The room fell dead silent, every eye turning toward him in shock. Even the auctioneer was momentarily stunned, his hand frozen mid-air.
Vira’s mouth parted slightly in surprise, but she quickly recovered, a sly grin spreading across her face. “Well, that certainly turned some heads.”
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd-a mixture of shock, awe, and perhaps envy.
“Did he say a billion?” one man whispered.
“Who is he?”
The auctioneer quickly regained his composure, clearing his throat. “We have an opening bid of 1 billion Union Credits from the gentleman in the center.”
No one else dared to raise their paddles. The sheer audacity of the bid, combined with the overwhelming amount, left the crowd in stunned silence.
The auctioneer lifted his hammer. “Going once… going twice…” He paused for effect, scanning the crowd to confirm there were no challengers.
Of course, there weren’t!
“Sold! To the gentleman in the center for 1 billion Union Credits!”
The sound of the hammer striking the podium echoed in the hall, marking the end of the auction.
Quinton sat back down, a faint but satisfied smile on his face as he glanced at Vira. “That…”
“…was worth the wait,” Quinton said confidently.
Vira shook her head, a touch of amusement and exasperation in her expression. “You always know how to make a scene, don’t you?”
Quinton chuckled softly. “Sometimes, Vira, making a scene is the best way to send a message.”
“I like to handle things like this… My competition doesn’t get any ideas.”
“When you crush the will… You crush the way.”
Vira smirked, leaning back in her seat with her arms crossed as she watched the commotion in the hall begin to settle.
“So,” she spoke softly, “when do you plan to hand this over to the great Dragon Overlord? I’d like to meet him myself… find out who exactly this guy is and why you’re so sure he’s going to be our savior.”
Quinton’s blue eyes flickered faintly, a soft glow rising within them. The black gear inside his pupils began to turn slowly-a motion that hinted at the vast, hidden power he wielded and the fact the gears of his mind were already forming another plan. His voice was calm yet edged with seriousness as he replied, “Tomorrow night.”
Vira raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his tone.
“Until then,” Quinton continued, “we prepare. On the off chance he doesn’t like our guts, he could take the Moonstone by force.”
Quinton rose from his seat, adjusting the cuffs of his sleek black suit as he began to slowly make his way out of the rows of seats. He signaled a union official, who handed him a briefcase with the Moonstone inside it. Vira followed, her eyes studying him closely.
“Is he really stronger than you?” she asked, her tone half teasing. “I mean, come on. With those eyes of yours, can’t you practically do anything?”
Quinton turned his head slightly to look at her, a faint smile appearing on his lips. His expression, however, was a mix of fear and respect.
“Maybe,” he admitted, his voice quiet but firm. “But if he decides to take the aggressive approach, trying to fight back would be like asking for death. The best thing to do would be to just surrender. His mana reserves are vast… far beyond anything I can measure. If he wanted to, he could end me before I even realized what was happening.”
Vira frowned, her playful demeanor fading into seriousness. “That’s comforting.” Quinton chuckled softly, though there was little humor in it. “He wasn’t nicknamed the Celestial Eater for nothing. And while this is way back in the past… before his name was etched into legend… it doesn’t mean he isn’t already an absolute monster.”
They walked toward the exit, their footsteps echoing faintly in the now subdued auction hall. “So,” Vira spoke, breaking the silence, “what’s your plan if this savior of yours doesn’t want to save anyone?”
Quinton paused at the door, glancing back at her with a calm but cryptic expression.
“No, he will. If the Moonstone isn’t enough, I’ll happily give him answers to problems he doesn’t even know he’s going to face yet,” he said simply, before pushing the door open and stepping out into the night.
“It’s all or nothing… and I’ll gladly go all in.”
…
Back in Mega city I.
The alleyway was dimly lit, with the faint glow of a streetlamp barely illuminating the cracked walls and litter-strewn ground.
Lian stood in the center, her stance was confident yet alert, flanked by her two bodyguards clad in their sleek, black suits.
A figure emerged from the shadows at the far end of the alley, his presence was commanding and unmistakable. Master Spade strode forward, his broad shoulders clad in a dark coat with crimson patterns that seemed to shimmer in the scarce light.
At his side walked a woman, matching his imposing aura. She was dressed in a similar black suit with red patterns woven seamlessly into the fabric, her face hidden behind by a smooth
black mask.
The only discernible feature was the intensity of her crimson eyes, which glinted like embers through the dark.
Lian’s gaze shifted to the woman as they approached, curiosity go the better of her.
‘Could it be her? Cinder?’
‘I Rember she was alos beside him in the Union grand meeting.’
The possibility lingered in her mind, but she kept her thoughts to herself, unwilling to let her
guard drop even slightly.
Master Spade stopped a few paces from Lian, his tall frame radiating a faint aura. His deep
voice echoed through the silence as he spoke.
“I see that you’re well, Lian.”
“I trust you’ve brought the items I requested?”
Lian met his gaze, a touch of unease in her eyes, her lips curving into a faint, forced smile.
“I tried my best, Master Spade. But before we proceed…” Her eyes flicked toward the masked woman at his side.
“You’ve brought someone new. Should I be concerned?”
The woman beside Spade tilted her head slightly, but she remained calm, choosing to not say
anything.
“No need for concern,” Spade replied smoothly. “She’s a pupil of mine… Nothing more. Now,” he pointed toward Lian with a slight nod.
“let’s not waste time. Show me.”
Lian hesitated for only a heartbeat before giving a slight nod to one of her bodyguards. The man stepped forward, producing a sleek metallic case from within his coat. He placed it on a nearby crate and stepped back.
Lian reached out, unlocking the case with a quick motion. As the lid lifted, the faint glow of its contents bathed the alleyway in a surreal light.
Within lay a class cilinder jar the held a red feather that glowed brightly.
“The feather of a phoenix you asked for,” Lian said smoothly, stepping back to allow Spade a
clear view.
Spade’s eyes narrowed slightly as he examined the item from where he stood. Beside him, the masked woman remained motionless, though her gaze briefly flickered toward the case. After a moment, Spade stepped closer, his footsteps echoing faintly. He reached down, picking up the jar and holding it up to the dim light. The feather inside seemed to pulse
faintly, as though alive.
An item window materialized:
Name: Phoenix Feather
Type: Legendary Material
Grade: SSS
Description: A single feather plucked from a living Phoenix, imbued with regenerative
properties.
Seeing this, he smiled beneath his mask.
“Perfect,” he murmured, with a touch of satisfaction. He returned the jar to the case,
snapping it shut.
“You’ve done well,” Spade said, as his gaze shifted back to Lian.
“I aim to please sir.” She replied softly.
Master Spade’s piercing gaze shifted back to Lian, the air around him seemed to darken
slightly. He placed the briefcase containing the phoenix feather at his side, stretching out his
hand as if to demand something.
“What about the other item?” he asked coldly.
Lian stiffened, her forced composure cracking for just a moment. She let out a reluctant sigh, her shoulders dropping slightly. “Master Spade… I—”
“You did acquire it, did you not?” Spade cut her off, stepping closer. His presence was overwhelming, and even her bodyguards seemed uneasy as they took a small step forward to peotact her, but one could tell with the expressions that had in their faces they weren’t so sure
they’d be able to do that.
Lian bowed her head, her long hair falling to obscure her face. “Unfortunately, no.”
“I tried… I truly did. But I couldn’t locate it in time.”
Spade’s jaw clenched, his teeth grinding audibly. He took a step back, his hands balling into
fists.
“What?”
“Then why… Why did you call me here?”
Lian flinched but quickly forced herself to maintain her composure. She raised her head
slightly, her eyes pleading.
“I called you because our family project begins next week. I hoped to secure your help before
then. Even without the second item, I thought perhaps—”
“You thought wrong,” Spade interrupted. His voice was cold.
“I’m sorry,” Lian said hurriedly, bowing again. “I tried my best, but it wasn’t enough. Please understand, I had no intention of wasting your time. I hoped-”
Spade held up a hand, silencing her. He stood there, utterly still, as though weighing her
words. The silence stretched uncomfortably, broken only by the faint hum of distant city noise and hover cars passing by.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Spade spoke. “No.” freewebnσvel.cѳm
Lian blinked, startled. “No?”
“I am a man of my word,” Spade said, his tone final. “As I told you before, I will only assist
you if you bring both items to me. That was our agreement. Until you find the next item…” He paused, his yellow eyes glinting dangerously beneath the visors of his mask.
“…do not bother contacting me again.”