Chapter 23: Mecha Auction

Chapter 23: Mecha Auction

Arix woke up, yawned, and checked the time; it was already 1:30 PM.

After quickly getting ready, Arix prepared to go to the front door to wait for Cirilla.

But just as she opened his bedroom door, she saw Cassian alone, leaning on the hallway windowsill, boredly watching the garden below.

"Cassian, what are you doing here all by yourself?" Arix walked over and picked him up gently.

Cassian wrapped his little arms around Arix’s neck, nuzzling her like a kitten, "Can I go to the auction with you, please, Arix?"

Arix, utterly charmed, quickly surrendered, "Alright, alright, we’ll go together."

"You’re the best," Cassian said with a sweet smile.

"You little rascal." Arix affectionately scratched Cassian’s nose. She then took Cassian’s hand and they went downstairs to the living room.

In the living room, Fleur was knitting a sweater. Hearing footsteps, she stopped her knitting. Then she turned her head and asked softly, "Cassian, Arix, did you just wake up?"

"Yeah, just woke up. Mom, where’s Drexel?" Arix asked casually.

Thaddeus and Kellan were soldiers in the Alliance, likely at the military base now. Only Drexel and Arix were military students.



"He’s still sleeping in his bedroom, let him be; the rascal must have been up all night playing in the Connective Pod," Fleur said with a hint of disdain.

Arix laughed. She checked the time and said to Fleur, "Mom, I’m meeting a friend soon, Cassian and I will head out now."

"Go ahead. I had your dad transfer 5 million astrocredits to your account. If you or Cassian find anything you like, buy it. If it’s not enough, ask your dad to send more," Fleur instructed.

"Thanks, Mom, we’ll be going then." Arix, surprised by the generous spending money, smiled in delight.

"Bye, Mrs. Kering," Cassian waved his little chubby hand.

"Goodbye, Cassian. Have fun with Arix," Fleur said with a tender smile, waving back.

After they left, Drexel peeked his head over the second-floor railing, pleading, "Mom, can I have 1 million too? I want a new Connective Pod."

Fleur’s gaze was as sharp as a cold knife, and she fiercely spat out a word, "Scram!"

Drexel quickly pulled back his head, grumbling under his breath, "Fine, don’t give it then. I’ll just borrow from Arix."

"If I hear you’ve asked Arix for even a penny, you can forget about seeing a single credit for the next term," Fleur’s chilling voice came from downstairs, as if she had read her second son’s mind.

Drexel, feeling wronged, considered running away from home. However, realizing he still had a functioning Connective Pod in his room, he reluctantly called down, "Alright, I get it."

Fleur snorted coldly as she continued to knit the sweater for her beloved daughter.



...

At the grand entrance of the Kering family home, Cirilla called out from her Lev, spotting Arix and Cassian.

"Arix, over here!" Cirilla shouted as she rolled down the window and stuck her head out.

Arix smiled and greeted her. She led Cassian to the back seat of the Lev.

"Is this kid a family of yours?" Cirilla asked, glancing back at Cassian as she sat in the driver’s seat.

"Yes, he’s my cousin, his name is Cassian," Arix replied, keeping it simple.

"He looks pretty adorable. Buckle up, we’re about to take off," Cirilla said. Then she started the Lev, lifting it into the air.

She sped forward.

"Cirilla, I didn’t know you were so rich. This Lev, I remember, costs around a hundred million astrocredits," Arix remarked, impressed by the understated luxury of the interior.

"That’s nothing compared to Elio’s Lev. His starts at a billion," Cirilla replied nonchalantly.

"A billion? That’s enough to buy a Comet-Class mecha," Arix swallowed hard, hardly believing that a Lev could cost as much as a mecha.

"What’s a billion for a Lev? Lasair once sold five top-level luxury Levs made from Supergiant-Class insectoid shells. Each one cost hundreds of billions. Only the admirals of the four major families and the president of the Alliance could afford them, and Elio himself owns one," Cirilla said, slightly envious of Elio’s notorious wealth in the Alliance.

Arix almost turned green with envy, not so much for the Levs, but because Supergiant-Class insectoid shells were top-tier materials for building mechas, and Lasair was so wealthy that they could afford to use them for Levs.



"If you like, I can give you one in the future," Cassian mentioned. He recalled that Lasair had once gifted a Lev to the Empire to expand their business, and it had since been collecting dust in his garage. "If you want it, I’ll give it to you when we get back to the Empire."

Arix smiled at the offer and patted Cassian’s hair, taking his words lightly, "Sure, thanks, Cassian."

Cirilla heard Cassian’s grand statement and took it as the innocent boast of a child, laughing along with Arix.

After a while, they arrived at the auction venue. Cirilla parked the Lev in the parking lot and led Arix and Cassian to the auction entrance.

Twelve young women dressed in kimonos were standing in two rows at the entrance.

Another man in a suit bowed respectfully to Cirilla and her companions, "Honored guests, hello, please show your invitation."

Cirilla nodded and pulled a pure black invitation with golden sakura blossoms from her pocket. She then handed it to the attendant.

Upon seeing the sakura emblem on the invitation, the attendant became even more respectful.

He opened the invitation, glanced at it, and then he handed it back to Cirilla with both hands, saying, "It’s an honor to see you, Miss Rinn. Please come in. Miss Ame, please take the young ladies and the gentleman to the VIP box."

"Okay, thank you. Everyone, please follow me," said Ame, one of the girls in kimonos. She walked in front of Cirilla’s group, bowing slightly.

"Arix, let’s go," Cirilla said, looking at Arix.

"Okay," Arix replied, holding Cassian’s hand and following the others.