"Yes, My Queen. This here, is the outside camera," the female guard said, tapping a key on the keyboard.
Matilda watched as the female guard on the screen walked past the two guards at the entrance, exchanged a few words with them, and then walked away toward the gate, leaving the camera's range.
"That's when I came down," the female guard said, her voice tight.
"But I wasn't the one on the camera."
Matilda remained silent, lost in thought.
"Have you checked for fingerprints?" she asked, rising to her feet.
"Yes. They all match Joyce's," the guard replied.
Matilda turned to Joyce, who immediately began to plead. "No! It's not mine! I didn't do anything! Please, Empress!"
Matilda walked toward Joyce and summoned a MAX-starred Grand Class dagger. She squatted before the terrified maid.
"You know, there aren't many people in the galaxy who can trick me," she said, placing the dagger against Joyce's neck.
"Em... Empress, please," Joyce whimpered, trembling and sweating profusely.
"I always make sure to kill those who betray or trick me. I never leave any open spot for an attack," Matilda continued, her voice dangerously low.
"But because of you, someone got in here. I don't know their intentions, but I am sure this person already has all the information they needed." She flicked her wrist.
Joyce squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the worst. But after a few seconds, she opened them, staring at Matilda in confusion.
"I like you," Matilda said, patting Joyce's cheek. She stood up and looked down at her.
"You are innocent. I know that. Serve me well, and you might just become the head maid of the Star Empire's imperial family."
Joyce was still confused, her mind reeling from the whiplash of fear and then praise.
Matilda stored her dagger and walked toward the entrance.
"Yes! I will always stand behind the Empress! Whatever you say, I will do!" Joyce cried out, quickly getting kowtowing.
'Gaining one loyal servant isn't a bad thing,' Matilda thought to herself as she walked out of the mansion, the five Heavenly Rank guards following behind her.
'Could that person be Jinx? No, there are a lot of people who can shapeshift. Besides, why would a small nation like the Beastify Nation anger me? There's only one outcome for them, and that's death.' She sighed, entering the car waiting for her.
'Although I want that God Wolf to pay for humiliating me, I can't just attack, saying they sent a shapeshifter without any proof.'
The car ascended into the air and flew toward the auction venue, with two more cars following close behind.
_____
[Auction Hall]
The guests had gathered once more, their excitement palpable as they awaited the final item on the list.
"This item must be very precious!" a guest whispered.
"Yes, I heard it's the best in the Supreme Auction's history," another replied.
"I can't wait to see it," a third said.
"Same here!"
The guests murmured amongst themselves, their eyes glued to the stage as Brittney stepped into the spotlight. She was dressed in a pristine white dress and high heels, her hair pulled back in a chic ponytail. She surveyed the crowd, a warm smile on her face.
"Welcome back, everyone!" she announced.
Matilda turned to Victoria's empty seat, then to King Austin. "King Austin, why isn't your wife here?" she asked.
"Oh, she's unwell," he replied with a small smile. "Perhaps it's due to the change of environment. She is resting."
Matilda nodded, turning her attention back to the stage.
While everyone waited for Brittney's next words, Sunny was silently cursing the system.
'Why do you hate me so much?! I thought systems were supposed to be friendly!'
{Master must complete the quest in 30 minutes.}
'Thirty minutes?! You're asking me to spend 100 trillion in 30 minutes! If I call up that amount here, what will these guys think?' he asked the system.
{I do not have the answer to that.}
Sunny sighed. 'No human on Earth can spend so much money in just 30 minutes! Even a President back on earth couldn't achieve it! Okay then, I'll show you how to play this game.'
{".....?!"}
BAM!
Sunny looked up as a gigantic screen descended from above the stage, directly behind Brittney.
"Huh?" he muttered, confused.
He wasn't the only one; the entire hall was dumbfounded.
"Is this the last item? A TV?" a guest asked.
"How can a television be the last item?" another scoffed.
"My TV is even bigger than that one," a third complained.
"If this is the last item, I won't bother with these auctions again," another said, his voice filled with dissatisfaction.
Brittney's smile remained unwavering:
"Fufufufu... My honorable friends, this isn't the last item," she said with a light chuckle.
"Wow, Miss Brittney's laugh is so refreshing," Cain muttered, causing Ellen and everyone in his row to turn and stare at him.
"Oh, no," Lewis sighed.
"We aren't twins, we just look alike," he yelled, trying to distance himself from Cain.
"You...!"
Cain's words died in his throat as the screen flickered to life, showing a vast, beautiful view of space.
The entire hall fell into a confused silence.
"This is the last item on the list," Brittney announced. She walked to a tablet provided on the stage, picked it up, and switched it on.
"I am going to show you the item now." She moved her finger across the tablet, and the scene on the huge screen zoomed in, revealing a stunning planet.
"This is a planet," she said, her voice filled with grandeur.
"A planet teeming with everything you could ever dream of. Water? Air? Trees? Minerals? Animals? It has it all!"
The attention of every royal family in the room was instantly captured.
"Most of all, this planet is located on a side of the galaxy that is filled and flowing with celestial energy," she added.
She zoomed in again, showing a closer look at the planet's surface. Everyone watched in silent awe, staring at the lush trees, vast oceans, and even the animals roaming free.
"Our people have also landed on the planet and found it deserted, not a single soul in sight. We have searched 90% of the planet and saw nothing—no other race. It was completely unprotected, so we brought it here to show you all," she said, her smile widening.
"Today, the lucky person will go home with a planet!"
'Why did her last words sound so strange?' Sunny thought, staring at the animals on the screen.
'Who would have thought one day they would see a planet getting auctioned?...' He asked himself, a growing sense of familiarity with the planet filling him with unease:
'...And why does this planet look like Earth?'
"This planet is known as Gaia," Brittney stated, her smile widening into a triumphant grin.