Reincarnated into a Snow Griffin-Chapter 74

"The prizes this time... they are not worthy of this many ships..." He says, clenching the sit and narrowing his eyes, and while swearing I see a glint of red flash in them, but next I blink and they are not only back to normal, but we are already up close to the ship enough so that the moving and shifting of the machines is enough to overlap with any voices and thoughts around, even for me, so questioning his worries is out of question for now.

The same seems to happen with the other three ships of the same smaller size that are closing in as well, and as the docking stretching material and the bridges move as well as our dividers the big ship start opening its walls as well, all to be put together as a much bigger oval stage appears in front of us, adding our balcony parts and forming a big flower shape as all four directions are filled with the other ships as well, the real auction plaza appearing grandly before us.

Well... that was unexpected I may say... And where the hell did Ethan got ourselves into?

With that put together the assembled new pavilion has become truly crowded, with three times more space and people, and not enough time for me to assert them all as I would have wished.

All I could say, however, is that there were dangerous people among the lot... and that, adding Ethan’s reaction, unsettled me and put my guard high up.

To make things matter worse once the ships settle in place, darkness and an eerie silence befall its chamber, expectation growing as none dare make a murmur and bring attention to themselves, eyes greedy for more.

And they receive it.

"Greetings ladies and gentleman." A voice in the dark says, resonating through the walls like an echoing ghost and reaching everyone’s ears at ease.

A bang sounds at the end of his phrase, then another, and on the third the spotlights were set ablaze and a figure appears right at the center of the stage, banging his long black cane in a slow rhythm to keep the audience’s eyes on him.

Not that he needed that.

His vests are as modern and odd as the auction house, black and close to the body, a high hat adorning his head and hiding his face in its shadow until his eyes go up and their golden ring shine with the lights.

"Yes, greeting to you all!" He finally says, a smile on his face as he opens his arms in an inviting matter, and the gossiping cultivators are already at it the moment they recognize the white haired golden eye odd man, and the murmuring is understandable, after all he is just the owner of the auction house himself in the flesh greeting us, and that was not a common sight if I can use the public reaction as a measure.

"My name is Lewis Fraser, but I’m sure you all recognize me... as the Auction Owner of The Phoenix Plaza, and I welcome you all to this extraordinary event that is about to unfold!" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Murmurs increase to chatter as people get excited with the news for a unique event unfolding before them that they surely would brag about later to the others cultivators, and Lewis lets it play it out for a few moments, basking on his own glory, before finally resting his two hands on the cane and banging it with strength on the floor, the sound echoing with a commanding tone that silences them all.

"I have a great and rare opportunity to give for those brave enough to grasp it, and only groups of two or more will be accepted today for this particular task so nothing fairer than having two prizes don’t you all think?" The audience sheer as if by command, but I can tell some are truly as excited as they portrait.

Which is not Ethan’s case at all as he went from staring me all the way down to glaring daggers at the Auction House Owner, and for a brief second I swear their gazes cross path, which makes Ethan harden his grip on the chair and a deep ugly grin to appear on the other’s over the stage.

...Did they know each other? But how could they? A mere martial artist against such illustrious looking person... I narrow my eyes at that, intrigued by it but I am unware if for safety reasons or mere curiosity... But as I glance at Ethan I’m sure to keep an eye out at him too as a precaution.

"And the prize will be not only any of the items at the menu selling today of your choice but an especial item too..." He continues, keeping the tension up and giving Ethan another glance that bothers me even more, almost sure that something fishy was up, but once the item is displayed I kind of understand part of it.

Because from the middle of the stage and opening reveals a rising item, a sword, black as obsidian with scribbles along its sharp edge, a through and through almost identical twin to the blade Ethan himself has.

"One of the Twin Blades of Chaos, sure to give your enemies one hell of a time..." Chaos unfolds at the perspective of earning this weapon seems to truly do as promised, and to be as worthy money and power wise.

Which only increases the expectation of this event he is talking about, but as it takes some time for people to calm down after such news, the sword raising higher as the lights glint over its edge, I have more than enough time to look around and see a very pissed Ethan cracking the armchairs without even noticing the force of his grip, holding himself from baring his teeth.

I raise my hand without thinking, wanting to comfort him out of such unusual serious and mad state for him, knowing just how much this must be affecting him to be this out of it, but I stop my hand inches from touching his, finally coming to my senses and realizing my action and questioning it, frowning at how natural it felt comforting him to the point of me almost getting through with the action, out of character as it is.

But of course at that point he had already seen the movement beside him, and as quick as I was to pull my hand back I can tell I will hear from it later the moment his mischievous smirk is back in place, eyes going from his hand to mine to my face, as if trying to perceive my expression beyond the veil.

I clench my hands together on my lap to avoid any other incident, but I cannot deny that even that smile made me relax a little in relief as he came back to being himself, even if affected by what unfolds.

"The details of such mission, however, are delicate, and only those truly willing to follow through will be allowed knowledge of so, so please, use this night and our many chambers on this ship already prepared to receive you all to decide, and those who stay by lunch tomorrow will be granted with more information regarding the event."

At that moment, as we exchange a glance, I know for sure that we were up for it, whatever this mission will be, we had our own reasons to be here today.

And what we were looking for is worth whatever the price this journey will have in it.