The giant bronze doors closed with a soft thud, instantly cutting off the sound of the drizzling rain and the chaotic commotion in the courtyard.The moment they stepped into the lobby of the Obsidian Club, The Owl instantly held his breath. The air inside felt warm, filled with the aroma of high-end Cuban cigars and niche perfumes that cost as much as a sports car. The perfectly polished, pitch-black marble floor reflected the light from a giant crystal chandelier on the ceiling, creating an atmosphere of Great Gatsby-era luxury fused with a modern mafia headquarters.Before Silas even had the chance to scan his surroundings, a beautiful blonde woman in a red velvet evening gown with a high thigh slit gracefully walked over to them."Welcome to the Obsidian Club, My Lord," the woman said. She bowed ninety degrees before Silas. "I am Victoria, the Chief Executive Manager here. Donovan has reported your arrival. It is an infinite honor to welcome the bearer of the Platinum Seal Ring to

The echoes of Julian Mercer’s laughter and the jeers from the floor below still crawled against the glass walls of Skybox Number 1, but Silas remained unmoved. He sat with his legs casually crossed, allowing Rex to stand behind him like a menacing obsidian statue.In less than three minutes, the Skybox’s automated doors hissed open. Two auction staffers in tuxedos entered with utmost care, carrying a silver tray upon which sat the worn-out wooden box, the half-million-dollar "firewood.""Your item, My Lord," one of the staffers said, his voice trembling. Even if they privately thought the item was junk, the identity of a Platinum Seal Ring holder ensured they didn't dare show the slightest hint of disrespect.The moment the staff departed, The Owl rushed to the table. He stared at the wooden box with a face that looked ready to break into tears."Boss... I know you have unlimited credit, but half a million for this kind of firewood?" The Owl let out a long sigh, his shoulders sagging.

The mahogany auction gavel in Alistair's hand struck hard, locking in the absolute decision that had just shaken the entire hierarchy of the Obsidian Club."Sold to Skybox Number 1!" Alistair exclaimed, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. "With this, the S-Tier Auction is officially closed!"Inside Skybox 1, Silas stood up gracefully. He buttoned his gray suit, completely unaffected by the gazes of hundreds of predators in the hall now staring at him with a mix of fear, awe, and greed."Let's go claim our item," Silas said casually, stepping toward the crystal elevator. Rex followed behind him like the shadow of the grim reaper, while The Owl walked on legs still trembling from adrenaline shock.Caleb gripped the edge of his table until his knuckles turned white. His eyes were red and wild. Absolute despair began to gnaw at his sanity. If he returned to Sterling Corp headquarters tonight without the Palladium Reactor, Seraphina wouldn't just fire him. That cold-blooded woman would en

The air inside the titanium vault seemed to freeze. Twelve tactical assault rifle muzzles were dead-locked onto Silas Thorne's body, ready to spit out a storm of hot lead that would tear his gray suit into bloody shreds."Shoot!" the Major roared, his eyes bloodshot with panic and fury seeing his commander spew frothy black blood. "Finish this bastard!"The trained commandos' fingers tightened on their triggers.However, under the shadow of death that was mere millimeters away, Silas didn't flinch in the slightest. The young man didn't retract his palm from the General's chest. He didn't even blink.An incredibly dismissive, lopsided smirk etched itself across Silas's face."Pull the trigger, Major," Silas whispered, his voice soft yet echoing with absolute dominance in the metallic room. "And you will drown the only person in this world who just gave your commander his breath back."The Major gritted his teeth, ignoring the warning. "Open fi—"BLLAAARRGH!The Major's words were cut o

The tires of the armored limousine shrieked against the asphalt, pulling a sharp, violent turn as it dived into the mouth of a damp underground tunnel.The echoing roar of the Reaper squadron's motorcycle engines gradually faded above them. Silas’s gambit had worked perfectly. The Sterling Corp assassins continued racing straight down the highway, hunting a tracker chip that was now lodged in the collar of one of their own men.Inside the limousine's cabin, The Owl slumped to the floor, panting heavily. He clutched the briefcase containing the Palladium Reactor as if his life depended on it. "W-we made it... My God, I thought we were dead tonight. You’re truly insane, Boss."Silas only offered a thin, cold smile as he straightened the sleeve of his suit. "Don’t relax just yet, Owl. Seraphina Sterling is not the kind of woman to set only one trap."Silas’s words had barely faded into the air when the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes.SCREEECH!The three-ton limousine skidded uncon