The Rat Charm might lack offensive power, but it remained one of the most vital artifacts the Holy Lord desired. While the Sheep Charm could release his soul, it could not restore his physical form. The Rat Charm, however, held the miraculous ability to restore his body—granting him true freedom.
In terms of significance, the Rat Charm far surpassed the Sheep Charm. And now, such a powerful artifact had reportedly appeared… at a second-hand furniture auction.
Yes, it sounded absurd—almost laughably so. Yet that was the truth. The very object that could liberate the Lord's body was being casually listed in a local auction as if it were an old lamp or worn-out chair.
Shawn and Selena found a seat among the small crowd gathered in the warehouse-style hall, the atmosphere filled with the scent of polished wood and dust. Folding chairs creaked under the weight of eager bargain hunters and clueless collectors. They settled in, waiting for the auction to begin.
But just as Shawn closed his eyes in meditation, a sudden thought struck him.
Wait a minute…
If this really followed the events from Jackie Chan Adventures, then wasn't this the same auction where Jackie himself would show up? And if he did, the Mafia wouldn't be far behind. Maybe even Valon…
Shawn's eyes snapped open, and he scanned the crowd discreetly. But after several minutes of observation, he saw neither Jackie nor any recognizable Mafia figures. No agents, no martial artists, no criminal thugs with dark sunglasses. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Perhaps things were different in this integrated world.
Shrugging inwardly, he decided not to dwell on it. Ten minutes passed.
Then the auction began.
At first, it was all standard fare—worn-out chairs, chipped coffee tables, cracked dressers, and miscellaneous décor from estate clearances. Most items sold for under $500. Shawn paid them no mind, resting calmly with his eyes closed again.
But then came the moment.
"And now, let's begin bidding on our next item!" the auctioneer announced, holding up a peculiar desk lamp. "This is a desk lamp inlaid with a mouse pattern. It's quite unique and charming. Starting bid—$100. Any takers?"
Shawn's eyes snapped open.
There it was. The Rat Charm.
Attached discreetly to the lamp's surface was the distinct talisman—the ancient glyph clearly visible under the lamp's base. Though the auctioneer had no idea what he was holding, Shawn knew immediately.
"That's the one," he whispered under his breath.
Selena, seated beside him, followed his gaze curiously.
She stared at the lamp for a few seconds, unimpressed. "That's it? Doesn't look like much to me."
"It's important," Shawn replied evenly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
Selena nodded. She trusted Shawn's judgment. Just as she was about to lift her bidding paddle—
"One million!"
A crisp, confident voice rang out from the back of the hall.
The room froze.
Even the auctioneer stuttered for a second, unable to process the number. The crowd turned to look, eyes wide with disbelief.
Who in their right mind would spend a million dollars on a second-hand desk lamp?
Selena turned around—and her eyes widened even more than the others.
Striding confidently toward the auction platform was none other than Tony Stark—the genius billionaire, playboy, and superhero known as Iron Man.
Because of the merged worlds, Selena knew exactly who he was. Just recently, Stark had attended a high-profile gala hosted by Gotham City's elite.
She leaned closer to Shawn. "Boss… that's Tony Stark. What now? He just dropped a million like it's pocket change."
Shawn's brow furrowed, watching Stark with a calm intensity.
This was unexpected.
He had prepared himself for the possibility of Jackie Chan appearing. Or his uncle. Or even Valon and the rest of the Mafia. But he had never anticipated Tony Stark getting involved—especially not in a matter concerning ancient talismans.
If Stark wanted that lamp, he probably knew something about the spell embedded in it.
That could be a problem.
Without taking his eyes off Tony, Shawn leaned toward Selena and whispered a number in her ear.
Her eyes widened instantly. "Are you serious?" she hissed.
Shawn's expression didn't change.
After a few seconds of internal debate, Selena sighed and raised her paddle.
"Ten million!"
The entire room erupted.
People gasped audibly. The auctioneer nearly dropped the lamp in excitement.
"Ten… ten million!?" he stammered. "We have a ten million dollar bid! Ladies and gentlemen, this might be the highest offer ever seen for a second-hand desk lamp!"
Murmurs spread like wildfire through the crowd.
"This is insane!"
"That lamp isn't even worth a hundred bucks!"
"What the hell is going on? Are these people drunk?"
"Rich people are crazy…"
As the auctioneer gushed, Tony raised his eyebrows and turned toward the young woman who had dared to outbid him.
He wasn't angry—just amused.
Selena held her ground, meeting his gaze without flinching. But she was visibly tense.
Tony gave a short chuckle, then called out:
"One hundred million!"
The room exploded in disbelief.
The auctioneer's jaw dropped. Someone actually fainted in the back row. Phones were whipped out as people started livestreaming and calling friends.
One hundred million dollars… for a lamp.
At this point, no one believed it was just about the object itself. It had to be something more.
Selena looked at Shawn in horror. "We can't top that. There's no way."
Shawn remained silent for a moment, then stood up.
With calm footsteps, he walked down the aisle toward the front of the auction stage. All eyes followed him. Even Tony turned, his curiosity piqued.
Shawn stopped just a few feet away and smiled slightly.
"You know what you're bidding on," Shawn said, his voice low but clear.
Tony tilted his head. "Do I?"
Shawn didn't answer. He let the silence hang.
After a moment, Tony laughed. "Okay, mystery man. You've got my attention."
"I don't think you need the lamp," Shawn said coolly. "But I do. So how about we talk?"
Tony rubbed his chin. "Ten million, then a hundred million… now a negotiation? I like your style."
They stepped aside for a private discussion while the auctioneer waited nervously.
Tony crossed his arms. "You've clearly got resources, so what's the deal? Why do you want this lamp so badly? Sentimental? Antique lover? Or are you just trying to one-up me?"
Shawn's eyes narrowed. "That lamp has something valuable hidden in it. And I need it for something bigger than a bidding war."
Tony looked intrigued. "So it's not just the lamp… it's what's inside. Something ancient?"
Shawn didn't confirm, but his silence was enough.
Tony considered for a moment, then sighed. "I didn't expect anyone else to know. Guess this world really is getting smaller."
"You're not going to use it, are you?" Shawn asked.
Tony shook his head. "I was collecting it. Studying it. I like knowing what kind of magical time bombs are floating around the world."
Shawn nodded. "Then let me take it."
Tony stared at him for a long moment… then smiled.
"Alright. You win, mystery man. But next time, I'm not backing down."
Tony walked back to the auctioneer and gave a signal.
"I'm withdrawing my bid," he said casually.
Gasps filled the room again.
The auctioneer turned to Selena. "Then… sold! To the young lady for ten million!"
The gavel slammed down.
Shawn returned to his seat, and Selena turned to him, still stunned. "What… did you say to him?"
"Just the truth," Shawn replied, holding up the lamp now in his possession. The Rat Charm glimmered subtly beneath the metal frame, as if it sensed freedom was close.
Now, with the artifact in his hands, the next phase of his plan could begin.
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