"Why would you let this go?" A man asked Abas and Aaron in front of him.

Currently, the three men were located in a luxury room at the most exclusive Auction House in Saudi Arabia.

Compared to three years ago, Aaron and Abas seemed to be men who had withstood the waves and weathers that accompanied a luxury lifestyle.

Both men were far from the immature boys that struck gold, or rather diamond, on a venture through the desert of Saudi Arabia.

However, not everything went in their favor since acquiring the diamond. Luckily, The Arabian Royal Family protected both men from the hungry eyes of several countries.

"You wouldn't understand," Abas murmured to his manager.

Three years ago, after finding the diamond that encased a humanoid silhouette, both boys dragged it to their village. Since then, they had built a career of showing off their prized possession to wealthy families from all over the country.

However, recently something seemed amiss with the crystal-diamond casing. Aaron had begun to hear whisperings every time he was near the diamond.

Abas once went crazy after listening to the voice and attempted to kill his best friend.

Both men were superstitious, so they knew to give up when they were ahead. That was the situation that brought them both to the most exclusive, hidden, Auction House for the rich and powerful.

This specific Auction House functioned as an in-between for The Black-market and Legitimate Business. Abas and Aaron were looking to cash in with the maximum funds they could get for the huge diamond.

It wasn't like they didn't dry to cut open the huge stone before, but the crystal was impenetrable no matter what means they used.

"I hope you know what you are giving up," The manager said irritatingly, but there was a faint smile on his face as he exited the private room.

The manager walked silently until the next corridor. Then he silently took out his phone and made a call.

"Agent Simpson, Code 15-6-Echo-99… I have successfully convinced the targets to sell the merchandise,"

"Confirmed Agent Simpson. The rest is up to us," A feminine voice answered from the next end.

After the female hung up, the man beside her asked with an uneasy voice "Can we outbid all the other countries here?"

The woman did not answer immediately, she glanced at everyone in the Auction House, excluding the few private rooms.

Others may not know it, but she knew that every wealthy person from the Underworld and every country on Earth was present at the Auction House.

When the mysterious lights appeared in the skies of Arabia, every country mobilized its assets to investigate the phenomena.

Sadly, nobody found anything until a year later when two men emerged with a huge crystal-diamond.

However, by then the Saudi Royal Family was already protecting the two men. The Royal Family claimed that the crystal was something that held great historical significance for the country.

Everyone was forced to bide their time, and wait for an opportunity to gain possession of the mysterious crystal.

"The only competition is China, but keep your eyes open at all times," The woman replied.

∞∞∞

"Okay folks, now for the reason you all came here today," The Auctioneer said gesturing for the curtain behind him to be lifted.

When the curtain rose, everyone laid eyes on the beauty of a huge crystal-diamond that constantly shifted color.

Inside the diamond, everyone could see the vague shadow of something humanoid.

"The bidding starts at 375 Million Riyal,"

Seeing the faces of everyone inside the venue scrounge up, the Auctioneer put on a sly smile and began to introduce the object.

"What you see behind me is no normal crystal-diamond. Experts have confirmed that the material is not diamond at all, or crystalloid in nature. The elements that make up the structure cannot be found on Earth.

It is believed to originate from the source of the Mysterious Lights Above Saudi Arabia three years ago. This structure is neigh impenetrable, even by the latest laser cutters from the USA and China.

Also, if the previous owners are to be believed, standing next to the crystal for an hour rejuvenates your body and cures almost all ailments afflicting your body!"

The Auctioneer didn't even need to continue as the venue was already in an uproar. Had it been any other Auctioneer spouting such nonsense, everyone there would have left, but the Auctioneer in front of them was the most credible.

"4 Billion Riyal!"

"5 Billion Riyal!"

"8 Billion Riyal!" The woman, secretly representing the US, said.

Everyone quieted down at her proclamation, they could bid some more, but nobody wanted the USA to pay attention to their 'secret' businesses.

Almost everyone there had Black-Market dealings in the Underworld. Having the US pay attention to them would be akin to financial suicide.

However, just as the woman felt she had won the bid, the representative for China opened his mouth.

"10 Billion Riyal!"

"11 Billion Riyal!"

"13 Billion Riyal!"

The bidding continued with a tit for tat between China and America. America did not want the crystal so much, but seeing the Chinese's commitment made America rethink its position.

Feeling fed up, the representative of China made his final bid.

"50 Billion Riyal!"

The American woman went silent. She was wondering where China could possibly get 13 billion US dollars from. Even America could not come up with that much funds in such a short time.

"Going once, going twice…"

"60 Billion Riyal!"

Everyone wore wry smiles at the offer. It wasn't because they were appalled by the bid but more because everyone was surprised at the shamelessness of the Arabian Royal Family.

The Arabian Royal Family owned the entire Auction House, which meant bidding was basically paying themselves for something they already owned.

All they had to do was send both Aaron and Abas away with enough pocket change to live a relatively wealthy life.

Seeing the situation, The American woman exited the Auction House and made a call.

"Cancel plan B, we can't offend the Royal Family on their own land. Be on standby for any changes. Dr. Matthew said that strange energy readings were occurring near the crystal, and it intensifies by the hour,"

Within the Auction, everyone rose from their seats and left. Everyone except the Arabian Royal Family princess Ameera al-Taweel.

"Miss, why did we hold an Auction if you were planning to keep the crystal?" The Auctioneer asked after he walked over.

"To see how bad America and China wanted the crystal. China is known for their mysteries, so them wanting this crystal so bad meant that we have to keep it," Princess Ameera replied, walking away from the venue.

Halfway to the exit, her footsteps paused and she said "Load it in a truck and send it to my Condo Residence. I will keep it near me or it might go missing before we have gathered enough experts to study it,"

As a Princess, Ameera knew that wanting to keep something away from the US and China was a pipe dream.

However, she could cause them to hesitate long enough so she could study the crystal in detail and gain some benefits for her country.

∞∞∞

"See brother, we are rich and we got rid of the hot potato," Aaron said with a wide smile on his face.

He just wanted to be rich, nothing more, nothing less.

However, Abas did not reply, and instead fiddled with something in his hands constantly.

Seeing his brother not reply, Aaron turned around after putting the car in self-driving mode.

What greeted Aaron was a gun pointed at his head.

"The crystal whispered to me every day…

Burrowing through my thoughts and values…

Two years ago, I killed for the first time…

One year ago, I sacrificed animals to the crystal to strengthen the Being inside,

Couple of months ago, I started sacrificing humans to the crystal…

I don't even know when I became this person…

But I know that he needs something that only I can do with the money we earned.

He wants me to research and find relics of Ancient Egypt," Abas said staring into Aaron's eyes with pain on his face.

Abas's hands were shaking, clearly trying to stop his own finger from pulling the trigger, but something kept his hands steady.

"What do you mean? What are you doing brother?" Aaron asked a bit disbelieving at the current situation.

Aaron and Abas had been brothers since they both lost their parents at a very young age. They may not be blood brothers, but their bond would not be that much different from actual blood siblings.

Perhaps they could be considered even closer than blood siblings.

"I am sorry, but I must do this… Goodbye brother!" Abas said.

*Bang*

Brain matter and blood splattered all over the windshield of the car.