Chapter 151
A moment later, Reginald pocketed his phone and turned his gaze back to the pitch-black night outside the window.
Once he rescued Niamh and dealt with everything here, he'd go back to see Lucinda.
But in this moment, Reginald didn't yet know that the woman he longed for was speeding toward the same destination.
The night was thick. Lucinda leaned back in her seat, a tablet resting on her lap. On the screen was a structural diagram of the Black Wolf Crew's secret base.
Her slender fingers slowly traced across the map, her gaze calm.
Just then, a hurried report crackled through Elijah's earpiece.
His expression shifted. He immediately activated the comm. "Say that again."
The voice on the other end repeated the message quickly. The more Elijah listened, the darker his face became.
A few seconds later, he ended the call and turned to Lucinda. "Boss."
Lucinda didn't look up. "Talk."
"The Black Wolf Crew just put out a message."
Everyone in the vehicle turned to look. Elijah's voice was heavy. "They know both the Origin Oath Crew and the Dusk Reign Crew are searching for the Crimson Star Crystal and Niamh. They just announced they don't want to offend either side and don't want to keep fighting."
Someone nearby scoffed. "Bullshit. Since when do those bastards play nice?"
Elijah nodded. Clearly, he felt the same.
"They're calling themselves businessmen. They say they only care about money. So in one hour, they're holding a public auction at the underground market in South City. They're auctioning off both the Crimson Star Crystal and Niamh."
At those words, the air in the vehicle turned icy.
"Highest bidder wins. Goods and hostage included."
The core members exchanged glances, their faces grim.
This wasn't an auction. It was a trap.
The Black Wolf Crew clearly knew that neither the Origin Oath Crew nor the Dusk Reign Crew could afford to back down.
So they were luring both sides in. No matter who won, the Black Wolf Crew would profit either way.
Elijah frowned and asked quietly, "Boss, what do we do now? Keep heading to the secret base or redirect to the auction?"
Lucinda finally looked up, her eyes calm. "What about the secret base? Have they already evacuated?"
Elijah replied, "According to the intel we just received, Niamh and the Crimson Star Crystal have been moved. They're likely en route to the auction now."
Lucinda narrowed her eyes.
Of course. The Black Wolf Crew was afraid she'd storm in and take them by force, so they'd moved everything in advance.
Elijah hesitated, then asked the most critical question. "Boss, if it really comes down to bidding, how much are we prepared to offer?"
The vehicle went silent. Everyone looked at Lucinda.
Lucinda's expression remained calm. She said lightly, "Five hundred million USD."
The air froze.
Then, several core members' eyes went wide at the same time.
"Five hundred million USD?"
"Just five hundred million?"
"Boss, you're not serious, are you?"
Even Elijah's mouth twitched. "The Dusk Reign Crew has more money than anyone. If they really want it, even fifty billion might not stop them. With five hundred million, we might not even qualify to bid."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, Boss. We can't compete with that."
"Maybe we should drop it and find another way to rescue her."
Another member couldn't help but speak up. "And Boss, have you forgotten? We just blew up half their base. If we show up now, they'll definitely have an ambush waiting for you."
"We won't just fail to get her back—we'll walk straight into a trap."
Elijah's face was equally grim. "And most importantly, the Dusk Reign Crew. They've already made their position clear. They want the Crimson Star Crystal. They want Niamh. And they're going all in."
At that, everyone's hearts sank.
The Dusk Reign Crew—one of Sylvanor's three major powers, and the only one with financial resources that dwarfed everyone else.
If they decided to throw money at this, the Origin Oath Crew had no chance.
The vehicle fell silent.
Just when everyone thought Lucinda might reconsider, she suddenly closed the tablet, lifted her gaze, and a meaningful smile flickered in her eyes. "Who said I was going to compete with money?"
Everyone froze. Even Elijah was stunned. "Boss?"
Lucinda looked out at the night speeding past the window. Her voice was soft. "Head to South City. I'm bringing Niamh back. And I'm taking the Crimson Star Crystal too."
Elijah couldn't help asking, "But what if we don't have enough money?"
Lucinda's lips curved slightly, her smile carrying a dangerous edge. "At auction houses, money isn't always what matters most."
With that, she turned her gaze back to the window and said no more.
But for some reason, seeing that expression, the tension in the vehicle eased.
The combat vehicle roared as it changed direction, speeding toward the underground auction house in South City.
Meanwhile, dozens of black combat vehicles tore across the wilderness. The flags of the Dusk Reign Crew snapped sharply in the night wind.
Inside one of the vehicles, Reginald set down his phone and slowly looked toward the brightly lit city in the distance.
The subordinate in the passenger seat turned back to report. "Mr. Lancaster, the Black Wolf Crew just sent someone with a message."
The vehicle went quiet. Reginald's expression didn't shift. "What message?"
"They said…" The subordinate swallowed. "They have no intention of making an enemy of the Dusk Reign Crew. Kidnapping Ms. Lancaster was a misunderstanding. If the Dusk Reign Crew is willing to cooperate, they're prepared to transfer both her and the Crimson Star Crystal to us at a discounted rate, privately."
His expression grew even more strained. "And… they also expressed willingness to join forces with the Dusk Reign Crew to take down the Origin Oath Crew together."
As the last few words fell, the vehicle went silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Everyone knew that Sylvanor's three-way power balance had held for years. The Black Wolf Crew and Origin Oath Crew had constant friction, but the Dusk Reign Crew had always operated independently.
For years, no one even knew who the leaders of each faction were. Few had ever seen their faces.
Now the Black Wolf Crew was suddenly offering an olive branch. If it were anyone else, they might actually be tempted.
Unfortunately for them, they were dealing with Reginald.
He was silent for two seconds. Then he smiled.
"Misunderstanding?" He repeated the word slowly, his voice so soft it was impossible to read his emotions.
But his subordinate's body went rigid.
Because he knew—Mr. Lancaster was angry.
Very angry.
Sure enough, the next second, the coldness in Reginald's eyes sank to the bottom.
"They kidnapped my sister. Stole the materials she discovered. And now they're telling me it was a misunderstanding?"
He leaned back slowly in his seat, his thin lips curving into a cold arc. "Do they think I'm easy to deal with?"
No one dared respond. The temperature in the vehicle seemed to drop several degrees.
Reginald's gaze turned glacial. "And they want to join forces with me? Dream on."
With those final words, the vehicle fell into deathly silence. The subordinate's back went cold.
After working under Reginald for so many years, he knew this man's nature all too well.
The calmer he was on the surface, the more terrifying he became when truly enraged.
Reginald slowly lifted his gaze, dangerous coldness churning in those deep eyes.
"Notify them. I want my sister. I want the Crimson Star Crystal. As for the Black Wolf Crew…" His voice was unhurried, yet it sent chills down the spine. "Taking one arm isn't enough. Make it two."
The subordinate's heart lurched. He immediately lowered his head. "Yes, sir!"
The vehicle fell silent again. Reginald closed his eyes, but Niamh's face surfaced in his mind.
That girl who'd been treasured by the whole family since childhood. Every time she got into trouble, she'd hide behind him, clinging to his arm and acting cute.
"Reginald, save me."
"Reginald's the best."
At that thought, Reginald's brow furrowed slightly. The coldness in his eyes deepened.
Black Wolf Crew.
They'd better pray nothing happened to Niamh.
Otherwise, not even all of Sylvanor could save them.