I Became the Cute One in the Troubleshooter Squad-Chapter 99: The Best Way to Spend a Holiday is Relaxing at a Hotel (7)

A subtle chill hung in the dimly lit auction hall, pricking at my senses.

Of course, considering it was winter, this place was much warmer than the outside. But for a hotel that was consistently warm and cozy everywhere else, the temperature here felt unusually low.

‘Did they intentionally keep the heating down? I think I’ve heard something about malls or casinos lowering the temperature on purpose to push people into making faster decisions.’

Feeling cold naturally makes people more sensitive and heightens their psychological tension. If this was part # Nоvеlight # of the organizers’ strategy, it made sense.

Still, I regretted my choice to dress lightly, thinking the hotel would be warm throughout. I discreetly tucked my hands under my arms, trying to endure the creeping chill.

“Yuria, are you cold?”

“....”

“Here, take this. I’m fine without it.”

Alice, sitting next to me, seemed to notice my subtle discomfort. With a light chuckle, she took off her thin cardigan and handed it to me.

She was now left in her sleeveless dress, her shoulders and arms fully exposed. But thanks to her naturally high body temperature, she didn’t seem to feel the cold at all.

I didn’t refuse her kindness. There was no point in stubbornly rejecting her offer and risking catching a cold. Besides, I really needed something warm.

As I wrapped the cardigan around me, subtly enjoying Alice’s lingering warmth, the auctioneer on stage adjusted his microphone and cleared his throat.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Enigma Auction, hosted by Saint Maria Hotel!”

Clap, clap, clap!

As soon as the man in the eagle-shaped mask finished his greeting, the audience erupted into thunderous applause.

Waiting for the applause to die down, he continued in a smooth, confident tone.

“Tonight, legendary treasures, one-of-a-kind in this world, will make their appearance! Who among you will seize the opportunity to claim these great legacies and earn the glory of their ownership? Without further ado, let us begin with our first auction item!”

Skipping any unnecessary formalities and diving straight into the auction? Now that’s a pace I could get behind.

But legendary treasures, huh?

What kind of items could they have to make such bold claims?

‘If it’s nothing special, I swear I’ll mess with the Saint Maria Hotel’s website later.’

Spurred by a rebellious impulse, I fixed my gaze on the staff member carrying the first item onto the stage.

The auction item was wrapped in a thin silk cloth, its shape suggesting it was placed atop a square case.

Once the staff member stepped off the stage, the auctioneer confidently strode over to the case and dramatically whipped off the covering.

“Whoa, it’s stunning!”

“What is that...?”

The reveal of the first item sparked gasps and murmurs from the audience.

Even I, who hadn’t been expecting much, couldn’t help but widen my eyes in surprise.

Under the silk cloth was a necklace crafted from polished wood, embedded with vibrant, multicolored gemstones that shimmered under the lights.

It was unmistakable... this was something tied to elves.

As if confirming my thoughts, the auctioneer placed a hand on the case and smiled knowingly beneath his mask before speaking with bold enthusiasm.

“Many of you seem to recognize its value already! That’s right—this is an artifact from another world, the pendant known as Sylvarien’s Moonlight! Verified by appraisers to have been used by a high elf, this is an authentic treasure with both historical and magical significance!”

A magical elven artifact? Not just any necklace, but one imbued with power?

I gasped audibly, struggling to process the auctioneer’s words.

I wasn’t the only one caught off guard. The audience buzzed with whispers and hushed conversations, the atmosphere thick with excitement and curiosity.

“A high elf’s artifact?”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“If it’s true, it’s certainly no exaggeration to call it a treasure.”

The room was filled with murmurs of disbelief.

No one had expected this. While it had been advertised as an auction for rare items, the specifics of what would be sold hadn’t been disclosed. Honestly, who could’ve guessed something like this?

But with artifacts, their value depends entirely on their functionality. Curious about the pendant’s abilities, I kept my eyes on the auctioneer.

“This Sylvarien’s Moonlight has the extraordinary ability to purify the wearer’s skin! Scars, even tattoos that are nearly impossible to remove, can be restored to their original, pristine state. For those seeking a pendant with such features, this is an irresistible opportunity!”

Huh. The ability itself isn’t exactly groundbreaking.

Skin-clearing effects? I certainly didn’t need that.

Still, the fact that it was an artifact once used by a high elf, combined with its magical ability to purify skin, seemed to captivate certain attendees—especially some of the women in the room.

The buzz only grew louder when the auctioneer invited a scarred woman on stage and had her use the pendant. The scar on her skin faded visibly in an instant, leaving the audience gasping in amazement.

“Let’s begin the bidding! The starting price is 10,000 credits. Simply scan your wristband against the device at your seat to participate!”

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The sound of bids rapidly piling up echoed throughout the hall.

It seemed the kind of people who could afford to stay at this extravagant hotel also had the means to engage in such high-stakes auctions.

10,000... 100,000... and in mere moments, it skyrocketed to 1,000,000 credits!

When the bids hit 1.77 million credits—enough to buy a luxury sports car—the frenzy finally began to slow.

A pendant that only improves skin care, going for that much? Unreal.

I watched the astronomical bidding war unfold with a stunned expression.

And yet, this was just the beginning.

As the first item left the stage, the auction continued with more items being unveiled one by one.

The second item was a rope that forced anyone tied with it to tell only lies—another artifact.

The third item was an ancient, glowing doll that seemed to hum with magical energy—another artifact.

The fourth item was a dull, old sword that couldn’t cut a cake but could bear the weight of an elephant—again, an artifact.

By the time the auction reached its seventh item, the theme had become clear.

‘So this auction focuses on artifacts. Now I understand why someone like Victor was hired to guard it.’

Artifacts were magical items from the now-destroyed otherworld. Depending on how they were used, they had the potential to change lives—or ruin them.

It wasn’t surprising that some might forgo bidding entirely and try to steal them instead. Hiring someone as capable as Victor, an elite among elites, to ensure the safety of the items was certainly worth the cost.

But despite the array of artifacts being presented, none of them so far felt particularly extraordinary to me.

Sure, they were artifacts, but they were more like curiosities or minor tools than truly groundbreaking items.

There was nothing on the level of Greg’s appraisal glasses or Lexi’s flesh-tearing snake—nothing that stood out as truly exceptional.

‘Well, it makes sense to save the main attractions for later. And since there’s a second and third day of the auction, I guess they’re taking it slow on the first day.’

I started to relax, thinking there wouldn’t be any major surprises tonight.

But just as the eighth item was being brought out, I felt a strange unease.

It was faint, like a voice whispering unintelligible words into my ears, yet eerily familiar.

It was the same sensation I felt when I interacted with the Tesseract or the Echo. My body tensed instinctively.

“And now, let’s unveil the eighth auction item!”

Whoosh!

The auctioneer pulled away the silk cover with a dramatic flourish.

Beneath it was a round, cracked glass orb embedded with jagged pieces of metal.

At a glance, it was impossible to discern its purpose.

The audience exchanged confused looks, and even the potential bidders seemed hesitant. The auctioneer, sensing the uncertainty, cleared his throat and began his explanation.

“This is a magical amplification device known as an Orb, reportedly used by a great mage. It enhances the flow of mana, allowing for more precise and potent spellcasting. However, as you can see, it is in a damaged state with metal fragments embedded in it. Please keep this in mind as you place your bids.”

A damaged Orb of a great mage, huh?

Its value was undoubtedly lower than it would’ve been in its original state. Still, even in this condition, it could probably be used in some way.

No doubt this item would also attract fierce competition, just like the others.

But my focus wasn’t on the Orb itself or its magical properties.

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What caught my attention was the fact that the metal fragments embedded in it weren’t just random pieces—they were clearly related to the Invaders.

My expression hardened as I stared at the stage.

This wasn’t going to end without trouble. I could feel it in my bones.