Chapter 143: The Devil’s Auction
Chapter 143: The Devil’s Auction
The moment Lucas stepped into the hall, he blended into the crowd without hesitation.
He casually picked up a glass from a passing waiter’s tray and swayed lightly to the rhythm of the music, looking no different from every other guest enjoying the party.
On the surface...
He appeared completely relaxed.
But beneath that calm exterior, his eyes never stopped moving.
Every table.
Every exit.
Every security guard.
Every private booth.
Nothing escaped his attention.
He wasn’t here to dance.
He wasn’t here to drink.
He was here to find Victor.
More importantly...
He was here to find Debbie.
Half an hour quietly slipped by.
Lucas continued pretending to enjoy himself, occasionally nodding to the music and exchanging brief smiles with nearby guests whenever their eyes met.
The entire time, however...
He found nothing.
No sign of Victor.
No sign of Debbie.
No clue why so many powerful people had gathered here.
The place looked exactly like an exclusive private party.
Nothing more.
Just as Lucas began wondering whether he had somehow come to the wrong place...
The music gradually softened.
Conversations throughout the hall slowly died down.
Then~
A man calmly walked onto the stage.
He looked much younger than everyone else present.
At most...
Thirty-five years old.
Compared to the elderly billionaires filling the hall, he practically looked like a young man.
He wore a perfectly tailored black tuxedo and carried himself with effortless confidence.
A wireless microphone rested comfortably in his hand.
A broad smile spread across his face as he slowly looked over the crowd.
"Gentlemen..."
His voice echoed clearly throughout the enormous hall.
"Another wonderful night."
"Another chance..."
"...for all of us to enjoy life."
The room immediately erupted into applause.
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"So..."
"He’s the host."
He still didn’t fully understand what kind of event this really was.
He quietly remained where he was, waiting for more.
The host smiled mysteriously before continuing.
"It’s been nearly two weeks..."
"...since our last new arrivals."
The fake smile on Lucas’s face instantly disappeared.
His entire body stiffened.
The host slowly spread his arms.
"But tonight..."
"We’ve prepared a brand-new collection."
"I guarantee..."
"...you’ll love every single one of them."
The reaction inside the hall changed instantly.
The elderly guests who had looked half asleep only moments earlier suddenly became energetic.
Laughter filled the room.
Wine glasses were raised.
Some people even stood from their seats, cheering loudly.
"Finally!"
"I’ve been waiting for this!"
"Don’t disappoint us this time!"
Lucas silently watched the scene unfold before him.
The excitement surrounding him only made his expression colder.
While everyone else looked thrilled...
His heart slowly sank.
"...New arrivals."
He didn’t like the sound of those words.
Not one bit.
At that moment, the young women who had been dancing around the guests quietly began leaving the dance floor one after another.
Within less than a minute...
The entire center of the hall had been cleared.
The host slowly looked around at the eager faces before smiling once again.
"Everyone..."
"I think it’s time."
"Let’s welcome..."
"...the newest beauties we’ve carefully selected for you."
The lights throughout the hall suddenly dimmed even further.
Only the soft background music continued drifting through the air.
Then~
A brilliant white spotlight exploded onto the stage.
The auction...
Was finally about to begin.
Lucas remained standing among the crowd.
His eyes never left the stage.
Even now...
He still couldn’t fully understand what kind of place this really was.
He already knew an auction was about to begin.
But...
What exactly was being auctioned?
The host had only spoken about "new arrivals."
No one had explained what those words actually meant.
Around him, the atmosphere had completely changed.
The music still played quietly.
But almost every conversation had disappeared.
The wealthy guests had all returned to their seats.
Crystal glasses rested on polished tables.
Expensive cigars were slowly lit.
They leaned comfortably against luxurious leather chairs, staring at the stage with expressions filled with anticipation.
Some even looked excited.
Like children impatiently waiting for Christmas presents.
Lucas frowned.
"...What the hell are these people waiting for?"
Then...
The music suddenly changed.
The cheerful jazz disappeared.
A slow, elegant violin melody echoed throughout the enormous hall.
The bright spotlight remained fixed at the center of the stage.
Click.
The side door slowly opened.
Two beautiful young women were dragged onto the stage.
Chains wrapped tightly around their wrists.
The cold metal restraints had been covered with soft pink cotton padding to prevent visible injuries.
Lucas’s expression instantly darkened.
The girls weren’t resisting.
Not because they had accepted their fate.
Because they couldn’t.
One of them nearly collapsed after taking only two steps before the guard beside her roughly yanked her back upright.
The other swayed left and right as though she could barely control her own body.
They looked drunk.
No...
Not drunk.
Drugged.
Lucas could tell immediately.
His jaw slowly tightened.
Without even realizing it...
His feet had already begun moving.
One step.
Then another.
He quietly squeezed through the crowd, pushing himself closer to the front.
He wasn’t even aware he was doing it.
His body had simply reacted on its own.
The host smiled brightly into the microphone.
"Our first two ladies tonight."
He slowly stretched one hand toward them as though introducing priceless works of art.
"Fresh."
"Beautiful."
The crowd immediately burst into applause.
Several old men even whistled loudly.
Lucas felt his stomach twist.
The host laughed.
"Now then..."
"Let’s begin."
Almost instantly~
"Twenty thousand dollars!"
An elderly man sitting in the second row casually raised one finger.
The spotlight immediately shifted toward him.
The host smiled.
"Twenty thousand."
"Do I hear more?"
"Thirty thousand."
Another voice answered before the host even finished speaking.
"Forty!"
"Fifty-five!"
"Seventy thousand!"
The numbers climbed so quickly that Lucas barely had time to process them.
Nobody hesitated.
Nobody bargained.
Each wealthy guest raised the price as casually as ordering another bottle of wine.
To them...
Money had completely lost its meaning.
Within less than two minutes...
The bidding had already exceeded one hundred thousand dollars.
"One hundred and ten thousand!"
The hall suddenly became quiet.
The host slowly looked around.
"Any higher?"
Silence.
He smiled broadly.
Bang!
The wooden hammer struck the podium.
"Sold."
Thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall.
Several guests laughed while raising their glasses toward the winning bidder.
Lucas simply stood there.
Motionless.
He finally understood.
They...
Were selling people.
Living.
Breathing.
Human beings.
He felt something cold spread through his chest.
"...Animals."
No.
Even animals didn’t behave like this.
Keeping his face expressionless, Lucas quietly slipped one hand into his pocket.
He secretly pulled out his phone beneath the cover of the table beside him.
His thumb quickly found Chloe’s number.
He pressed Call.
Nothing.
He lowered the phone slightly.
No signal.
Not even a single bar.
His pupils contracted.
"...Signal jammer."
Of course.
People conducting something this illegal would never leave communications active.
Lucas quietly slipped the phone back into his pocket before anyone nearby noticed.
He was completely alone now.
One after another...
More girls were brought onto the stage.
Some cried silently.
Some stared blankly at the floor.
Others couldn’t even stand without guards supporting them.
Every single one of them was exceptionally beautiful.
Tall.
Elegant.
Perfect figures.
Delicate faces.
Some had graceful curves.
Others possessed naturally innocent beauty.
Every single one looked like someone who could easily become a celebrity under normal circumstances.
Lucas finally understood the pattern.
These people weren’t kidnapping random women.
They were hunting...
Only the very best.
Only women beautiful enough to make these rich monsters compete over them.
Time slowly passed.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Forty.
Nearly an hour.
The wealthy guests became increasingly excited.
Arguments broke out whenever two bidders refused to back down.
Some cursed loudly after losing.
Others laughed arrogantly after winning another "purchase."
To them...
This wasn’t human trafficking.
It was entertainment.
A game.
Lucas remained perfectly still.
His fists had already tightened so hard that his fingernails dug into his palms.
He didn’t even notice the pain.
His eyes never left the stage.
He was waiting.
Waiting for one person.
Please...
Don’t be here.
Then~
The side door slowly opened once again.
The host’s smile widened.
"Our next arrival..."
A familiar figure slowly stepped beneath the bright white spotlight.