"Huh? Who is that lady?" a voice murmured through the opulent auction hall.
"Wow... She is wealthy indeed!" another voice breathed, laced with awe.
A third voice, tinged with surprise, cut through the murmurs. "I got to admit, I thought Master Christopher would have taken the companies. I didn't expect someone else would take—"
"3 Billion," a sharp voice declared, slicing through the air.
"AHHHHH!!"
"...!!!"
A collective gasp swept through the room. Every head swiveled, eyes wide with mild shock, towards the source of the audacious bid. Even Chaya and Christopher turned their attention to Murphy.
"Fufufufu."
Murphy chuckled softly, her gaze fixed on Chaya with a subtle sneer playing on her lips.
'Let's see how much you truly possess, girl... You have no idea the person you're competing against is your father's superior and the object of your affections.' Murphy mused inwardly, a flicker of amusement in her eyes.
'Who is this woman?! I planned to acquire these companies for... No! I cannot afford to lose this. I know he possesses significant wealth, but I will be meeting him in a few days, and I need to present him with something substantial.' Chaya thought fiercely, her fists clenching almost imperceptibly. With a determined glint in her eyes, she raised her hand.
"3.5 Billion." She announced, her voice firm despite the tremor of anxiety within.
'Who really is this girl? She is both strikingly beautiful and undeniably wealthy... She would make a remarkable girlfriend.' James mused, his gaze lingering on Chaya with newfound interest.
"4 Billion," Murphy countered smoothly, her tone unwavering.
"4.5 Billion!!" Chaya exclaimed, her voice carrying a note of desperation.
An unnerving silence descended upon the auction hall, the only sound the hushed breaths of the attendees as they watched the escalating duel between the two formidable women.
"Master Kelvin, am I the only one feeling utterly intimidated?" Boris whispered, his voice barely audible.
"No!" Kelvin replied, his fists clenched tightly. "I can't simply throw around such colossal sums of money as if it were mere pocket change. I won't even attempt it," he muttered under his breath, a mixture of awe and resignation in his tone.
'What manner of beings are these two women?' Vincent wondered, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple. 'The sheer magnitude of their bids was staggering.'
Ethan turned to Alex, whose expression remained impassive, a mask of unreadable calm. 'Only he can maintain such composure... These two must indeed hail from powerful families. Perhaps they require these companies to establish a firm foothold in Cordelia.' He speculated.
'Those voices... I don't recognize the girl's, but the other is undoubtedly Murphy...' Alex thought, a flicker of unease crossing his usually stoic face.
"7 Billion!!!!" Chaya declared, her voice ringing with a finality that belied the turmoil within. She fixed Murphy with a direct, almost pleading gaze.
"Won't you concede these companies to me? In return, I promise not to bid on the next item. You can have it without competition," she offered, a hint of desperation lacing her words.
"That's a rather tempting proposition," Murphy replied, her eyes meeting Chaya's with a cool intensity. "But I'm afraid I have a pressing need for these particular companies." She tilted her head slightly, a small, enigmatic smile gracing her lips.
"8 Billion."
Chaya froze, her outstretched hand faltering.
'I... I don't possess that kind of capital! Who exactly is this woman?!' Panic began to set in, her carefully constructed plans threatening to crumble.
"10 Billion!"
A new voice boomed through the stunned silence.
"Ahhh?!"
"...?!!!"
".....!!"
A fresh wave of shock rippled through the room.
"....!!"
Jaws dropped, eyes widened further, Murmurs of disbelief and confusion filled the hall.
Every head turned once more, this time towards Christopher, who slowly lowered his hand, his face an impassive mask.
"Ten... Ten billion?!" a voice stammered, echoing the disbelief of many.
Ethan swiveled in his seat, his gaze fixed on his son, who sat composedly behind him.
"Where in the world did you acquire such an astronomical sum of money, Christopher?! Don't trifle with me. What if you don't actually possess it?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern and a hint of suspicion.
"Don't trouble yourself, Father... Ten Billion is hardly a significant amount to me," Christopher replied with a serene smile, his confidence radiating through the stunned silence.
'That voice?!' Chaya's breath hitched in her throat. 'No, it's likely just a similar voice. But is such a coincidence even possible?!' Her mind raced, grappling with the unsettling familiarity.
'Why isn't she increasing her bid?' Chaya glanced over her shoulder at Murphy, only to be met with a knowing, almost triumphant smile.
"Huh?" Chaya was utterly bewildered. 'Perhaps that was indeed her limit.' She reasoned, a flicker of hope igniting within her.
"Ten billion, going once!"
Britney's crisp voice cut through the lingering silence, her gaze sweeping across the astonished faces in the room.
"Ten billion, going twice!" she added, her voice gaining a touch of theatrical flair.
Silence descended once more, heavy and expectant.
"Sold! To Master Christopher Valhalla!!" Britney announced triumphantly into the microphone, her voice echoing through the hall. She turned her attention to the young man who had just stunned everyone.
"Master Christopher, will you be settling the payment now, or at a later time?"
Christopher's gaze swept around the room, acknowledging the sea of bewildered faces, before he nodded decisively. "I am a man of directness and efficiency. I shall remit the payment immediately."
"Splendid!" Britney beamed, gesturing towards a woman standing discreetly behind the stage.
Christopher rose gracefully from his seat and walked towards the stage, every eye in the room following his every move.
"It can't be true, can it? There's simply no way Christopher possesses such immense funds," Adrian muttered, his disbelief palpable.
"We cannot be certain of that," Chloe countered cautiously, her own surprise evident.
"Hmph, he is merely putting on a charade," James scoffed, folding his arms across his chest, his skepticism unwavering.
'Christopher Valhalla... I will not allow you to acquire the second item as well.' Chaya vowed silently, her competitive spirit reignited.
"Ethan... Did you, by any chance, secretly transfer a substantial sum of money to your son?" Vincent asked, his brow furrowed in confusion and rage.
"Indeed! There is absolutely no logical explanation for how Christopher could amass ten billion!" Kelvin exclaimed, his voice laced with incredulity.
"I hesitate to admit it, but considering his past conduct, I find it highly improbable that he could possess such an amount," Boris added, his gaze fixed intently on Christopher, searching for any sign of deception.
"I did not... I am equally perplexed," Ethan muttered, his mind reeling: 'His bank balance barely reaches twenty million at most. So how...?' He was utterly bewildered.
"Please, sir," Britney addressed Christopher, gesturing towards a young woman holding a portable Point of Sale (POS) device, who had approached him respectfully.
Christopher nodded and produced a sleek, golden-black card.
"....."
A collective intake of breath swept through the room.
"Is that?!" A hushed whisper of disbelief.
"Impossible!!" Another voice, laced with utter shock.
The eyes of the four family heads nearly bulged from their sockets as they stared at the card in Christopher's hand. Even Alex, the epitome of composure, betrayed a flicker of astonishment.
'A supreme card? Had I severely underestimated this young man?' Chaya thought, a wave of mild horror washing over her.
'Oh... It appears you have finally activated your account.' Murphy mused inwardly, her smile widening ever so slightly.
They all watched in stunned silence as Christopher smoothly swiped the card and, in an instant, transferred the staggering sum of ten billion.
"Payment received. Thank you," the POS operator said, her voice filled with utmost respect.
'Wow... I never imagined I would encounter someone in possession of a supreme card... And he is so remarkably young.' Britney thought, her professional demeanor momentarily overshadowed by genuine surprise. She glanced at Ethan, noticing the utter bewilderment etched on his face.
'Even his own father is unaware of this? Has this young master been concealing his immense wealth all along? Could it be that he accumulated all this money through his own hard work and dedication? What an extraordinary man.' She mused, her gaze drawn back to Christopher with a newfound respect.
'What am I thinking! Focus on your duties, girl!' She mentally chided herself, shaking her head slightly to regain her composure.
Britney walked with professional grace towards the enclosed glass case, carefully retrieved the document and a pen, and then approached Christopher, presenting them to him.
"Master Christopher, this is now yours... All that is required is your signature, and you will be officially recognized as the new owner... Rest assured, Sky Auction will facilitate a smooth transition of power for you," she explained.
"Thank you for your assistance, but I have no need for this," Christopher said politely, taking the papers and then turning away from the stage, walking towards his father.
"Doesn't need it?" Britney was utterly taken aback, her professional composure momentarily shattered.
She and everyone else in the room watched in stunned silence as Christopher approached Ethan and offered him the documents.
"Father, please affix your signature to these," he said with a warm smile, extending the pen towards him.
Ethan blinked in utter shock, staring at the document in his son's hand and then at Christopher's serene face. He turned his head to his wife, seeking guidance, and saw her offering him a gentle nod of encouragement.
With a deep exhale, Ethan took the document and the pen from Christopher.
"Thank you, my son... I am immensely proud of you," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
'After this auction concludes, you will explain to me precisely how you came to possess such an extraordinary amount of money.' He thought inwardly, a mixture of pride and lingering curiosity swirling within him as he signed the document in the presence of the entire astounded assembly.
The other family heads watched the exchange with a mixture of envy. They exchanged uneasy glances before taking deep breaths and exhaling slowly.
'This is merely the first item on the list. There will undoubtedly be more to come.'
They thought, attempting to reassure themselves in the face of this unexpected turn of events.