Emperor's Reckoning



The auctioneer began the bidding process, his voice carrying through the room as he presented the mysterious book.

"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed collectors and connoisseurs of rare artifacts, I present to you this enigmatic tome, bound in mystery and steeped in the whispers of ages past. Who among you will dare to venture into the unknown and reveal its secrets?"

The auctioneer gave out a coy smile before snapping his finger, "The starting bid will be, two hundred Crowns, with an increment of a hundred!"

King Wolfric had his eyes widened, "What? Two hundred for an unknown tome?! That's outrageous..." he kept his voice down low so that only the ones in his room could hear it.

"How much is a crown now?" Cecile asked.

"One crown can buy basic supplies for a month," said Linnea as she crossed her arms looking at the time. "But, I think Emperor Lyon knows the true worth of the tome presented."

All eyes laid on Lyon who kept his eyes on the tome. Lyon raised his brows, feeling the tension from the other eyes, waiting for him to explain. 

He sighed, "It is worth more than two hundred Crowns."

"Three hundred crowns," an unknown female's voice belonging to the room beside them made them raise their brows.

The crowd hushed, and one of the VIPs had started the stage for the bidding war. 

"Three hundred for the masked lady upstairs!" said the auctioneer. "Do I hear four hundred?"

"Yes, you do," said Wolfric. "Four hundred crowns!"

"Four hundred!"

"There it is! We avid visitors of the auction house know that voice all too well. King Wolfric!" said the auctioneer. The crowd cheered his name in honor. 

Wolfric laughed, "Hahaha, there is no need for pleasantries."

"Nice to meet you, King Wolfric," said the lady sitting alone beside their room. "However, I'm a collector, and I'm keen to have this time, please forgive me, Five Hundred Crowns."

Wolfric smiled, "There is no need to be humble for me, the Astral Arcane is everyone's game. SIX HUNDRED!"

"One thousand." 

The lady's voice hushed the crowd as the astronomical value pierced through the thousands, for a tome that was basically a gamble.

"One thousand for a tome... that's nuts," said one of the crowd below. "Damn."

"Think of how many families you could feed with that kind of money," one of them sighed.

Leopold was taken back but not as much as Wolfric. 

"O-One thousand going once!" said the auctioneer.

The lady's giggle could be heard. "Your majesty, why don't you let me have this one, I'm sure you have many collections already, so a little competition won't hurt... besides, a thousand crowns could help your people more than just a tome."

Wolfric furrowed his brows. A thousand crowns indeed is a huge sum, five times from the original already. He rubbed his hands, counting inside his mind. He gulped, looking over at Leopold who closed his eyes, refusing to look at him. Then, he looked at the man who made him plunge into the water.

Lyon was indifferent.

"One thousand going t-twice!" the auctioneer shifted his eyes from the masked lady toward the king of the Lupin Kingdom.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," said the masked lady with a bow. "I'll be sure to visit the Lupin Kingdom and bring gifts."

"One thousand going thrice!"

Wolfric squinted his eyes as he gritted his teeth. His lips trembled, "One tho—"

"Two thousand." The emperor's words struck cold.

The room seemed to hold its breath. All eyes turned toward the man in the exquisite mask who had just defied all expectations. Whispers and gasps rippled through the crowd, and the lady who had been competing for the book with Lyon looked particularly shocked.

The auctioneer, equally surprised, quickly regained his composure. "A remarkable bid of two thousand crowns! A passionate collector indeed, for the friend of King Wolfric!"

Lyon's bold bid had outbid her with one thousand tokens, and the lady's shock quickly turned into curiosity.

"Oh my, what a lavish friend you have there, King Wolfric. I wonder what your name is, friend?" she said, introducing herself with a charming smile. "Oh, excuse me, my name is Yala."

"?!" The crowd and the auctioneer were stunned once more. 

As Yala introduced herself, her status sent a tremor through the hearts of both Kings present. Wolfric and Leopold, seasoned rulers of their own realms, were not easily rattled, but her presence bore weighty significance.

King Wolfric, though accustomed to the intricate politics and powerful figures of the demonic realms, felt a bead of sweat form on his brow. The implications of her attending the auction were substantial. It indicated the gravity and importance of the item on bid. 

"P-Princess Yala..." Wolfric gulped as he recalled how she would pay a visit to his kingdom and bring gifts.

Beside him, King Leopold tightened his grip on the armrest of his chair. The Sixth Hell was renowned for its cunning and shrewd maneuvering, and Princess Yala was no exception. Her reputation preceded her—a brilliant diplomat and a fierce protector of her realm's interests.

"It's Princess Yala..." the crowd murmured in reverence.

Both monarchs exchanged a knowing glance, understanding that they were now navigating treacherous waters. This auction had just become infinitely more complex and delicate, with Princess Yala in attendance. Her motives and objectives were an enigma, adding another layer of intrigue to an already mysterious event.

The auctioneer was on his nerve as he bowed, "W-Welcome to Astra Arcane, Princess Yala."

She put a finger over her lips before saying, "Today is an auction, not my welcome, please proceed with my bid of three thousand."

"Three thousand going once!" the auctioneer quickly responded.

As Princess Yala boldly raised the bid to three thousand, a collective gasp swept through the room. The increase was audacious, showcasing the power and wealth of the Sixth Hell. The murmurs and whispers heightened, filling the room with a charged atmosphere.

King Wolfric and King Leopold exchanged a resigned look. They both knew they couldn't compete at this level. It was like bringing a dagger to a cannon fight. The princess had shown her cards, and they were clearly outmatched.

Wolfric leaned toward Lyon and murmured, "I'm afraid this is beyond our reach. Even combined, we cannot match the resources of the princess."

Lyon nodded, acknowledging the truth of Wolfric's words. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but their options were limited. They had to choose their battles wisely, and this seemed like one they couldn't win.

Yala's bid had set a high bar, one that seemed insurmountable. The auctioneer looked around the room, waiting for any counterbids. The seconds stretched, the room on edge, but no further bids came. The gavel came down, and with that, the mysterious book had a new owner.

"I'm a bit disappointed, friend," said Yala with a deliberate sigh. "I thought you would fight for it more."

"Don't worry," said Lyon silencing the room to hear his next words. "The fight is not over yet."

The crowd gulped and the two kings basked in sweat as they looked at the emperor nonchalantly reclined on his seat.

Yala's gaped lips slowly pointed upwards revealing the upper set of her teeth.

The mysterious book, adorned with an engraving of an owl and emitting strange energies, held the promise of the next clue. Lyon was determined to obtain it, regardless of the cost.