Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1621: The Auction: Part-3

Victor had already braced himself for the worst when the blinding light began to fade.

From the thinning smoke of the blast, Amara Rosavere stepped forward, her silhouette cutting through the haze.

She coughed under her breath, one hand gripping the artifact tightly while the other hovered near her face, as if trying to ward off the lingering dust and heat.

"S-sorry, cough, cough... using this artifact in a closed space... not exactly ideal, it seems," she muttered, her voice slightly strained as she waved her hand in front of her face, pushing away the drifting smoke that clung stubbornly to the air.

Victor blinked, his vision adjusting as the last of the brightness settled.

What came into view made his brow twitch.

A metallic structure, something akin to a mech-suit, lay completely shattered across the podium, its fragments scattered like torn armour after a battlefield collapse.

She had just... actually demonstrated that in a closed space.

No wonder his senses had recoiled earlier, instinctively screaming danger.

’Really, girl?’ Victor nearly snapped, the words echoing sharply in his mind as he exhaled through his nose and shook his head inwardly.

This woman had almost given him a heart attack without warning. His gaze lingered on the wreckage for a second longer before narrowing slightly.

’So she even has those mech-suits?... Damn... how much are you hiding from me?’ The thought carried an irritation, mixed with reluctant curiosity.

Meanwhile, others... their eyes widened as the held their breath and the weight of what they had just witnessed settled heavily over everyone present.

Even Mary, who rarely allowed her composure to crack, leaned forward ever so slightly, "Hmm..." The soft hum left her lips as her eyes locked onto the artefact resting in Amara’s hand.

Amara caught the shift instantly.

The curiosity in their eyes had deepened.

The moment had arrived, and she knew it well... Strike when the iron burns brightest.

"As you’ve seen... the power of this artifact speaks for itself," she began, "It can destroy those invaders without mercy, and more importantly, it can become a decisive arsenal for our soldiers on the battlefield." Her fingers lifted slightly, tightening around the artifact before she continued.

"So far, I’ve managed to secure only two containers of this artifact." As she raised two fingers, her gaze swept across the audience, ensuring every word landed.

"Each container holds ten million units."

A subtle ripple moved through the room.

Twenty million units in total.

And since this was an auction, the conclusion was obvious. The highest bidder would walk away with all twenty million of these dangerous artifacts.

Glances were exchanged in silence.

They already knew what had to be done. In truth, they had begun discussing it the moment the explosion cleared, their thoughts weaving together through their shared connection.

’We have to get it into our hands.’

’Yes. No matter the cost... we can’t let this slip away.’

’How about... I kill her and we take it freely? Wouldn’t that be best?’

’...’

’...’

A heavier silence.

One by one, heads turned toward a single figure without needing confirmation.

Of course... Thalia looked more than ready to turn the room into chaos.

Ignoring her dangerous suggestion, even though it tempted them, they held themselves back.

They were still unaware of Rosavere’s full involvement with the Terra Empire, and if they killed her along with her company, they might lose the only chance to ever meet that mysterious Greatest Engineer.

The risk was far too great to act recklessly.

They could not simply do whatever they wanted... and honestly, the one thing Victor failed to realise was why Amara Rosavere had announced Lackey’s involvement the way she did.

There was an intention behind every word she chose.

Lackey was presented as someone who could decode artifacts and technologies that no one else could even begin to understand.

That alone elevated him beyond value.

It made him indispensable to every empire present.

And then came the subtle detail... the one that carried the real weight. Amara had deliberately referred to him as ’HER’ trusted partner, not the company’s, not a shared asset, not something negotiable.

Just... hers.

A quiet, unspoken message settled beneath that claim.

Touch her, and you would never meet him in your lifetime.

In a way, Lackey himself had become a living safeguard for her life.

Every word Amara spoke carried layers of protection.

If anyone dared to move against her, she could simply shift her allegiance and lean toward another empire without hesitation.

And that... was something none of the rulers wanted. As long as Amara remained neutral, or even slightly favourable, the balance would hold.

But there was one thing everyone silently agreed upon.

They could not allow that vampire bitch to take everything.

And of course, Mary was not blind to the intensity of their gazes.

She felt it and barely held back the thrill rising within her.

Since when had she become the center of such focused hostility?~

Everyone wanted to stand against her.

How delightful~

’Ah... I can already feel the danger wrapping around me... I like it,’ Mary thought inwardly, amusement curling through her mind as she deliberately avoided looking toward Victor, just in case her expression gave too much away.

Amara stepped forward once more, as she spoke, "However... I am not going to bid the two containers."

"What?"

"Why?"

Even Victor leaned forward against the table.

Amara did not rush. Her eyes drifted across the gathered rulers before finally settling on Kaelen.

"Since Emperor Kaelen has accused me of collusion with the Terra Empire..." she began, "...an accusation without truth, yet not without consequence..."

"I understand how doubt spreads. One whisper... becomes a verdict in the minds of many."

She took a slow step forward, "For the sake of the people... for the Empires I have nurtured, protected, and come to cherish... and for the loyalty I still hold toward each of you..."

A brief pause followed, allowing her words to settle deep into the room.

"I will surrender one container."

A ripple moved through the chamber.

Amara raised her hand slightly, "That container will be divided into five equal parts. Each empire present here shall receive one share... without any COST."

"..."

Her eyes sharpened once more, locking onto Kaelen with quiet intensity.

"Not as an admission of guilt... but as proof of my resolve."

Kaelen held her gaze for a few seconds longer, his expression unreadable, before giving a slow, acknowledging nod.

"I understand your resolve, Amara Rosavere."

Amara smiled softly, a calm, controlled curve of her lips that revealed nothing... yet suggested everything.

Victor was utterly shocked once again as he stared at Amara.

’Oh? So you changed your tactic again... but won’t this make her lose? One whole container for free? What exactly are you planning?’

Meanwhile, Julian, standing just behind them, let out a faint smirk, his head tilting in quiet approval.

As a seasoned merchant, he understood this far too well. Sometimes, a merchant had to accept a loss. Yes, they would lose money... but in return, they gained something far more valuable, something no amount of currency could easily purchase.

Trust!

Julian’s gaze lingered on Amara with a knowing glint.

He could see through the shift instantly.

She had changed her approach not just to clear suspicion of colluding with any empire, but to reshape how every ruler in this room perceived her.

To them, it would look like a sacrifice. A genuine offering made for the sake of the empires and their people.

And that perception... would root itself deep in their minds.

From now on, whenever matters of economy, trade, or resources surfaced, they would instinctively think of her first.

Not out of obligation, but out of subconscious trust.

A small gold coin... exchanged for an entire gold mine~

Amara’s expression grew more serious, "Well then... the remaining container, ten million units of this artifact..."

"The bidding will start at one hundred billion Zenith."

Victor’s lips parted slightly, his expression freezing as if he had just swallowed something far too large to process.

’Holy fuck!!!’ his mind screamed, the sheer number slamming into him like a physical force.

One hundred billion Zenith?

And that was just the starting point.

His thoughts hadn’t even finished lining up the absurd number of zeros—

"150 Billion Zenith."

Aqualina raised her bid without hesitation.

"Huh?" Victor blinked, his head turning instinctively toward Aqualina, his disbelief barely contained as his mind tried to catch up—

"160 Billion Zenith."

Mary followed immediately, her voice smooth, almost eager, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

"170."

"180."

"200."

"220."

The numbers climbed rapidly, each bid stacking over the last with frightening ease, like towering waves crashing one after another without pause.

Victor felt as if he were being shocked from every direction, his senses overwhelmed, his thoughts scattering as the scale of wealth being thrown around became almost unreal.

It was like standing in the middle of a storm made entirely of numbers.

[Tsk, bitch please, you are the fucking Emperor. You own trillions of Zenith!]

"..." Victor blinked slowly, ’Oh... right...’

A quiet breath escaped him, his shoulders easing just a fraction as realisation settled back into place.

He had almost... quite literally almost... forgotten that he himself was an Emperor.

And that he possessed enough wealth to make the entire world consider killing him without a second thought.

For a fleeting second, Victor almost slipped back into the life he once lived... a man counting coins to live barely a day.

Those bid numbers dragged ghosts of his past to the surface!

He exhaled quietly, straightened his clothes with deliberate calm, and fixed his gaze forward, watching the bidding climb higher and higher like a relentless tide refusing to recede.

"250."

Aqualina’s voice cut through, her teeth gritted as if each digit cost her something real. It sounded like a limit... or at least the edge of one.

Mary’s lips curled, that dangerous, playful glint returning to her eyes. "251~" she sang lightly, almost teasing, as if the number itself meant nothing.

"255!"

Kaelen stepped in.

"260~"

Mary again. Effortless and... Amused. Like she was toying with all of them.

Victor’s gaze lingered on her, narrowing slightly. This wasn’t just bidding... this was deliberate.

The battlefield had narrowed down to one centre, and that centre stood smiling.

She was the one pushing it higher, again and again, dragging everyone along with her.

Sera’s restraint finally snapped. "You! You already have power... why are you bidding here? We need it more than anyone, you!" Her voice trembled with anger as her fists clenched tightly.

Mary turned her head slightly, her eyes glinted with happiness,

"You need it... that’s exactly why I’m buying it~ Fu~Fu~"

Sera’s teeth ground together, "300 Billion Zenith!" she shouted, the number erupting from her like a final strike, her face flushed red with intensity.

Even Amara, who stood composed at the centre of it all, felt the shift. Though her expression remained calm, a quiet smirk curled inwardly.

’This is going better than I thought... It’s good I brought Empress Mary here,’ she noted.

Victor let out a faint hum under his breath. The number had just leapt, nearly tripling in a dangerous surge.

His eyes drifted back to Mary, a slight frown forming as realisation settled in. She wasn’t just participating... she was controlling the tempo, squeezing value out of every reaction. They were already supplying her with raw materials at a lower value, and now this.

’So... you want to play with fire, little girl~?’

As the Amara’s voice rang out. "300 Billion Zenith... going once... going twice... and—"

"300 Billion and... one Zenith."

"...Huh?"

Confusion rippled instantly.

Mary blinked, her brows knitting slightly as she processed what she had just heard.

One Zenith?

Who the hell adds just one Zenith?

Who the fuck would even do that?

Her gaze snapped toward the source.

Victor.

For the first time since the bidding began, he had raised his hand, almost casually, as if he had simply decided to join a conversation rather than a war of absurd wealth.

A quiet wave of relief spread through the room.

They had all been wondering the same thing. Why hadn’t their husband/father... stepped in yet?

Victor met Mary’s gaze, a faint, amused grin forming on his lips,

"Shall we?"