Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey - Chapter 1618: The Auction: Part-1

“The Esteemed Rulers have all received the same message… Your Empires are dying. That’s the truth, whether you like it or not.”

Amara’s voice carried across the grand chamber as her eyes swept across every ruler seated around the individual tables, reading each flicker of denial, anger, and restrained fear before she continued,

“The invasion you face… cannot be stopped by armies… cannot be contained by even your most powerful individuals.

We are nothing without Arcane Energy and…” her gaze slowed, settling on the blurry figure lazily leaning against the table as if the matter bored her,

“Even with Energies, the outcome remains the same… Our land, our people will pay for it, again and again.”

Each sentence did not feel spoken… It felt delivered, like a judgment carved into stone.

Did they need to hear it from her?

Of course not.

Every single one of them already knew.

They carried that truth in the hollow spaces left behind by burned cities, fallen soldiers, dead people and the fading glow of what once thrived.

They had all lost something, some more than others, just to protect what little remained clinging to the land.

“But that ends today…”

Amara raised her hand with deliberate calm, and the faint rustle of silk followed as her secretary approached, each step echoing lightly against the polished floor, carrying a large, ornately decorated tray draped in a fine, glossy cloth that shimmered under the chandelier light.

Amara’s lips curved slightly as she continued,

“Our Company, Rosavere Pvt. Limited, has secured a unique artifact… an artifact that directly opposes the invaders’ very nature, an artifact capable of striking them down from afar… and an artifact that may very well become the foundation of our future survival,” her fingers gesturing toward the tray with quiet confidence.

Chairs creaked softly. Fingers tapped against the table.

Every gaze locked onto the covered tray with curiosity.

Even Mary, who had been leaning back with visible disinterest, straightened just slightly, her eyes narrowing with intrigue.

Henry stepped forward without a word, as his fingers grasped the glossy cloth and pulled it away in one smooth motion.

The fabric slid aside, revealing what lay beneath.

An ’L’ shaped metallic structure rested on the tray, its surface gleaming coldly under the light, edges sharp, contours unnatural elegant and… kind of sexy?

For a brief moment, no one spoke.

Then the atmosphere cracked.

Faces twisted, not with awe, but with fury, recognition burning instantly through the room.

It was unmistakable.

It resembled the very weapons wielded by those metallic invaders, the same instruments that had reduced cities to ash and forests to silence.

Amara did not flinch.

She simply continued, “Yes, as you all are aware, this is the same artifact used by the invaders… the very thing that devastated our living woods and shattered our defences. And so, we will use this same weapon against those—”

“HOW DARE YOU?!”

The roar tore through the chamber.

Amara’s gaze shifted toward the source without haste.

Kaelen stood from his seat, his chair scraping harshly against the floor, his expression burning with anger that refused to be contained.

His fists clenched tight enough to whiten his knuckles as he spoke, each word edged with accusation,

“You want us to use those filthy things that destroyed my people?

How dare you?! Disgusting people!

Did you make a deal with those invaders?

For filthy money?

Tell me, how low can you sink for profit?

This land raised you, fed you, gave you power… and you repay it by siding with those disgusting monsters?”

His cold eyes flicked sharply toward Mary.

Mary noticed immediately… Of course she did.

She tilted her head slowly, a sly grin creeping across her lips as she leaned forward just enough, her voice dripping with mocking amusement,

“Oi, brat… maybe try hiding that killing intent of yours. It’s so loud it makes me want to puke. And who exactly are you calling a disgusting monster? Huh?” her eyes gleamed dangerously,

“Did your ’Father’ never teach you how to speak to your elders, or… were you too busy barking orders to learn basic manners?”

Kaelen let out a sharp snort, his lips curling with disdain,

“Oh please… spare me that act. We all know exactly what you’ve been doing in your Empire… dealing with those bastards behind closed doors, all just to inflate your worth?” his voice rose with contempt,

“That’s not strategy. That’s pathetic. Disgusting.”

His fingers tightened further, his glare locking onto her.

“In fact, why are you even here?” he continued, “You can save your own skin, can’t you? Or what… don’t tell me even your Empire got crushed by those same bastards?” A cruel laugh slipped from him,

“Hahah… karma really doesn’t miss, does it?”

The air turned colder.

Mary’s grin faded. Her eyes darkened, sharpening into something lethal as she fixed her gaze on Kaelen without a single word, the silence between them now far more threatening than any shout.

Others remained seated, their expressions carefully restrained as they listened to Kaelen’s outburst. Beneath that composure, however, a quiet satisfaction stirred.

He had given voice to everything they themselves had buried beneath diplomacy and restraint.

They were older, seasoned by years of rule and loss, disciplined enough to hold their tongues, but Kaelen, as new Emperor, had none of that patience.

He took over his Empire just to see everything fall off… that’s the worst thing any Ruler wanted.

He snapped, and he spoke without hesitation.

It felt… strangely refreshing.

A few of them exchanged subtle glances, faint nods passing between them in silent acknowledgement.

Behind them, Julian stood rigid, unease tightening his chest with every passing second.

His gaze flickered between the arguing figures, his mind racing far ahead of the present moment.

The auction had not even begun, yet the situation was already slipping beyond control.

If this escalated further…

He could lose everything.

Four empires. Four carefully negotiated trading agreements, balanced on trust and fragile cooperation, all at risk of collapsing in an instant.

His breath grew shallow.

He had not expected this.

Not this level of reaction.

His eyes shifted toward the artifact, its metallic surface catching the light like a blade waiting to fall.

Who, in their right mind, would present such a thing?

The very weapon that had torn through their empires, reduced their defences to ruin, left scars that had yet to heal.

Even revealing it to common citizens would have invited fury, riots, perhaps even bloodshed.

And now… it was displayed before rulers who had lost far more.

’Oh my god… this cannot happen,’ he thought as he turned toward his granddaughter, searching her face desperately for any sign of a contingency… any hidden plan that could salvage this unravelling moment.

Amara bit her lip, tension tightening her expression as she stepped forward slightly, “Please, stop—”

“What? Are you going to kill me now?” Kaelen’s glare sharpened as his hand slowly shifted, fingers elongating, twisting into sharp, claw-like extensions that gleamed under the light.

Mary let out a soft laugh, low and edged with something far more threatening than amusement, her lips curling as her eyes locked onto him,

“Kill you? If I wanted that, you would have died the moment you called us monsters.”

Amara bit her lip again, harder this time, as the situation deepened into something far more dangerous than a mere argument.

She had expected resistance, even outrage, but not this immediate surge of emotion.

Then again… perhaps she should have.

No rational mind could easily accept this.

This artifact was not just a weapon.

It was a memory.

A symbol of destruction, of loss carved into their lives.

No matter how powerful it was, no matter how much it could help them now, it still carried the weight of everything it had taken.

To ask them to use it…

It’s wrong… deeply, instinctively wrong.

But… sentiment had never saved a dying world!

Logic was cruel sometimes, but it was clear. Whether they hated it or not… they had no other choice.

Amara had assumed time would soften them, that days passing since the last incident would dull the edge of their pain, make them more receptive, more willing to see reason instead of clinging to grief.

Now, standing in the thick of this tension, she realised how naive that assumption had been.

Or… how much common people suffered!

“M-Madam… what should we do? They’re about to fight,” Penelope whispered from behind her, her voice trembling as she clutched the tray tightly, her eyes darting nervously between Kaelen and Mary.

What if they turned on her because she was holding a tray? What if she became the closest target to their anger?

A chill ran down her spine.

Damn… she was going to be cut into pieces!

’Tsk.’

Amara clicked her tongue inwardly, frustration flaring as she turned her head slightly toward the man standing beside her, the one who was supposed to be her future husband,

“Hey… do your thing. Help me out.”

“H-Huh?” Henry blinked, caught completely off guard, surprise flickering across his face. This was the first time she had ever asked for his help directly.

For a brief moment, something like happiness sparked in his chest.

She trusted him.

“Haha… come at me, brat~”

Then reality slammed into him just as quickly.

His gaze shifted toward Kaelen’s claws, then to Mary’s cold, unblinking stare, and whatever courage tried to form immediately collapsed.

“N-No way I’m putting my head on their plate!” he blurted out, stepping back without hesitation, fear plain on his face,

“I’m the only son in my family. I am not dying here for you!”

He shook his head rapidly, already retreating further,

“You brought them here. This is your mess. You deal with it. Don’t drag me into your disaster.”

His steps grew quicker, almost instinctively trying to put distance between himself and the storm that was about to break.

After all, he could already feel the atmosphere tightening, coiling like a spring ready to snap.

Amara stared blankly at the man who was supposed to marry her, now slowly edging away with careful, cowardly steps.

’Tsk, what a fucking loser,’ she thought, her expression hardening with quiet disgust.

She had tried, at least in her own way, to think well of him.

Her grandfather had spoken highly of him, painted him as capable, reliable, someone worthy. For a fleeting moment, she had entertained the idea that he might surprise her, step forward, say something sharp enough to steady the room and make her heart waver…

Instead… he retreated?

’All men are leeches… except one,’ she thought.

She drew in a steady breath and stepped forward, “Empress Bloody Mary, please calm down. This is not a place where you can fight.”

Since Kaelen had ignored her completely, perhaps Mary would at least grant her some face.

They had dealt with each other before.

There was a chance… a slim one, but still a chance.

But…

“Ah?” Mary tilted her head slightly, as her crimson eyes drifted lazily across the room, pausing over each ruler seated at the long table,

“Are you saying… I cannot defeat these people? Is that what you mean by this not being a place where I can fight?”

Her gaze settled, counting without effort. One. Two. Three. Four.

Five.

Amara’s cheeks twitched faintly, ’That’s not what I meant… fuck,’ she screamed inwardly, her eyes flicking toward the other rulers.

It only made things worse.

They did not look hesitant.

They looked eager.

The idea had already taken root.

An opportunity.

Kill her here.

End her!!

After all, this land lacked energy.

Mary, despite everything, would be bound by the same limitations as them. Even if she could regenerate, even if she endured, five against one… the outcome would not favour her.

And beneath that reasoning, something far less noble stirred.

Excitement?

Indeed… The thought of finally striking her down, of dragging that arrogant, untouchable woman into the dirt, of breaking that calm, mocking expression.

It tempted them!

Amara saw it clearly.

This would not work.

No one here was going to listen anymore.

She stepped back slightly, lowering her voice as she leaned toward her secretary, “Prepare the security protocol—”

CLAP!

The sharp sound cracked through the chamber like a sudden thunderclap.

For a brief moment, silence followed.

Then a voice echoed, smooth, playful, yet carrying an unmistakable authority that refused to be ignored,

“Ai, ai~ what a lively auction we have here~”

Every head turned at once.

At the far end of the chamber, beneath the dim glow of the chandeliers, stood a man with white hair that caught the light like frost. A half mask concealed part of his face, leaving only one side visible, where a faint, knowing smile lingered.

He wore a fitted black shirt, layered over a deep, starry blue inner garment that shimmered subtly with each movement, paired with black trousers that reflected faint glints of light as though dusted with starlight.