Chapter 25: The Auction of Kings

The night of the auction arrived with an ominous storm rolling over the city, thick clouds swallowing the moon. Rain pounded the pavement, drumming against the glass skyscrapers like an impatient warning. This was no ordinary night. Power was about to shift hands. Lives would be lost. Fortunes would be shattered.

And Liam Velasco stood at the center of it all.

The Grand Dominion Hotel—an architectural marvel of luxury—stood like a throne in the heart of the city. Inside its grand ballroom, the world's most powerful and dangerous figures gathered. Tonight, the empire that once ruled both the corporate world and the underworld was up for auction.

Liam adjusted the cuffs of his perfectly tailored black suit. The weight of the Diamond Card in his pocket was a reminder of what was at stake. This was his one weapon against the predators circling the Velasco legacy.

At his side, Alec Donovan—his closest ally, former intelligence officer, and the only man he trusted—let out a low whistle.

"Security's no joke tonight," Alec muttered. His sharp eyes scanned the room. "Snipers on the rooftops. Hidden guards. Every move is being watched."

Liam gave a small smirk. "Good. That means they're afraid."

Afraid of him.

But in reality, Liam wasn't here to win the auction. He was here to burn everything down.

---

Inside the grand ballroom, gold chandeliers cast a warm glow over a sea of silk, diamonds, and deadly ambition. Conversations were hushed, but the tension was electric. Every person here had come for the same thing—control over the fallen Velasco Empire.

Liam's eyes flickered over the guests.

Lucian Hawthorne – A ruthless billionaire, sitting with a platinum card in hand. His gray eyes were cold, calculating. A man who had built his fortune by devouring his enemies.

Seraphina Caldwell – The enigmatic heiress, dressed in a stunning midnight-blue gown. She held a Black Deluxe Card, the second-highest in the hierarchy. She met Liam's gaze and smirked. Dangerous. Unpredictable.

Dante Velasco's 'Ghost' – A shadowy figure in the farthest corner. No introduction. No history. But Liam could feel it—this man was not a spectator. He was a player.

A deep voice echoed through the ballroom, silencing the murmurs.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Tonight, history will be rewritten."

The masked auctioneer stepped onto the grand stage. Behind him, massive screens lit up, displaying a list of assets—corporate shares, hidden vaults, offshore accounts, private military contracts.

At the very bottom of the list, the final item appeared:

"The Legacy Vault—Unrestricted Control Over the Velasco Empire."

A wave of whispers spread through the crowd. This was more than just wealth. This was absolute power.

And Liam knew—whoever won this wouldn't just control an empire. They would control the entire city.

The auctioneer lifted his hand.

"Let the bidding begin."

---

The bidding started low.

Base Card Holders—the lowest-tier bidders—threw out their offers first, but their numbers were laughable.

Silver and Gold Cards came next, their figures climbing into the millions.

Platinum Holders raised the stakes, their bids climbing into billions.

Lucian Hawthorne leaned forward, his smirk confident. "Three billion."

Seraphina Caldwell, elegant yet lethal, raised her hand. "Five billion."

Liam remained silent. He wasn't here to bid. He was here to watch them tear each other apart.

But then—the shadow in the corner moved.

A single black card was raised.

A deep, familiar voice spoke.

"Ten billion."

A silence thicker than the storm outside swallowed the room.

Liam's fingers curled into fists. That voice… that voice was impossible.

It belonged to a man who should have been dead.

---

The masked auctioneer hesitated. The weight of a ten-billion bid was enough to make even the wealthiest men sweat.

But Liam wasn't sweating. He was frozen.

Alec leaned in, voice low. "Do we abort?"

Liam took a slow breath. No. Not yet.

Instead, he did something that sent shockwaves through the room.

He stood.

And pulled out the Diamond Card.

The obsidian surface gleamed under the chandelier light. A card above all others.

He lifted it high.

"Unlimited."

Gasps rippled through the ballroom. The game had changed.

Lucian's smirk vanished. Seraphina's lips parted in surprise. Even the masked auctioneer faltered.

Liam's voice rang clear, steady.

"I don't bid. I take."

And then—the lights cut out.

A scream rang through the darkness.

The auction had just turned into a battlefield.

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