"What?! Why? What the hell is going on?!"
The singer still hadn't realized the situation he was in.
Annoyed by his chatter, the auctioneer directly dragged him back to the backstage area.
"Merchandise" would only be delivered after the auction was completed.
Next, the next "item" was brought onto the stage.
Uchiha Byakuya was still dressed in his signature black trench coat, wearing the CCG's "Dove" badge. Unarmed, he appeared before the gathered ghouls.
"Oh? He does look quite attractive, and his physique is excellent. Plus, he's a CCG 'Dove'? Such a fine pet belongs to me!"
"This guy seems rather calm. He's probably not an ordinary 'Dove.' I wonder who managed to capture such a high-quality 'item.'"
"I bet the Madams are already itching to bid. They love collecting this type of male pet the most."
"I won't even bother bidding. Competing with them in terms of wealth is nothing but a pipe dream."
"..."
As soon as Uchiha Byakuya appeared, he instantly drew the frenzied gazes of many attendees, especially the "Madams."
Acquiring a male pet with an investigator's identity; just thinking about it was exhilarating, more than highly entertaining.
The auctioneer glanced around at the guests and noted their rising excitement. "The starting bid is 10 million! Let the bidding begin!"
"15 million!"
"20 million!"
"30 million!"
"..."
The bidding war was intense.
Gradually, only the "Madams" remained in the competition.
The Madam who had "collaborated" with Yoshimura Eto was also intentionally raising the bid.
Of course, she had no intention of actually buying this "item." Her goal was simply to drive the price as high as possible.
She knew that "Big Madam" had deep pockets. As long as she didn't overdo it, there was a high probability that "Big Madam" would win in the end.
Not only did "Big Madam" have the prime seating in the center, but her bidding number was also the most prestigious; Number 1.
"Guest Number 1 has raised the bid to 100 million!" the host announced enthusiastically.
However, two other "Madams" were still unwilling to back down, continuing to compete with "Big Madam."
In the end, "Big Madam" secured the winning bid at just over 100 million.
Uchiha Byakuya remained expressionless on the auction stage, watching the spectacle unfold.
He was in no rush to make a move just yet. The auction had only just begun, and he wanted to see what other "merchandise" would be presented.
With the final bid settled, Byakuya calmly walked back to the backstage area on his own.
Had the auctioneer dared to lay a hand on him, he would have ended this charade immediately.
As he walked backstage, he happened to cross paths with the next "item" being brought out.
The moment he saw the person's face, Byakuya's pupils contracted slightly.
It was a child, about ten years old, with slightly long, curly white hair, snow-white skin, and large, watery eyes, resembling a young girl.
Suzuya Juuzou.
But in reality, he was undeniably a boy. Uchiha Byakuya instantly recognized the child as Suzuya Juuzou.
At this point in time, he was possibly still going by the name Suzuya Rei.
Right now, Juuzou looked completely lost, seemingly unaware of what was happening, his fear stemming from the unknown if the whole situation.
"There's no need to be afraid. You'll be rescued soon."
As he passed by, Byakuya softly reassured Juuzou.
"Ah... okay."
Juuzou nodded, though his expression remained somewhat dazed.
[Ding! Host has come into contact with an important character, 'Suzuya Juuzou.' Hidden mission 'Ghoul Auction' activated!]
[Mission 1: Disrupt the auction and rescue Suzuya Juuzou.]
[Mission reward: 100 attribute points.]
This mission aligned perfectly with Byakuya's original intentions.
"It seems that our second 'item' of the night has already sparked such great enthusiasm among our esteemed guests. While this excitement is still fresh, allow me to introduce the next 'item' to you all!"
The host continued to speak passionately on the auction stage, "This one appears to be an ordinary girl... or is it a boy? Either way, absolutely adorable! I'm sure many of our guests will be pleased."
At that moment, Suzuya Juuzou slowly walked out from the backstage area.
His expression was nervous, but he didn't show any major reaction. He simply stood there blankly.
"Ohhh! Just like a little doll! What an absolutely precious baby!"
"Big Madam" was so excited she nearly couldn't stay seated.
If bidding for that investigator earlier was for the thrill, then this was purely her personal preference.
"This is perfect! Boy or girl, it doesn't matter at all!"
"Exactly! A child this adorable is a rare find. I'd love to take them home and shower them with love~"
"But it looks like 'Big Madam' is getting serious again. There's no way we can compete with her."
"..."
Even though Juuzou had no notable background, his appearance alone had captivated many guests.
"Well then, the starting bid is 5 million."
The moment the auctioneer's voice fell, "Big Madam" was the first to bid.
"50 million! This baby is mine; let's see if anyone dares challenge me!"
Right off the bat, "Big Madam" raised the price tenfold.
Her move immediately intimidated the other guests, silencing the entire room for two seconds before someone hesitantly placed another bid.
"55 million!"
"61 million!"
Hearing that someone still had the nerve to compete, "Big Madam" flew into a rage and raised the bid even further.
"100 million!"
It was clear she was absolutely determined. This time, no one else continued bidding.
Some simply couldn't afford to go any higher, while others didn't want to offend "Big Madam."
They knew full well that this item would inevitably end up in "Big Madam's" hands, so driving up the price further would only antagonize her for no reason.
In the end, "Big Madam" secured the winning bid at 100 million.
The auction continued.
Meanwhile, Byakuya had already begun making his move.
The backstage area was where the ghouls were least guarded. Nearly all the "bodyguards" were stationed in the main hall, protecting the esteemed guests.
Byakuya's Rinkaku Quinque, Nitta, was already in his hands.
The ghouls responsible for watching over the "merchandise" hadn't even registered what was happening before they were swiftly beheaded.
Afterward, Byakuya gathered all the captives and had them huddle together.
He gave them a quick warning, "Stay put and don't run around. Investigators will be here soon to protect you."
Then, turning to Arima Kishou beside him, he asked,
"Kishou, you're up next on the auction list, right?"