Distraction and Destruction

***ARTEMIS***

I took my seat once I was back inside. I glanced at my companions and said:

"We better be careful when going home. That guy we just dissed seems persistent and dangerous."

"Noted."

The item, the hairpin, was delivered into our room and I paid for it using encrypted bank transfer so they couldn't trace me. Even though I paid using my secret Swiss account, one million euros made quite a dent on my balance, but I should be able to refill it in no time. Or so I reminded myself.

Once the hairpin was placed on the table, Xander just stared at it and then tears started to fall from his eyes again. We asked him what was wrong but his answer was the same:

"I don't know. I don't know what's wrong with me!" he kept crying. Blake was doing his best to console him.

"Guys!" Kyle called in our communication line. "The guy before me is taking a very long time! You have to drag the auction longer!"

I glanced at the monitor and saw that item number thirteen was being auctioned.

'Already?' I thought.

I immediately pressed the buzzer without thinking twice.

"Six hundred eighty thousand to our lady VIP number one!"

"Seven hundred thousand dollars!"

I pressed the buzzer again and raised the price.

Seth immediately fed me information of the item. It was called 'Lapu-Lapu's Bangle'. A golden bangle that was said to have belonged to Mactan Island's ruler and hero Lapu-Lapu. I wasn't that familiar with Philippine history, but I remembered Liu Fen mentioning him once.

"One of the mortals deities once showed favor here in Asia would be Lapu-Lapu of Mactan Island. Their local deity, since the Philippines has a lot of sets, gave him a magical weapon and bangle to help him fight." his words rang in my head.

'That bangle was probably what he was talking about.'

I kept pressing the buzzer to increase the price of the bid but my competitor seemed to really want the bangle himself. We kept bidding 'til we reached five million dollars.

"Owner!" the man suddenly yelled. "I request for a recess! Can I take that opportunity to talk to the young lady in the first balcony?"

I stepped out of the curtains and looked at the direction my competitor was looking at. I saw Mr. Henry step out in the balcony.

"I can only give you the recess if the other side wants it. How about that Miss Huntress? This man wants to talk to you."

My jaw tightened and I clenched my fist. The idiot just said my codename! And the moment he did, whispers started spreading among the guests inside the auction hall.

"Huntress? Isn't that Sceptre's former top reaper?"

"What is she doing here?"

"That man could get killed."

Many more were said but I turned deaf on it.

"Very well. Come up here." I returned inside and turned to my companions. "Pull yourselves together. We have a guest."

"Smart move sis." Kyle praised. "I'm on my way to check the item now."

"Sure."

A knock sounded on the door and Blake opened it. A man with a feathery half-mask and black suit entered the room and bowed as a curtsy.

"Lady Huntress. Gentlemen."

"Hi. Take a seat. So what do you wish to talk about?"

"The item being auctioned belongs to my ancestor."

"'Ancestor'? Really now. Are you telling me you're a descendant of Lapu-Lapu himself?"

"Indeed. My family returned to the Philippines thirty years ago and we had been collecting treasures and items that belonged to my ancestor for safekeeping. I am hoping you will let me have the bangle." he answered.

I could hear the sincerity and the truth from his voice. But…

"Drag it on a little longer. I need more time." Kyle said.

I sighed. "Lapu-Lapu is a famous figure in my clan. I was hoping to own something that belonged to him. I'm afraid, I can't give way to you. We shall see who will last longer."

"I can't change your mind?" he asked.

"Depends."

"Very well." he stood up and rose the wine we offered him to a toast. "To the last bidder."

I offered my very own glass of wine with a smile. The man left the room in a huff of anger.

"Huntress." Blake called. "Are you really going to buy it? The bangle I mean."

"Take a guess. Seth, investigate that man for me."

"Okay."

The auction resumed and we started another round of bidding for the bangle.

"Eight million dollars!" I shouted. The man looked disappointed and no longer bid.

"Going once! Going twice! Going thrice! Sold! Lapu-Lapu's Bangle is sold for ten million dollars!"

"Okay! I succeeded!" Kyle whispered on the other line.

I couldn't help but face-palm and sighed in disbelief.

"You should've done it earlier big brother. I could've saved my money."

Once I finished paying, we stuck around and decided to watch the auction to the end. Plus, it would be suspicious if we suddenly left. Once the organizers found out that the codex was a fake, we would be easily listed as the culprits since we were the ones that left earlier than the other guests.

"Kai." I called.

I sent a picture to his phone and he immediately teleported inside the room. It was an upgrade to his skills. As long as he had a clear picture of his destination then he would have no problem teleporting to it.

I handed him a parcel. "Seth knows what to do."

"So now I'm a delivery man." he sighed. "Fine."

Kai teleported out of the room and I watched the auction. I heard a knock on the door and saw the man I competed with the bangle with. I had him enter.

"lady Huntress, I hope you will take good care of the bangle for me." he said in defeat.

"I should be the one saying that Mr. Canillo."

He stiffened at the mention of the name. "H-h-how d-d-did you-"

"I have my ways. Now it won't be fun if I tell you right?"

"But-"

"I already had someone deliver the item to your driver. The bangle was the real deal so you can be rest assured to have succeeded in taking back what belonged to your ancestor. You should be receiving a call right about… now."

As if on cue, his phone rang and the caller seemed to be panicking.

"I-I'll be there."

"See you when I see you Mr. Canillo." I said and sent him off.

The item I had kai teleport a while ago was the bangle I won in the auction. I had Seth instruct him to deliver it to Mr. Canillo's driver in the parking lot. I returned my attention to the auction.

When the codex was finally placed in the stage…

"The next item is known as 'The Codex of Souls'. For those not are of its existence and significance, this item is written by one of the Celestial Maidens – the Maiden of the Stars. Although what we have here today is only half of the entire book, this item still holds considerable importance."

Although the emcee did not say man words, I could see a few people eye the codex (fake) in the stage. I even saw Steve Zhang watch the bid from one of the balconies. I noticed a few people with confused looks – those ignorant of magic and whatnot for sure, but decided to just watch what was going on.

I watched as those I identified as magic users, cultivators and even normal people who knew more than they should started fighting… err… bidding for the item. Steve Zhang had a big smile on his face because he knew he would gain lots of profit from it. In terms of money, although the people I mentioned usually isolated themselves from the world, they had no problems in terms of financial stability.

Or at least that was what Liu Fen told me. In the end, the fake Codex was sold to a man with the mask of a white fox. I could feel considerable aura from him and I was already imagining how angry he would be once he figures out what he bought was fake.

'I wonder if he'll take it out on Steve Zhang.'

The last item to be auctioned was a rare square yellow gem that was recovered at the bottom of the West Philippine Sea. It was called an earth spirit stone.

Again, only those I sensed to have some power bid for it, but…

BOOM!

The explosion shook the room and smoke filled the room. I could hear Seth, Kai and Kyle ask what was going on but I honestly had no idea.

"Huntress!" I heard Blake call.

"Guys!" Xander called and pointed downstairs. The smoke was clearing up and I could see men in black clothing surround the guests.

I shuddered as I saw a familiar crest at the left chest of those men; a red spider-lily inside a six-pointed star. It was the same crest as the guy from two years ago. It was only a moment, but I saw a badge at the waist of Master Li that time and it was the same as the one I was seeing at the auction.

'Speak of the devil and he shall appear.'

From the crowd walked a familiar man wearing Chinese republican era garb.

"Master Li?" I whispered but it seemed like he had very sharp ears because he turned to our direction.

He motioned to one of his subordinates and flew to our direction.

"Well, well. If it isn't the Maiden of the Moon."

"How did you know it was me?" I retorted.

"Your aura. It seems like you can't hide it yet."

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked.

"Well, I don't think the Sect needs to tell you, right?"

"The Sect?"

He fished out a familiar badge from his waist and presented it to us. It was the same crest the black-clothes men downstairs were wearing.

"You better remember that dear. We have high hopes for a Celestial Maiden you know." he said and flashed a sickening sweet smile. It made me cringe.

Ice spikes suddenly grew from the ground and I saw Master Li leap backwards. I felt a hand reach for my arm and before I knew it, I was running in the hallway with Blake beside me and Xander just behind us. A group of men from 'The Sect' blocked our way, but Blake threw a ball made of light that acted as a flash bomb which blinded our enemies. I opened the door with my magic and we ran to the surface.

Kai met us at the elevator doors then teleported us to the van we used to get to Bogo City. Once we had buckled up, Kyle immediately drove us away from Casa Domingo which was slowly being engulfed by explosions and fire.

Once we reached the national road, we did a little celebration, but it was too soon. When we reached the road in the middle of Bogo New Business Park, I sensed powerful auras just on or tails. It happened so fast, but our van suddenly crashed on something and then rolled over to the side of the road. I climbed out of the van, which was totally flipped over, dizzy and wounded. I saw that Blake and Kai were unconscious, so Kyle and Seth had to drag them out. Xander helped me out and we were lucky to get away from the van before it exploded.

Thankfully, we were all intact. Plus the codex and Xander's hairpin were also both safe. But we had more problems to worry about.