The Dark Blade: Return Of The General.

Chapter 7: Dangerous Recognition

"Are you completely insane?" The driver stared at Jacob with disbelief, his face turning red with rage. "Do you have any idea who I am transporting in this vehicle?"

The man clearly expected Jacob to drop to his knees and beg for forgiveness the moment he understood the gravity of his mistake. Instead, Jacob simply rolled his eyes and turned to continue walking toward the auction house.

"I do not care if you were carrying the Emperor himself in that piece of junk," Jacob called over his shoulder. "Here is some free advice - learn how to drive before you kill someone."

"You bastard, stop right there!" The driver's voice cracked with desperation and fury. "You just damaged Lord Nico's personal car! He has connections to the Keaton family, and you think you can walk away without consequences?"

Jacob paused, irritation flashing across his features. He had hoped to avoid unnecessary confrontations before the auction began, but some people simply refused to accept reality when it contradicted their sense of importance.

"You are quite foolish for a professional driver," Jacob observed, turning back to face the man. "You nearly ran me down with your reckless driving, and now you want to blame me for the consequences of your incompetence?"

The driver opened his mouth to respond, but a cold voice from inside the car cut him off before he could speak.

"Not another word, Harold."

The driver immediately fell silent, his face going pale with fear. Jacob could see the man's hands trembling as he stepped back from the confrontation, clearly terrified of disappointing whoever sat in the vehicle's back seat.

"You think it wise to stand in the street screaming like a rabid animal?" the voice continued from within the car. "I will deal with this unfortunate individual inside the auction house. He will pay for what he has done to my property."

Jacob caught a glimpse of movement behind the tinted windows but could not make out the speaker's features. The voice carried the kind of casual menace that came from years of having people killed for minor inconveniences.

The gathering crowd began to whisper among themselves as they recognized the damaged vehicle. Jacob heard fragments of their conversations - references to someone called Nico Gonzalez, warnings about his reputation for violence, and speculation about what would happen to the foolish stranger who had dared to cross him.

"Do you know who that man is?" one bystander asked another. "For him to speak to Nico's driver like that and just walk away, he must be incredibly powerful or incredibly stupid."

"My money is on stupid," the second person replied. "I have never seen anyone challenge Nico and live to talk about it. That stranger will be dead before the auction ends."

Jacob ignored their predictions and continued toward the auction house entrance. He had faced down warlords, overthrown governments, and survived battles that had claimed thousands of lives. Some local crime boss with delusions of grandeur posed no threat to someone of his capabilities.

At the entrance, a security guard in an expensive suit stepped forward to check credentials. "Your name, sir?"

"Jacob Spencer," Jacob replied, producing the identification card Leo had prepared for him.

The guard scanned his list, found the name, and nodded approval. As Jacob walked past, he noticed the man studying him with the kind of suspicious attention usually reserved for known troublemakers.

The auction house interior was exactly what Jacob had expected - crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and enough ostentatious wealth to feed a small nation. Seron's corrupt elite filled every available seat, their conversations creating a constant buzz of greed and ambition that made Jacob's skin crawl.

A man in an oxblood suit took the stage, adjusting the microphone with theatrical flair. His appearance was as artificial as everything else about the evening - obviously expensive clothes that could not disguise his fundamentally cheap nature.

"Esteemed guests, please take your seats!" the auctioneer announced. "Tonight's auction is about to begin, and we have some truly remarkable items for your consideration."

Jacob chose a seat in the middle section, positioning himself where he could observe the entire room while maintaining a clear view of the stage. He scanned the crowd for familiar faces, mentally cataloging potential threats and escape routes.

As he waited for the proceedings to begin, a subtle fragrance caught his attention - expensive perfume with hints of jasmine and vanilla. Someone had taken the seat beside him, though he had been too focused on surveillance to notice their approach.

"I hope you do not mind if I sit here?" a woman's voice asked.

Jacob turned to look at his new neighbor and felt his breath catch. The woman beside him was stunning in a way that commanded attention - flowing dark hair, perfect features, and the kind of curves that could stop traffic. Her dress was elegant without being flashy, and her jewelry spoke of wealth that did not need to advertise itself.

"The seat is available," Jacob replied, turning his attention back to the stage.

The woman settled beside him, and Jacob became aware that she was studying him with obvious interest. Her gaze felt different from the casual curiosity of other auction attendees - more focused, more analytical, as if she were trying to solve a puzzle.

"You know, it is considered rude to stare at someone so openly," Jacob commented without looking at her.

"My apologies," the woman replied with obvious amusement. "I am simply surprised that you do not recognize me. Most people in Seron know who I am."

Jacob suppressed a sigh of irritation. Another wealthy socialite who expected the world to revolve around her reputation and family connections.

"Should I know who you are?" Jacob asked, his tone making it clear that he had no interest in playing guessing games.

The woman smiled, a expression that held secrets and danger in equal measure. "As expected from Lord Jacob Krigg, the legendary Dark Blade. You always did have such wonderfully direct responses."

Jacob went completely still. The noise of the auction house seemed to fade into background static as the implications of the woman's words sank in. Someone had recognized him despite his disguise, his false identity, and his careful preparations.

He turned to face her fully, studying her features with new intensity. "Now who exactly are you?"

The woman's smile widened, and Jacob realized that his carefully planned evening had just become infinitely more complicated. The question was whether this mysterious stranger represented an opportunity or a threat to everything he had worked fifteen years to achieve.

Either way, his cover was blown, and the game was about to change in ways he had never anticipated.