"Five hundred million dollars!" the auctioneer announced, his voice vibrating with excitement at the record-breaking price. "Going once... Going twice... Sold! To Mr. Blake for $500 million! A magnificent acquisition!"

Ethan's heart hammered against his ribs. He managed a subtle, internal sigh of relief, though his vast reserves had just taken a massive hit. After acquiring the other items and now Emily, his liquid assets, even with the $200 million stolen from Axhel, were rapidly dwindling, leaving him with slightly less than $300 million remaining. Had the old man raised the bid one more time, Ethan would have been forced to stop.

The auctioneer clapped and signaled the security team to escort a terrified, crying Emily off the podium.

"Congratulations, Mr. Blake," Thompson whispered, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. "That was... aggressive. Truly indicative of your power. That price would bankrupt three national banks."

Ethan just gave a small, cold smile in response, his eyes fixed on the podium, searching desperately for the next "lot." He had Emily, but where was Samantha?

The attractive woman on the podium stepped forward, regaining the room's attention.

"Gentlemen, our next item is truly exceptional, not merely for her beauty but for her unique status as a prize recently obtained from one of the most powerful families in the region. Lot 204: A woman of striking maturity and grace, highly educated and of unparalleled intelligence. She is a mother, stripped of her previous life, ready to submit to her new master and serve any desire."

The curtain behind the podium swept aside, and Samantha entered, dressed similarly to Emily in a revealing two-piece swimsuit. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear, but she carried herself with a strained dignity that the other victims lacked.

Ethan felt a terrifying surge of cold adrenaline. Samantha!

He immediately felt the pressure of his dwindling funds. He had spent half a billion dollars on Emily; if the bidders obsessed over Samantha with the same intensity, he would be completely exposed and unable to secure her.

"And with an opening bid of $10 million, who will be the lucky buyer of this jewel of incomparable value?"

The bidding for Samantha was about to begin.

The exact moment the presenter opened the bidding, Samantha, who had been standing, rigid and fearful, looked out at the audience. Her gaze crossed Ethan's for an instant, a fleeting, terrifying acknowledgment of the situation.

Suddenly, a thick, wet, guttural sound filled the silence of the room. Samantha staggered and collapsed onto her knees on the crystal podium. A stream of thick, red blood gushed from her mouth, staining the polished floor and the scant fabric of her swimsuit. She had bitten her tongue with brutal force, trying to silence herself or disfigure her appearance.

The blood began to mix with a heavy vomit, and Samantha fell onto her side, her thin body convulsing violently.

"Damn it! What is happening?!" shouted the fat bidder from before, outraged by the interruption.

The luxurious hall plunged into a controlled chaos. Bidders leaped from their seats, some shouting in anger over the "damaged goods," others simply disgusted.

The auctioneer, though visibly pale, hammered his gavel fiercely. "Silence! Silence, gentlemen! A temporary pause! This item is compromised! Security! Get the merchandise out of here!"

A dozen heavily armed guards rushed onto the podium. Ignoring the convulsions and the blood, they grabbed Samantha by her ankles and arms and dragged her unceremoniously out of the room, leaving a horrifying trail of blood.

Ethan shot up from his seat. Money no longer mattered; he couldn't bid for something that was no longer present. His half-smile of degeneracy vanished, replaced by pure, freezing rage. He wanted to incinerate the damned place right then.

The System, more urgent than ever, intervened.

[Master, NO! Calm down! If you cause a disturbance now, you will die without obtaining any information about her destination!]

Ethan felt the System's urgency, but the sight of Samantha being dragged away like trash ignited something primal within him. She's gone, and my money can't follow her.

Thompson, white as a sheet, touched his arm. "Ethan... what are you doing? If you don't sit down..."

Ethan violently shook off Thompson's hand, his predatory gaze settling on the Congressman.

"I am leaving with my merchandise, Thompson," Ethan said, his voice a chilling whisper. "And you are going to tell me exactly where they take the 'damaged merchandise."

Thompson stammered, fear overriding his political composure. "I—I don't know, Ethan! I swear! I told you, I only barely qualify to be here! I don't know the internal movements of the compound! They just handle the damaged goods!"

Ethan dismissed Thompson with a disgusted look. He couldn't waste time on the politician. His behavior shifted instantly from a nervous bidder to an arrogant, spoiled oligarch who expected the world to bend to his whims.

Ethan stormed out of the row of desks and marched directly toward the small stage podium. He planted himself in the center and yelled, his voice echoing with entitled fury.

"Where did you take the woman you just dragged out of here?!" Ethan demanded, sounding like a man whose valuable property had been misplaced. "I just spent half a billion dollars here! Do you think you can just discard merchandise I might want to bid on?!"

Two of the heavily armed security guards immediately moved to intercept him.

"Sir, you need to return to your seat," said one of the guards, reaching for Ethan's arm.

Ethan's eyes narrowed in pure, unadulterated contempt. He was no longer playing. He unleashed a savage, swift punch, sending the first guard flying backward. The guard crashed into the expensive mahogany bidding tables and chairs with a sickening crunch.

The second guard moved to draw his sidearm, but Ethan was faster. Ethan drove his steel-hard knee into the guard's chest. Since Ethan was not measuring his augmented strength, his blow completely caved in the guard's sternum with a horrifying sound of splintering bone. The guard dropped instantly.

Ethan stood over the two fallen men, breathing hard. He looked directly at the stunned auctioneer and the terrified bidders.

"I said: Where is the woman you took away?"

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