"What did I just hear?" Gabriel muttered to himself, his mind reeling.
âIf the God Wolf chooses a planet in our territory... heâll have an easy chance to attack us... What is she thinking?!â he thought, his face pale.
"150 Million!" Falkor said with a smile, turning to Matilda. "Do I also have this option?"
"One Billion! What about me?" Austin asked with a smirk.
Matilda glared at both of them.
"One trillion!"
Now the two kings were dumbfounded. Matilda was going all out, and they knew they couldnât win.
"I back down. Besides, the artifact is useless," Falkor said, stepping out of the bidding.
"Same... God Wolf is the only one worthy of the option," Austin said, chuckling nervously.
"Two Trillion." Sunny said, turning to face her.
"Sorry, but I refuse."
âSomething that made Matilda this serious, even to the extent of giving up her territory... I must have it,â he thought.
âAlthough I canât use it, I must either destroy it or keep it from her.â
"What about five planets?" Matilda increased the offer, her voice a low growl.
"...?!"
This only fueled Sunnyâs resolve to take the artifact.
"The more you increase it, the more I want it," he said with a smile.
"It only shows this artifact is a treasure, and you know this... Sorry, I will have to take it."
Matildaâs expression turned cold. If she could, she would have killed Sunny right then and there.
"300 Trillion!" Matilda said, quickly increasing the bid.
"310 trillion!" Sunny said with a smile.
"You! 350 Trillion!" Matilda yelled, her voice echoing in the stunned hall.
"400 trillion!"
Everyoneâs heads were swiveling from Matilda to Sunny. In less than five minutes, the bid skyrocketed to 600 trillion.
"You!" Matilda stood up, staring at Sunny with pure killing intent.
"Do you want to go against the Star Nation?!" she demanded.
"This is an auction... threatening me isnât allowed," Sunny said coldly, turning his head to face her.
"Yes, Empress Matilda... Please refrain yourself," Brittney said calmly. "If you start a fight in the Supreme Auction, you will be banned for life."
Matilda turned to Brittney, then back to Sunny. With a deep breath, she exhaled and sat down.
"700 Trillion!" she said, her voice dripping with frost.
âHuh? Sheâs still going?!â Sunny was confused. âWhat really is this artifact?â
DING!
[Gabriel: What are you doing?!]
Matilda ignored the message on her cosmic brain.
"800 Trillion!" Sunny said with a frown.
âEven for me, this is too much money... I donât even know what to do with this thing.â
âIf I stop now, Matilda will suffer a lot financially in the Star Nation... She will have to stay low and try to increase her wealth again,â he reasoned with himself.
âAt this time, her future plans, training, construction, food, and a lot of things will drop in the Star Nation... What if I back down now?â
âThis thing is precious to her... If I take it, I am indirectly declaring war with the Star Nation... I know their strength, and we arenât strong enough yet... One attack from them will destroy Planet Zax... But not knowing the threat this thing will have in the future... that is also unsettling.â
He was in a war with himself, and there was only one way to escape the dilemma.
"900 Trillion!" Matilda yelled, shocking everyone in the hall.
âYep! This is something precious, and it might really increase her strength or the nationâs strength,â he thought.
âWhat should I do?â
He looked over his shoulder at Josephine, who shook her head at him. He then turned to Ellen and Jinx.
âTaking the artifact from her is me being selfish... only thinking of ways to get back at Matilda; but letting her have it is saving my people and family.â
Sunny exhaled. "The Empress has showed her stand... I will back down," he said, adding:
"You are more wealthier than me... I backed down... And I donât need any territory."
Everyone in the hall nodded in understanding. Going against the Star Nation was a suicide mission. Even the Elves, who held the top two rank, wouldnât stand a chance, let alone the Beastify Nation.
"900 Trillion! Going once!" Brittney yelled, and then sighed.
"Sold to Empress Matilda!" she said. "Empress Matilda, are you paying now or later?"
"Later."
Brittney nodded, and the artifact was taken off the stage.
"Wow... This is the highest bid in all Supreme Auctionâs history... I thought God Wolf would place the bid to make history," Victoria muttered, turning to Josephine.
"Your husband is really brave."
"I know that... He is the bravest here," Josephine answered, not even looking at her.
"....?!"
The other queens raised an eyebrow at her words.
"Okay everyone! This is the second to the last item on the list!" Brittney said, gesturing to the side as a man walked forward with an orb on a red decorated tray.
"This is a Protection Shield! It is said it has the power to protect a whole city from any exterior attack, such as missiles and other projectiles!" she explained.
"This here has the strength to withstand 100 projectiles from a starship! It is a very good defensive formation!"
"Wow! Impressive!" Falkor nodded.
"Starting bid! 100 million!" Brittney said with a smile.
"200 million!"
Everyone turned their heads to Sashaâs father, the King of the Xenon, who had finally opened his mouth.
"400 million!" The Dwarvesâ King said.
"500 million!" The Ogre King added.
"Oh... these small guys are finally jumping out!" Austin said, and yelled, "One billion!"
"Low bid, King Austin," Falkor smiled. "10 Billion!"
"50 Billion!" Hazel, the Phoenix Queen, said with a smile.
"70 Billion!" Cain suddenly bid.
"Lovely, it seems the kids want to take over," Brittney said with a smile.
Zoey, Ellen, and the others on the second row turned to Cain with a frown.
"Hmph! You think you are the only one..." Sasha scoffed. "80 Billion!" she said.
DING!
Ellen looked at her cosmic brain, seeing 50 trillion in her bank account, followed by a message.
[Dad: Use it all in the auction... Leave none behind.]
Ellen blinked, and amidst the bidding, she yelled:
"50 Trillion!"
".....?!"
"...!"
Everyone turned to the small voice. Even Jinx, who was getting sleepy, snapped awake and stared at Ellen in shock.