Strange Book

Haruto looked at the list on the tablet, his fingers lightly grazing the screen as he scrolled. The slaves were detailed with cold precision—height, weight, skills, even Nen potential, as if they were artifacts themselves. A wave of disdain surged through him, his jaw tightening. He set the tablet down on a sleek, ebony table at the center of the room. "Distasteful," he said, and nothing more needed to be said.

His posture remained calm, an island of self-possession in a world gone awry. He looked at Canary, who knew him well enough to sense the storm within. She nodded, her eyes barely meeting his before shifting away. She understood.

"We're not here for that. We have a singular focus," Canary said, her tone steady, despite the darkness that had clouded the room for a moment.

"Indeed," Haruto responded, his voice a perfect blend of gravity and assurance. "We should prepare for the auction."

The door to the room buzzed softly, indicating the auction was about to start. Haruto motioned for Machi and Kortopi to take their seats. The four of them sat at a high-tech console that provided an augmented reality view of the auction room.

Soon, the auctioneer appeared on the screen, a suave man with a golden gavel. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this exclusive event. We have an assortment of rare and valuable items for your perusal. Let us begin."

The first item presented was an antique samurai sword, its scabbard adorned with intricate engravings of mythical dragons. "Crafted in the 17th century by a master swordsmith," the auctioneer announced, "this sword has an ethereal sharpness, capable of cutting through even the most advanced armor."

Haruto looked at the sword and activated Gyo. As he did so, he saw Nen within the blade, but it was faint and crude. Whoever the creator was had probably been a normal human who had awakened Nen through his art. Pity. With proper training—training only his Kingdom offered—he could have crafted awe-inspiring Nen weapons. "Nobunaga should like this gift," he remarked softly, then gave Canary a nod.

Canary considered the bidding strategy. To go high from the beginning could deter competitors but risk overpaying. A cautious approach might allow others to step in. She knew the atmosphere of the auction could ebb and flow like the tides, and early items usually set the tone. "What do you think, go aggressive?" she asked, her eyes meeting Haruto's for a moment.

Haruto glanced at the screen again, his gaze not lingering on any one thing for too long. "Let's not show our hand too early. Bid conservatively for now."

Canary nodded. She knew that Haruto's judgment was often the fulcrum upon which decisions balanced. She tapped on her tablet to place the bid.

As they awaited the auctioneer's call, Machi leaned in, intrigued. "That sword carries Nen, doesn't it?"

"It does," Haruto confirmed, "though it's primitive. A trinket compared to what we're truly after, but valuable nonetheless."

The auctioneer's voice resonated through the room. "The current bid for this samurai sword stands at two hundred million Jenny. Going once, going twice…"

"Raise it by twenty million," Haruto instructed, his words barely above a whisper.

Canary complied, tapping again on her tablet. The bid went up. Other participants hesitated for a moment. Perhaps they sensed the seriousness behind the new bid.

"Sold, for two hundred and twenty million Jenny!" the auctioneer announced, his gavel striking the base.

A series of items followed, some fascinating, others mundane—ancient manuscripts, jewelry from lost civilizations, and technological wonders whose function no one could easily guess. Throughout, Canary executed the bids, sometimes winning, sometimes withdrawing, all under the barely perceptible cues from Haruto.

As Haruto was looking disinterested in the stream of items displayed, a book was suddenly brought forward. It was an unassuming tome, leather-bound with pages that hinted at age. His gaze sharpened as he looked at the book. Activating Gyo, his eyes searched for traces of Nen within the object. Finding none, his excitement did not dampen; instead, it intensified. This book wasn't normal at all.

"Machi, rent another private room now. Buy that book without drawing any attention," Haruto ordered.

Machi rose without a moment's delay and left the room. She knew well that when Haruto was serious, immediate compliance was the best course of action.

Kortopi looked puzzled as he watched her exit. "Is the book a treasure?" he asked.

Haruto nodded, his eyes still fixed on the auction screen. "It is."

Kortopi tilted his head slightly. "Why another room, though? We could just buy it here, no?"

Haruto shook his head, his eyes not leaving the book as the bidding started. "If we bid on a seemingly normal book, others may suspect we see something they don't. The price would soar. And since we secured the sword, they know we're after rarities. We must avoid drawing attention."

Canary watched the back-and-forths on the screen as Haruto spoke. She glanced at him. "Clever," she said, her tone steady and tinged with admiration.

As the auction continued, Haruto leaned back slightly, allowing Canary to handle the minor adjustments in their bids. His attention remained keen, the room's technology enabling him to see the subtleties of each auction item without the mask of a projected image.

The auctioneer brought forward the book Machi had been instructed to obtain. The leather-bound tome was displayed under soft light, emphasizing its timeworn pages and the beauty of its understated craftsmanship.

"An ancient manuscript dating back to the Heian period. A rather plain item, I must say," the auctioneer noted, a flicker of amusement on his face. "For the discerning collector, perhaps? The starting bid is a mere five million Jenny."

Haruto watched as bids came and went, a series of numbers flashing across the screen. The fact that the item garnered little interest wasn't lost on him. He glanced at Canary, who was also monitoring the bids. "Any activity on Machi's end?"

Canary checked her tablet briefly. "She has successfully placed a bid, and it's holding. Ten million Jenny."

"Excellent," Haruto said, his voice maintaining its tranquility. He trusted Machi to handle the task without drawing undue attention.

Finally, the book was sold. "For ten million Jenny, a treasure for someone out there, I'm sure," the auctioneer commented, setting down his gavel.

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