The automated smart-contract system of the Grand Astral Jewel Citadel did not care about Vice-Chairman Malakor’s strangled scream.
The instant the Heavenly Gavel struck the block, the five-hundred-foot digital settlement screen above the main stage flashed with unforgiving crimson precision:
[SETTLEMENT FINALIZED: LOT NUMBER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY AWARDED TO IMPERIAL BOX #2!]
[WINNING BID DEDUCTED: 800,000,000,000 AMC (EIGHT HUNDRED BILLION ASTRAL MERIT COINS)!]
[NON-REFUNDABLE CITADEL AUCTION TAX (20%): 160,000,000,000 AMC DEDUCTED!]
[REMAINING PROCEEDS (640,000,000,000 AMC): WIRED TO CONSIGNOR ACCOUNT AT NEW ASTRAL OFFSHORE BANK!]
[ALERT: JOINT COLLATERAL ACCOUNTS FOR BLOOD-TAX REGIONAL BRANCHES #1, #2, AND #3 DRAINED TO 0.00 AMC — THREE REGIONAL BRANCHES OFFICIALLY BANKRUPT!]
The moment those crimson letters blazed across the orbital sky-screen, total pandemonium erupted across the ten-mile amphitheater!
