The Almighty Commander of Pyreking

Chapter 5

Lord Bruce stood near the desk, his hands resting behind his back. Dressed in a red suit with a subtle gold dragon pin on his lapel, his presence dominated the entire room.

He was a man who controlled international shipping lanes, shadow banks, and corporate conglomerates worth hundreds of billions. Yet, beneath his calm facade, his pulse was racing.

Only three hours ago, a message from the Pyreking Dynasty High Council had reached his secure tablet.

The message contained a direct warning: The Supreme Commander has entered your jurisdiction. Find his trail and yield full authority, or your entire network will be liquidated by dawn.

Lord Bruce swallowed hard, his eyes strained as he glanced at the communications device on his desk.

He hadn't come to this city to inspect cheap historical trinkets; he was using the auction as a lure, hoping that an artifact connected to ancient heritage might draw the supreme commander into the open.

"My Lord," his chief security officer murmured from the doorway, bowing slightly. "The winners of the grand auction are here. They claim to possess the Phoenix jade artifact you expressed interest in."

"Bring them in," Bruce commanded, his voice stern. "If it's garbage, throw them out."

The doors swung open.

Vivian Ellis walked into the private suite with her head held high, her hips swaying with confidence. She strutted past the line of dark-suited Pyrekiy enforcers who stood silently along the walls.

Trevor Rhodes walked right beside her, smoothing his lapels and adjusting his gold watch.

Chloe followed behind them, her face washed out, her hands trembling as she held her small handbag tight against her dress.

Vivian couldn't contain the triumphant grin spreading across her face. Looking at the luxury of the private suite and the enforcers guarding Lord Bruce, she felt her heart leap with greed.

“This is it,” Vivian thought, her mind spinning with wild fantasies. “This is real power. After tonight, everyone who ever looked down on the Ellis family will crawl on their knees before me, and that pathetic Tristan will be thrown onto the street like the worthless trash he is.”

Trevor stepped forward first, offering a polite, practiced bow toward Lord Bruce.

"Lord Bruce, it is an honor to meet you. I am Trevor Rhodes of the Rhodes financial group, and this is Mrs. Vivian Ellis. Knowing your deep appreciation for supreme cultural relics, we spared no expense to secure the night's crown jewel specifically for you."

Lord Bruce didn't smile. His penetrating gaze swept over Trevor and Vivian with icy indifference. "Is that so?" Bruce asked quietly. "Show me."

<<<<

Outside in the parking lot, Tristan sat quietly, His leather boots were still stained with the spilt coffee Trevor had kicked over earlier.

BUZZ.

A gentle vibration came from Tristan’s inner jacket pocket. He reached inside, pulling out a phone.

A text notification flickered across the display. It was a high-priority message from Brent, sending direct operational updates from the Pyreking Dynasty command network.

“Commader, Lord Bruce has arrived in the presidential suite. He is currently conducting private audience checks with the auction winners. Should we inform him of your presence downstairs so he can come down and pay proper homage to you?”

Tristan looked at the glowing screen for two seconds. His expression remained calm as a quiet lake.

His thumbs moved smoothly across the screen as he typed a single word in reply.

“No.”

Then, he hit send and immediately locked the device, slipping it back into his pocket.

Tristan took a deep breath, looking up at the light reflecting from the hotel’s top-floor window. He knew what was happening up there. He had warned them, but their eyes were blinded by pride and greed.

A hard lesson was about to be delivered, and he saw no reason to stop the wheel from turning.

<<<<

Back inside the presidential suite, the tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Vivian stepped up to the desk, her eyes shining with arrogant delight. She held out a wooden box with both hands, placing it down onto the surface in front of Lord Bruce.

"Lord Bruce," Vivian spoke, her voice filled with exaggerated elegance as she opened the velvet box, revealing the green jade seal resting inside.

"This is the Ancient Phoenix Jade seal, bought for twelve million dollars. Many inferior families in this city tried to compete with us tonight, but they lacked the vision and wealth required."

Vivian smirked, casting a contemptuous look back at Chloe before turning back to Lord Bruce with supreme vanity.

"Only a family of true culture, background, and loyalty like our Ellis family could possibly secure such a national treasure for a legend like you," Vivian boasted, her chest swelling with pride as she continued, "We present this to you as a gift, in full expectation of a permanent corporate partnership with the Pyreking Dynasty!”