Chapter 153
At the same time, in Room Three.
Reginald sat at the center of the leather sofa, his expression indifferent as he watched the electronic screen.
Atlas stood beside him. "Boss, it's starting."
Reginald gave a faint hum.
His gaze was deep, unreadable.
Soon, the first auction item was wheeled out—a jewel-encrusted dagger.
The host went on and on about it, claiming it once belonged to some warlord, symbolized glory and power, and was supposedly priceless.
But neither Lucinda nor Reginald spared it more than a glance.
It was all packaging. The real valuable goods weren't this.
After the introduction, the starting bid appeared on the screen.
Fifty million USD.
Elijah nearly laughed out loud. "Fifty million for that thing? Are they robbing people?"
Lucinda shook her head with a faint smile. "This place was made for robbery."
Sure enough, the entire hall remained eerily quiet. Not a single box placed a bid.
Two minutes passed. The dagger remained unsold. The host's smile started to crack.
Just then, every screen in the private boxes flickered.
The next second, a rough, arrogant voice boomed through the speakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, looks like nobody's giving me face here."
The moment the voice rang out, several faces in the crowd changed.
It was Zev.
Lucinda narrowed her eyes.
Of course.
Zev's voice continued. "Since that's how it is, I won't waste words. Starting now, if these items don't sell, forget about bidding on anything else. You've got two minutes to think it over. Buy or don't—your choice."
As his words fell, the entire hall went deathly silent. The atmosphere turned tense.
Elijah's face darkened. "Is he serious? Zev's worse than a bandit."
A cold glint flickered in Lucinda's eyes.
She'd seen people who didn't play by the rules before, but Zev took it to another level.
Most auctions were built on mutual interest. Zev? He was just strong-arming everyone. If you didn't buy, you couldn't even see what came next.
Elijah couldn't help muttering, "Why doesn't he just say 'hand over your money' and be done with it?"
Lucinda didn't respond. She simply lowered her gaze slightly.
Zev's intentions were already clear. First, he'd drain everyone's funds with junk. Then, no matter who won the real prize, he'd take it all back by force.
Either way, he couldn't lose.
But right now, she couldn't afford to make a move.
With that thought, Lucinda turned to Nico, who had just returned. "What's the situation?"
Nico's expression was grim. "We checked the perimeter. There are people at the back hill and the freight corridor. A lot of them."
Lucinda's face didn't change. "And Niamh?"
Nico was silent for two seconds. Then he shook his head. "Didn't find her."
The box went quiet. Elijah's face turned serious too.
They'd come here tonight with the auction as a cover. Their real objective was rescuing Niamh.
But now, if they couldn't find her, they couldn't act.
Lucinda slowly lowered her gaze. The light fell across her delicate, cold profile, revealing nothing of her thoughts.
After a moment, she lifted her eyes again, calm and steady as ever. "Keep searching. Watch every entrance and exit."
"Yes, ma'am." Nico nodded and left.
Elijah asked quietly, "Boss, should we bid?"
Lucinda's gaze returned to the screen.
If they didn't bid, Zev wouldn't continue.
If they did, it was just buying time.
But right now, time was exactly what she needed.
With that in mind, Lucinda raised her hand. Her slender finger hovered over the bid button.
At the same time, in Room Three, Reginald was also watching the screen.
Atlas frowned. "Boss, Zev's obviously setting a trap."
Reginald leaned back on the sofa, his gaze calm. "He always does."
"So what do we do?"
Reginald's eyes darkened slightly. "Keep him calm for now."
As he spoke, his hand moved to the bidding button.
The next second, an electronic chime echoed through the hall.
[Room Three has placed a bid. Price: 55 million USD.]
The announcement reverberated through the space. Everyone froze.
Inside Room Two, Lucinda had just been about to press the button. She stopped.
Elijah blinked. "Room Three? That's Dusk Reign Crew?"
Lucinda said nothing. She simply watched the numbers flashing on the screen.
After a moment, she slowly withdrew her hand.
Since someone else had already bid, there was no need for her to play the fool.
Elijah caught on immediately and couldn't help but smile. "Boss, looks like someone's more desperate than we are."
Lucinda's lips curved slightly, though her eyes held no warmth.
Dusk Reign Crew was the strongest of the three major factions. There was no way they were fools, and they certainly wouldn't want this junk.
They were doing the same thing she was—stalling for time.
They'd just happened to think of the same move.
Meanwhile, deep inside the base, Zev stared at the bid results on his monitor. He froze for a second, then burst into laughter. "Fifty-five million! That piece of trash actually sold!"
Zev looked at the account balance, now fifty-five million dollars richer, grinning from ear to ear. "See? I told you. These big factions care about face more than anything. Once you back them into a corner, they have to buy even if they don't want to."
The men around him nodded eagerly.
"Boss, you're brilliant!"
"Boss, you've got vision!"
Zev basked in the praise, feeling utterly satisfied. He waved his hand grandly. "Keep it going!"
Soon, the second auction item was brought out—a so-called antique pocket watch. Starting bid: sixty million USD.
Inside Room Two, Lucinda glanced at it once and looked away.
Elijah scoffed. "That thing's worth a few hundred thousand at best. Zev's got some nerve."
Before he finished speaking, the screen flashed again.
[Room Three has placed a bid. Price: 65 million USD.]
Elijah blinked.
Dusk Reign Crew again.
Lucinda lowered her gaze to the screen, her expression still calm. She didn't follow the bid.
A few minutes later, the second item went to Room Three as well.
The next several items were all similarly worthless, yet their prices grew more absurd with each one.
And every single time, Room Three bid first. Room Two remained silent.
Time dragged on. Lucinda's expression grew colder.
Finally, Nico pushed the door open again. His forehead was dotted with sweat—he'd clearly just rushed back from outside.
Lucinda looked up at him. "Well?"
Nico's face was tight. "Still nothing."
The box went quiet. Elijah's expression darkened too.
They'd combed through nearly the entire perimeter, but Niamh had vanished like a ghost.
Lucinda pressed her lips together, then slowly lifted her gaze. Her voice was low. "Keep searching. Focus underground."
Nico froze. "Underground?"
"Yes." Lucinda's eyes turned cold. "People don't just disappear. If she's not up top, she's below."
Nico's eyes lit up. He nodded immediately. "Understood."
He turned and left at once.