The ride is surprisingly smooth. When we finally come to a halt, the cargo hold opens again, and I slip off as small, industrious robots emerge. They efficiently start unloading the cargo.

  Even though it’s still late, the area under the dome is brilliantly lit. The air is crisp and clean, and the architecture is stunning. I can’t help but gawk a little.

  The streets are empty of people, but small cleaning and maintenance robots are everywhere, silently going about their business.

  “This is a mining city?” I whisper to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. It looks more like some kind of utopian paradise. It definitely puts the old dirty polluting coal mines back on Earth to shame.

  Promptly, I duck into a narrow alleyway. I’ll need to find a pawn shop or something similar to exchange these gold ores for some local currency.

  Suddenly, a thought strikes me. This isekai, despite its alien sheen, feels… oddly familiar.

  It’s like someone took Earth, gave it a futuristic, sci-fi makeover, then liberally sprinkled it with ancient mythology.

  Shouldn’t everything be completely alien? Yet, like all isekai novels, there are humans, chatting away in English, thankfully it's not Japanese…

  The creatures are definitely… different, but you can still spot familiar biological blueprints.

  And then there’s the tech. These guys are eons ahead, sure, but the underlying principles feel… similar.

  Anunnaki… those are ancient Sumerian gods. They’re actually a thing here.

  The map, as I vaguely recall from my brief glimpse, looks completely different from Earth at first glance, but… there are oceans and continents… familiar, yet different.

  Okay, so I know there’s an afterlife. Is there some cosmic puppeteer pulling all the strings? Maybe I should start looking for glitches in the matrix. Or maybe I’m the glitch.

  Lost in these existential ponderings, the night breezes by. When the morning sun peeks over the horizon, the dome slowly awakens.

  The cleaning bots vanish, and actual people start appearing on the streets. Interestingly, no one seems to be in any particular hurry.

  Unlike the world I’m from, where everyone seems to be perpetually rushing to some unseen appointment, here, everyone moves at a more… civilized pace. It’s almost unsettling.

  Keeping my eyes closed, I don't want anyone to see my golden eyes. Not sure if colored contacts are a thing here.

  Relying completely on my Qi-enhanced senses, I wander the pristine streets cautiously, trying my best not to attract any unwanted attention.

  The city has many districts, just like Earth. There are areas where people live, shopping areas with restaurants and hotels, others look like factories.

  Stumbling upon what looks like a business district, I spot a massive, imposing building. A gavel and a sign that reads “Petralis Auction House” hang prominently above the entrance.

  Not exactly the pawn shop I was looking for. A little disappointed, I’m about to move on.

  “Good morning, honored guest,” a voice stops me. A tall, slim man quickly comes in front of me and bows.

  “Esteemed… guests… My apologies. You have arrived at the Petralis Auction House. The commencement of the auction is not until noon; your arrival precedes it by some hours,” the man, standing tall, asks in a very sophisticated and polite voice.

  “I’m not here for an auction,” I say to him, trying to figure out if this guy is a threat or just ridiculously polite.

  Do I look like a galactic trillionaire? Maybe if I still had that Adamantine… never mind.

  “My deepest apologies. I confess, observing your… exceptional attire, I presumed you were here in anticipation of the auction,”the man continues, looking a bit bewildered.

  These furs and leathers are extraordinary?!

  “Well, I see you’re a man of great fashion sense!” I reply, puffing out my chest a little. Fake it ‘til you make it, right? “Actually, I’m looking to sell some stuff. Do you mind telling me where a pawn shop is?”

  “A… pawn shop?” The man says with utter shock.

  “I must implore you. Should you possess items of value you wish to divest yourself of, I urge you to consider our establishment,” the man says, grabbing my arm firmly.

  “Alright, alright… I’ll show you what I have to offer,” I concede. I can’t exactly refuse someone this eager. “Arrarrha!” a faint giggle echoes from Rexy, nestled in my hair.

  “Oh, and one more thing,” I add, gesturing vaguely at my face. “Could you also get me a pair of dark shades? As you can see, my eyes aren’t exactly…”

  “Indeed. It would be my honor,” the man replies, a satisfied note in his voice. He then escorts me inside, guiding me carefully to a private room before promptly leaving.

  A few moments later, he returns, presenting me with a pair of sleek, dark shades.

  “Perfect,” I mumble, taking the glasses. “Be right back.” I duck into the bathroom, carefully scanning for any lingering presence before finally opening my eyes.

  The shades the man provided are unexpectedly stylish, crafted from some dark, polished material.

  The moment I slip them on, they shimmer, then subtly reshape themselves to perfectly contour to my face. The change almost gives me a heart attack—if I had one. These look expensive…

  The man waits patiently outside for me, his posture impeccable. After a quick thanks, he starts to give me a tour of the facilities.

  The tall, slender man proceeds to show me around the establishment, which turns out to be far grander than I’d initially imagined.

  We tour the impressive auction room, with its tiered seating and elaborate stage, and even get a glimpse of the ridiculously luxurious VIP guest lounge.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Finally, we arrive at a large, extravagantly furnished meeting room.

  "If you would be so kind as to wait here for just a moment," the man says with a polite bow, "I shall summon our master appraiser." He then gracefully retreats, leaving me alone in the room.

  Rexy pops her head out of my hair, her tiny eyes wide with curiosity. "Arrarrha?" she chirps.

  I gently stroke Rexy’s tiny chin, considering the question. "Honestly? I have absolutely no idea what he wants with us," I admit with a shrug.

  "But I have a feeling we're about to get some money."

  "Important? Important?! The gavel falls in two hours! Two! No additions. Absolutely not. Unless… well, let's just see." A booming voice echoes from beyond the door.

  The doors burst open, and a truly enormous man fills the doorway. "Well, well, what have we here then?" the man booms.

  The instant his gaze lands on my fur clothing, his eyes widen, practically glowing. His jaw drops, hanging open wide enough to swallow a dragon's egg whole. He stares intently.

  "Theodore Vogue at your service. Theo will do nicely." He extends a hand for a shake.

  "Hello, I'm Val." I take his hand; his grip is firm.

  “And this, of course, is Wilfred. You’ve met Wilfred, yes?” Theo says, gesturing to the tall, slim man from before.

  His eyes, however, remain glued to my fur clothing and backpack. “Do have a seat. Comfortable? Excellent. Now then, what wonders have you brought before me today?”

  Tossing out the two egg-sized gold vein ores onto the table before Theo, I say, "I was hoping you could tell me how much these might be worth."

  Theo snatches up the ores and begins a close inspection. He holds them up to the light, turns them over in his massive hands, and even sniffs them a couple of times.

  The more he examines them, though, the more his expression sours.

  “If you’ll permit me,” Theo says, gesturing towards the window with the ores. “I’d like to take a closer look at these… under the natural light. Just a moment.”

  “Sure thing,” I reply.

  He pulls Wilfred aside, and as he scrutinizes the ores, he speaks to Wilfred in a hushed tone. However, my hearing is rather… acute.

  “What’s this? Just… gold? Yes, high purity, I grant you, but… merely gold. Hmm,” Theo mutters to Wilfred.

  “I am uncertain, sir,” Wilfred replies, casting a discreet glance back at me, lowering his voice to a near whisper. “It is possible this is a… test. A measure of our integrity in valuation.”

  Theo’s eyes widen in realization. “Wilfred! Ten thousand. Special order. And a note for the Boss. Immediately.”

  Wilfred nods quickly and hurries from the room.

  Theo returns, beaming at me. “I’ll be frank. You nearly had me there. Almost. But no. These… they’re just gold. Rare for the common folk, perhaps, but not for us.”

  “Come now, we both know you didn’t come here for these.” He gestures toward my backpack with a knowing look.

  “Let’s see the real reason you’re here. Show me what you intend to auction.”

  Just then, Wilfred returns, placing a sleek, black metallic card on the table in front of me.

  “Ten thousand. A small token. A gesture of… goodwill. From the Petralis Auction House. For a… prospective associate.” Theo pushes the card toward me. His smile hasn’t faltered for a second.

  Picking up the card, I turn it over in my fingers. It feels surprisingly light. So, is this like a gift card? A very fancy, very expensive gift card? “Thank you for your generosity.”

  “Take a look.” I grab my backpack and toss it onto the table.

  I’m not sure what kind of reaction to expect, but Theo’s eyes nearly pop out of his head as a cascade of folded hides, teeth, and bones spills out.

  He eagerly unfolds each piece, laying it out with meticulous care. “Marvelous… Simply marvelous… How… Never mind. Forgive my… enthusiasm.”

  Theo quickly regains his composure, though a slight tremor remains in his hands. He pulls out a sleek, tablet-like device and begins scanning and recording everything on the table.

  Theo mutters, his voice trailing off as he continues his inspection, measuring, and recording with feverish intensity.

  “Yes… Three hundred years, undoubtedly. Extraordinary… A tad damp, hasn’t been properly cared for, I see. But… remarkably fresh. Not even a week old. Remarkable… Yes…”

  The door swings open once more, and a stunning young woman with long, flowing black hair enters, radiating an aura of effortless elegance.

  She wears a futuristic dress that hugs her curves, showcasing her impressive figure. She glides into the room, holding a long, thin pipe from which wisps of fragrant smoke curl.

  "Ooh, my, my… what treasures have the winds blown in? Such… interesting wares." The woman’s perfectly manicured finger traces a line across one of the furs, pausing just before me.

  "So, you're the one who brought these little beauties to my attention? How… fortunate." Her gaze meets mine, a look that feels both mesmerizing and, well, a little dangerous.

  “Boss!” Theo scurries to her side and begins whispering urgently into her ear.

  “Genuine. Absolutely genuine. Hide and fur from a live Oroskaros. At least three centuries old. Teeth, some bone fragments as well. All from the same beast. Without a doubt. We…”

  The young lady abruptly pushes Theo away with a delicate hand.

  “I must say, I’m simply thrilled you’ve chosen to grace my humble establishment with such… exquisite rarities,” the young lady says, a flirtatious smile playing on her lips.

  “Allow me to present our proprietor, the esteemed Miss Raven Jin,” Wilfred announces. She casually sits down across the table and crosses her legs, resting her feet on the tabletop.

  “Great to meet you,” I say, leaning back in my chair, trying to project an air of nonchalant confidence.

  Raven exhales a few more puffs of fragrant smoke, her eyes continuing their thorough assessment. Is this what it feels like being examined under a microscope?

  Sitting across from her, I put on the performance of a lifetime, pretending to be utterly at ease in this bizarre, high-stakes situation. Raven gives Wilfred a subtle nod.

  "Allow me to present the contract and the particulars of the auction proceedings," Wilfred announces, as if on cue. He dutifully pulls out a stack of paperwork.

  “Look, if I trust you, these won’t matter. If you try to scam me, these won’t help either. So, they’re basically just useless trash. Just tell me how you’re going to collect your fees.”

  Raven’s lips curve into a sly smile. "Val, you say? A name that suits you… it has a certain… ring to it. I have a feeling we're going to be very good for each other."

  She puffs a perfect ring of smoke, aiming it rather precisely at my face.

  "Now, honeybun," she drawls, leaning forward, "let's talk business, shall we? I offer two delightful options.”

  “The first: I make you a… generous offer for these lovelies," she gestures towards the table laden with my finds, "and they become… mine to do with as I please.”

  “The second, and perhaps more… exciting option: we auction them off, and I simply take a small… token of appreciation for my… invaluable services."

  She winks, the smoke from her pipe curling around her face like a playful phantom.

  “I’ll go with the auction then,” I say. I need to get a sense of the market value of… well, whatever these are. Besides, an auction sounds way more entertaining than a simple sale.

  "But… for you, Val…" Raven leans closer, her eyes glittering with an almost predatory gleam. “I might be persuaded to make an… exception.”

  “Let's just say… if you promise to bring me more of these… rare and exotic wares, I might just… forget about my usual… fees. Wouldn't that be… intriguing?" She trails off, her voice a silken whisper that seems to slither into my ears.

  “I can’t promise I can get more. If I do, I’ll auction them with you guys,” I say, crossing my arms. “But I don’t like owing favors. Since you offered such goodwill, I’ll offer something for you as well.”

  “These rags aren’t exactly haute couture. If you can get me some decent quality clothes, I’ll trade these… outfits to you guys for them.” I gesture at my current ensemble.

  Theo practically launches himself across the table, grabbing my arms with an almost desperate fervor. "Are you certain?!" His eyes are wide with a mix of excitement and disbelief.

  "Oh, Theo… you're such a… delight." Raven purrs, smoothly detaching Theo’s hands from my person with a practiced flick of her wrist.

  "Wilfred, my dear, do see to it that our… fascinating guest receives the full… royal treatment."

  Raven stands, executing a little catwalk as she saunters towards the exit.

  As she reaches the door, she pauses, glancing back over her shoulder, a sly smile playing on her lips.

  She whispers, as if she knows I can hear her, "VAL… 'Vitruvian Artificial Life'… such an intriguing being. I have a feeling our paths are destined to… cross again.”

  She punctuates the statement with another puff of perfumed smoke, which lingers in the air as she disappears behind the walls.