Chapter 3: The Auction at Neon Sea City
**Chapter 3: Three Days Earlier**
Three days before the discovery of Ravana's body, the scene was vastly different. In the heart of Neon Sea City, a majestic 200-story skyscraper towered above the landscape. Its grandeur was unmatched, visible from miles away. This wasn't the only towering structure in the city, but it was certainly the tallest and most iconic, encircled by rings that floated mid-air, resembling a futuristic version of Saturn.
Neon Sea City, once known as Goa on ancient Earth maps, had transformed dramatically over the centuries. The city's name came from the Neon Sea, a vast river that glowed blue due to bioluminescent bacteria, which sparkled like fireflies at night. The city was renowned for its beauty, its majestic mountains formed from the collision of a fragment of South Africa with the Indian subcontinent, and the breathtaking river that ran through it.
The most prestigious building in the city belonged to Star-Link Corporation, one of the galaxy's largest companies. This night, the top floor of this skyscraper was the venue for an exclusive auction. Inside, a captivating woman with small, goat-like horns and voluptuous curves stood as the auctioneer. Her attire accentuated her allure, making her the center of every man's attention.
"Our fifteenth item tonight goes to Sir Thomas Lionheart of the Lionheart family branch," the auctioneer announced, her voice ringing with excitement.
A man stepped forward to accept the item. Thomas Lionheart was elated to have secured the coveted prize, though it had drained his savings. With a heavy heart, he transferred 75,000 credits, a universal currency where each credit was worth 100 units—an astronomical amount considering most people earned only 10 units a month.
The crowd's attention turned back to the auctioneer as she presented the next item. "And now, our third-to-last item: a super sports hover car by Rising Sun Company. With a top speed of 8,000 kph, the bidding starts at 50,000 credits."
Before she could finish, bids flew in rapidly, driving the price up to 125,000 credits. After the transaction was completed, the auctioneer moved to the next item.
"Our penultimate item tonight is not just an object, but a piece of land believed to contain thousands of rare minerals. Starting bid: 75,000 credits."
Immediately, a young man with golden hair and eyes—an 18- to 20-year-old hybrid elf—raised the bid to 150,000 credits. This was Kai, the young master destined to discover Ravana's body in three days. He turned to the older man beside him, dressed in black.
"Are you sure no one will outbid us?" Kai asked.
"Yes," the man replied confidently. "Everyone knows the final item will be too valuable to pass up. They won't risk losing their credits."
"Shouldn't we save our credits for the final bid?" Kai inquired.
"No need. The last item isn't something you can protect," the older man replied, transferring 75,000 credits to Kai before leaving.
As the auctioneer announced that the land was sold to Kai, a man approached to complete the transaction. Kai handed over the credits and prepared to collect his purchase after the auction.
In the waiting room, Kai mingled with other buyers. Thomas Lionheart, a man with a lion-like head, approached Kai, praising his bidding prowess.
"You silenced the room with that bid. I'm Thomas Lionheart. I wanted to invite you to my daughter's birthday party at Neon Sea Palace in five days." Thomas handed Kai a digital invitation, extolling his daughter's beauty.
More people approached Kai and Thomas, discussing business until the auction's conclusion was announced. As the auction ended, everyone moved to collect their items. Kai, contemplating his recent acquisition and the mysterious figure who had guided him, felt a sense of anticipation for what lay ahead.