In Marvel With Auction System

CHAPTER 16: THE BROKER'S GAME

The House, in the wake of the last auction and the Master's Council, seemed to settle into a new, purposeful hum. Wanda devoted herself to her studies, the arcane energies of artifacts now responding to her with a subtle grace. Pietro, ever restless, carved new, impossibly fast routes through the House's training simulations, preparing for threats yet unseen. Natasha meticulously updated her threat assessments, Quill's chaotic presence now factored in as a variable, a wild card that could either save the day or ruin it spectacularly. As for Quill himself, he was mostly engaged in what he considered "cultural diplomacy," attempting to teach classic Earth dance moves to various alien species unfortunate enough to cross his path.

Adam, cloistered in his study, was acutely aware of the shift. His pieces were moving, accepting their roles. But a new piece had arrived, one that felt less like a pawn and more like a rogue queen, unpredictable and dangerous. 'The Broker', as Adam had internally designated them, radiated an unsettling calm, an almost predatory stillness that set Adam's internal alarm bells ringing.

Great. Just what I needed. Another chess player on my already crowded cosmic board. And this one looks like they play for keeps. And possibly cheat. Probably cheat.

The Broker began their game subtly. They moved through the House's various common areas, an almost invisible presence, yet their gaze missed nothing. They observed the awe in the newly arrived guests, the quiet competence of Adam's staff. Their primary target seemed to be information, leverage, a weakness.

Their first approach was to Natasha. They found her in a quiet lounge, reviewing internal House schematics on a holographic tablet. The Broker moved with an unnerving grace, their footsteps almost silent.

"An impressive facility," The Broker stated, their voice calm, precise, devoid of warmth. "And a most… intriguing proprietor. The Master, as he is called. He maintains quite the mystique."

Natasha looked up, her expression unreadable. She recognized the type immediately – a peer, or something close to it. Someone who dealt in secrets and influence. "He has his reasons," she replied, her voice flat, offering nothing.

"Indeed," The Broker mused, stepping closer. "Such power. Such… discretion. One wonders how a single entity acquires such a vast collection of cosmic rarities. And such a devoted staff. They seem quite… loyal. Even the fast one." Their gaze flickered towards Pietro, who was a silver blur far down a hallway.

Natasha allowed a faint, almost imperceptible shift in her posture, a subtle warning. "Loyalty is earned, not bought. And the House offers purpose. Something not all 'collections' can boast." She subtly probed back, trying to glean information from The Broker's careful phrasing.

"Purpose," The Broker repeated, as if tasting the word. "An interesting commodity. And valuable. Does this 'purpose' extend to… unforeseen contingencies? Should the Master's grand design ever falter?"

Oh, they're good. Right for the jugular. Trying to find cracks in the loyalty, testing the resolve. I knew this one was trouble. Adam, listening in through the House's omnipresent sensory network, felt a spike of internal tension.

Natasha's eyes narrowed fractionally. "The Master's design does not falter. And the House is… resilient. As are those within it." She was, in essence, drawing a line in the sand, a testament to her growing, albeit pragmatic, loyalty to Adam.

The Broker merely offered a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "A strong stance. Commendable. One always appreciates… clarity. Thank you for your time, Miss Romanoff." They then moved on, leaving Natasha to ponder the subtle threat in their words.

Their next target was Peter Quill. The Broker found him in a recreational lounge, attempting to teach a baffled alien ambassador the intricate footwork to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

"Mr. Quill," The Broker interrupted, their voice cutting through Quill's enthusiastic, off-key singing. "A moment of your time, if you please."

Quill paused, mid-shuffle, looking annoyed. "Who are you? And are you a buzzkill? Because you're giving off some serious 'no fun allowed' vibes."

"My name is inconsequential," The Broker replied smoothly. "My interest is merely in understanding. You are from Earth, I believe? Yet you operate on a… cosmic scale. Like the Master of this House. A curious coincidence, perhaps?"

Coincidence? Oh, The Broker, you're fishing. And I'm not biting. But Quill? He'll probably tell you his entire life story, including his favorite snack food and his top ten mixtapes.

Quill scoffed. "Coincidence? Dude, I'm Star-Lord! Legendary outlaw! Galactic anomaly! This 'Master' guy just finally recognized true talent. He probably saw my sick moves from across the galaxy and was like, 'I need that guy on my team!'" His chest puffed out, a clear sign of his insecurity masked by bravado. "He's all 'coming storm' this and 'universal reset' that, and I'm like, 'Look, buddy, if you need someone to distract the universe-ending bad guys with a dance-off, I'm your guy.'"

The Broker observed Quill with a detached curiosity, their gaze assessing. "Indeed. A 'dance-off.' A unique strategy. Do you find the Master's… 'purpose' aligns with your own, Mr. Quill? Or do you merely seek a comfortable port in an inconvenient storm?"

Quill shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Look, this place has good food, actual breathable air, and the Master doesn't try to, like, gut me for a bounty. Plus, if what he says is true about this 'harvest' thing, then, well, I guess I'm in. Can't let some purple weirdo ruin all the good music, right? Gotta protect the tunes." He gave a dramatic shrug. "It's all about the tunes, man."

The Broker said nothing for a long moment, merely observing Quill's sincerity. Then, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched their lips. "The tunes, indeed. A compelling motivation. Thank you for your candor, Mr. Quill." They turned and departed, leaving Quill to resume his bewildered dance lesson.

Adam felt a pang of unexpected relief. He actually pulled it off. Quill's honest, chaotic simplicity actually worked as a defense. Who knew? Not me, that's for sure. I was expecting a full-blown tell-all confession. Maybe there's hope for him yet.

The Broker's final, and most direct, probe was towards Adam himself. They requested a private audience, a bold move that Adam, subtly guided by the System, granted. They met in a small, elegant antechamber, the air thick with unspoken intentions.

"Master," The Broker began, their voice smooth. "My observations of your House and your… staff… are complete. You have assembled an impressive array of assets. And you wield immense, undeniable power."

"The House provides what is needed," Adam replied, his voice calm, perfectly controlled.

"And takes what is required," The Broker finished, their gaze unwavering. "My interest is purely… pragmatic. I offer my services. Information. Resources. Leverage. For a price. Or perhaps… a partnership. We both deal in the unseen, Master. In the manipulation of power. Perhaps our paths align."

A partnership? Oh, bless your morally ambiguous heart. You think you can play me? I've been playing cosmic chess against a literal AI since I got here. You're a pawn with delusions of grandeur. A dangerous pawn, but still.

Adam allowed a profound, ancient stillness to settle over him, letting his System-enhanced presence fill the room. "My paths are my own, Broker. The House's purpose is immutable. It does not engage in 'partnerships' born of expediency. It offers sanctuary, and opportunity. It does not seek alliances based on transactional gain."

The Broker's eyes, usually so unreadable, betrayed a flicker of something akin to genuine surprise. "A strong stance. Even for one as powerful as yourself. You are… unique, Master. Most beings with such capabilities crave expansion. Influence. Power for its own sake."

"My influence is for a greater purpose," Adam stated, his voice resonating with an unshakeable conviction, born of true fear. "And the power of the House is a shield. Not a sword for conquest."

The Broker stared at him for a long moment, assessing. They saw no cracks, no wavering. Only absolute, unwavering resolve. "Perhaps. Perhaps you are different. Or perhaps… you are merely a grander player than I had anticipated." They paused, a faint, unsettling smile touching their lips. "Either way, Master. Our paths will cross again. The cosmos is a small place, when grand games are played."

With that, The Broker turned and exited the chamber, leaving Adam alone. Adam felt a profound sense of exhaustion. The game with The Broker was only just beginning, a subtle dance of probes and counter-probes. He knew they hadn't given up, merely retreated to re-evaluate. The 'moral ambiguity' rating from the System was chillingly accurate. He had faced a true chess player, one who would not hesitate to sacrifice pieces to gain an advantage. The board was definitely getting more crowded, and the players more dangerous.

A Special Message to My Amazing Readers!

To keep  In Marvel With Auction System growing and deliver more chapters faster, I've launched a Patreon! Join today for 5$ unlock 20+ additional chapters and become a vital part of this story's journey. Your support means the world!

you can read also 20+ chapters of " IN MARVEL WITH MISCHIEF SYSTEM" "MCU/ARROWVERSE : With Trading System" "Marvel : Please Kill Me" "Sitcomverse: TBBT, HIMYM, B99, & Modern family" "The Boys: I'm the New Hue, I Need More Power" and "legends of tomorrow : Im a Legend Now"+"Arrowverse: I'm a Hero"+"The Flash : Please Kill Me"

Click here to dive deeper: [patreon.com/TheFinex5]