Kisaragi's Long-Strange Collection Notes

Vera's introduction sparked a flurry of discussion among the guests.

In this world, there are many mysterious items whose effects or side effects are unclear. What makes people talk about is not the unknown side effects, but why these mysterious items are put up for auction when they are known to be unknown.

No one would be foolish enough to think that unknown side effects are the same as none; on the contrary, in almost everyone's eyes, the unknown is equivalent to fatal.

Vera waited until the crowd quieted down a bit before speaking again.

"This is actually a very old item, over a hundred years old. It was cleared out by the auction house last month when they were cleaning out their warehouse."

According to records, over several decades, those who ate this cheese experienced virtually no adverse effects until their deaths; based on current information, it appears to be harmless.

"Boo~" Boos came from the audience.

Can something that is "mysterious" be described as "seemingly"?

Someone chimed in, "Even if you say there are no side effects, what are the effects after taking it?"

Vera: "It didn't work either. Please note, it had absolutely no effect. It didn't even give you the feeling of fullness you'd expect after eating it."

The audience fell silent.

If the side effects are unknown and there are no positive effects, then what's the point of using it?

Vera knew this was a trap, but he had already used the excuse of clearing out inventory, so he gritted his teeth and went through the process.

"[Moon Phase Cheese], starting price...20 years, each bid must be for a minimum of 5 years."

The crowd below the stage stared at Vera as if she were an idiot.

This cheese is useless; it just plants a time bomb inside you. It's really a forced choice.

Liu Bo was among the crowd: "This thing, I wouldn't even take it for free, only a fool would buy it. Chen Meimei, don't you think so... Ah, you!"

Chen Meimei raised her hand: "20 years."

This sound shocked everyone present.

Before Liu Bo could question her, Vera counted down 3, 2, 1 at lightning speed, and then swiftly brought down the gavel, as if afraid he might change his mind.

"Sold! Congratulations to this gentleman on winning this treasure. Let's congratulate him!"

The audience erupted in applause; everyone was genuinely offering their congratulations.

Chen Meimei took a picture of the [moon phase cheese], but after waiting for a long time, no eye-catching bag popped up to mock his bad taste.

Although the guests were surprised, the price wasn't too expensive. After the initial astonishment, they didn't dwell on it since it didn't concern them personally.

Apart from Liu Bo.

Liu Bo was truly heartbroken, even more so than when he spent 940 years getting out.

"Chen Meimei, what are you doing? Why did you take a picture of this thing? It may not be expensive, but if you take it home, you might go crazy and eat it one day. You really don't understand how terrible the unknown side effects are."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'm just taking it back to study it."

"I don't believe you for a second."

"I don't really believe it myself, but to be optimistic, if decades or even centuries of experimenters have been fine, then of course I should be too..."

"Stop! Please don't raise the flag. I'm scared."

The auction ended half an hour later.

The mysterious item was locked in a small coffin-shaped box and delivered to the successful bidder.

Before Chen Meimei and Liu Bo were about to leave, they ran into Mian Ruyan, the young lady from the auction house, again.

"Chen Meimei, I still suggest you don't eat the cheese you photographed when you get home." Mian Ruyan came specifically to check on her old classmate.

"Um, by the way, I have a question. Is the auctioneer Vera someone from your auction house?"

"No, that doesn't count. The title of 'archaeologist' is too prestigious. My family can't even recruit him. It's more like a temporary collaboration between us."

"I have some questions about authentication that I'd like to ask him. Do you have his address?"

"He has the watch's contact information, but not his address. However, people who need authentication often go to his association to find him; he has a workshop there."

"What is his association?"

"[Nan Jun's Society]".

The entrance to the auction house.

Liu Bo was in a hurry to go home. He now possessed a treasure worth 940 years, and he felt that it was dangerous outside and that someone was trying to rob him.

So as soon as he stepped out the door, he got into his family's car and disappeared without a trace.

After snapping her fingers, Chen Meimei also left in a sedan chair.

Inside the auction house, in a secluded room deep inside.

The room was dimly lit.

There are two people.

One person sat in the main seat, while another stood in the center of the room with a slight bow.

[Archaeologist] Vera adjusted her glasses and looked at the figure sitting in the main seat:

"As you instructed, I concealed the side effects of that mysterious item, and it was won by a young man at the auction. Doing so may have had a slight impact on the auction house's reputation."

"It's alright, who took the picture?"

"I checked, she's Miss Mian Ruyan's classmate, her name is Chen Meimei."

"Huh? Why is he here? He wasn't on the guest list today."

"I heard he came with his classmate Liu Bo."

"Other actions remain unchanged. Immediately find Chen Meimei and retrieve the items. Do not involve him in the plan."

"He just took the picture and then went to get it back. Won't that arouse suspicion and affect our plans?"

"Let me remind you, Chen Meimei is a member of Chen Miaomiao's family. If something happens to him, what do you think will happen to you?"

"Yes... I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Great Witch."

"Go."

"Yes."

[Archaeologist] Vera bowed and went out the door.

Light from outside shone into the room through the crack in the door.

The silhouette of the woman in the seat gradually became clear.

Beneath the tall mage's hat, a mysterious aura emanated from his jeweled body, and his sand-gold pupils gleamed with a dangerous light.