2025-09-26 22:32:54
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The Rock
Finally, Takeshi raised his hand.The auction hall fell into a hush as the sliding doors at the side creaked open. A team of five men appeared, their backs straining under the weight of what they carried. Slowly and carefully, they lowered a massive boulder onto the polished wooden platform at the center of the hall. The floor groaned faintly beneath its weight. The rock was almost the size of a small cart—uneven, jagged, its surface dull and blotched with grey, mud-brown, and moss stains. It was an ugly thing, lifeless, crude, and by all appearances completely worthless.Several guests leaned forward with furrowed brows, whispering among themselves. The contrast between the priceless porcelain, gold ornaments, and rare relics already sold—and this plain, ordinary lump of stone—was almost insulting.Takeshi Yamamoto, standing proudly in his ceremonial black kimono, gave a small wave of his hand toward the boulder.“This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Yamamoto family’s ancestral ro
The expensive auction
That evening, after settling into his hotel and freshening up, Barry changed into a simple but finely tailored suit. He avoided anything too flashy, didn't even take the Rolls-Royce. Calling for a taxi, he stepped in and asked to be driven to the Yamamoto residence. Eventually, the car stopped before the Yamamoto family’s majestic ryokan, a traditional inn that sprawled with the grandeur of old Japan. Its sloping tiled roofs glistened faintly under the lantern-lit courtyard, and the wooden architecture spoke of centuries of history.An attendant in a silk kimono stepped forward immediately. She bowed respectfully and extended her hands.“Your invitation card, please.”Barry slipped a small envelope from his jacket and handed it over.The attendant scanned it with a small device. A soft beep signaled its approval. She looked up, her expression softening into polite warmth. “Welcome to the Yamamoto’s ryokan, Mr. Saber. Please, come with me.”Saber was the fake name Barry had entered
The ancestral rock
Barry paced the length of his private study, the crisp vellum of the letter rustling softly in his hand. His eyes scanned the same lines over and over again, as though each reread might change their meaning, might erase the dreadful words behind Hikaru Yamamoto’s neat handwriting. The silence of the room pressed down on him, broken only by the faint rustle of the paper as he turned it over in his fingers.The door opened and Veronica reappeared, her silhouette framed in the soft light from the hallway. "The bath is ready, darling," she said softly.Barry didn't respond. He stopped his pacing and sank heavily into a high-backed leather chair, the letter falling to his lap. He dragged a hand slowly down his face, exhaling deeply as though trying to steady the thoughts raging inside him.Veronica approached, her brow furrowed with concern. She knelt beside his chair, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Barry? What's going on? You've been reading that letter for over thirty minutes. Wh
The letter
The news of Estoria’s humiliation rippled across the globe like a storm surge.At first, the reports seemed unbelievable—bombs detonating in the sky before they ever reached Northland’s soil, and the ominous broadcasts of a masked figure who called himself Number One.The world wasn't ready for such an unexpected twist of events.The Order, which had long been dismissed and disregarded, had suddenly returned with terrifying force. And this new leader wasn’t simply another bureaucrat. He was backed by something no nation could claim: a demon of country-shattering power.The words spread in hushed tones among minsters and senators in their parliaments all over the world:“He commands a demon stronger than ten nuclear warheads. We will have to watch our ways not to attract the Order's attention.”“They say the creature bent reality itself to shield Northland from missile onslaughts. We can't risk provoking the Order.”“Estoria’s bombs never even touched the ground. This Number One is da
Negotiation
The Prime Minister slowly lowered his hand. “I… I don’t understand,” he stammered, looking from the masked figure to Karr. “How is he here? In our country? In this very room?”Karr, his cheek still burning from the slap, spoke with a hollow, defeated tone. “It’s a long story. Look, I made a terrible mistake. I underestimated the Order. They are… they are just as powerful as you claimed. More powerful than anyone I've ever seen.”The Prime Minister’s eyebrows shot up in shock. “Really? Just hours ago, you called them a ‘myth politicians use to scare each other.’”“I was proven wrong today,” Karr admitted, the words tasting like poison in his mouth. He gestured weakly toward Sebastian, who stood silently beside Barry. “See that man? The butler? He’s not a man. He’s… a demon.”A collective, sharp gasp escaped from the assembled ministers and advisors. They stared at Sebastian, their minds rejecting the claim.“He erected a dome-like barrier,” Karr continued. “It's like an invisible wall
The defeated general
The soldiers’ grips tightened on Karr’s arms as they shoved him down until his knees struck the dust. He forced himself to look up, eyes wide with confusion. “Is that really you?” he demanded, his voice raw and brittle. "Number One!"Barry’s masked head tilted. “I am Number One,” the voice answered, calm and raw with iron. “I’m sure you’ve heard about me.”Karr's lips felt parched. “I don’t understand. You infiltrated Estoria all this time? Our defenses are strong. You couldn’t have slipped through without me noticing.”Barry spread his arms. “As I mentioned earlier from the video, General Karr—the Order’s influence is absolute. Do not ever think for a second you are invisible. I am ten steps ahead of you.”Suddenly, Sebastian appeared out of nowhere like a ghost, startling the general. He bowed respectfully before Barry.“It is done, Master,” Sebastian said smoothly. “The entire country of Northland is enclosed in my protective barrier. Not one bomb will pass through.”Karr’s mouth
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