"Our first item originates from the deep rainforests, or at least the stuffing does. This silk pillow is stuffed with rank-C [Amphithere] Feathers. That doesn't seem like much, but these feathers are imbued with mana! They can be used as power regents to enhance the power of select different spells!"

Ah, I'm first. Does that imply that my item is the worst in the lot? That's not a good sign. It seems like Duchess' [Brilliant Feathers] skill persists within the feathers even after she sheds them. There should be around 200 feathers in that pillow. They're big feathers.

I'm not allowed to bid on my own item, so I have no idea how much It's worth right now. It seems like privacy is a huge focus for the auction house. I can't see the other patrons.

"Generous patron, the membership card is how you can place bets. You can see the current bid and bid higher if you wish. We have a patented way of transferring credits, so there is no unnecessary security risk.

I pull my card out and still can't bid on my item. But a system window pops up.

[Your item has been auctioned for 250m]

Zoya subtly twitches and turns to me again.

"Generous patron, the buyer has sent a message and wishes you to hear it. May I read it for you?"

I wave for her to continue. Damn, somebody wanted those feathers. Maybe they wanted to have a good night's sleep tonight. Duchess is covered in feathers, and I only have so many hearts... Why am I the one selling my body... I couldn't force Duchess to sell parts of herself, and she already lets me do anything with her molted feathers. The only issue is the "harvesting" method.

"The buyer has kept their identity undisclosed but wishes to contact you regarding the item."

I shake my head no. I don't need more weirdo-rich people lusting over body parts. She nods and goes silent before heading for the door. She opens it and gets handed a glowing square crystal from someone wearing the same uniform as her. She walks back and offers the crystal to me with both hands.

[Credit Crystal: 250m]

I grab it and try to use it, but nothing happens. Zoya looks at my card, so I tap the two together. The crystal loses its shine, and I have the credits in my account.

The following items come out, and I realize there is no rhyme or reason regarding the order of auctioned items. The next item was a rank-A sword with a red blade and a prominent blood groove. It's called [Toothpick], and it heals the wielder depending on the foe and damages the wielder deals. I can barely use a sword, and duel wielding would be cumbersome. I tried to buy the sword anyway since it combos with my fighting style, but I was quickly outbid.

A set of two rank-B tower shields for going on the defensive was next. I didn't bother bidding since they have to be used together to see the full benefits, and armor doesn't interest me. It affects my martial arts to be protected.

I tried to buy an amulet that applies mana regeneration, but I was outbid. Rain's potion set was revealed, and it was a random mess of forty different potions of various ranks and effects. I couldn't bid on it, but she seemed contemptuous of how much she got. I think. Our disguises make it hard to read faces. I hope she wasn't betting on making all her money in this one night.

An egg encased in ice went out of my price range before the auctioneer could even describe the egg. A cycle of not having enough money or being uninterested in the peddled goods continued until I managed to get something by bidding 90m credits. It was 'cheap' because you needed a specific class type, and even then, It's a rank-D item. I overpaid for it. I input the credits on a similar-looking cubed crystal, and Zoya goes and hands it over to someone in the hallway. After a brief moment, I'm with a pair of white satin gloves.

[Hands of the Master D

Can only be Identified and worn by a Master.]

[Scientific Insight+] is the most scuffed appraisal skill since it doesn't magically find out things for me. If I test this thing long enough, I can find out everything about it, but simply snapping my fingers and having everything would be convenient. I just put them on instead. They are a snug fit and seamlessly connect to my body.

[[Hands of the Master D] is being altered by the user's class [Unique Master]. [Unique Master] is at rank C. The alteration will be set at rank C. Gain the skill [Master's Hand C].

The gloves disappeared, leaving me staring at my palms. I checked my system's window, and the skill I gained is still there.

[Master's Hand C

The master's order should be followed, but some commands don't need the master to verbally communicate. If the target is within range, the user can nonverbally command them with their hands. The target may resist if they have a higher spirit stat or if the action will harm them.]

Cooldown, range, mana cost? I need to test something. It says "may resist," meaning that if the target is predisposed to follow my commands anyways, they shouldn't be an issue unless the action is harmful to them. I snapped my fingers, and a pair of white satin gloves flashed on my hands for half a second before appearing again. Zoya leaves and gets me a drink before standing there confused. I can't see her level, but she shouldn't be a pushover if she's working here. Maybe she is. I wouldn't be able to tell with these enchantments.

Rain hasn't seen this interaction since she is vehemently trying to outbid someone for a weird potted plant, a mixture of an onion and a gourd. I wasn't listening to the auctioneer when he described it, so I have no idea what's being sold.

She throws her hands up, causing her membership card to fly to the other end of the balcony. Zoya went to grab it for her, but Rain stood up suddenly.

"I want to leave. Watching these things I desire going to some richer asshole left a bad feeling in my heart. It's like watching your wife run into the arms of her boss after taking half your money in the divorce."

"I'm down to leave as well. Even if there is something I want, getting it would be close to impossible."

"Didn't you get something just now?"

"Yup. I'll drop you off, but I have to get alleyway surgery, so don't make me drink anything."

"Sure, sure."

~

I wait in the same alleyway the last transaction took place, and sure enough, a disguised Algernon appears. His disguise is more refined than before. His nails and ears seem human, but his white hair still stands out. His hair was black when he wasn't camouflaged, so what gives? Also, isn't being disguised inherently dishonest? Wouldn't that be impossible for him to do, or is it just verbal communication?

"So... How are we doing this...?"

I changed the appearance of my sword at master Wang's house. It's a barbed dagger now.

"Nice blade..."

I consciously break open my ribcage with [Battered Bones] and cut into my chest. My sword deals double damage to myself, and with my titles and increased damage based on my health state, I can bypass my resistance and cut open my chest. I heal my wounds in such a way as I cut to keep blood from splattering as much as possible. No freebies. I feel nauseous, and the pain is starting to get to me, but I soldier on.

I'm left with my chest cavity exposed, both hearts beating simultaneously as my lungs move with each breath. My hands start to shake. I don't know if it's mental or physical, but seeing myself like this for the first time is something else. I took out my novelty knife to do the job. I checked my health bar and all things considered, I'm alright.

"I have a skill for this... May I...?"

I point at the heart I want him to take. It's the "second" one out of the two. I figured out what's affecting me so much. I've experienced worse pain, and my body has been in gorier states, but the anticipation and the deliberate movements are horrendous.

[Resistance: Mental 183 > 184]

In a flash of sharpened black nails, my second hard was surgically ripped from my chest cavity. Not a single drop of blood hits the ground. A second later, my body reacts, and the blood starts spilling. I close the arteries and put all my meat back, fixing my bones while at it. I feel like shit due to my skill deactivating, but my glistening, beating heart is nestled in the vampire's palm. He has forgotten my existence, staring at the organ with an expression I cannot recognize. It's almost awe but disbelief at the same time. His hunger isn't apparent, just curiosity like he's looking at something that shouldn't exist. He mutters something in a language I don't recognize. "Nnepermis pomiet."

The heart continues to beat. The hue of the heart stirs in my mind. It's the same color as the [Forbidden Fruit: Blood Apple]. I try to walk away from the enamored vampire, but his trance ends as soon as I take a step. He snaps a finger, and the beating heart disappears. He turns and is instantly in front of me, holding me by the shoulders.

"I no longer plan to eat this heart... Please let me alter the contract to reflect this fact..."

"Please let go of me."

"I'm practically begging you... I cannot dare to sink my teeth into your flesh... Keeping it as a mantlepiece would be breaking the contract... You can consider it a dowry for my daughter..."

"Wouldn't it be a bridewealth since I'd be the groom?"

"Then it's settled..."

"Wai-"

A piece of paper appears in front of me with a flash of blue and disappears before I can read the entire thing. It looked like the magical contract, but a single line shifted to say something else. If the Aleveritas clan can do this, I can see why lawyers like Free Chains find them infamous.

"I interrupted you... I apologize... But I needed to use these tactics... You can leave..."

My face shifts under my mask. What is going on? This infuriates me. I step away from Algernon, but his attention doesn't shift to me. He pulled out my heart again, and it was still beating.

"Doctor... word of warning... never sell your heart again... Some people aren't as appreciative as I am... Let's not meet again until you are a part of my clan...

With two snaps of his finger, both the heart and Algernon disappear.

~

"Nnepermis pomiet" isn't mentioned in my [Lexicon], nor does either of my masters know what it means. My last interaction with that vampire raised my paranoia to its limit. I spent a few hours regrowing my heart when I got to my mansion. I can't grow something from nothing, but I can replicate the same process I initially used to get the skill and fix myself that way.

After splitting my heart in half and healing both sides, my passive regeneration is back. I'm starting to regret interacting with Algernon that second time because Duchess' feathers were enough for me, and I didn't need his money the second time. I'm sure that the only aspect of the contract that changed was the application of my heart, but I'm not exactly sure what. Even though it's out of my body, it feels like my life is in his hands. Being surrounded by my beasts at home is reassuring. I need to train as fast as possible and become ready for energy. I've grown complacent.