The rostrum light was merciless—polite to the jade, unforgiving to lies.
[Ding!]
Event: Lot 7 — Procedural Query Admitted
Status:
- Survival Probability: 54% → 55% (Δ +1%)
- Auction Timer: 00:02:30
Sub-Objectives:
- Read condition conflicts into record (+1%)
"Ladies and gentlemen, Lot Seven, the Suihua Blood Jade Bangle," the auctioneer began, his voice a smooth instrument of persuasion. "Before we open the bidding, a registered procedural query has been submitted regarding the item's condition and chain of custody."
A murmur rippled through the crowd as Elara's words appeared on the auxiliary screens: Please reconcile the 19:08 corridor sighting of Lot 7 with the 19:12 warehouse sign-out log. Note also the presence of a potential secondary label under the current tray tag.
Adrian Vale stepped into the pool of light, his presence instantly quieting the room. "Valerian House prioritizes transparency and procedural integrity," he stated, his gaze sweeping the audience before landing on Elara with the cool precision of a scalpel. "Ms. Vance, you have the floor. Confine your remarks to verifiable facts."
[Ding!]
Event: Male Lead Interaction (On Site)
Status:
- Attention: 24/100 → 28/100 (Δ +4)
- Survival Probability: 55% → 54% (Δ −1%)
Note: Prolonged scrutiny increases risk.
"The facts are these," Elara said, her voice carrying clearly without amplification. She held up the official tablet, displaying the macro-photo. "An official micro-photo taken under controlled lighting shows clear dye pooling within the drill hole. The tool striations are inconsistent with verified period exemplars in your own database. Furthermore, the chain of custody shows a four-minute discrepancy between the physical movement of the item and its digital record, accompanied by evidence of relabeling. Under standard insurance indemnity clauses, failure to disclose these anomalies transfers the risk of post-sale rescission and legal challenge onto Valerian House."
From the VIP row, the consignor's lawyer rose, his face a mask of indignation. "This is a defamatory obstruction! The relabeling was routine inventory management. There is no 'misdescription'—only the unsubstantiated speculation of a individual with a known bias."
Elara didn't flinch. "Routine management doesn't explain the time gap. And the indemnity clause isn't about bias; it's about liability. A buyer, relying on the catalog's silence, could sue for the full hammer price plus damages. The condition report addendum is a shield for the house."
As she spoke, a discreet ping sounded from the tablet in her hand. A message from Anya: Addendum is with Head Registrar. He's hesitating. Consignor's lawyer is on the phone with him now.
[Thrum…]
Side Flag: Condition Report Addendum — Signature Pending
Timer: 00:10:00
Penalty on Failure: Survival −5%
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly, processing the legal and financial calculus with visible speed. "The evidence you present—the photo, the timestamps. Are they reproducible? Can you provide the digital hash of the image file and the raw camera metadata?"
"The image was captured on the house's secured device, logged by Junior Registrar Anya Chen, timestamped and unedited. The chain-of-custody logs are from your own system. It is all immediately verifiable." Elara met his gaze. "The question is not the reproducibility of the evidence, but the reproducibility of Valerian's commitment to its own standards. Addendum or errata, Mr. Vale?"
"The catalog can be corrected on-record," Adrian stated, his decision made. "An addendum detailing the observed anomalies will be entered into the record. Lot Seven is temporarily withdrawn from this evening's sale pending a full review."
A wave of stunned silence, then excited chatter, washed over the room.
[Ding!]
Event: On-Record Catalog Correction
Status:
- Survival Probability: 54% → 59% (Δ +5%)
Note: Errata/addendum entered; lot suspended.
But as the auctioneer announced the withdrawal, a phone buzzed insistently in the front row. The man in the perfect tuxedo—the shill—listened, then shot a sharp look toward the consignor's lawyer, who paled. The lawyer quickly approached Adrian, hissing too low for most to hear, but Elara caught the gist.
"...threaten to pull the entire Fontaine collection... board member is calling... this is a disaster..."
Adrian's expression remained impassive, but a new tension tightened the line of his jaw.
[Thrum…]
Warning: Board Pressure / Consignor Threat
Timer: 00:20:00
Penalty on Failure: Survival −6%
The procedural victory was complete, but a far more dangerous game had just begun. The house of cards Elara had steadied was now being shaken by unseen, powerful hands. The battle over a single jade bangle was over, but the war for control of Valerian House had just been declared.