The Unadorned Sovereign

Chapter 10. Shadow Veil

As if suspended in time, the footsteps paused. Liam held his breath, his body frozen in place, his entire being focused on the sound. He could hear the gang's leader, a skinny man with an air of authority, uttering curses under his breath. The gravity of their situation hung in those words, a promise of harsh retribution.

"Where is he?" the leader's voice was tinged with a dangerous edge, the threat of violence lurking beneath the surface.

As the tension escalated, Liam's senses were suddenly engulfed by a familiar sensation – a notification window popped into existence. His heart raced as the words unfolded before him, announcing that one of his game boys had been sold at a rapid pace. He clenched his fists, silently urging the system to let him purchase the concealment skill if he had enough money.

Liam's breath caught as one of the group members, a silhouette framed by dim lamplight, approached. Every footfall seemed to reverberate through the air, each