Chapter 117: Look Broke To Who
The gigantic underground hall fell into complete silence.
Then, a single spotlight descended from above.
At the center stage stood a tall man wearing a smooth white mask with black markings stretching across the eyes like painted tears.
His suit was immaculate, his posture elegant, and his presence alone carried authority.
Fukanō spread his arms slowly.
"Distinguished guests…"
"Kings."
"Queens."
"Savages."
"Collectors."
"Welcome…"
His voice echoed beautifully throughout the chamber.
"…to the Underground Auctions of Playmore."
The crowd applauded calmly, not wildly but with class.
Fukanō smiled beneath the mask.
"Tonight…"
"…history changes hands."
GLOW!
The massive screens behind him illuminated.
PING...
PING....
PING...
Images of relics appeared one after another, historical Savage weapons, lost technology, royal artifacts, creature remains, rare medicines, and experimental combat gear.
Champagne leaned toward Mardale.
"…This place is literally evil, rich people paradise."
Mardale took a sip from his drink.
"You're not entirely wrong."
Suddenly, the giant entrance doors behind them BURST open.
BANG!
Several wealthy guests turned immediately in annoyance, then froze.
A man casually walked inside with ridiculous confidence.
Blue Jean jacket.
Red shirt beneath it.
Expensive jewelry.
Cool sunglasses.
Ripped jeans.
Hands inside his pockets.
And somehow, he walked like the entire building belonged to him. Behind him followed the Silver Moon brothers, bandaged but alive.
The moment Champagne saw him, his expression changed.
"…That's him."
The Boss smiled casually while walking down the stairs.
People instinctively moved aside for him. Not because they knew him but because something about him felt wrong.
Dangerously wrong.
Then, to the team's horrorhe sat directly beside them as Champagne almost choked on his drink. The Boss leaned back comfortably.
"Nice atmosphere."
Zachia slowly turned his head.
"…Out of every seat here…"
"…you chose this one?"
The Boss removed his cool glasses slightly, just enough for one eye to become visible. That single eye alone felt unsettling, like madness hidden behind confidence.
"Fate is funny sometimes."
Mardale remained unusually calm, though internally even he felt uneasy.
Mirage and his brothers stared at them for a while.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…Boss."
"They smell like trouble."
The Boss looked interested now.
"Oh?"
He glanced at the disguised Champagne, then Zachia, then finally Mardale.
"…The troublemakers, huh?"
Champagne forced a smile.
"And you must be the clown in charge."
The Silver Moon brothers immediately stood up angrily, but the Boss raised one hand calmly.
"Relax."
They obeyed instantly.
That alone made the team realize something important.
This man's authority over them was absolute. Meanwhile, on stage, the auction continued.
"FIRST ITEM!"
Fukanō announced dramatically.
Two assistants carried out a massive spear glowing with blue energy.
"The Spear of Valtross!"
"A relic recovered from the ruins of the Northern Collapse!"
"Starting bid…"
"…five million!"
Immediately, wealthy buyers raised their cards.
"Six million!"
"Seven!"
"Nine million!"
"Twelve!"
Champagne slowly raised his card, too.
"TWENTY MILLION!"
The entire room gasped as Mardale nearly spat out his drink.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Champagne whispered confidently.
"Trust the process."
A rich nobleman across the room narrowed his eyes.
"Twenty five million!"
Champagne immediately stood up dramatically.
"THIRTY EIGHT MILLION!"
The crowd exploded into whispers.
"Is the spear truly that valuable?"
"Maybe it contains hidden abilities."
"Could it be ancient Numerator weaponry?"
Mardale finally understood.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…You're inflating the prices."
Champagne smirked proudly.
"Exactly."
The Boss beside them suddenly laughed quietly.
"…You're terrible people."
Champagne grinned.
"Takes one to know one."
One item after another appeared.
Historical crowns.
Savage beast organs.
Experimental armor.
Royal jewelry.
And every single time the team intentionally drove the prices into insanity.
"FIFTY MILLION!"
"SEVENTY!"
"ONE HUNDRED MILLION!"
The rich elites became desperate.
Competitive and obsessed.
Fukanō himself looked shocked at how aggressively the bidding escalated tonight. Meanwhile the team secretly avoided winning anything, always backing out at the last second.
Zachia whispered carefully.
"If this keeps going…"
"…the rich won't have enough money left for the final item."
Mardale smiled slightly.
"Exactly."
Even the Boss of Silver Moon seemed entertained now.
"You people are either geniuses…"
"…or complete idiots."
Champagne adjusted his suit proudly.
"Both."
Then suddenly the lights dimmed again.
Fukanō's voice lowered seriously.
"And now…"
"…for tonight's FINAL item."
The entire underground hall became silent.
ZWEE....
A massive metallic briefcase was slowly wheeled onto the stage.
Black and Silver-lined.
Covered in locking mechanisms, danger symbols, and Savage-seal markings. Every single powerful figure in the room leaned forward.
Fukanō spread his arms.
"The Frevage enhancer…"
"…Stimuleigh."
The moment the metallic briefcase appeared the entire underground hall changed. The atmosphere became heavier and more dangerous. Even the wealthy elites who had been laughing moments ago now stared at the stage with greedy eyes.
Fukanō slowly placed one hand atop the reinforced briefcase.
"Ladies and gentlemen…"
"The Frevage enhancer…"
"…Stimuleigh."
The screens behind him illuminated with classified information.
Warnings.
Death statistics.
Savage enhancement percentages.
Neural instability rates.
"It is capable of elevating Savage output beyond natural limitations."
"However…"
"…the side effects are unpredictable."
The crowd barely cared, power alone was enough.
Before Fukanō could even announce the starting bid—a voice echoed across the entire hall.
"Ten billion."
Everyone turned immediately.
The speaker sat casually with one leg crossed over the other.
Blue jean jacket.
Red shirt.
Jewelry glimmering under the lights.
Cool glasses still on indoors.
The Boss raised his hand lazily.
"Ten billion."
The entire auction house erupted into whispers.
"WHO IS THAT?"
"Ten billion immediately?!"
"Is he insane?"
Even Fukanō himself paused.
Though hidden behind his mask his surprise was obvious.
"…A bold opening."
He tilted his head slightly.
"However…"
"…I have no doubt many individuals here possess wealth."
"But respectfully…"
His eyes narrowed toward the Boss.
"…you do not particularly look like ten billion."
The crowd chuckled slightly.
The Boss smiled, then calmly reached into his jacket. He pulled out a black metallic card, a master card unlike anything most people had ever seen.
He held it up casually.
"If you want proof…"
"…come look at it yourself."
Fukanō gestured subtly.
One of the auction assistants approached carefully checked the card then instantly froze. His eyes widened, sweat formed on his forehead.
He hurried back toward Fukanō and whispered something into his ear. Fukanō straightened slowly afterward.
"…The funds are legitimate."
The entire hall exploded into noise and Champagne's expression darkened.
"He's serious."
Mardale's eyes sharpened.
"If he gets that briefcase…"
"…we have a massive problem."
Fukanō raised his hand again.
"Current bid…"
"…ten billion."
"Any challengers?"
Mardale immediately stood.
"Twenty billion."
The hall turned toward him now.
Champagne nearly snapped his neck looking over.
"TWENTY?!"
Mardale whispered back calmly.
"We cannot let him leave with that case."
The Boss slowly removed his cool glasses, for the first time his eyes became fully visible.
Dangerous eyes, unstable eyes.
Then he smiled.
"Fifty billion."
The auction hall LOST IT.
"FIFTY BILLION?!"
"WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?!"
"THIS IS MADNESS!"
Several rich elites immediately gave up, some looked genuinely sick, others furious.
Fukanō himself looked stunned.
"Current bid…"
"…fifty billion."
He lifted the hammer slightly.
"Going once—"
Champagne suddenly stood up so violently his chair flew backward.
"ONE HUNDRED BILLION."
The room froze.
Then Champagne pointed dramatically toward the stage.
"Cash."
Absolute silence, even the Boss stopped smiling.
Mardale slowly turned toward Champagne.
"…Do you even KNOW what one hundred billion looks like?"
Zachia looked spiritually exhausted.
"I'm going to faint."
Across the hall wealthy nobles stared at Champagne like he was a monster.
Fukanō himself sounded uncertain now.
"…Sir."
"Are you certain?"
Champagne adjusted his suit confidently, though internally he was panicking harder than ever before.
"Absolutely."
The Boss narrowed his eyes carefully now, studying Champagne seriously for the first time. Then suddenly he started laughing, not normal laughter.
Real laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The Silver Moon brothers looked confused.
Fwoo...
Their Boss leaned forward while laughing uncontrollably.
"…You people are insane."
Champagne smirked confidently.
"Takes money to make money."
Mardale whispered aggressively.
"WHAT MONEY?!"
Champagne whispered back.
"…Details."
Fukanō slowly lifted the auction hammer again.
"Current bid…"
"One hundred billion cash."
The hall became suffocatingly tense.
Then the Boss slowly stood up.
And smiled directly at Champagne.
"One hundred…"
"…and fifty billion."
The underground auction hall had completely descended into madness. People were standing now. Sweating, arguing and shouting.
"One hundred and fifty billion!"
The Boss declared confidently.
The number echoed through the chamber like thunder, even the ultra-rich elites finally stopped competing.
This had surpassed wealth, this was war. Fukanō slowly lifted the hammer again.
"One hundred and fifty billion…"
"Any further bids?"
Silence.
Champagne looked calm on the outside, but internally his soul was leaving his body.
Mardale leaned closer.
"…Please tell me you actually have this money."
Champagne adjusted his tie dramatically.
"…Do I look broke to you?"
"Yes,"
Zachia answered instantly as Champagne ignored him.
Then he slowly raised one finger.
"Two hundred billion."
The entire auction hall collectively LOST THEIR MINDS.
"WHAT?!"
"TWO HUNDRED BILLION?!"
"THIS MAN IS INSANE!"
Even the Boss stopped smiling now.
For the first time his confidence cracked slightly, he slowly reached into his jacket again.
Pulled out the black card.
Checked it, then clicked his tongue.
"…Tch."
Mirage looked shocked.
"…Boss?"
The Boss leaned back in his seat, still smiling but irritated now.
"That's my limit."
The entire hall gasped.
Champagne almost collapsed internally from relief, but instead he smirked confidently.
"Should've hustled harder."
Fukanō slammed the hammer down.
"SOLD!"
"To the gentleman for two hundred billion!"
The hall erupted into noise, some people applauded and others cursed. Others stared at Champagne like he was some mysterious billionaire demon.
Meanwhile Mardale quietly whispered.
"…We are so dead."
Champagne whispered back.
"Don't kill the vibe."
* * *
Moments later the team was discreetly escorted through the lower levels of the underground facility.
Luxury corridors, armed guards, and metal security doors. Eventually they reached the underground garage area. Massive, dimly lit, and filled with expensive vehicles.
A reinforced transport case was wheeled toward them carefully. Inside it the black metallic briefcase containing Stimuleigh.
A suited worker bowed politely.
"Congratulations on your successful purchase."
Champagne stepped forward dramatically.
"You may now hand over the merchandise."
But suddenly—
CLAP.
CLAP.
CLAP.
Slow applause echoed through the garage.
The team froze immediately.
From the shadows the Boss stepped forward smiling. The Silver Moon brothers beside him looking completely relaxed.
Champagne's expression dropped.
"…I knew it."
Then more footsteps echoed.
Dozens of armed Savage guards appeared from the shadows above the garage.
Snipers, heavy weapons and energy cannons.
Mardale slowly stepped forward.
"…Trap."
Then another figure emerged.
Elegant and calm wearing the same mask from the auction stage.
Fukanō.
But this time he slowly removed the mask himself.
The entire team's eyes widened.
Long silver hair fell behind his shoulders. Sharp golden eyes. Royal garments hidden beneath the suit. An overwhelming presence even the atmosphere itself felt heavier.
Mardale's expression changed instantly.
"…No way."
Zachia slowly reached for his sword.
The man smiled calmly.
"You've caused quite a bit of entertainment tonight."
Then he spread his arms slightly.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself."
King of Playmore looked down at them with composed authority.
"I am the King of Playmore."
The entire garage fell silent even Champagne stopped joking.
The King looked toward the Stimuleigh briefcase.
"That item…"
"…belongs to this kingdom."
Champagne folded his arms.
"Funny."
"We bought it."
The King smiled faintly.
"No."
"You participated in a filtering process."
Mardale's eyes narrowed.
"…You used the auction to locate buyers powerful enough to steal from."
The King nodded slowly.
"Exactly."
Then the Boss of Silver Moon laughed loudly beside him.
"See?"
"I told you this place was fun."
Champagne looked between both monsters standing before them.
"…You two working together?"
The King answered calmly.
"Temporary interests."
The Boss cracked his neck.
"And now…"
"…we take the case."
GLANG!
GLANG!
.
The garage doors suddenly SLAMMED shut behind the team.
LOCKDOWN.
Red warning lights illuminated the entire underground structure. The King looked down at them like prey cornered inside a cage.
"Hand over Stimuleigh peacefully…"
"…or die beneath Playmore."
The underground garage transformed into a battlefield in seconds, metal doors sealed shut, warning sirens screamed overhead, and red emergency lights painted everyone in blood-colored shadows.
Then the Boss smiled and raised one finger.
"Silver Moon."
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
Hundreds of footsteps echoed above the garage structure.
The ceiling platforms opened.
Ropes dropped and figures descended from every direction like an army invading from the heavens.
Five hundred armed men.
Savages,mercenaries and killers.
Their jackets all carried the same symbol a silver star beneath a purple moon.
"The Stars…"
Zachia muttered.
Mirage stepped forward beside his brothers, as Baekho cracked his neck and Shogun casually spun one of his cubes in his hand.
The Boss grinned.
"My little family."
Then the King calmly lifted his hand as well.
"Royal Guard."
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Massive armored doors opened around the garage walls.
Elite royal soldiers marched out in organized formation.
Their armor was white and gold, their weapons radiated Savage energy and behind them the King's personal bodyguards emerged. Each one carrying pressure equal to monsters.
Champagne looked around slowly.
"…Yeah."
"…This is definitely bad."
The three of them Champagne, Zachia and Mardale were completely surrounded.
The Boss smiled.
"Nowhere to run."
The King added calmly.
"And nowhere to hide."
But Mardale suddenly sighed.
"You people…"
"…talk too much."
Before anyone could react—
SPACE TWISTED.
FWOOOM.
Mardale vanished together with the briefcase.
The Boss's smile faded instantly.
"What?"
* * *
Meanwhile far across Playmore inside a luxurious political building Nyx was washing blood from her hands in the ladies room mirror.
The air suddenly distorted behind her.
FWOOOM.
Mardale crashed into the room holding the massive briefcase. Breathing heavily as Nyx jumped slightly.
"What the hell?!"
At the same moment Aerin and Avenor burst into the room.
Immediately taking fighting stances.
"WHO ARE YOU?!"
Aerin shouted as Mardale blinked.
"…Seriously?"
Then he grabbed his face and ripped off the disguise. The fake skin peeled away and the fake beard vanished.
"…Oh."
Avenor relaxed as Aerin pointed aggressively.
"WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE A CRIMINAL?!"
"No time."
Mardale shoved the metallic briefcase toward them.
"Protect this at all costs."
Nyx looked down at the case carefully.
"…Stimuleigh?"
Mardale nodded.
"The Underground Auction was a setup."
"The King of Playmore and the Boss of Silver Moon are working together."
Even Aerin's expression changed.
"…That serious?"
"Very."
He pointed toward the briefcase.
"Whatever happens…"
"…do NOT let them take this."
Avenor looked around nervously.
"…Okay but HOW are we supposed to walk around a political district carrying a giant suspicious briefcase?!"
Mardale thought quickly.
"Make a plan."
"But whatever you do…"
"…make it airborne."
Nyx narrowed her eyes.
"…Airborne?"
Mardale nodded seriously.
"The Boss has some kind of unknown power."
"I don't fully understand it yet."
"But ground movement is dangerous."
Then space distorted around him again.
"I'm going back for the boys."
FWOOOM.
Gone.
Nyx immediately pulled out her phone.
"I'll contact my manager."
Aerin looked shocked.
"…You still have your manager's number?"
Nyx rolled her eyes.
"I'm not unemployed."
The call connected instantly.
"Yes."
"I need an aircraft."
"Immediately."
Pause.
"No questions."
"Yes, right now."
She hung up.
"It'll be here in twenty minutes."
Avenor crossed her arms.
"That's still too long."
Aerin suddenly looked toward the city outside.
"…The boys."
They both knew it Champagne and Zachia were still trapped.
Nyx noticed their expressions.
"You want to go help them."
Aerin nodded immediately.
"We can't just leave them there."
Avenor agreed.
"But we need someone long-ranged to protect you while transporting the case."
Then both of them said the same name simultaneously.
"Fah-jin."
* * *
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of Playmore—
Wei-Wan, Wasabi, and Fah-jin were already racing through the city rooftops toward the Underground Auctions after hearing Brandon's warning.
Then suddenly they stopped.
Right in the middle of a ruined intersection stood one of the Silver Moon brothers.
Baekho
But something was strange dozens of Freakers surrounded him. Hungry, mutilated, some torn apart as blood painted the streets. Baekho himself sat atop a pile of corpses casually eating fruit.
He looked up slowly as the team arrived.
"…You people again."
Wasabi's eyes narrowed.
"…Why are the Freakers attacking?"
Baekho smirked.
"Because they're hungry."
Then he stood slowly stretching his arms.
"But honestly?"
His grin widened dangerously.
"The Outsiders sure don't know when to give up."
to be continued.....