started.
"-The wings of the creature! Starting at 845000 Sp!" I slammed the mallet insinuating the start of the bid.
"937000!"
"I bid 1270000 Sp!"
"1360000 Sp!"
The bid went back and forth for a while before it was finally sold to seat 529 for 2370000 Sp.
I then went on selling the rest of the carves individually for the grand total of 36306000 Sp, I know right somehow the bids piled up to 30 million.
"Now with the final portion of its hide sold, I have a surprise for you all!" I said as the stage light shined on me.
"The next and final item to conclude this auction will start off at 40000000 Sp! I know what you all are thinking well ain't that unfair or what stunt I'm trying to pull right?" I pointed my hand at the crowd.
The crowd gave me looks of fury and disbelief.
"Well at this point I'm certain you all are well aware of what a soul piece right?" I loudly said as some spectators in the crowd stood up and gasped.
"And it just so happens that I have the soul piece of the Namielle with me! Eyes on the panels and see why it's so pricy!" I say as the panels show them the jaw dropping stats of the Namielle.
"WHAT THE HELL!"
"How is this so strong!"
"Damnit I shouldn't have bid on the carves!"
"The bids for the soul piece starts-" I lifted the panel high in the air.
"NOW!" I slammed the mallet snapping it into two with sheer force.
"I bid for 50 million!"
"69700000!"
"I'll bid 74000000 Sp for it!"
"80000000 Sp come on you guys please let me a fellow sentry in need and let me win this!"
"Hell no 98000000 Sp!"
"1 hundred million Sp!" the sharp tone of a female echoed through the auditorium.
The spotlight shined on a female figure in the crowd.
{Image}
"Is there anyone going to bid against me?" The woman said in a sharp tone as she eyed everyone including me and Darius.
"Well~" She said as motioned a swing of a mallet.
"Uh… right going once… Going twice… SOLD!" I tried swinging the mallet but realized it was broken.
"Uh give me a second!" I said as I created a small mallet of ice.
"SOLD!" I slammed the mallet of ice onto the podium.
"Now with the final item sold please give me and my assistant some time to prepare for the transactions." I say as the curtains closed.
"Darius who was that girl?" I turned towards Darius with a confused expression.
Darius looked at me with surprise before a mischievous grin enveloped his face.
<Ooohhhh someone has a crush~> Lyra teased me.
<This is some good shit over here!> I hear Nexus crunch on popcorn
(Wait is that even possible-)
"Should Logan be expecting a sister in law maybe even a mother-" I gave him a brotherly sucker punch on the face.
"Boi stop making it weird! I don't even want to do whatever you three are thinking about! I just asking because she seemed popular, everyone stopped bidding when she bid even though they could bid more. It's strange to be perfectly honest…" I explained with hast.
"I also have no idea who she is but one thing is for sure its most probably her system skill that caused them to be dazed." He said as he rubbed his lower jaw.
"Eh?" I blurted out confused.
"Skills unique to a system and is unlocked at a certain level, like my necromancy it's a system skill I unlocked at level 5."
<Well I got some information if you want to know who she is?> Lyra said.
"Sure why not?" I shrugged as I drank out of an ice cup.
<Well all I got is her system and name, her name is Luna last name is unknown her system is the emotion system… that's about it.>
"So basically a manipulator that can control the emotions of others?" I say as I put the cup away.
<Yeah pretty much all of the emotion systems hosts have been like that, although I'm surprised you and Darius weren't affected by it…>
"The effect probably doesn't work for people who have a high intelligence stat some people in the crowd seemed to have resisted the skill." I say as I grab the panel in Darius's hand and start preparing for the transaction process.
"Oh you figured it out so quick! Color me impressed!" An unknown voice called out from the shadows.
Our eyes widen as I take out my sword and tames while Darius ignited his arm blades and summoned the Jagras.
"Dwayne Noir stat boost now!" I said to the confused duo as I turned around.
"WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU HERE!" Darius said as the Jagras growled.
"Oh my how cute~" The perpetrator said as she revealed herself to be Luna.
"Stop playing around and answer!" I say as I charge up an aura slash and Noir equipped the Rathalos armor and a pukei-pukei hammer.
"All I want is a slight favor for little old me~" I felt my heart beat slightly faster as a strange fragrance entered my nose.
"Of course~" I sheath techno's blade and put my hand out for a handshake.
Luna grinned as she accepted the gesture.
"Not~" I grinned as I got behind her and put her in a headlock.
"DWAYNE USE BULLET PUNCH!" I ordered as Luna struggled to get free.
"WAIT-" She got hit on the face and passed out.
"Tie her up we'll question her once we're done… actually I got a better idea." I say as I freeze her body from neck down turning her into an ice cube.
"Now let us get back to business…" I coldly say as I wipe off small shards of ice off my gauntlets.
{Get the pun?}
"I'm just going to say it… Cyrus that was terrifying and badass, what the hell happened to you while I was gone?" Darius said in a tone full of awe and fear.
"Multiple assassination attempts on me… Well? The transactions won't finish themselves!" I say as I recall all the people who tried to kill me so their business would flourish without my company.
(I wonder how my company's doing right now… probably in shambles cause I was the main source of income and ideas…) I wondered as I watched Darius scrabble to help with the transaction process.
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To be continued next time….
If this chapter gets 5 power stones I'll post on sunday