Chapter :-108

Arc 6: Rise of the Mogul

Chapter 13: The Bidding War Begins

The air inside the grand auction hall crackled with anticipation. Waiters in crisp uniforms wove between tables, serving glasses of vintage wine and trays of gourmet appetizers, but no one was here for the food.

At the heart of the room stood a sleek, elevated platform where the auctioneer, a sharply dressed man with an artificial voice enhancement implant, prepared to introduce the first item. Tonight, illegal wealth and influence would change hands under the guise of exclusivity.

Kai Ashton took his seat at an ornately designed VIP table, Cassandra beside him, their assumed identities intact. His fingers drummed lightly on the polished wooden surface, eyes scanning the attendees. Crime lords, underground bankers, weapons dealers, corrupt CEOs—each face a reminder of how deep the rot of power ran.

At the center of it all, Victor Langston sat at the head table, sipping from a glass of rare whiskey, his posture exuding dominance. The Nexus executive was here for something big.

"Keep an eye on him," Kai murmured, barely moving his lips.

Cassandra, her eyes glinting under the chandelier's soft glow, smirked. "Already on it."

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The Auction Begins

"Ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer's voice resonated across the hall, enhanced by the hidden speakers embedded in the walls. "Tonight, we offer the rarest of treasures—items beyond the reach of conventional markets. And for our most esteemed bidders, exclusivity is guaranteed."

The first item—a set of untraceable digital currency vaults—went up, sparking fierce competition between two eastern syndicates. The numbers skyrocketed past 200 million dollars within minutes.

Kai remained patient. He wasn't here for trivial assets.

The second item—a high-tech cloaking device stolen from a military research lab—caught Cassandra's attention. "Useful," she whispered.

"Too expensive for something we can replicate," Kai replied, watching the bidding war rise to an absurd 750 million before closing.

Then came the main event.

The auctioneer gestured to his assistant, who unveiled a holographic projection. A list of classified government data, underground financial accounts, and even the locations of hidden Nexus facilities appeared in midair.

The crowd hushed. Even Victor Langston straightened, his gaze sharpening.

Kai's jaw clenched. This was it.

The auctioneer smiled. "Item Number Seven: The Nexus Archive—containing intelligence on high-profile global figures, black-market dealings, and covert operations spanning two decades. Bidding starts at 500 million dollars."

The hall erupted into a war of raised hands and lightning-fast electronic transactions.

"600 million!"

"700 million!"

"One billion."

The competition was brutal. The stakes were clear—whoever controlled these files controlled leverage over the world's most dangerous elite.

Langston leaned forward, signaling his bid with a flick of his fingers. "One-point-five billion."

Kai raised his glass slightly, playing the part of an amused investor. Then, casually, he tapped his ring—Elise's encrypted bidding device.

"Two billion."

Cassandra masked her smirk behind a sip of wine. "Risky move."

Langston's eyes flicked toward Kai, curiosity evident. "Three billion."

The room buzzed with murmurs. Few had the financial backing to push past this point.

Kai exhaled slowly, watching Langston's reaction carefully. Then, with the precision of a seasoned player, he raised his bid.

"Four billion."

A stunned silence filled the hall.

Langston's brow twitched, but his composed demeanor remained. He swirled his whiskey, considering. If he bid again, he'd be committing resources Nexus might not want to risk.

Seconds stretched.

Finally, Langston gave a half-smile, setting his glass down. He wouldn't push further.

The auctioneer's voice rang out.

"Sold! To Mr. Bishop for four billion dollars!"

Applause rippled through the crowd, though beneath the surface, everyone knew Kai had just painted a massive target on his back.

As Kai leaned back, Cassandra whispered, "Now comes the real game."

And she was right. Because Victor Langston was smiling—but it wasn't a friendly smile.

It was the smile of a man who never let his prey escape.

End of Chapter 13.