"This Qeta Lot is… certainly a place, huh," I muttered as I walked with Aria to the auction house. "Is the whole thing just a massive city?"
"I'm afraid you're asking the wrong person," Aria shrugged. "The sheer volume of space-retrofitted metal, though… just where did they procure it? And how long did all of this take to build?"
"I bet it's like a trade secret," I figured. "Y'know, because if so many people pass through here, surely someone at some point had gotten the idea to make a Qeta Lot of their own."
"Want to just ask someone? There are people all around here," she suggested.
"Uhm…" Down the white-paved street, there was the building labeled Zero-One. "Let's just sell off these rings first. We'll probably find someone trustworthy there anyway, right?"
"Very well. I must say, you're more composed than I expected you to be, given the circumstances."
"Well, it's just one of those… things, I guess," I shrugged. "At some point you just stop freaking out at every bizarre thing. Or, maybe it's easier for you 'cause you're already bizarre?"
"Me?" Aria sounded confused.
"Sorry, sorry. You obviously aren't bizarre where you're from," I backpedaled. "Uh, anyway! How much of the profits do you want?"
"I'm… not sure. Uhm, let's just sell them first."
We entered the Zero-One auction house. It looked posh, and several people were already there, including that norn merchant Bugumi.
"Buying or selling?" A machine-looking creature asked, rolling to a stop in front of me.
"Huh? S-selling."
"World of origin?"
"Er… Galacti," I hesitantly answered.
"Please name your item to be sold, as well as its starting value in Qeta credits." A drawer opened up in its body.
"A pair of Galacta rings. For, uh… six million." I placed them inside, and it calmly slid shut.
"Scan complete. Authenticity verified. Power rating verified. Please state your name."
"Kendel Warling." I was starting to feel more confident now. "What's your name?"
"Stocomm, series 3, model 1, unit number 99," it replied. "Registration complete. Your item will be lot #22. In the event of a successful sale, Zero-One will take a ten percent exchange fee. Please follow me to the showroom."
"Uh, can Aria come with me? Is that allowed?"
"Yes. She registered as your bodyguard," Stocomm confirmed.
"Oh. I mean, naturally," I nodded. So she's committed to that bit. Noted, noted.
"We're going to start the viewing soon," Bugumi gestured. "I'll be showrunning, lucky you. And if any lots catch your fancy, you can always use what you're selling as collateral."
"Really, Bug? Lot #22 is the most valuable thing here, by a significant margin," an accountant said. "She could literally buy the entire house with it and we'd still pull a profit."
"Notice: word of lot #22's listing details has already reached the central circle," Stocomm reported.
"Hmm… typically leaks aren't an issue, but…" Bugumi tapped his chin. "This just means there's someone out there who's been on the lookout. Stocomm, secure lot #22 in the special case. Have the wardens on thief watch."
As more Stocomm units rolled out, I recalled how Hujahn had reacted. Maybe he was in cahoots with the central circle? Or maybe he was just the one who tipped them off.
Soon viewing began. Sure enough, the case holding the Galacta rings was much bigger, with a humming energy barrier encasing it. With how many people were stopping there, there was no doubt that it would sell.
Just as well, I thought. I haven't eaten anything since we left the sky tower. Maybe I should've brought snacks.
I discreetly opened my backpack to check on Lum. All three of her eyes were closed… was she sleeping? She had been acting strange ever since we left Echnogg. Or, was it a bit later? Maybe when I used the scryglass with Qelimara. Was she allergic to scryglasses?
"Oh, look at that one," Aria pointed at lot #16. It just looked to be a pristine-looking ceramic jar.
"What about it?" I wondered.
"It's a loleli skull."
"Huh–?!!" Right away I noticed that the jar's base was oddly jagged, like it was broken. Broken at the neck… I started to feel a chill.
"I always wondered if people knew the legends," Aria mused, looking unfazed.
"Ugh, spare me. I am not that curious," I shuddered.
More important-looking people began filing in. Judging from the way they carried themselves (and the glares from the Zero-One merchants), I felt it was safe to assume they were from the central circle. Were they all here for my Galacta rings?
I suddenly felt doubt creeping in. If these powerful-looking people all had their eyes on it, just how powerful was a Galacta ring? Was it too late to withdraw them?
But then, I had no idea what Galacta rings could even do. I mean, they sealed Aria's power, so they could at least do that much. I guess.
"Bidder registration has now closed, folks and creatures," Bugumi announced. "And now we'll get right into it! Twenty-two lots today, people, of wildly varying values."
"This'll be fun," a bidder muttered.
"We can just forget about that last one, yeah?" another bidder shrugged. "Not that I was going for it anyway."
"The bloodbath will be fun to watch, at least…"
"Lot #1, an ether greatsword from one of the spirit realms within Ecroine's underworld," Bugumi began. "Freshly sharpened, tempered to cut both corporeal and incorporeal foes – provided you can sense them, of course. Starting price, one thousand…"
The things being auctioned were fascinating, I had to admit. Some of them I could even see a use for, like a briefcase that could expand into a small house. That one got sold for half a million.
There was a battle drone that you could remotely pilot with some kind of visor, and all of its systems and weapons were solar powered. Eighty thousand.
Then there was a hat that could make whoever wore it invisible to almost all creatures and sensors. Three thousand.
There was also a small personal vehicle called a warp star that was made almost entirely out of cosmic energy, letting it match stellar currents in speed and anti-dilation factors. But it was really quite small; realistically it could only carry one person. Even so, it sold for two million.
"Lot #16, an authentic loleli jar, specially treated for brewing your own potamell. No more making the journey to Fosteria for some of the best drink this side of the sector! And yes, when I say authentic… well, I dare not offend the Sage in the room. Anyway, five hundred to start…"
"Hey Aria, is there anything here you want?" I whispered.
"Hm… not really. I like spoons," she replied. "I lost the one I was born with when I was taken from my enchanted grove."
Born with…? "Like, it was just in your head? I mean, bowl?" I scratched my head, but Aria nodded her confirmation.
"With my original spoon, I could spin up some truly delicious creams and cocktails," Aria reminisced. "It's just not the same with other tools, though. And none of them fit right either…"
The way she was talking, it was like she'd lost an important body part. Like if someone had lost their tail, or a horn.
"But you could just go back now, right?" I suggested.
"It's true, there's nothing stopping me anymore." She started to look pensive. "I… don't think I'm mentally prepared."
Right, it would probably be in shambles by now, I thought.
"And now, the moment several of you have been waiting for," Bugumi intoned. "Forged from impossible energies, picked up from Galacti, capable of binding the strongest creatures in the known universe, material and immaterial… you've heard the rest, I'm sure. Folks and creatures, I present our final entry, Lot #22… a pair of Galacta rings. Starting price, six million."
"I don't have time for games. Six hundred million," a female bidder called.
"A hundred times the starting bid straight away? My my," Bugumi exclaimed.
"Eight hundred million," a mechanical bidder raised.
"Eight hundred fifty," the female bidder shot back.
"Nine hundred fifty!"
"You dare?! One billion!"
"One billion, one million."
"How foolish. You think money is any object to me, Blue house scum? One billion, two hundred million!!" The woman slammed her hand on her table.
"What drivel." The mechanical bidder looked ready to fight, but didn't make another move. Everyone else had fallen silent.
"Erm. One point two billion for the Galacta rings, going once," Bugumi began.
"Don't bother. I will send you the money shortly," the woman said, standing up. "As you know, we in the Red house always play by the rules."
She snapped her fingers, and several security machines emerged, carrying some battered bodies… thieves?
"You can't prove a thing," the mechanical person scoffed, then turned to leave.
"Sold. Congrats, Hervar of the Red house," Bugumi said, tapping the gavel. "And this concludes today's auction. That's one for the books, eh boys?"
"Hmph, naturally." Hervar smugly flipped her long hair. "Have the case placed in my armored transport at once."
"Yeah, on it. Sellers, your funds will be transferred to your designated coffer cards by the end of the day," Bugumi said. "And if you want cash, just follow Zuptul that way. Enjoy the rest of your time in the Zero District."
"One point two billion… Even taking out the tax, that's still over a billion Qeta credits," I breathed. "Aria, I'm a billionaire."
"Ah, so you had Lot #22," Hervar said, walking up to me. "I wondered what would possess anyone to sell such a priceless artifact, but… you don't strike me as one who even knows what they can do."
"Haha, got it in one," I sheepishly laughed. "Honestly, they've just been sitting in my bag until now, so I figured, might as well."
"A traveler, are you? You don't strike me as a tourist, at least," Hervar said. "Do you even have a coffer here?"
"Nope. I probably need one to claim my money, huh," I replied, "Unless… how big is a Qeta credit?"
"You don't want to lug around a billion of anything, I assure you," Hervar stopped me.
"Right, right." I looked over at Aria. "We should probably go find our pals soon, huh? I bet Tarv at least will appreciate the extra funds I netted us."
"Need a lift? I can take you two anywhere in the Qeta Lot," Hervar offered.
"Huh? You already spent so much on my thing already," I hesitated.
"Oh, that was unrelated. Just business, nothing more," Hervar told me.
"Uhm…" I looked at Aria, but she just shrugged. "Sure, I guess. I'm Kendel, she's Aria. Pleased to make your acquaintance, I… think."
"Ohohoho, no need for formality," Hervar laughed. "You're now a friend of the illustrious Red house, after all."