Chapter 152
The night was thick and dark. Sylvanor's largest underground auction base blazed with lights. From the outside, it looked like nothing more than an abandoned warehouse, but inside was a different world entirely.
Lucinda stepped out of the car in a sleek black tactical outfit, flanked by Elijah and another trusted lieutenant, Nico.
Two rows of armed guards stood at the entrance, rifles in hand. Every person entering had to pass through rigorous security checks.
Elijah lowered his voice. "Boss, it's probably not going to be peaceful in there."
Lucinda's expression remained calm as she lifted her gaze to scan the surroundings.
Her eyes flickered briefly. "Once we're inside, find a chance to slip away."
Both men froze.
"Boss?"
Lucinda's tone was light. "Check the perimeter. Focus on three areas—the hill behind the base, the freight corridor, and Black Wolf Crew's temporary camp. Don't alert anyone."
Elijah immediately understood.
The boss never trusted Zev Rook, the leader of Black Wolf Crew.
Tonight's auction was a trap from the start.
"Understood."
Lucinda nodded, then led the two men toward the entrance. Soon, someone from Black Wolf Crew hurried over to greet them.
The man wore an ingratiating smile. "Our boss has been waiting. Please, follow me."
Lucinda said nothing, only gave a faint nod.
The group walked through a long corridor before finally stopping outside Room Two.
"Please."
The door opened to reveal a lavishly decorated private box overlooking the auction hall below.
Lucinda stepped inside. Elijah and Nico stood behind her. The door closed.
Not long after, the sound of engines rumbled outside the base again. Several black SUVs rolled to a stop.
A door opened. Reginald stepped out.
The man wore a long black coat, his tall frame radiating an almost suffocating presence.
Just standing there, he commanded attention.
Atlas spoke quietly behind him. "Boss, it's too quiet out here."
Reginald narrowed his eyes, scanning the area. "The quieter it is, the bigger the problem. Send someone to check."
Atlas nodded immediately. "Yes, sir."
Several elite members of Dusk Reign Crew slipped away silently.
Then Reginald and Atlas entered the base and were escorted to Room Three.
Meanwhile, deep inside the base, Zev lounged on a leather sofa with his legs crossed, a table full of food and liquor spread before him.
A subordinate rushed in. "Boss! Both Origin Oath Crew and Dusk Reign Crew are here!"
Zev's eyes lit up. "They're here?"
"Yes." The man nodded eagerly. "Origin Oath Crew only brought two people. That boss of theirs really is some young girl—doesn't look that old. Dusk Reign Crew didn't bring many either."
Zev's grin widened until he couldn't hold back anymore. He slapped his thigh and roared with laughter. "Good! Perfect!"
He grabbed a bowl of liquor and downed it in one gulp. "I thought they'd be more cautious, but they're all cocky as hell!"
The men around him immediately chimed in with flattery.
"That's because of your reputation, boss!"
"Who'd dare disrespect you?"
"After today, all of Sylvanor will be yours!"
Zev basked in the praise, his face flushed with satisfaction. "Damn right! After tonight, Dusk Reign Crew, Origin Oath Crew—they're all finished!"
One subordinate quickly asked, "Boss, what about the auction?"
Zev let out a sinister chuckle, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Let it run as planned. Doesn't matter who wins the bid. The second they leave this base, we strike."
"We take back the goods, take back the money, and we don't let anyone walk away alive."
His excitement grew as he spoke, nearly bouncing in his seat. "Especially that Dusk Reign Crew leader and that girl from Origin Oath Crew—take them both out! After that, Sylvanor's mine. Just me. One crew."
The men erupted in excitement.
"Boss, you're a genius!"
"Boss, you're unstoppable!"
"No one will dare cross Black Wolf Crew after this!"
Zev soaked it all in, his laughter shaking the rafters.
After a while, something seemed to occur to him. His expression turned serious. "By the way, how's that girl doing?"
One subordinate blinked. "Which girl?"
Zev's hand flew out and smacked him across the head.
The man spun halfway around.
"Idiot! Which girl do you think? The one we brought in!"
The man clutched his head, suddenly remembering. A sleazy grin spread across his face. "Oh, don't worry, boss. We've got her locked down tight. The woman you've got your eye on isn't going anywhere."
Zev's face darkened. Another slap cracked across the man's face. "Is there anything in your head besides women?"
The subordinate looked genuinely hurt. "But… didn't you say you liked her?"
"Liked her my ass!" Zev's eyes bulged. "Do I look like the kind of guy who only thinks about sleeping with women?"
The men exchanged glances. No one dared speak.
But their eyes clearly said: Yes. You do.
Zev didn't notice. He went on, looking smug. "You idiots don't get it. That girl is an 'asset.' An asset, you hear me?"
The men looked blank.
Zev sighed in exasperation. "She's the only one who knows where those materials are and how to mine them."
"Both Dusk Reign Crew and Origin Oath Crew are looking for her. What does that tell you?"
The men hesitated. "That she's… pretty?"
Zev nearly exploded. He grabbed a liquor bottle and hurled it at them. "Morons! It means she's 'valuable!' Extremely valuable!"
The men finally caught on.
Zev nodded in satisfaction and continued his lecture. "I also heard that stuff she mines can be used for some kind of tech research. I don't know what the hell tech research is, but I know it's worth a fortune. Otherwise, why would Dusk Reign Crew and Origin Oath Crew care so much? So here's the deal—"
Zev looked profoundly wise. "We don't touch the girl. We keep her safe. She'll mine for us, make us money. That's called 'sustainable development.'"
The men gazed at him with newfound respect.
"Boss, you're brilliant!"
"Boss, you're so educated!"
"Boss even knows about sustainable development!"
Zev's chest puffed out. "Of course. Look at her, then look at yourselves. All you do is eat, drink, and fight. What else can you do? I don't have a single decent talent working for me!"
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. "Useless! I've been feeding you for years and you haven't brought me one competent person!"
The men kept their heads down, silent.
But they all thought the same thing: 'It's not that we can't find talent. It's that anyone with a brain runs the second you hit them…'
Eight o'clock sharp.
A melodious chime echoed through the hall. The noisy auction floor gradually fell silent.
Massive crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, bathing the entire space in brilliant light.
Inside Room Two, Lucinda leaned back on the sofa, her slender fingers resting lightly on the armrest. Her gaze settled on the electronic screen slowly lighting up before her.
The auction rules appeared on the display.
Each private box was equipped with an independent bidding system. The left side had a button to raise the bid—each increment five million dollars. The right side had a pass button.
The setup was brutally simple, perfectly suited to the cutthroat style of Sylvanor's underworld.
Elijah stood beside her, glancing down at the screen. He couldn't help but frown. "This is pretty crude."
Lucinda said nothing. Her gaze remained calm, fixed on the screen.