I don't mind what the players do but the issue here is that we're in bullet time still. The moment the crossbow is fired other characters cannot proceed until the auctioneer is dead or not.
I should warn you though, since my character is largely civilian I'll have to find an alternative method to get a hold of Clarimonde. There's no way, successful attack or otherwise, that Afia would remain in the square to buy a slave.
@Tominas how would you feel about your character being 'pre-ordered'? Perhaps it would be better if Afia never attended the event in the first place and has her slave delivered to her front door. God knows she has the money for it.