THE KING RETURNS FOR WAR!

Chapter 7: The Black Card Mystery

The auctioneer stared at the black card in Adrian's hand. His face had gone pale.

"Is that... a Centurion Card?" he whispered.

Adrian handed it to him without a word.

The auctioneer took it with trembling hands, like he was holding something sacred. He inserted it into the payment terminal carefully.

Everyone watched in absolute silence.

The terminal beeped softly as it processed.

Then a single word appeared on the screen.

APPROVED

The auctioneer's hands shook as he removed the card. He looked at Adrian with completely different eyes now. The skepticism was gone. Replaced by deep respect.

"Thank you, sir." His voice was different. Reverent. "It's been a pleasure serving you."

He handed the card back with both hands, bowing slightly.

The shift in his demeanor was striking. A minute ago, he'd been uncertain, almost dismissive. Now he treated Adrian like royalty.

Adrian took the card and slipped it back into his pocket. His expression remained neutral.

The crowd finally found their voices.

"That's a Centurion Card!"

"A real one!"

"How does he have that?!"

An older businessman pushed forward, his eyes wide. "Do you know what that means? Only about one hundred people in the entire country have those cards!"

"Invitation only," someone else added. "You can't apply for them. They come to you."

"And you need at least fifty million in liquid assets just to qualify!"

"Minimum fifty million!"

The whispers spread like wildfire through the ballroom.

Marcus's face had turned completely white. He stared at Adrian like he was seeing a ghost.

Derek was frozen, his mouth hanging open. "That's... that's impossible. Brother, how did you—"

"Fifty million?" Patricia's voice was weak. She looked like she might collapse.

Elena just held Adrian's arm tighter, her mind reeling. None of this made sense. Yesterday they couldn't afford groceries. Today he'd just spent ten million dollars. With a card that required fifty million to even possess.

Who was her husband?

***

Marcus suddenly strode forward, his face twisted with anger and confusion. "Where did you get that card?!"

Adrian looked at him calmly. "Does it matter?"

"Yes, it matters!" Marcus's voice rose. "You're a convict! You have nothing! That card is either stolen or fake!"

The crowd murmured. Some people nodded. It made sense. How else could someone like Adrian have a Centurion Card?

"Guards!" Marcus shouted. "Security! Check that card! It must be stolen!"

Hotel security rushed forward, uncertain. They looked between Marcus Tang—one of the city's most powerful men—and Adrian Kane—a nobody with an impossible card.

"Sir," one guard said carefully to Adrian. "We need to verify—"

"Mr. Tang is correct to be concerned." A new voice cut through the chaos.

The hotel manager appeared, pushing through the crowd. He was a portly man in an expensive suit, his face red from rushing.

He'd been monitoring the auction from his office. When he saw the Centurion Card appear on the security feed, he'd run down immediately.

"Let me see the card, please," the manager said, approaching Adrian. His tone was professional but tense.

Adrian pulled out the card again and handed it over.

The manager examined it carefully. He pulled out a small device from his pocket—a special scanner used to verify high-end credit cards. He swiped the card through it.

The device beeped.

The manager's eyes went to the screen.

His face changed completely. Color drained from his cheeks. His hands began to tremble.

He looked at the card again. Then at Adrian. Then back at the card.

"Sir," the manager said, his voice shaking slightly. "This card..."

"Is it fake?" Marcus demanded. "Is it stolen?"

The manager turned to Marcus, his expression serious. "Mr. Tang, this card is completely legitimate."

"But—"

"And it's registered to..." The manager checked his scanner again, his hands trembling. "To Mr. Adrian Kane."

He turned to Adrian and bowed deeply. Very deeply.

"Mr. Kane, please accept my sincerest apologies for any inconvenience. Had I known you were here tonight, I would have greeted you personally." His voice was filled with genuine respect and fear.

The crowd went silent.

Marcus stared. "That's impossible. He's nobody. He's—"

"Mr. Tang," the manager interrupted, something he would never normally do. "I assure you, this card is legitimate. Mr. Kane is its rightful owner."

He bowed to Adrian again. "Sir, if there's anything you need, anything at all, please inform me immediately. The hotel is at your service."

Adrian took the card back. "That won't be necessary."

The manager stepped aside quickly, still bowing.

Derek looked like he'd been struck. His face was white, his mouth opening and closing but no words coming out.

Patricia had gone completely silent, staring at Adrian with wide, confused eyes.

Marcus's hands were clenched into fists, his face red with humiliation and rage. He'd been beaten. Proven wrong. Made to look foolish in front of everyone.

***

Adrian took Elena's hand gently.

"Let's go," he said quietly.

He walked toward the exit. Elena followed, still in shock.

The crowd parted before them. Like the Red Sea. People stepped aside quickly, whispering, staring.

No one mocked him now.

No one laughed.

They looked at him with confusion, curiosity, and—some of them—fear.

Who was this man?

Patricia remained frozen where she stood, unable to speak. Unable to process what had just happened.

Derek suddenly rushed forward. "Adrian! Wait!" He pushed through the crowd. "That card—where did you get it? How do you have fifty million dollars?!"

Adrian paused at the doorway. He glanced back, his expression cold and indifferent.

"You wanted to see if I could afford one item," Adrian said quietly. "I did."

He looked at Marcus, who stood rigid with fury.

"Goodnight," Adrian said simply.

Then he walked out, Elena's hand in his.

The ballroom doors closed behind them.

Silence filled the room. Then chaos erupted.

"Who is he?!"

"Fifty million minimum!"

"A Centurion Card!"

"Did you see the manager's face?"

Marcus stood frozen, his mind racing. This changed everything. Adrian Kane wasn't a nobody. Wasn't a broken convict. He was someone with serious money. Serious power.

But who? And how?

Derek sank into a chair, his face pale. His foster brother. The one he'd framed. The one he'd sent to prison.

Had fifty million dollars.

What had he done?

***

Outside the hotel, the cool night air hit them.

Elena finally spoke, her voice shaking. "Adrian... where did you get that money? That card?"

Adrian looked down at the small box in his hand. The jade pendant. Ten million dollars.

He'd give it to her later. When things were calmer.

"Let's go home," he said quietly.

His phone buzzed.

Adrian pulled it out. Unknown number.

He glanced at the screen. A message. Just a few words.

His expression changed. The calm facade cracked.

Elena watched him, worried. "Adrian? What's wrong?"

Adrian deleted the message and pocketed his phone.

"There's a situation," he said quietly. "My presence is required."

"What... kind of situation?"

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"The kind that can't wait."