Scene: The Grand Auction Arena, Blackwood Union Capital
The Dominion Auction Hall stood like a shrine to power—marble floors, golden rafters, and a single elevated throne at the far end, reserved only for Blackwood 1, though he did not attend in person. Instead, his Dictator—Blackwood 3—sat in his place, expression unreadable, a ceremonial scepter resting beside her.
The crowd was elite. The energy, tense. No names were whispered. Only numbers. Only currency. Only legacy.
A booming voice echoed from the floating auction orb:
"Today marks the beginning of the Number Age. Citizens will no longer be known by names but by their Numbered Worth. These numbers are generational. Firstborns will carry the parent number with a Roman numeral suffix—5i, 6i, 6ii, and so forth. Wives will hold distinct numbers as a sign of individual strength and independence. No man may transfer his number to a woman. Only through acquisition, inheritance, or imperial reward may it be earned."
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Bidder 1: Gideon Malak
Net Worth: 143 Billion BC
Source: Defense Contracts, Founder of Dominion Arms
Goal: Number 5
Gideon stood, imposing in his gray-black cloak. His silver beard marked him with wisdom, but his eyes still burned like a general on a battlefield.
"I bid 12.2 Billion Blackwood Currency for Number 5."
Gasps rippled through the audience.
An immediate challenge came.
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Bidder 2: Zara Velmont
Net Worth: 129 Billion BC
Source: Intercontinental Media Empire
Goal: Number 5
She raised her left hand, a sapphire-ringed finger poised. "13 billion."
The orb pulsed. "Do I hear a counter for Number 5?"
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Bidder 3: Oba Fatai Adediran
Net Worth: 98 Billion BC
Source: Precious Metals and Rare Earth Mining, Southern Trade Federation
Goal: Number 5
"I offer 14 billion and the rare Obsidian Stone, as a gift to the throne."
The orb spun. The Dictator tilted her head slightly. That stone was rare. Valuable even to the empire.
But then came the final blow.
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Bidder 4: Gideon Malak (Again)
"I bid 16.5 Billion BC, no gifts, just Blackwood Coin. Let us not confuse power with sentiment."
"SOLD!"
The orb flashed crimson.
"Number 5: Gideon Malak. Future firstborn: 5i. Second: 5ii.
Wife, Eleanor Malak, may register a separate bid."
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Auction Continued – Number 6
The stakes remained high but dropped just slightly in pressure.
Bidder 1: Lucia Omori
Net Worth: 87 Billion BC
Source: Dominion Energy (Solar Grids across the Union)
"8.6 Billion BC."
Bidder 2: Rajeen Khan
Net Worth: 76 Billion BC
Source: Agricultural Logistics and Food Control
"9 billion flat."
Lucia hesitated. Rajeen smirked.
He knew the value wasn't just personal. It was corporate. To be Number 6 meant access. Influence. First-Class Citizen status.
"SOLD! Number 6: Rajeen Khan. Future firstborn: 6i. Wife to place independent bid."
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Next Bidders:
Number 7: Dima Petrova (Pharmaceutical Empire, 73 Billion BC) – Acquired for 7.7 Billion.
Number 8: Kofi Baako (Tech & Surveillance, 68 Billion BC) – Acquired for 7.2 Billion.
Number 9: Helena Hartswick (Global Fashion Mogul, 63 Billion BC) – Acquired for 6.5 Billion.
Number 10: Marcelo De Santos (Banking Syndicate, 59 Billion BC) – Acquired for 6 Billion.
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Notes:
All numbers below 66 were auctioned in order.
Some couples competed against each other for different numbers—signaling wealth independence was more valuable than marital unity.
Children born afterward would not be given names but suffixes to their family number. Example: 10i, 10ii and so on.
Numbers starting from 67 downward would be available at discounted rates via lottery, auction, or reward service.
Citizens from 30,000 downward were categorized as "Surviving Citizens"—no rights to vote, own land, or hold high office.
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By the end of the day, over 2 Trillion Blackwood Currency had been raised.
The Dictator stood, eyes scanning the hall.
"This is not the end of the old world," she declared. "This is the beginning of dominion—where you are no longer what you were born… but what you payto become."
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