Chapter 25
Edna
Unlike Yulia, Griffin was calmer. He didn't act out. He scanned the auction hall with folded arms.
His hooded eyes hid his thoughts from view.
"From his physique, it is clear that he works out a lot too." Jovelyn introduced Griffin excitedly, "No one would lose out when they acquire him. He, himself emanates his worth. The price is still the same old amount. Griffin is going for 300,000 pinkas and each increment must be above 50,000 pinkas."
The audience and the patrons were more tame this time.
Everything went smoothly and surely.
"800,000 pinkas." A cool female voice said.
It came from another VIP room too.
I couldn't see her appearance clearly.
The curtains in the VIP rooms act as a veil.
Faint authority oozed from her voice and words. It was the kind of aura and authority that came with being in a powerful position for a long time. After she spoke, no other person said anything.
"Griffin is going for 800,000 pinkas. Miss Nairi Tourian, enjoy your purchase." Jovelyn said and she waved at the two men guarding Griffin's cage.
The two men nodded and took Griffin away.
"We are still on the humans' list. I hope I wasn't boring our patrons?" Jovelyn questioned as she wiggled her eyebrows in a suggestive fashion, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Habiba to the stage."
Immediately Jovelyn's last words dropped, the two men that brought Griffin in transported Habiba into the hall.
Habiba's cage was different from the other two I saw.
It was more sophisticated.
There was a padded bed for her to sit on.
Griffin and Yulia had to make do with the iron cage as it was.
My eyebrow rose.
Why was Habiba's situation drastically different?
Soon, the answer to my unvoiced question arrived.
Once Habiba was settled, Jovelyn opened her mouth.
"Habiba's base price is 300,000 pinkas. The minimum increment is 50,000 pinkas." Jovelyn said, "Before the bidding starts, Habiba has something to say."
After Jovelyn finished speaking, she sent a signal to Habiba.
Habiba straightened up.
She scanned the hall.
"Buying me would bring great benefits to you, great patrons. I know some secrets of the human race that you all will be interested in." Habiba started, "I am smart too. All in all, buying me is a sure way of attracting good things to your esteemed selves."
Her words sounded like thunder in my ears.
Habiba was willing to betray the human race!
I knew her actions were just a way to secure things for herself. Still, it didn't change the deep punch to the gut this news gave me though.
Her betrayal would make everything harder.
The hall was silent for a moment.
A few seconds later, the hall became noisy. Bidding prices came from various patrons.
It was uncomfortable to watch.
Humans were really courting disaster by coming to this planet.
We should have moved on after we saw this planet.
The consequences of our decision to settle on this planet were just beginning and it was a hard pill to swallow.
"900,000 pinkas!" A slimy voice said.
This time, the voice wasn't from a VIP room. It was from the audience seats.
It was a surprise.
I thought only the rich VIPs call out astronomical amounts of money.
The man that called out the bid stared at Habiba with a curve on his lips.
The man gave me an uncomfortable feeling.
He was like a lurking green snake in the green grass.
He won't be seen until he strikes out.
No other person increased Habiba's bid.
"Thank you, Mr Arthur Monteil. Habiba is going for 900,000 pinkas!" Jovelyn said.
Habiba heaved a sigh of relief. She was rejoicing too early.
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The unconcealed intent to scheme was present in Arthur's eyes.
He would milk Habiba for every last pinkas he bought her for.
I didn't have an issue with that. Habiba brought whatever results she would see with Arthur on her own head.
The thing I am not reconciled with was the fact that Habiba's actions would land a painful hit on humankind.
Still, a snake and a backstabber was a good match.
The bouncers wheeled Habiba away.
The rest of the humans came onstage one after the other.
Nobody offered to betray their race like Habiba did.
I can imagine Yulia going into a fistfight with Habiba after hearing the awful news.
Time flew by.
Finally, the last human was sold.
"Edna, it is time to leave. The upcoming activities are of no particular importance." Maol's voice said and he turned his eyes to me.
I broke our eye contact off and twitched my nose.
The words of a big boss.
I rose to my feet.
Maol's words weren't a question that asked for my input or opinion. It was a fact.
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He had already decided everything himself.
I didn't mind though.
An opinion wouldn't change my current status.
Maol strode out of the VIP room. I followed his footsteps.
The closed doors I didn't notice in my way here just led to the other VIP rooms.
The man that bought Yulia should be lurking around.
Talk of the devil and he will appear.
The door we were about to pass by swung open.
The man I was thinking about came out.
His eyes stayed on Maol for a brief second before settling on me.
More specifically, his eyes were glued to the collar I was wearing.
My outfit didn't do a good job in hiding it from the public.
I was starting to second guess my decision to trust Yulia with this guy. He looked like a pervert.
I was willing to give him the benefit of doubt though.
"Mr Maol, long time no see. It is a little difficult to see your esteemed face." Leevi said casually.
A smile was on Maol's face.
"You joke, Mr Leevi. You are the esteemed individual." Maol replied.
"She's a slave." Leevi commented.
I had to use all my willpower to stop the urge to roll my eyes.
Thank you for stating the obvious, captain obvious.
I looked away from him.
"Yes, she is." Maol replied.
"Is she for sale? I can see she is special goods." Leevi pressed on.
This man couldn't take a hint.
I wasn't sold with my peers, that should have told him something.
I wasn't in the position to talk or retort though.
A man that could spend 1 million pinkas on Yulia wasn't the kind of person I wanted to offend.
"Unfortunately, she is not for sale." Maol said.
Leevi shook his head, "It is a pity."
Finally, he moved aside and made way for us.
Maol bowed towards him before leaving.
I matched Maol's pace.
Soon enough, Leevi's figure disappeared as we moved farther away from the door to his VIP room.
Today was a tedious day and I was extremely tired.
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I was just jumping from one problem to another.
I looked down at my hands.
I thought having superpowers would change my fate. It didn't. It gave me an edge but I wasn't able to utilize it.
My powers just made me more valuable to my slavers.
Maol brought me to another area entirely.
It looked like a residential area that was integrated with the auction house.
He stopped in front of a door.
"You will stay here tonight. Everything you need for the next 10-13 hours is in there, including food. My bedroom is beside yours." Maol said.
I listened intently.
"Okay." I nodded.
My hand laid on the doorknob.
I have had enough of people for today.
I need some quiet time alone.
"I know I shouldn't remind you that there are guards keeping watch over this place. Don't do anything you would come to regret. Don't forget, the key to your life and death is in my hands." Maol warned as he touched his pocket, "Tomorrow, you are going to follow me to the morning court."
The threat was as clear as day. Previously, I saw Maol put the remote control for my collar in that particular pocket.
His words rang like a bell.
Trepidation assailed my body.
Sweat gathered on the surface of my palms.
I blinked rapidly.
"Get quality rest. We will meet tomorrow." Maol said before turning around to leave.
I saw something in his pupils before he left.
It was the light of determination mixed with a little bit of greed.
Maol had always maintained his cool before me. It was strange and eerie to see those emotions on his face.
Whatever was going to occur tomorrow would bring great benefits to Maol. Those benefits aren't something the auction house's proceedings and profits can bring to him.
If the auction house had the ability to cover those future benefits, he would have sold me off like the rest of the exploration team.
Apparently, I was one of the keys to those benefits.
A chill flashed through my spine.
I didn't stare at Maol anymore.
I unlocked my door and bolted into the room.
Even if I was in Maol's territory, the door between us seemed to act as a quality barrier for me. It put my mind at ease.
My fear wasn't completely gone but I was better than I had been a few seconds ago.
Tomorrow was not going to be easy.
The time of my reckoning was approaching.