Chapter 02: The Auction

City of Light, Sugoi Coliseum, Auction Party

~

"Javellana, Reyes, the two of you will guard the entrance, if you see anyone suspicious alert us immediately and make sure to assign officers to keep an eye on those individuals," Alejandro Rivera, the Chief of the Magical Police of the City of Light said. Camden Reyes and Knoxx Javellana, both first class police officers nodded and saluted as they went towards their assigned posts.

Every year, the City of Light holds an annual Auction Party at the Sugoi Coliseum, but this is the first time that a certain Ahmya Yamato will be attending. The Yamatos are widely classified as Dark-Cored Yozas, but since it's an auction and the Yamatos are an extremely wealthy family that managed to keep their wealth throughout the years, she had been allowed to come. Police Officers have been dispatched at the party to make sure that this isn't just some plan to start a war.

"Do you think they're planning something? The Dark?" Camden asked when they arrived at the Coliseum. People were bustling around the place, preparing for the auction, making final arrangements to the programme and finalizing guest lists. It was only seven in the evening, the party will start at exactly 8:30 pm, but there are already people arriving, like the catering and other staffs.

"I don't know, let's just hope not," Knoxx replied and checked the guest list.

"I just think that it's weird you know? I mean, they never appeared anywhere for a hundred years and they just decide to participate now?" Camden asked thoughtfully. "Hi, good evening, name and business please?" He asked a person that just arrived.

"Veronica Sanchez, I'm a cleaning staff," the lady answered and showed an identification card to Camden who checked the staff list. 

"Alright, you're good," he said upon verifying the girl's identity and let her in.

"There are lots of interesting stuff that's up for bidding tonight, maybe that's what she's after," Knoxx said, trying to get Camden to just shut up and do his duties. Knoxx Javellana wasn't a talkative person, he doesn't like talking in general actually. But since Camden was his best friend and partner, he had to endure hours of torture everyday that he's somehow used to talking now.

"Well, I hope so," Camden said and shrugged. "I don't really want a war during my time as a police officer," he added.

Knoxx didn't reply and just focused on doing their task. A few more staff came, as well as the items that are up for bidding that had been escorted by another squad.

"Officer Javellana, Officer Reyes, target just passed entry point," Natasha Soriano's voice flowed out of the earpiece that settles in each of their right ears. Knoxx looked at Camden and the latter nodded at him. Looks like Yamato will be arriving way earlier than the other guests, it was just 8:00 pm after all.

Knoxx fixed his glasses and stood tall. A few minutes later, a shiny silver limo stopped in front of the red carpet, and out came, a very beautiful lady. Her long hair that was black as night falling on her back flawlessly and the twinkle in her green eyes is unmatched by any gem. Camden's breathing hitched as the lady began walking on the red carpet towards them. Two men who seemed to be her bodyguards walked after her while the limo drove away.

"So there are at least three of them, not including Yamato," Knoxx muttered to himself as he looked straight ahead.

"Good evening!" The lady, who seemed to be their age greeted and smiled brightly. Knoxx almost frowned, Dark Yozas don't usually genuinely smile at Light Yozas like that. Their smile's usually accompanied with the intent to remove their heads from their necks.

"Good evening madam, identification please?" Camden cleared his throat and asked. One of the men accompanying the lady gave Camden her identification card.

"Ahmya Yamato, yes, a VVIP, you're quite early madam," Camden said and smiled as she gave the record book to Ahmya Yamato so that she can sign, just for attendance. Actually it's also a front to get her fingerprints, but since she's wearing gloves, well, that's faulty.

"I just want to settle in before the big crowds start coming in," she said and signed the record and faced Knoxx who handed her a board with the number 001 on it.

"Someone will usher you inside, have a good night madam," Knoxx said and removed the barricade. Ahmya Yamato smiled once again before stepping in. Her guards were about to follow her inside when Knoxx stopped them. "Excuse me gentlemen, we're gonna need your identifications as well," he said and handed a separate record book so that they could write their names and signatures.

The guards looked at each other for a moment before taking the record book and writing on it.

"Thank you, enjoy the evening sirs," Camden said. The guards just nodded at them before following Ahmya inside.

"They're in Officer Vera," Camden said.

"Yep, I see them," Arielle Vera's voice said. Camden nodded to no one in particular and kept an eye out for suspicious people.

-

Ahmya smiled as she saw the two persons waiting for her at the entrance, they look like normal guards but Ahmya knew they were police officers. First class ones. And she knew that there are lots of them inside as well. After passing through the entrance, and her bodyguards followed her, she saw a lady guard approcahing her.

-

"Good evening madam, I was informed of your arrival, please follow me," Arielle smiled at the Dark Yoza and walked ahead, she went up towards the VVIP area reserved for the Yoza. The VVIP area are the few spaces in the second floor of the Coliseum where they get to sit on their own and have a very good view of what's happening down below.

"If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ring the bell. Someone will be here take care of your needs," Arielle said when they arrived.

"Don't worry! I have Ichigo-san and Ringo-san here with me in case I'll need anything!" Ahmya said and smiled. Arielle nodded at her and walked away. Two big bodyguards named Strawberry and Apple, sure, why not?

"Package delivered," she spoke onto her mouthpiece and went back to her post.

"Roger that, I see her, Reyes, Javellana, how's your situation there?" Alejandro Rivera asked.

"The other guests are starting to arrive, there are a few unfamiliar faces but we've assigned officers to keep an eye on them already," Camden said.

Chief Rivera nodded as he sat on the other VVIP couch across the room from Ahmya. They installed a bug on the couch where Ahmya Yamato is sitting on, so they could hear everything she and her company will be talking about. So far, they're as silent as the summer wind.

Ahmya was just looking so interestedly on the crowd below, smiling an inquisitive smile, like she knows everyone's secrets and lies. Then, she suddenly looked up and made eye contact with Chief Rivera, something which made him flinch. Ahmya just smiled sweetly at him and looked around once more. Chief Rivera wasn't happy with that smile, it was so sweet it could kill him.

"Who tends to be the highest bidder here?" He heard her ask her bodyguards.

"A woman named Momo Suzuki, her highest bid so far is 58 million, on a rare scepter carved with gemstones," the bodyguard on her right answered.

"She must be really rich," she said amusedly. "I think I'm richer though, I have to get that Aquamarine necklace for my brother," she added.

"Is there an Aquamarine necklace up for bidding tonight?" Chief Rivera asked Jackie Santos beside him.

"Yes, a 20 carat Aquamarine necklace with a 20 carat 18 inches pure gold chain. Starting bid is 35 million," Jackie answered, fiddling with her computer. Chief Rivera nodded and frowned, they're straight up suspicious but they seem to be here just for the auction. He wonders if this operation is nothing but a waste of time and skills.

After a few more minutes, the auction started, starting with the relatively cheaper items. Chief Rivera can't quite believe his ears, these rich people really don't have anything to do with their money. However, Ahmya never once raised her board to bid, she just watched, that annoyingly sweet smile never leaving her lips.

"The second to the last item of tonight! Aquamarine necklace, it is a 20 carat Aquamarine gemstone with an 18 inches 20 carat gold chain. Starting bid is 35 million," the host said. It was quiet for a while before the crowd started raising their boards.

"35.5 million!"

"36 million!"

"40 million!"

"42 million!"

"45 million!"

"50 million!!"

"Number 4, 50 million! Any other bids?" The host asked the crowd. Number 4, who was the woman named Momo Suzuki smiled smugly, not until Ahmya Yamato raised her board.

"60 million," she said. A few gasps was heard around the room.

"Number 1, 60 million! Any other bids?" The host asked. Everybody can tell he was getting very excited.

"65 million!" Momo Suzuki shouted.

"80 million!" Ahmya Yamato answered.

"100 million!" A new voice entered the scene, a male one. Gasps and murmuring sounds were heard all around the coliseum. Momo Suzuki put down herself on her chair and looked down, she's rich but not that rich, but Ahmya Yamato just smiled excitedly.

"200 million!" She shouted. Nobody answered her call, the necklace was declared sold to her, she sank on her couch looking disappointed, obviously wanting more competition.

"I might die working my ass off and still never earn that much money, and yet they just - " Jackie muttered beside Chief Rivera. The latter patted her shoulder sympathetically. "I'm never coming to an auction ever again, all these rich people make me feel so poor," she added.

The night passed and nothing happened, the guests are all paying for the goods they bid on, and when it was Ahmya Yamato's turn to pay, she pulled out a cheque book and started writing the amount and signed it. After giving the cheque, the box holding the aquamarine necklace was given to her. She smiled at it somewhat sadly and then gave it to her bodyguard and told him something.

Camden Reyes rolled his eyes as he watched her, he could've binge watched his favorite movie series already, joining this operation is such a waste of time.

But then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone in an all black outfit, wearing black glasses and a black top hat. The man walked directly to where Ahmya Yamato was standing and pulled out a gun with a silencer on it, and directly fired it, pointing at Ahmya Yamato's temple. There were two shots, a lot of screams, another three gunshots and blood, Camden tensed, everything happened so fast he didn't even have time to react.

"Do not touch Lady Ahmya! Our master will hear of this!" One of her bodyguards shouted while the other shot the man and removed his glasses and hat. He was a normal human, why did he do that?

"This is bad, the Yamatos are very influential people, and she's the only girl of the Yamato clan as of this generation, the Dark won't like this," Knoxx muttered and went over to help calm down the bodyguards. 

"Shit!" Camden shouted and ran over too, he could see a war starting already. The peaceful night turned into a night filled with chaos. It took a while to calm down the bodyguards and to make them allow Camden and the others bring Ahmya to the nearest hospital. Everyone was rushing, everything felt like they're in fast forward in Camden's eyes, he wasn't quite sure he was actually bored earlier.

They were perfectly aware that the Dark was already stirring, just waiting for the perfect timing to wage a war and to seize the Light's territory. 'It won't be long,' Camden thought as he heard that Ahmya Yamato was declared dead.

"We're fucked, we are so fucked," Arielle muttered beside Camden. She brushed back her hair with her bloody hands since she helped transport Ahmya earlier. Camden shared her sentiments, he was quite tempted to rush towards Ahmya's bodyguards who were talking in the telephone, probably reporting what happened to their master.

"How much time do you guys think we have until they attack?" Knoxx asked.

"They're doing their best to be ready to negotiate aren't they?" Arielle asked hopefully.

"Would you allow to be negotiated if your only daughter was killed?" Knoxx asked back.

"Argh, damn it!" Arielle exclaimed.

"Officers, to the station in 15 minutes," Chief Rivera's voice flowed out of the earpiece all of them have.

"It was nice meeting you all," Arielle said.

"Stop it," Camden snapped. "Let's just go," he said. And they all walked out, all with a grim expression on their faces and slumped shoulders.

- - - - - - - 

; )

Seren: I just realized this story takes too long to tell.

Achilles: Not my fault you chose this.

Seren: Ugh, whatever.

✒moonlytte

All rights reserved. 2021.