CHAPTER 64: AUCTION EVENT ARC 8

The spotlight cut through the blueish hue of the room, glinting off the polished edges of the artifact that was now officially his.

A surge of murmurs s[read across the room... some were of admiration, some were of respect, but all eyes for at least a few seconds, lingered on the young man who had just dropped 6.5 million dollars like it was pocket change.

Valerie leaned back in her seat, her lip curling into a slow, knowing smile. "You really love making trouble, don’t you?" she whispered with her voice dripping with amused disbelief.

Maximus didn’t look at her, his gaze was now steered towards the auctioneer, his posture was relaxed but his jaw tight enough to flex the muscle along his cheek. "Sometimes, trouble makes profit," he murmured loud enough for her to hear. "If you know when to walk away... and when to double down."

A few tables away, Valerie’s grandmother, the Sawyer family matriarch tilted her head, letting her diamond necklace and earring catch the light. Her eyes studied him the way a jeweler inspects an uncut stone, seeing potential but still deciding if it’s worth the polish.

When the room’s attention shifted toward the next auction item, Maximus felt her stare linger. Eventually, she leaned slightly forward so that Valerie could take notice of her movement, and then proceeded to giving her a nod of approval as if she was congratulating her granddaughter for having having this type of fiancee.

Victor Sawyer, seated beside the matriarch, chuckled under his breath, a sound that was more condescending than amused. "You’d do well to listen to your grandmother, Valerie... however Vikram’s experience outweighs youthful bravado."

Maximus didn’t even glance at him too long. His smirk stayed faint and his eyes hooded, but there was na almost imperceptible flicker in them, like he was about to prove them wrong.

The evening rolled on, but Maximus felt the tension from the earlier bid still clinging to the air like static electricity before a storm. Hed barely finished his glass of water when he heard a voice behind him.

"Well, well. Looks like you’ve been saving your launch money, Prime."

Maximus turned around slowly to see joe hart standing there, still perfectly groomed, but the calm veneer in his smile was stretched tight out of frustration. The man’s jaw moved as if he were chewing on the bitterness of defeat.

Maximus let the silence breathe before speaking. "Dint think you’d be interested in ancient Afrixa artifact... Joe."

"I’m not," Joe said, taking a step closer. "I’m interested in making sure people who cross me don’t get to enjoy their little victories." his voice dropped into a quiet rasp. "Enjoy the artifact while you can, it might not look so shiny by the time you get it home."

The two men were standing almost chest to chest now. Maximus’s expression didn’t shift, but his shoulders squared just enough to close the gap.

"That sounds like a threat... are you threatining me?" he said evenly with a low voice so that only Joe could hear.

Joe smile widened to that of mockery. "Oh no no no young investor... it not a threat, I don’t make threats... I make promises. You think the Sawyers can protect you? Kid... there are storms even they can’t hold back."

Maximus stepped half an inch closer, close enough for joe to smell the faint trace of Valerie’s perfume clinging to his suit. "Then you’d better pray I don’t get interested in you Joe. Because once I do, I don’t stop until I own the whole damn playing board."

For the slightest moment, Joe’s smile faltered with a little crack, but Maximus caught it due to his heightened perception. And then, just as quickly, Joe gave a polite pat to his shoulder, turned and melted back into the sitting area.

Maximus turned to face the serving table and gently dropping his now empty cup on the table, he switched his gaze to the already active Investment God System. Nothing much was happening, it was still calculating XP percentages and keeping tracks of his other investments alike.

He turned to go back to his seat, and then when he noticed it... two men in dark suits standing by the exits, pretending to scan the crowd but always keeping him in their periphery.

Maximus ducked his head low slightly and walked back to his seat as the next item was about to be revealed.

The auctionner’s voice carried smoothly through the hall, drawing the audience’s attention back to him. A velvet covered stand was being wheeled onto the stage. A thick layer of anticipation settled in the air as Maximus returned to his seat beside Valerie.

The next artifact was revealed, it was fine. Valuable enough for the average collector, but wasn’t worth his time. He leaned back in his seat, smiling as he watched the other elites squabble for the item.

The bidding went on without him as a blur of raised paddles, nodding heads, and crips calls from the auctioneer flowed on. Maximus’s gaze drifted casually across the room, but behind his calm outlook, his mind was already sharpening it focus on what was coming next.

Then, SOLD!

The item was sold to some gentleman seating in the front row with a bunch of sexy women rubbing all over him.

Without hesitation, the curtains shifted and a new case was rolled forward, it was considerably larger that the previous one and its glass was polished to perfection.

Inside, resting on a pedestal was of deep red silk, was a ring. it gold shone with an aged, almost regal warmth, the surface engraved with intricate hieroglyphs so beautiful they looked as though they might whisper if you leaned in too close.

The moment his eyes fell on it, something in Maximus stilled.

"Shimmer..." he muttered, his eyes gleaming with greed and ambition.

Ti-ring!

~Skill Activated Eye Of Apollo~

The systems chime echoed in his mind. Data streamed across his inner vision... age, origin, ownership and most importantly, its worth.

’The pharaoh’s personal ring from the very tomb the unearthed.’

It real value was any auctioneer’s understanding, but he knew it as it flashed before his minds eye.

The opening bid the host was laughably low compared to the number the system fed him, and that was when he knew that he had to get that item.

Valerie noticed the subtle shift in his posture. His jaw dipped slightly, his eyes narrowing just enough to reveal focus without betraying intent to the room. She leaned closer, "You know something I don’t?" she murmured with her lips barely moving.

He didn’t look at her immediately. Instead, his gaze stayed fixed on the ring, as if it might disappear if he blinked.

"I know everything..." he replied softly, and a knowing spark danced briefly in her eyes.

The bidding began.

Joe Hart, was seated in his designated seat, and was quick to make the first move. A few other elites collectors joined in, their voices confident, their numbers climbing steadily. Valerie, sensing the game, joined in at a carefully timed interval, her paddle rising with poise and intent. The auctioneer’s calls quickened as the air tightened with competition.

Maximus remained still, his hands resting lightly on his knees, the picture of a patient man.