Meanwhile…
The alleyway was dimly lit, the soft glow of a flickering streetlamp casting long shadows along the streets. The moon hung high in the sky, shining its silver glow over the world below. In the distance, the faint hum of traffic echoed, but here, in this narrow passage, it was quiet.
A sleek black car idled near the entrance of the alley. Inside, Lady Lian sat elegantly, her posture relaxed, as if she were in complete control of her surroundings.
She held her phone in her delicate hand, her crimson-painted nails tapping softly against its casing. The screen displayed the recently ended call.
She gazed at the name on the screen:
Alister/Master Spade.
With a faint smile on her face, she lowered the phone to her lap. Her sharp eyes reflected the moonlight as she looked out the window and whispered to herself:
“It seems it was just as I suspected.”
“Alister… Is Master Spade.”
She paused for a moment, as though letting what she had just discovered sink in.
“To possess such an air around him… and at such a young age…”
“He’s truly amazing… so much so it pains me to think that I will not be able to get the help of Master Spade…”
She glanced at a briefcase on the seat beside her, close to her summon. She placed her hand briefly on the metallic casing, then redirected her gaze out the window as she mumbled further:
“But even if I’m unable to get Master Spade’s help…” She smiled, then folded her arms. “I could always build a connection with Alister.”
She paused for a moment, observing as hover cars drove along the streets, then finally said, “I look forward to it.”
…
Meanwhile… Mega City III, Sector V
The lights in the auction hall dimmed, leaving the room in a soft darkness that made the floating holograms stand out.
The building, a tall structure of metal and glass, was one of the most famous places in the city: the Official Union auction itself.
Inside, the air was filled with excitement, and the crowd of well-dressed people whispered to each other, their suits shining under the neon light from the holograms.
Quinton sat among the row of seats that were near the auction stage, his hands folded, eyes lazily scanning the room. freewёbnoνel.com
His keen, calculating eyes easily scanned the crowd. Next to him sat a woman whose fierce temper was only matched by her beauty.
She had long, deep purple hair that went down her back like waves, her sharp violet eyes locked on the stage as her fingers twitched with impatience.
Her name was Vira… Quinton’s associate and, though she’d never admit it aloud, one of his most trusted allies.
Vira always looked irritated, yet there was this sense of respect in the way she carried herself around Quinton.
She wasn’t afraid of him… no, that would be too simple. But she was well aware of what he was capable of, and that kept her in check, even when her fiery temper made her want to snap.
“Why do we need a rock?” Vira asked, crossing her arms tightly over her chest as she glared at the stage.
“What could possibly be so important about a lump of stone?”
Quinton turned his head slightly toward her, a small smile forming on his lips. “It’s not just any rock, Vira.” His tone was relaxed and playful, but he chose his words carefully.
“This ‘rock’ will allow us to close an alliance with someone… very powerful. Someone who will ensure we survive what’s coming. Someone who can provide us with the protection we’ll need in the future.”
“And also someone who will make sure we win.”
He glanced at her sideways, amusement appearing in his eyes.
“The Dragon Overlord himself.”
Vira’s violet eyes flashed with curiosity, but her skepticism was still clear. “The Dragon Overlord?” she repeated, her voice dripping with doubt. “This is what… the sixth time you are mentioning that guy? Who is he? You always seem to make a big deal about him as if he’s some sort of god.”
“And how is a rich person going to help us close an alliance with a guy like that?”
Quinton’s lips curled into a grin, though his gaze remained fixed ahead, watching the auctioneer approach the stage. He still chose not to explain who this mighty Dragon Overlord The tended to talk critically about truly was.
“Because, my dear Vira, there’s more to this stone than meets the eye. It holds the key to a unique resource. One that could help the Dragon Overlord save someone precious to him. And if we get our hands on it, we’ll have leverage. And we’ll be able to secure his aid.”
Vira remained quiet, her eyes narrowing, rather satisfied neither was she fully convinced, but intrigued nonetheless.
She didn’t argue and instead chose to sigh as she decided to believe in Quinton.
The auctioneer, a tall man with a perfectly tailored suit and a holographic headset, stepped up to the stage. His voice rang out, amplified by the room’s sound system.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the auctioneer called out softly, “thank you for joining us tonight for this rare event.”
The auctioneer paused for a moment, looking around the room, before raising his hand. With a small nod to one of the Union officials standing off to the side, he signaled for the first item to be brought forward.
The official, dressed in a sharp black suit, stepped forward with a small hover cart that glided smoothly across the polished floor. On top of it was a large, intricately designed box, its surface shimmering with what seemed to be a shifting energy pattern.
The box itself was made of a dark, reflective material that absorbed the lights above, creating an almost ethereal glow around it.
As the cart halted in front of the stage, the official unlocked the box with a series of soft beeps from a wrist-mounted device.
With a smooth motion, the lid of the box opened, revealing a small, palm-sized crystal suspended within a force field.