Mutagen

Day 378 - ▋▋:▋▋ ▋▋ - VIP Room, The Manor Theater, CNC Subspace

Everyone occupied the seats overlooking the main hall of the theater. Through the one-way window, they could see the seats below nearly filled up with both guests and their agents. The seats below were only numbered around five hundred, a small seating capacity compared to the actual theatres, considering their design. Nonetheless, the location was not a real theatre but a mansion with a large private hall designed to resemble one.

As the fanfare died down into muffled murmurs of the audience, the curtains of the stage began to open apart.

At first, there was nothing but the empty stage. But as the curtains continued to open, it unveiled a podium to the right side of the stage where a man with a handsome visage stood behind it.

The female audience could not help but gasp at the man's appearance. Those reactions sure attested to his so-called "beauty."

It was a handsome man. Or it should have been.

"Ho~."

Inside the private room, the Priestess could not help but chirp. After all, she was also a woman, albeit past her prime, despite her young appearance.

It seemed that it was not just the Priestess. Even as males, the former president and the new Acting President also showed admiration. It was the same for the Prime Minister.

But strange enough, the agents only showed stiff reactions. Maybe the agents were already accustomed to this kind of reaction from the audience.

Or, maybe. Just maybe. It was not the case.

It was because Mark and Mei were looking at everyone as if they had all gone crazy.

A handsome man? Where?

The pair could only see a faceless man in a tuxedo standing behind the podium. The only thing recognizable on his face was that lipless grin, with all his teeth from both ends exposed due to the lack of facial skin. Or maybe there was skin. After all, he did not appear to be flesh-faced.

Still, the uncanny dissonance between the audiences' reactions and what the two were seeing gave them goosebumps.

The agents inside the room immediately noticed Mark and Mei.

"Do you two perhaps see him differently?"

Devon was the first to ask.

The sudden question also took the attention of the other guests.

At the very same time, a smooth-sounding voice echoed throughout the theatre.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to today's auction. I know the world outside is quite harsh, but thank you for making it here despite the fact."

It was the host on the stage speaking.

The voice sure captivated the audience, but Mark and Mei shivered uncomfortably instead.

"Please call me Lucion. And once again, welcome to our auction."

The host had ended his greetings and began explaining the theme of the auction. It was not necessary. Yet, it was a stance to entice the audience than to be informative.

As the unnecessary drivel began in the main hall, Mark answered Devon's question and described what he was seeing. Mei nodded alongside his description, indicating that they were seeing the same thing.

Now, everyone was looking at the couple strangely. It was fortunate that the group was in a private room. If not, more eyes would be staring at them.

The reason for the stares was different between the guests and the agents, though.

After all, the rest of the audience was seeing the same. In that case, it would be strange that the two were seeing something horrendous.

On the other hand, the agents only looked at each other. Their stares and silence were more than enough to communicate the severity of the issue.

"We will explain later," Devon spoke to the two. "For now, please endure and focus on the auction."

Mark and Mei nodded. The reason they came here was to buy the materials Mark needed. Not to scrutinize unnecessary things.

Still, the dissonance in the environment created by the difference of what they and the others were seeing sure was hard to ignore.

The auction then officially began with the first item.

Sure enough, the items a magical organization would bring out were nothing short of magical.

The first item was a cloak capable of slightly erasing the presence of the person wearing it.

Many people in the apocalypse had already gotten their senses sharpened in various ways. Those people would include hoodlums who target people for fun in this now lawless world. This cloak would help to avoid their scrutinizing eyes.

Unfortunately, this item had no effect on the Infected. After all, the Infected follow a different set of rules and abilities to detect the living.

Thus, the cloak was a mere appetizer item with a low starting bid.

Nonetheless, the auction immediately heated up. Anything that would help keep someone safe in the apocalypse was a must-have. It did matter how little of help it may be.

The next item was a necklace. The golden necklace embedded with several enchanted gems was said to be able to ward off curses. The crowd immediately went wild for this one. Apparently, while Indonesia had a severe lack of Magical Creatures, it was the complete opposite of other countries with rich cultures.

Infected Magical Creatures capable of releasing curses seemed to be present in many areas. As such, an item capable of negating curses would be extremely helpful.

From there, the auction continued. Thirty items were currently on their roster.

Nonetheless, the items on display did not take too long to be showcased on the stage. It was how heated the auction was.

Whether it be a protective gear or a barely usable weapon, the people desperate to make use of their useless money would jump into the fray of bidding.

Then, the eleventh item came soon enough.

"It is here."

Val'Flora signalled Mark.

"Do the bidding. Increase the previous bid by 10,000 every time someone outbid us."

Mark gave Val'Flora a go. Sure enough, Mark's agent was also a bit excited. It was the first time she would be bidding here, after all.

"The next item, or items, should I say, would be for our crafters!" The host bellowed. "A ten-piece set of [Core Gemstones]!"

A beautiful woman in a red gown moved to the center of the stage, opening an ornate case to show its contents.

Ten clear-colored oval gemstones were shown to the audience.

"For those who did not know, these gemstones were used as cores in making magic items and apparatus. It is very rare for these precious items to appear here, but due to the lack of crafters still alive, they did!"

The host explained with a joking tone.

"Now then," The host continued. "It starts at 50,000! Let's begin!"

Compared to the previous items, there was less participation. It was not surprising. Only those who knew crafters, who could make use of these items, were the only ones who would want them. And as the host had already explained, there was a lack of those crafters.

It might be one of the reasons why, but the CNC might also be hoping to get to know unaffiliated crafters through this auction.

Still, the bidding ramped up quickly enough. Most of the bidders were those staying in the other private rooms.

Yet, the bidding slowed down the moment it reached 500,000. Even for these people, it was already very expensive for an item without other use aside from being a crafting material. Even the previous item, a brooch that could protect a person from fatal injury once was only priced around 700,000.

As the final bid of 550,000 seemed to be the end, Mark nodded at Val'Flora, who immediately raised the bid as instructed.

Unfortunately, the other party was also insisting on getting the gemstones. Every bid Val'Flora made, the other party raised it by 50,000.

The bidding exchange sure served as entertainment for the others as two people inside different private rooms competed on a set of seemingly useless items.

Unfortunately for the other party, they reached their limit and stopped at 950,000, allowing Val'Flora to wind the bid at 960,000. It sure was an expensive bid but it did not matter to Mark. He needed the items, after all.

The other people in the room stared at Mark and Mei for a different reason. It was unexpected to them for Mark to have this much currency in hand.

The auction moved on, soon enough. The next item Mark wanted came but there was less competition for it and he got it with only 230,000. What was the item? It was a few ingots of [Magic Silver]. It was close enough to the fantasy metal called [Mythril] but was still far from one

With these two sets of items in the bag, Mark got what he came for. They only needed to wait for the auction to end. Maybe an item would catch Mark's interest.

However, the auction ended soon with Mark buying nothing else aside from the intended items. Although some items seemed useful, Mark could already make better ones if he had the right materials.

The Priestess bought one item. It was a Shinto staff said to have been used by a famous Onmyouji in the past.

As for the group from the Philippines, they were just here to watch as intended. They could not waste money, after all. The only budget they had was to be used to buy more materials in preparation for the incoming danger.

The agents then walked out of the room, telling their clients to wait. The items would be brought into the private room along with the appraiser to exchange the items that would be used to pay.

It did not take long. The agents returned with some people in tow. The girls with fancy dresses entered, pushing the cart carrying the items, and an old man with a monocle, who seemed to be the appraiser.

And then, there was the guy, making Makr and Mei frown.

It was the host, who had just finished the ending speech of the auction.

"Hmm... All of you really aren't joking." The host, Lucion, spoke, looking at Makr and Mei's reactions. Who would have thought."

Before anyone could ask why the host was present, the person himself moved in front of the other staff of the auction house and faced Mark and Mei.

"I am Lucion, the Master of Hundred Faces, the owner of this place, and the illusionist who could fool all but Gods." Luciond gave a bow, and the staff behind him followed suit, causing everyone's surprise. "We bring our greetings, dear candidates of Godhood."

It sure was a surprising event in many ways.

But why had they gone so far as greeting Mark and Mei personally?

The confusion continued to deepen.

However, as a businessman, Lucion was able to break the silence.

"First and foremost, we should handle the items. We are a business first. Aside from proper greetings, other things come later."

Lucion smiled.

Nonetheless, to Make and Mei, he probably looked like a monster who found the most delicious prey.