Chapter :- 109

Arc 6: Rise of the Mogul

Chapter 14: The Predator's Gaze

The applause faded, but the tension in the room thickened. Kai Ashton remained seated, swirling the wine in his glass, while Victor Langston watched him with that unsettling smirk.

Cassandra, sitting beside him, leaned in slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's planning something."

Kai gave a slow nod, his gaze never leaving Langston. Of course, he was. A man like Victor Langston never let go of something that easily.

The Nexus Archive was a goldmine of classified intelligence, and Kai had just stolen it right from under Langston's nose. That meant one thing—repercussions were inevitable.

---

A Dangerous Invitation

As the auctioneer moved on to the next item, Kai felt a subtle vibration in his pocket. He retrieved his phone and glanced at the encrypted message.

Victor Langston: Join me for a drink. VIP lounge. Now.

Cassandra saw it too and raised an eyebrow. "Trap?"

Kai smirked. "Obviously."

The real question was—what kind?

With a quiet exhale, he set his glass down. "Keep your eyes on the exits. If I don't come back in fifteen minutes…"

Cassandra smiled, but her eyes were ice-cold. "I burn the place down."

Kai rose from his seat, adjusting the cuffs of his tailored suit, and made his way to the VIP lounge at the back of the hall. The guards at the door didn't stop him—Langston had already given the order.

---

The Game Begins

Inside, the VIP lounge was drenched in luxury. A fireplace crackled in the corner, casting flickering shadows on the marble walls. Exotic cigars rested in crystal ashtrays, and the air smelled of expensive whiskey and something more primal—power.

Victor Langston sat alone in an oversized leather chair, pouring himself a drink.

"Mr. Bishop," Langston greeted smoothly, using the alias Kai had adopted for this event. "That was quite the bold move."

Kai stepped forward, unshaken. "I find that bold moves tend to get results."

Langston chuckled, lifting his glass. "True. But they also tend to make enemies."

Kai took the empty seat across from him. "I assume you didn't call me here just to exchange philosophical insights?"

Langston's smirk widened. "You intrigue me, Mr. Bishop. I make it a rule to know everyone worth knowing, yet you remain… an enigma."

Kai met his gaze evenly. "Mystery has its advantages."

Langston took a sip of his whiskey before setting it down. "You just purchased something that doesn't belong to you." His voice remained calm, but there was a quiet threat beneath it.

Kai didn't blink. "That's the nature of an auction, isn't it? If you wanted it so badly, you should've bid higher."

A flicker of amusement crossed Langston's face. "Oh, I will have it. One way or another."

Kai leaned back, unfazed. "And here I thought you were going to offer a deal."

Langston exhaled, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "I could. After all, money is no object for someone like me."

Kai smirked. "If money were the only thing that mattered, you wouldn't be so upset right now."

For the first time, Langston's eyes darkened.

There it was—the first crack in his mask.

Langston leaned forward, his tone measured but deadly. "I don't think you understand, Mr. Bishop. That archive isn't something you can just hoard. It's a live wire—hold onto it too long, and it'll burn you alive."

Kai didn't move. Didn't react. "Then maybe you should be more worried about what I plan to do with it."

Silence hung between them.

Then, to Kai's surprise, Langston chuckled. "You have guts. I like that."

Kai remained silent, letting the tension build. In this kind of game, the one who spoke first lost.

Langston finally leaned back with a smirk. "Very well. Enjoy your victory tonight, Mr. Bishop. But remember—there are consequences for playing in a league above your weight class."

Kai stood, adjusting his jacket. "We'll see."

As he turned to leave, Langston's voice stopped him.

"Oh, and one last thing."

Kai glanced over his shoulder.

Langston's smile returned, but this time, it was razor-sharp. "You might want to keep an eye on that lovely companion of yours. Accidents have a way of happening… when you make the wrong enemies."

Kai's fingers twitched slightly. A warning? Or a declaration of war?

He didn't respond.

Instead, he walked out, already planning his next move.

Because if Langston thought he could intimidate him… he was in for a rude awakening.

---

Back to the War Room

As Kai returned to the main hall, Cassandra was already waiting for him, arms crossed. "Well?"

Kai exhaled. "Langston doesn't like losing."

Cassandra scoffed. "That's obvious."

Kai's eyes narrowed. "And he just made his first mistake."

Cassandra arched an eyebrow. "Which is?"

Kai smirked. "He thinks I'm playing his game."

Cassandra's lips curved into a slow, dangerous grin. "Then let's show him how wrong he is."

Because the real battle?

It was just getting started.

End of Chapter 14.