Tsukiyama Shuu led the two of them into a luxurious private box with an excellent view, directly facing the main auction stage.
He inclined himself elegantly. "If there is any item you fancy, please do not worry about money.
Feel free to bid. I shall not disturb your refined enjoyment."
After he left, Amano Hiro wrapped an arm around Rize and sat down on the genuine leather sofa, inwardly admiring how thorough and considerate the Tsukiyama family was in hosting guests.
At that moment, a waiter knocked lightly and entered carrying a velvet-lined tray.
A decanter swayed with dark red liquid, accompanied by two exquisite crystal goblets.
"This is a rare beverage specially reserved by the young master. Please enjoy."
As the waiter bowed and withdrew, Rize lightly inhaled the faint sweetness in the air.
"It is blood." Her violet eyes shifted slightly.
Amano Hiro lifted the decanter and examined it carefully. "It has been specially processed, and some additional ingredients were added."
Although the two of them now only ate normal food, occasionally tasting such a carefully prepared drink had its own unique charm.
He poured half a glass for each of them. The crisp clink of crystal sounded softly as the dark red liquid reflected amber hues under the light.
Taking a sip, the smooth and mellow texture bloomed on the tongue, leaving just the right lingering sweetness.
"It truly deserves the word rare." Rize gently swirled her glass in praise.
Amano Hiro nodded. "Yes, it is indeed good."
If nothing else, when it came to cuisine, Tsukiyama Shuu truly had skill.
Just as they were savoring the special drink, the lights in the hall suddenly dimmed, and a beam of spotlight precisely struck the central stage.
Accompanied by comical music, two figures ascended the stage.
One was obese like a mountain, the other petite and agile.
Their faces were painted with exaggerated clown makeup, and they wore brightly colored costumes.
Four thick hemp ropes descended from the ceiling, and the two clowns climbed up along them, performing a series of thrilling yet ridiculous acrobatics in midair.
Their twisted body language and deliberately clumsy movements drew continuous laughter from the crowd.
Amano Hiro's gaze instantly locked onto the petite female clown.
Though the makeup was heavy, the familiar figure and mannerisms allowed him to immediately recognize her as Roma Hoito.
"As expected." He gently swirled the wine in his glass, his eyes gradually turning cold.
It seemed that under various influences, the original timeline had advanced ahead of schedule.
Since key members of the Clowns were all here, perhaps it would be simpler to kill them directly. These troublemakers served little purpose anyway.
He watched the guests immersed in the performance below,
and the two seemingly ridiculous yet truly dangerous figures on stage, his fingers lightly tracing the rim of his glass.
After the two clowns finished performing, a gorgeously decorated small booth descended from above and landed precisely at the center of the stage.
An excited voice rang out. "Ladies and gentlemen, apologies for keeping you waiting.
Next, the auction officially begins.
The host and auctioneer will be us clowns. Please enjoy this auction to your heart's content."
Before the words had fully settled, Uta, wearing his distinctive mask, gracefully lifted the curtain and stepped calmly into the spotlight.
Amano Hiro watched expressionlessly as the auction proceeded below.
Rize, finding it dull, leaned against his shoulder and whispered, "This is less interesting than reading recipes at home."
The auction continued. The displayed goods were varied in every possible way, tall, short, fat, thin.
As time passed and the event neared its end, the anticipated special lot still had not appeared.
Amano Hiro thought to himself that this must not be that auction.
He wondered whether Ayato had come. It had been a long time since he teased him. The thought of doing so again suddenly amused him.
At that moment, Uta's voice rang out once more. "The next item,
was originally planned to start at one million, but this item emits a rather peculiar scent."
Under the spotlight, a girl wearing a light blue dress and an eyepatch knelt on the stage in panic.
Uta abruptly pulled off her eyepatch, and waves of exclamations erupted from the audience.
"It is a one-eyed ghoul." Uta's voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"Oh my, this is truly rare. In that case, we will set the starting price at ten million."
Bidding erupted instantly. Watching this familiar scene, Amano Hiro thought, here it comes.
Rize also looked toward the stage. "Hiro, are one-eyed ghouls really that valuable? Does Aogiri Tree not have many of them?"
Amano Hiro smiled. "One-eyed ghouls are still quite rare. It is normal for these ignorant bumpkins to have never seen one."
On stage, the adorable Mutsuki Tooru was completely stunned, her mind nearly shutting down.
Countless thoughts churned within her. What is happening. Can someone tell me what to do.
What about the operation plan. Am I supposed to fight alone here.
Uta seemed to see through her thoughts. He leaned down and whispered softly in her ear. "The operation failed. No rescue is coming."
As Mutsuki Tooru sank into despair, the price had already soared to one hundred million, and that bid had been called by Tsukiyama Shuu.
Amano Hiro even felt tempted to grab a one-eyed ghoul from Aogiri Tree's laboratory and sell it directly to him.
The Big Madam, long at odds with the Tsukiyama family, immediately raised the bid further and ultimately purchased Mutsuki Tooru for the high price of two hundred million.
Backstage, Mayu Klammer was ecstatic. She grabbed Mutsuki Tooru, who had just been brought behind the stage, and showered her with kisses.
Uta's voice sounded again. "While everyone's excitement has yet to fade,
allow me to introduce the final item. This is also a beautiful young girl capable of generating an astonishing price."
Amano Hiro said quietly, "The change is here."
Rize immediately looked toward the stage. Under the spotlight stood a doll-like "girl," standing silently.
Looking at Suzuya Juuzou in women's clothing, Amano Hiro could not help but exclaim, "Damn, really beautiful."
Just as he marveled inwardly, Rize's hand had already reached his waist.
Amano Hiro's mouth twitched, and he quickly explained, "Beautiful, yes, but unfortunately he is a man."
Rize was startled. "Ah. That is a man?"
She looked again in disbelief at the figure on stage. "Someone that beautiful is actually male?"
Just as Uta was about to announce the starting price, a clear voice suddenly interrupted him.
"No need for money."
The "girl" on stage lightly stuck out his tongue and slowly licked across his crimson lips, an indescribable allure in the movement.
The next second, he elegantly lifted the hem of his dress with both hands and leaped lightly into the air,
tracing a graceful arc before landing steadily at the center of the auction table.
As the skirt fluttered, he produced several gleaming throwing knives from beneath it. Before anyone could react, he flicked both hands outward.
The knives shot forth like silver lightning, piercing through Uta's entire body with precision.
The unfortunate auctioneer still held his speaking posture before being turned into a human pincushion, collapsing stiffly to the ground.
The entire venue fell into deathly silence, the only sound the faint trembling hum of the knife handles still quivering.