Bent World: Chapter 37 Auctioning Off My Virtue (Part II)

Chapter 37

Auctioning Off My Virtue (Part II)

“Calm down, this is all for show,” Auntie stated placatingly as she locked gazes with me. “Just breathe, focus on your breath and this will all be over with your future well taken care of.”

Hearing her words, it felt like throwing water over the flames that burned Chernobyl. The water might have done something somewhere along the lines, but all it did now was add fuel to the fire of rage that was building inside of me.

Her position was perfect, as her entire face was hidden from the audience behind us. While she was holding my tie as a symbol of dominance, the grip was the only hard part about her stance, there was actually a good deal of give in the tie allowing me to breathe easily. Again, the perception was that of perceived control.

I understood it all, but it was still humiliating, still caused me to get angry. Yet, Auntie wasn’t done, not yet.

“Look at the girls, truly look at them.”

I glanced.

“Look at them, look at all five possible candidates and tell me that any of them are ugly, I will get rid of them right here and now.” Auntie declared.

Taking a deep breath, I centered myself and forced the blurring haze that was filling my vision to drop as the world around me came back into focus. It took time, but after having a moment to center myself through this humiliating ordeal, I indeed glanced at all of the women present.

I began by looking at the trio. The combined houses of Oteranski, Jaupry, and Amherst. All three were all pretty, each now showing signs of the telltale marks of beauty that will make each exceptional when they are older. By now I had been around each of them long enough to know that I could trust them, at least in a battle, which as far as this world went meant a lot. It didn’t hurt that they were already part of my Pathfinder group. Which thinking about that aspect, likely cemented why the newest member would also be added to my group, letting me gain trust and comfort with any new perspective member.

Lady Oteranski had grown a lot since our first encounter where I ended up punching her in the face and getting called to the principal’s office. She had dark brown almost red hair that seemed to reinforce the fact that she was going to be an earth mage, with a latent fire affinity. The other was Lady Jaupry who had blond hair and eyes that appeared to glow with a blue-green light, framed by a heart-shaped face. Then finally there was Lady Amherst who also had the same blond hair, with eyes that were more green than blue. Seeing them here like this, all dolled up, made me see them for more than the savage warriors that I normally knew them by. Each one of them the height of evolution for this planet, a planet that favored strength and power above all else. From their training and conditioning, it was clear that they would continue to grow and mature at an astounding rate.

Those three were my center, and after seeing each of them, I realized that there could be worse options. None of them were horrid. I also understood this from a pragmatic point of view in that if I was to have a new partner, they would undoubtedly become jealous if and when they found out about my Pathfinder status. By declaring now and getting a future house member of a dynasty to declare allegiance to House Andry now, locking them into what would likely be a rare slot in the Pathfinder’s party was a way to permanently seal that pact.

When Auntie told me that part in confidence, I understood the reason to start the bidding process now. Auntie assumed that one or maybe two more spots might open up, should I come into contact with more monoliths, particularly monoliths outside of this kingdom we were in. A kingdom seemingly left behind by the growth rate of the rest of the world.

I could see her logic, and I begrudgingly accepted it as a way to avoid future drama, but forcing all the drama to occur now. Nothing would happen for the moment. This would be a promissory process, with the only true concession now being that the winning bidder would be the next person added to the Pathfinder’s party.

Rationally, I could understand the whole process, yet that did little to quell the rage that was building up inside of me.

“Good, now you agree that none of the locals are a bad option right?” Auntie pressed, her words calming, the same way one would talk to a wild horse that you were trying to keep from trampling you.

I nodded, having to take another breath as I was still not ready to speak.

“Okay, now look at the other two candidates. They were chosen not just for their family, but for their age and ability to eventually match you.” Auntie declared.

With that, I paused and looked at the two foreigners. One was pale and posh, the typical image of a spoiled rich girl. Even now being here, it was clear that she felt this entire process was beneath her, that I was clearly beneath her. While she might have been pretty, it was in that way that spoke of being naturally fit, versus being truly muscular. A slight distinction, but one that showed signs that she was not a warrior and had likely never lifted a blade in her life.

Shatter.

At that thought, the thought that women were only valuable if they could be true warriors crossed my mind, I realized I had been indoctrinated. At least, I knew I was partially indoctrinated, as my mindset had already been biased by the powerful women around me. Women who wielded the sword, and honed their powers and abilities, not out of want to look stronger, but out of an inherent need to protect the people of their territories from threats. That was the problem of this world.

This woman, she was either so rich that her family could afford capable guards to defend her. Or she was not needed as a warrior being so far down the line of succession, which was why she was never forced to practice, and was even posed to be shipped off here. She was out.

Then turning my attention further, I turned to look at the golden beauty from the land mass that I still refer to as Asia, but I know it has a different name in this world. Seeing her, I could tell by her gaze that she was powerful. She was thin, but a lean thin, one that spoke of practicing sword strikes and movements hundreds of times to deliver powerful and efficient strikes. Looking at her, I could see the focus of muscles and tendons. Strong shoulder muscles lunged upwards from her shoulder to her neck. Even sitting down I in a relaxed posture showed the bulge and twist of tendons in her arms, legs, and neck. It was clear that she was a warrior, or at least took the idea of being a warrior to heart.

Even the way she stared at me, made me feel like she was actively engaged, as if she was judging me as much as I was now judging her. For a moment our eyes met, and a flash of recognition struck, as neither of us looked away.

“So any of them not up to your liking?” Auntie pressed.

“The pale foreigner, she’s too weak.” I replied.

“Too weak?” Auntie pressed and then looked back at the pale girl. She had fought in the awakening, but her guards all but incapacitated the monster she gave a final death blow to.

I nod.

“Very well, we will keep her here to help drive up the prices, and then disqualify her at the last moment,” Auntie stated. I stared at her, wondering if she was lying. Then ultimately understood her ploy, if she dismissed the foreigner right now, then it would just be a bidding war between the Asian family and the three local houses. By keeping the second foreign family around, it could create a bidding war that would likely well exceed what any of the three houses could offer.

I nod in acceptance.

“Then, it is time for you to do your part,” Auntie stated as she held up the rod, but only after removing my right-handed glove. Again, all pageantry. She and I both know that the glove that matters is on my left hand, but no one expects me to be the Pathfinder. That is why such a big deal is made about taking off my right glove, and then a quick flash to the crowd showing that I am not a Wayfarer, as there are no visible markings on my right hand. Then pulling out her rod and turning it over, I begin the process again.

Taking my whole right hand I wrap it around the rod, but make sure not to touch more than three of my fingers against the rod.

Flash.

Even with just the three fingers, there is a bright flash at first, that slowly fades and eventually gets spread out to show all the colors of the rainbow.

There is a pause, as we wait for enough time to pass. Then once thirty seconds passes Auntie nods, and twists a portion at the top, locking the results in place. I still don’t understand the rod itself or how it works, but once she locks the colors in place Ceecee comes from off of the side, grabbing the rod and taking it to mother who is still doing her speech.

“As you can see, we were not lying when we spoke of the capabilities of my son,” Mother declares holding up the rod high for all to see. Then Sarina comes forward and takes the rod and hands it to the family of Asian investors.

“Ready for round two?” Auntie asks pulling out a second rod.

I give her a quizzical eye glance, but then realized with the first one going to one bidding table, I was apparently supposed to duplicate the tests over and over. A sign that this was not rigged in any way. While one rod could be faked, three or more rods all showing the same findings would not be so easy to pull off.

Flash.

Once again, I only used three fingers, though I did make it appear as though my entire hand clasped the rod. Another twist at the top and the second was locked into place, after which Ceecee grabbed the second rod and gave it to the haughty Europeans.

Surprisingly, I only had to do one for the locals, as it seemed that Houses Oteranski, Jaupry, and Amherst had combined their efforts to pull resources away from the other two families. To no real surprise, the three local families apparently don’t need much to see that I am a prize. That or the thought of keeping the foreign families away from me and from the Pathfinder’s party are enough to get them all to pool their resources together. Either way, I hope there is enough of an interest to at least keep me away from the clutches of the European family. Though I am certain that Auntie would find a way to make it so the European bidders had to bow out of the competition.

Still, this was good to see as it showed the power wielded by other countries. Compared to where mother and Auntie were before their addition to the Pathfidner’s party, which came with an apparent power upgrade, their power would be on par or slightly below those of the visiting delegates. Yet, now I can see and feel that they are clearly more powerful than the delegates that have arrived.

Apparently, as a Pathfinder, I was not the only one who noticed this disparity in power, as the two foreign parties began bidding on the dual auctioning rights almost instantly. With the three local families apparently looking to Ms. Amherst to head their bids.

“Do I hear four hundred?” Mother exclaimed, an uncorked smile pouring on her lips the more she called out higher and higher bids. Bids that were quickly met and exceeded by the next bidder.

After a certain threshold of wealth, the local trio lowered their paddle, as a resigned posture seemed to overtake everyone at the table. Seeing the contrition from the power three, mother changed up her tactics.

“It seems we have met a monetary threshold for some, and it is clear that at least two would continue to bid. But rather than focusing on monetary bids, why don’t we raise the stakes a little and make sure that we are not just merging families, but complete finances as well. From here on, we will take the money as an aside, and start with whom is willing to offer the most percentage of their foreign company, so that we might strengthen ties permanently.”

And there it was, the reason why mother and Auntie got not one but two influential families from two distinct countries, so they could forever seal their wealth outside of this country, making House Andry truly a world-wide player. Seeing the activity I turned to see Auntie, who just smiled knowingly at me, as if she had pulled off the greatest ruse ever with this act.

Honestly, I couldn’t even be mad at the attempt. I knew they were auctioning off my chastity, and effectively making me a slave to a foreign power, but by doing this, which was clearly part of their plan all along, they would be able to technically help get me out if things got too abusive.

“Please take a moment to review these dossiers to show that each of you are effectively auctioning off portions of similar companies in parallel markets.” Mother began, before handing out portfolios of the conglomerate companies to each bidding partner, so they could see what company and resources the others had.

Then pausing for a moment as both groups read the reports, mother began speaking once both groups looked up.

“Okay, now that we are in the process of fully unifying our families together. Not just by name, or by grouping,” Mother said the grouping part while holding up her right hand that clearly marked her as a wayfarer. “I will take one last moment to ask if there are any last minute questions before we let the true bidding begin?”

There was a pause, but suddenly the snobbish European chose that moment to speak up.

“Can he show us his left hand as well?” The perspective suitor and possible Pathfinder party member asked. Hearing her question I froze, as shock filled my face. Fortunately, Auntie was there as she seemed to have not only anticipated such a question, but came up with a seemingly perfect response for such a question.

“Oh my, how indecent our Eurpoan counterparts are? And such scandalous questions asking the young man to strip in front of everyone.” Auntie began, and suddenly I realized it was Europan, not European, why I always got the two confused. Still, it was a masterful deception, as suddenly everyone who had been staring at me suddenly affixed their attention towards her, as if she was somehow the immodest one for asking such a question. A question that would have surely outed me as the actual Pathfinder. One that only a handful of people here knew. A fact that would forever impact my future interactions with House Oteranski, Jaupry, and Amherst, particularly now that they are seen as being out of this part of the auction.

“Th-that’s not what I meant. . .” The woman stammered before regaining her indignant response.

“Don’t worry dear, you are not the first woman who has attempted to see more of him than modesty would dictate,” Auntie began.

With that, for some reason Pandaline who had been off to the side and only viewing from what would be off stage, as she was hidden by the rows of bushes, suddenly she seemed to look away and find something to distract herself with. I almost wanted to ask for more clarification, as it was clear that she had apparently attempted to snoop on me? If so, then when? And why?

I shook my head as Auntie wasn’t done.

“I-I would never!” Again, the Eurpoan candidate blushed even brighter at such an insinuation.

“And no one will, at least not until the Awakening night when only the Gods will be able to see and confess to true happenings.” Auntie continued, again masterfully cutting off the female who was no match for Auntie and her rapier wit. The girl who had looked like she still wanted to protest, just blushed deeply at the comments. Which Mother then used as a chance to jump back in and retake control over this little escapade.

“Now then, who among you is willing to invest a 1% partnership of your company with us, as we build our futures together.”

And like that, the bidding for my virtue went into a realm that was otherworldly. I understood logically that the money would be for me, while this, the company shares that would all be for House Andry. Well played, again, there are times when you realize you can’t even be angry with how crazy things got. That or you finally see the value others place on you and your achievements and realize you might undervalue yourself, but the others don’t.

For a moment, I wondered why House Oteranski, Jaupry, and Amherst all stayed silent during this time, only to realize that they likely already paid with portions of their family’s companies already to garner spots on my Party list.

I wanted to ask Auntie if this was indeed the case, but then I realized this was not the time nor place to have such conversations. Instead, I just watched as my mother and Auntie both created a two party bidding war. The price of my virtue apparently already established, now it was just time to see how much a possible future spot on the Pathfinder’s party would be worth.

Taking a deep breath, I resigned myself to whatever fate came next, having already known the outcome. The Asianic company would win, of this I was certain, just as I was certain that Auntie would never do anything to jeopardize her golden calf that she had found in me.

I was of course too foolish, or perhaps too trusting to see the actual outcome.