The rest of the guests murmured between themselves as the announcement of the item being sold was drowned out for a moment.Moments later the auctioneer, sensing the crowd's anticipation, raised his hands for silence."Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for a special announcement," he proclaimed. "The mistress of the Blue Horizon, the Merchant herself has prepared a unique surprise for our esteemed guests."The statement immediately caught the attention of every single guest, Arthur included and his brows furrowed slightly.It seemed it was time.The lights in the hall dimmed, and a spotlight illuminated the stage. From the shadows, a familiar masked figure emerged—a woman with an air of command and mystery. That woman was none other than the Merchant. She was dressed in a sleek, black gown, but even with the different outfit and mask design, Arthur couldn't make the mistake of not recognising her anywhere."Welcome, honored guests," she began, her voice smooth, alluring and confident.

He took a sip, the burn of the liquor grounding him in the moment. “We stick to the plan, Henri. Tonight was just the first move. Tomorrow, we’ll be ready for whatever she throws at us.”His associate nodded, though the worry in his eyes remained. “And what of your colleague, Seer was it? How do you plan to get him off this ship?”Arthur set the glass down, his mind already rounding up his strategy. “We’ll keep him under the radar until we reach the mainland, after all we don't get a hold of him until the ship docks. But first, we need to find out what the Merchant’s next move is. She won’t stop with Seer. She knows I’m here, and she’s looking for a way to draw me out.”As if on cue, a soft knock echoed through the cabin door. Arthur’s hand instantly moved to his lips to wordlessly tell Henri to remain silent as he approached the door cautiously. He opened it a crack, just enough to see the face of the young woman standing outside. She was one of the ship’s attendants, dressed in the

“I heard that apparently the Merchant has the backing of a very powerful group within the empire. I don't know how true this is as I heard it during the auction but…” Henri trailed off towards the end of the statement, gauging the pros and cons of bringing up news with such questionable sources.But the response the foreign businessman had no expectations of was one he received.“It is true, they are indeed backed by a powerful organization.” He replied calmly, almost nonchalantly even.His expression, tone coupled together with his message, stunned his associate who took a seat in order to fully grasp what was going on.“And do you perhaps know who they are?” Henri asked, his tone a mixture of curiosity and concern.Arthur’s lips curled into a faint, almost mocking smile. “The Hughes family,” he stated, his tone dripping with disdain. “They’re like a rotting tree—they appear strong on the outside but hollow within. They’ll fall, just like the rest.”Henri’s brow furrowed as he took i

The final night aboard the Blue Horizon was electric, the atmosphere crackling with anticipation as the last auction for the year commenced. The grand ballroom, a space of opulent decadence, was once again filled with a select few among the elite of society, their eyes gleaming with the thrill of acquisition. The auctioneer, a poised figure with a voice honed for such occasions, began the night by presenting a series of exotic and forbidden items; relics from lost civilizations and fallen governments, creatures thought extinct, and other treasures that could only be obtained through shadowy channels. And the value of the items auctioned off was so immense that merely acquiring such raised the owners status within society and even amongst the upper echelon.Arthur Rhyfel, who at that moment posed as Aaron Rose, stood beside Henri Lefevre, the man who he played the role of his bodyguard, his posture relaxed but his mind alert. His sharp eyes swept across the room, noting every detai

But not Arthur.Not the war god himself.He smiled faintly beneath his mask, his thoughts calm and detached. The truth was, he simply didn’t use such weapons because he didn’t need to.The Merchant’s voice cut through the tense silence. “These men,” she announced, gesturing to the guards, “are the best of the best. Elite soldiers, trained to perfection. You, Aaron Rose, will find no mercy here.”Arthur didn’t respond. There was no need. His silence was louder than any retort, a declaration of his confidence in the face of overwhelming odds.The guards moved in unison, a well-coordinated strike aimed at bringing him down swiftly and efficiently. But as they lunged at him, the biggest shock for those present, those who had merely heard of the war god's tales but had never witnessed them in person.The initial excitement among the guests quickly turned to a mix of awe and confusion. What had started as a spectacle soon became something else entirely. Arthur’s movements were a blur, alm