As the two entered the flat, the scenery changed before their eyes. The crude interior of the residence vanished, and a closet door slowly opened, revealing a secret pathway that was connected to a dark stairway.
Arthur glanced at Ijskoud, who reciprocated. The two carefully navigated through the dim surroundings, walking down the stairway carefully. Eventually, they arrived before a tiny opening that led them to a vast world of light.
As their eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room, Arthur and Ijskoud continued to converse like true brothers, deepening their bond. Arthur sneered internally, writhing in agony at the fakeness of his facade.
However, he continued to maintain the most believable smile he could muster.
The bright hall was illuminated by fancy, massive, golden chandeliers along with plates coated with a layer of mana to produce light. The chandeliers were simply hung as decorations and were the origin of only a small amount of light.
The plates of mana were where most of the light originated.
Arthur could smell the distinct odor of smoke that likely emerged from cigarettes. Many of the people within the bright hall were unknown. Their bodies were cloaked by dark robes, while their faces were either masked by a hood or a mask.
A massive stage forged using bricks was visible on the other side of the massive hall, while several tiny rooms were located right above Arthur and Ijskoud. The rooms belonged to the VIP customers.
"I'll lead you to your room," announced Ijskoud, leading the way. The two navigated through the bustling crowd of customers, occasionally bumping into others but somehow avoiding a meaningless conflict.
After a few minutes of walking, the two arrived before a beige, wooden door on which a golden sign was hung.
[379].
"That'll be your room for this auction," explained Ijskoud, pushing the door open for the crimson-eyed man to enter. "Ring the bell to let me know if you need anything. I'll be here instantly if you need it, brother."
"Thank you so much!"
Arthur wished the yeti farewell before entering the VIP room, and shutting the door. Suddenly, he let out boisterous laughter, massaging his temples while praising himself for having endured such agony.
He couldn't explain in words how fake his behavior was.
Once he was alone, Arthur observed the room in which he was supposed to stay during the span of the auction. The lighting was quite dim, which was a given, considering the identity of the customers was to stay hidden.
VIP customers usually paid extra solely for that purpose.
A cushy sofa rested in the center of the room, while directly adjacent to it was a tiny, wooden table. The sofa was of a bright, cyan hue, and was coated in leather to provide ample comfort. On the table, a circular, silver bell rested.
Atop the bell was a tiny, spherical button that was only half visible. The other half seemed to be buried within the bell.
On the far left of the sofa was a mini refrigerator, which Arthur opened to find several bottles of wine, beer, and other beverages such as soda. There were also desserts and a menu for room service.
In front of the sofa was a dark coffee table, on which several documents were neatly organized in a specific order. The documents contained information on what items would be auctioned on a particular date.
Then, finally, the window facing the stage was massive, spanning the entire length and width of the room itself.
There were no window sills or edges.
'Truly worthy of whatever other people pay for VIP,' thought the crimson-eyed man, plopping down on the cyan-colored sofa. He relished the sensation of the cushioning rubbing against his body.
At that moment, he discovered another feature.
'It's a massage chair,' thought Arthur, fiddling with a remote that was originally placed atop the table beside the sofa. As bumps appeared on the sofa, Arthur savored the heavenly sensation of an automatic massage.
He gazed at the documents on the coffee table, reading them while placing his feet atop the table.
Just like that, the auction soon began.
*
The lights soon went dark, while the crowd cheered in excitement. Following that, a blinding spotlight fell upon the stage, highlighting the figure of a certain woman in an alluring, amethyst-colored dress. It was quite revealing.
She had porcelain, peachy skin, and dark hair that flowed like a waterfall down to her waist. Her eyes were a bright shade of orange, while her lips were seemingly soft and of a scarlet red hue. She was the woman of all men's desires.
That was precisely the reason she was the hostess.
"Attention, everybody!" Her soothing voice fell upon the ears of all customers, drawing their attention almost instantly. A few were struck by her beauty immediately but struggled to approach the stage due to the density of the crowd.
Also, a few men in dark clothing were blocking their path.
"My name is Vivi."
"Today's Slave Auction organized by the Juggernaut Association. Many of you have received the brochures already and should have a few picks ready," explained Vivi, flashing a captivating smile at the crowd.
The reason why many customers were so attracted was due to an enchantment art Vivi practiced. Through a series of procedures, she had mastered the art of arousing the desires of men.
Although this was a bit unfair to the customers, no one paid any mind.
The weak-minded customers were usually broke, while the strong-willed ones were rich. Those who were rich and weak-minded had bodyguards repel the invisible force that threatened to make them submit.
Or, they were simply in the VIP rooms, where the unknown energy could not reach.
"The first slave will now be presented."
From behind the stage, a muscular man with a missing eye emerged. His lower body was covered in thin fabric, which failed to mask his genitals completely. His eyes were devoid of any life, but vitality was still present in his body.
He was barely alive.
"The bidding starts from 500 Tokens."
