The Auction Ended

The grand hall, once abuzz with anticipation and electric energy, had finally fallen silent as the auction concluded. Spectators and bidders alike began to disperse, their footsteps echoing through the opulent venue.

As Richard and his trio made their way toward the exit, the sheer magnitude of the evening began to settle in. Jarmin, with a satisfying stretch, exclaimed, "Gosh, it's finally over. It started to feel like forever in there." His muscles flexed as if released from a prolonged tension.

Luella, her cheeks faintly flushed, chimed in with a bright smile, "But we had so much fun, didn't we?" Her eyes sparkled with excitement from the evening's extravagance.

Luna, walking up from behind them, couldn't help but interject, her voice tinged with a hint of sarcasm, "Fun? You mean the thousands of dollars you guys spent to splurge on...crap?" Her raised eyebrow conveyed both amusement and a touch of disapproval as they continued their journey through the now less-crowded halls.

Luella's voice carried a hint of playful reproach as she playfully scolded Luna, saying, "Come on, Luna, stop being such a killjoy."

As they walked together, Richard, the charismatic center of their group, approached Luna from behind. His fingers gently touched her shoulder, his presence a calming reassurance. In his smooth, confident tone, he offered words of wisdom, saying, "She's right, Luna. What is life if we can't be happy?" His black hair glinted softly under the ambient light, and his green eyes, usually enigmatic, held a warmth that was reserved for moments like these.

Luna, with an assertive demeanor, gently removed Richard's hand from her shoulder. She spun around to face him, pointing an accusatory finger his way as she spoke her mind, "And you too, Young Master. You spent 150 million dollars on some kid's toy."

Richard, ever composed, didn't waver in the face of Luna's critique. He continued to walk toward their waiting ride, his tone calm and collected. "It's not a toy, Luna. I'm very well aware of what it's capable of." His words carried an air of mystery, hinting at the hidden depths of his knowledge and the reasons behind his extravagant purchase.

As Richard and his trio neared their awaiting ride, the bustling crowd of the auction house slowly began to thin out. Yet, amidst the fading echoes of the event, an unexpected figure darted toward Richard. It was Alex, his usually composed demeanor replaced by a hint of panic, as if he had been searching desperately.

Gasping for breath, Alex finally managed to speak, his words rushed, "I finally found you. I thought I had lost you in the crowd." Richard turned his gaze toward the man, curiosity evident in his expression. He wondered why Alex was so determined to locate him.

With a sense of urgency, Alex reached into the inner pocket of his finely tailored suit and retrieved a business card. He extended it toward Richard, his voice sincere as he made a request, "Please contact me. You seem like a very smart young man. When you realize you don't have a use for that item from earlier, please sell it to me."

A small, enigmatic smile crept across Richard's lips as he contemplated the encounter. Inwardly, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. "Alex Arensoft," he thought, "I'm glad you are just as I wrote you to be – calm and straightforward." In the intricate dance of power and ambition, it seemed that the stage was set for a thrilling exchange between two formidable minds.

As Richard extended his hand, offering his company's card, he flashed a charming smile at Alex. "Let us both exchange contacts, be in touch, okay?" he proposed.

Alex accepted the card, but when his eyes fell upon the company's name—Basther LTD, the colossal entity responsible for all magic core item manufacturing worldwide—he was momentarily struck dumb. His mind whirled with questions, but before he could utter a word, Richard, accompanied by his trio, had already embarked on their escape in the sleek limousine.

"Wait, wait!" Alex called out desperately, but the distance between them had grown insurmountable, leaving him with a sense of profound intrigue and uncertainty about the enigmatic young man who had just outbid him.

As the limousine cruised through the darkened streets, Luna couldn't help but voice her concern. "Young master, we are going home now, right?"

Richard's lips curled into a sly grin as he retorted playfully, "Of course, Luna, I wouldn't want to incur your wrath, after all." He laced his words with playful sarcasm.

Luna, however, replied with a deadpan expression, "Haha, very funny." Her tone remained serious, giving Richard's jests no quarter.

meanwhile, In the dimly lit room, bathed in the soft glow of a bedside lamp, pale moon, otherwise known as Rin, picked up her phone with trembling fingers. She dialed a number she knew by heart, and after a few rings, a raspy voice answered. It was Rion, her beloved brother, who had been ailing for extreme Mana depletion, a currently uncurable disease His voice was frail, a mere whisper of the vibrant tones it used to hold.

"Rion," Rin said, her voice gentle but laced with concern. "You shouldn't push yourself too hard."

Rion managed a weak chuckle, his breaths shallow. "How could I miss a call from my lovely sister?" he replied, his voice a mere wisp of its former self.

Rin's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she asked, "Are you getting any better?"

A solitary tear streamed down Rion's frail cheek as he shook his head, his voice barely more than a hoarse whisper. "The doctor... gave me two weeks, Rin."

Rin's voice trembled as she exclaimed, "Two weeks? Why didn't the doctor tell me anything?"

Rion's pallid face contorted in pain as he whispered, "I... I told the doctor not to tell you. I wanted to... to tell you myself. And I didn't want to... disrupt your work."

Tears flowed freely down Rin's cheeks as she called her brother a "dummy" and reminded him of their father's teachings. "You should remember what Dad taught us," she said. "To always report good news and bad news at once. No information should be withheld in our family."

Rion, his eyes moist, nodded weakly. "I know," he said, his voice filled with regret. "I was just... tired of being a burden. I want to see you happy, to see you live a good life."

Rin's voice quivered as she whispered, "Don't say that, Rion. You mean the world to me. You're my little brother, the only family I have left. I don't want to lose you."

Tears streamed down Rion's cheeks as he mustered a feeble smile. "We can talk again later," he said, his words growing fainter. "I'm starting to feel sleepy. Good night, Rin."

"Good night," Rin replied, her voice choked with emotion, as she held onto the phone, not wanting to let go, as if her love could somehow transcend the distance and the fading moments.

As tears streamed down Rin's cheeks, she whispered to herself, her voice quivering with a mixture of hope and desperation, "Richard Blackthorn, you had better not have been bluffing about saving my brother, or else I will be your end."