After realising that Mary herself had stepped into the auction, Victor formed a simple, almost predatory plan… let her outbid everyone, let her drown in her own pride, and quietly drain her wealth... like a silent black hole swallowing light.
The idea should have been clean, effortless.
Yet, what caught him off guard was Amara's sudden announcement, granting 2 million units freely to each Empire.
It only fueled Victor further, pushing him to toy with Mary even more.
And so he did… nudging her bids, disturbing her rhythm just enough to keep her climbing higher.
Strangely, she fell right into it, almost willingly, as if chasing something far beyond the auction itself.
Sniff… sniff…
The faint sound of suppressed sobbing broke through the heavy silence of the chamber. The grand hall, once filled with competitive tension, now stood nearly empty, leaving behind only Mary… and Amara, who stood poised, her composed smile unwavering as she awaited payment.
