Chapter 78: Placing The Duplicate

MAEVE

My mind seemed to lost contr the moment I heard our treasure sold to a stranger. I couldn't even comprehend what happened next, but when I got back to my senses, the relic was already bought by that filthy rich man.

He stepped on the platform, staring at the relic with intent. His smirk grew wider, and from what I heard, he bought it for only five million. No one else dared to bid higher than him.

When the auction was over, my eyes turned to the back. Unfortunately, the man who bought my jewelry wasn't there anymore. I needed to talk to him, convince him to give back the jewels to me. I would pay no matter how much he wanted it to. I just want my jewelry back in my hands.

"Gentlemen, our esteemed buyers," the owner of the auction approached every single man who won in the bidding. "We have a special dinner for you. Please join us at the table."

I turned to him, watching a shadow move to the other parts of the venue. "I appreciate the gesture, but I would like to skip the dinner," I said. "Is there any after party to end the night?"

The owner looked pleased. "After party? Yes, Sir Massimo!" he exclaimed, and I could already comprehend what kind of party he was referring to. "Around ten, the after party will start on the lower ground floor," he said, pulling out a small card from his pocket. "Show this to the guard for a guaranteed entry."

My eyes landed on the card. It was the same one that Nathalia showed to me. Endless pleasure in the Red District.

I formed a small smile on my face. "I can't wait to join you at the after party," I slipped the card into my pocket. "For now, enjoy your dinner."

The four of us headed out of the venue. I kept looking around, searching for the man earlier, but he was nowhere to be found. I doubt he would be at the dinner, too.

"Sir," Dexter asked as we stopped on a nearby building. "It seems like they won't provide a private show of the products. How can we find where the relic is hidden?"

My eyes flickered on the higher floors. "Don't worry. We have a backup plan," I replied casually, waiting for someone to meet us. "I will be attending the after-party. Once you see a rainbow fireworks, that means I got the relic," I turned to them. "Inform the grand knight after that."

"Shall I escort you?" Rhydan asked. "We don't know what's in their after-party. It's dangerous for you to go alone."

I shook my head. "There's no need. I will only stay there for a while, just to see something," I answered. "After that, we will wait for the Grand Knight's signal to leave. That is, if he already caught some rebels."

Minutes of waiting, and William came running in our direction. He was carrying something covered with a silk fabric before he placed it in my hands. "Fourth floor. East side. The room with the red door," he said. "There are five guards. Two on the outside, and three on the inside. The room was secluded, only one way in and out, but there's a vent going west," he explained. "Good luck."

I immediately removed my clothes and jewels, only leaving a pair of shirt and pants. Carrying the fabric pouch, I headed to the back of the central building, prepared to finish this mission.

I jumped stealthily to higher floors, my feet as light as a feather, so it didn't make any noise. Upon landing on the fourth floor, I spotted a guard making rounds. Hiding myself on the corner, I waited for him to pass my position.

The moment he stepped beside me, my hand grabbed his head, twisting it to the side until it broke. The guard landed dead on the ground, and without wasting any time, I switched our clothes, wearing the same mask as his.

I walked around the floor like a normal guard, passing by other workers and guards who didn't see anything out of place. When I reached the east, I immediately spotted the red door hidden on the farthest side. Two guards stood outside, unmoving.

With deliberate steps, I approached them. They didn't move; they just looked at me with questioning eyes.

"No noise," I reminded myself before I struck their chests with a dagger simultaneously. One of them tried to fight back, but the speed overwhelmed him.

I didn't expect their guards to be this weak.

I arranged their bodies on the side, making them face the wall. Blood dripped from their chests, but from afar, they would look like they were just sitting.

My senses reached outward. Inside, I felt three presences. Their auras seemed stronger than the previous ones, but they shouldn't be a problem. My only concern was how I was going to make this quick and silent.

I pushed the door open, and I felt them shift inside. In a snap, I was inside, dashing on the ground as I swung the dagger at their faces. One was hit on the jaw, the other on the neck, while the last one was unscathed.

The guard swung his sword toward me, yet I moved to his back, slicing his neck at once. Three guards fell to the ground. One dead. Two are barely breathing.

"What a beautiful relic," I whispered in my head as I removed the glove from my hands, putting on a clean one. I opened the glass container, grabbing the relic from its place and replacing it with the duplicate that William created.

It was flawless. If you were to place them side by side, no one would be able to tell the difference.

My eyes moved around the room, looking for something. But no matter where I look, it is out of sight.

Where the fuck are my jewels?

I moved around the room, staying longer than intended when I heard steps approaching. I grabbed one of the rings, jumped to the vent, leaving the residues of the killings behind.

The real relic rested on the fabric pouch as I crawled. An opening led me to where I had broken a guard's neck. Without any noise, I gave his uniform back, placing the bloodied dagger and the ring on his hand.

My body moved down to the ground floor, away from everyone's sight. A small drop of blood tainted my arm, but I immediately hid it with the sleeves of my shirt.

I hid in one of the corridors, taking a peek at the relic. What confused me was that just like the sketch, the words on the relic were blurred, too. How did this happen?

"I need to change," I spun to the nearby store, buying the most expensive clothes they have as I hid the relic in the deep pockets of the robes.

My eyes turned to the clock tower ahead, before a small smile formed on my face.

"Time to join the after party.”