Spark made a quick decision. He quickly decided the three fairy eggs he wanted. The Echo Fairy. The Earth Fairy. And the Devil Fairy. He would get the eggs of those three fairies.
The bidding opened.
Compared to the earlier items, the starting price was modest. But it quickly climbed above most other items previously auctioned. Various nobles and sorcerers, anyone with soulcraft affinity, expressed great interest.
Spark waited until the initial frenzy subsided. Letting others exhaust some of their enthusiasm. Then, he raised his paddle.
His bids were firm, direct, and escalating. He didn't engage in back-and-forth theatrics. He simply raised the price to a level he was willing to pay. Signaling his intent.
Others hesitated. Many nobles and common people might not know Spark Nighthawk. But most people here were businessmen. He was known in their circles to be surprisingly wealthy for a young noble.
His business ventures whispered about. They didn't know the exact extent of his wealth. But they had heard his business acuity. Winning a bidding against him often meant overpaying.
The auctioneer's hammer fell. "Sold! To the gentleman in Box 7!"
Spark had secured three of the seven eggs. The egg of an Echo Fairy. Promising sonic abilities or communication potential. Specially prepared for Melody's second fairy.
The egg of the Devil Fairy. Hinting at curse power or demonic transformation. It would be for his third fairy. Aster, the Mirage Fairy in his Fairy Grimoire, would be more suitable for Lilith.
And the egg of the Earth Fairy. Suggesting power over earth or flora. For Ivy.
It was a reasonable haul. He wanted all seven eggs. But it would be too domineering. And it could cause unnecessary problem.
The auction continued. More weapons, armors, magical artifacts, rare ingredients... Spark remained impassive. Only occasionally glancing at Lilith, who kept meticulous records of the prices and bidders.
"Our next set of items..." The auctioneer announced. His voice was dropping slightly with reverence. "... are six incredibly rare Gearcores!"
A hush fell over the crowd. Gearcores. The power source of any Technomind practitioner. The common ones are not that hard to find. As long as one had enough wealth, it would be easy enough to get them. The gun-type, armor-type, blade-type, shield-type, puppet-type, carriage-type...
Rare gearcores were completely different. They were notoriously difficult to find. Almost impossible to get even with overflowing amount of wealth. The spatial-bag-type, flight-device-type, sky-ship-type, mecha-type, submarine-type, golem-type...
"We have two submarine-type gearcores..." The auctioneer continued, "... a golem-tpe, a flight-device-type, a force-field-type, and a sky-ship-type. Let us begin with the Submarine-type Gearcores..."
Spark paid closer attention now. He wanted them all. But it wouldn't be prudent doing so. Rare gearcores were even more desired than fairy eggs.
He quickly made a decision. The sky-ship-type would be essential for his long-term plans. He would acquire that. The others... well, not this time. He would need to find other opportunities to get them.
He watched the first five gearcores go by... the two submarine-type gearcores, the golem-type gearcore, the flight-device-type gearcore, and the force-field type gearcore. He didn't bid. They weren't what he urgently needed.
"And finally..." The auctioneer announced. A flourish was in his voice. "... the last Gearcore of the evening! A Sky-ship-type Gearcore! Perfect for those with ambitions in the azure skies!"
On the stage was a crystalline core. Humming with contained energy. Runes glowing along its facets. This. This was what he needed.
The bidding started. Immediately jumping higher than any previous item. The Sky-ship-type gearcore was a strategic tool. Several parties were bidding furiously.
Their voices or paddle movements were sharp with eagerness. Flying ships were the ultimate symbol of wealth and power in the Avianest Kingdom. Granting unparalleled mobility and reach.
Spark waited. He observed the bidders. A representative from the Royal Air Corps. A notorious Sky Pirate captain operating under a false identity. A consortium of wealthy merchants known for their exploration ventures.
They pushed the price higher and higher. Spark remained still. A calm center in the rising storm of bids.
Finally, the price seemed to plateau. Reaching a figure that made even some of the wealthiest faces blanch. Calmly, Spark raised his paddle.
His bid was significantly higher than the last one. A massive jump. A declaration of intent. It wasn't just a bid. It was a statement. He wanted it. And he was willing to pay a premium to end the contest quickly.
Silence fell over the hall for a moment. The Air Corps representative looked frustrated. The merchant consortium representative slumped slightly.
The disguised pirate captain's eyes narrowed. But he didn't raise his paddle again. The price Spark offered was beyond what they were willing or able to commit to. For this specific item tonight.
The auctioneer was momentarily stunned by the jump. But he recovered swiftly. "Do I hear any further bids?!" He scanned the room. His hammer was poised. No one challenged Spark's offer.
"Going once... Going twice... Sold! To the gentleman in Box 7!"
A wave of murmurs swept through the hall. Spark Nighthawk. The young noble showed wealth that they hadn't expected. It would seem to be a hot topic of discussion in many circles after this.
Spark leaned back in his seat. A faint, satisfied smile touching his lips. He had come for specific items. Items that fit into his long-term plans for exploring the sky. He had acquired them. The auction was a success.
He glanced at Lilith. She met his gaze with unwavering loyalty. She simply nodded. Confirming the acquisition was complete.
He had other reasons for showing his wealth tonight. It would be an alibi. He would break into the Broken Claw Prison tonight. He needed people to not associate the prison break with him.
The auction hadn't ended. But there was nothing more he urgently needed. He stood up. His massive form drawing eyes even in the privacy of the box. Time to collect his winnings.
...
Outside, the city of Eagledome glittered under the twin moons. The air felt unusually crisp and cool tonight.
Their carriage awaited. A discreet but well-appointed vehicle that whisked them away from the bustling Trade District. Towards Spark's villa. Nestled in the quieter, more exclusive noble district.
The journey was swift and silent. It was a comfortable interlude before the true work began.
Back at the villa, the transition was seamless. Once they were out of anyone's surveillance, Spark casually put the boxes filed with the auction acquisitions into his Spatial Belt. And retreated to his private chambers.
...
Several hours later, after some required break...
Spark's opulent attire of a noble attending an auction had been shed. He replaced it with practical, dark clothing.
Reinforced leather. Muted fabrics designed for silence and movement. A thick, hooded cloak, dyed in the colour of midnight, completed the ensemble. Pulling the deep shadow it created across his face.
He checked his equipped gear. A handful of precisely weighted runic throwing knives. A few carefully prepared alchemical vials. Ivy's newest products. Other items, including his grimoires, were kept within his Spatial Belt.
He met Lilith briefly in the study. She handed him a detailed hand-drawn map. Not of the city's streets. But of the labyrinthine interior of a structure built to keep things in. Not out. The Broken Claw Prison.
"The west watch schedule corresponds." She said. Her voice was low and clear. "Shift change at the third chime after midnight. Minimum patrol overlap along the outer perimeter segment."
Spark nodded. His eyes were scanning the familiar lines and labels of the blueprint he had 'incidentally acquired' a couple of years ago. This blueprint was detailing not just the prison's layout. But also subterranean access points that had supposedly been sealed centuries ago.
He took a look at the newer notes on it. Lilith's writing.
"The target?" Spark asked.
"Lady Oleanna Finch." Lilith confirmed. "Held in the women's wing. Section C. Block 9. Cell 4. High-priority, but new. Security is tightest around the male high-security blocks. They haven't fully adjusted protocols for the female side yet."
A ghost of a smile touched Spark's lips beneath the shadow of his hood. "Good. Predictability is a weakness."
He left the villa through a seldom-used rear exit. A figure melting into the night. The air was colder now.
He moved with a deceptive ease. His large frame was surprisingly agile and silent. The city at this hour was a different entity. Than the one he had seen a few hours earlier.
The vibrant energy of the early evening was extinguished. Replaced by the quiet serenity of the late night. And the distant calls of the city watch.
He bypassed the main thoroughfares. Sticking to less-traveled alleys. The journey to the Broken Claw Prison took him towards the city's edge. Where towering military edifices loomed against the sky. Their shapes were softened by the dim light.
The prison itself was a monstrous structure. Of black granite and reinforced steel. Perched on a natural rise. Its battlements were bristling with defensive emplacements and watchful sentinels. It was designed to be impenetrable.
Most of it was.