Zen’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as Willow explained the details. “So, Silas Wales owns Policy Entertainment?” he asked, his voice calm but carrying a sprinkle of irritation.“Yes,” Willow confirmed. “We only found out after re-examining the case. He’s been using actresses from the company to sweeten his business deals—one of his many schemes to get ahead.”Zen’s face hardened, his jaw clenching with disgust. “That’s revolting. I should’ve given him a worse beating last time,” he muttered.“Well, there’s also something I must say,” Willow advised carefully. “The Wales family is known for being ruthless. The fact that they haven’t responded yet likely means they’re letting Silas handle his own mess. If you escalate things, it could draw the entire family’s ire.”Zen snorted, his eyes narrowing. “Do you think I’m afraid of them? How dare you underestimate me?”“Ah—” Willow came back to reality, but Zen cut her off sharply.“I’ve heard enough.” He ended the call with a swipe, s
As Sinclair’s car glided smoothly along the road, Zen took in the changing scenery through the window. The city’s vibrant lights began to fade, replaced by the lush greenery and tranquility of the outskirts. Sinclair, sitting opposite him, began to explain.“Welcome to Fairy Island. You know, Chief, Fairy Island is also owned by the Albrecht family,” Sinclair said, breaking the silence. “This estate made them one of the major players in the world of elite estates. To the point that it got separated from the rankings of best estates in the city.”Zen’s interest was piqued. “The Albrecht family again, huh? What makes Fairy Island so special?”Sinclair glanced briefly at Zen. “Fairy Island is a massive luxury estate, no one knows much about the person who designed Fairy island but when the land was bought and the high society saw the blueprint, Albrecht was the first family to see the vision. They hold a significant margin of shares in several major industries, which gives them unparalle
The auction hall was abuzz with anticipation, the tension could be felt as the first item of the evening was revealed. From Room A, a shadowy figure watched intently, their presence barely noticeable behind the opaque glass. In Room C, another cloaked figure peered through the transparent barrier, their gaze fixed on the auction floor below. Room B, reserved for the patriarch of the Wales family, was where the real action seemed to be unfolding.As the first item was wheeled onto the stage, the crowd's murmur grew into excited whispers. It was a lavishly decorated antique clock, its golden frame encrusted with jewels. The auctioneer, with a radiant flair, began the bidding."Opening bid for this exquisite timepiece is set at one million dollars," he announced, his voice echoing through the hall.In Room B, the patriarch of the Wales family, a tall, imposing man with a steely gaze, watched the proceedings. His guards, dressed in sharp suits, flanked him closely."Ten million," the patr
As the auctioneer stepped back up to the podium, his voice amplified and echoed through the grand hall. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, with a sly smile on his lips, "we now come to the final item of the evening, a treasure of unparalleled significance, as I had earlier said. Hidden away by none other than the God of War himself, the Monarch of Death." A murmur swept through the crowd, almost instantly. In Room D, Zen’s eyes narrowed, and his posture straightened. Sinclair, standing beside him, leaned in closer, his voice was nearly a whisper. “Chief, is this what I think it is? The box—what’s inside it?”Zen remained silent, his expression unreadable, eyes fixed on the auctioneer. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “How did they find the box? It was hidden away so carefully, so many years ago,” Zen thought to himself.The auctioneer raised his hand, signaling for silence. "The bidding will start at one hundred million dollars."A hush fell over the room. For a moment, ther
Back in Room D, Sinclair stood behind Zen, as they both watched the hall. “So, Chief,” he said, his tone was light but his eyes serious, “what’s the plan now? You’ve got the box. What are you going to do with it?” Zen didn’t answer right away. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze distant. “First,” he said slowly, “we find out who leaked the box and how they managed to get it here. Then…we deal with them.” Sinclair nodded, his smile fading. He knew better than to press Zen for more details. The man had a way of revealing only what he wanted, and Sinclair had learned long ago to trust his instincts. As the crowd began to disperse, the energy in the room slowly settled back into a steady hum, Zen’s thoughts were already turning to the next move. After the auction concluded, the hall slowly began to empty. Zen and Sinclair made their way downstairs, the opulence of the venue was very much evident in every marble pillar and crystal chandelier. Their steps echoe
Zen and Sinclair got into a private room just off the main hall. The room was sparsely furnished, with a single table and two chairs under the dim glow of a chandelier. The thick wooden door clicked shut behind them, muffling the sounds of the ongoing auction outside. As Sinclair placed the chest on the table, Zen pulled off his gloves and flexed his fingers, his gaze locked on the box. “Well,” Sinclair said, a hint of anticipation in his voice, “Let’s see what’s inside this thing that was worth twenty billion.”Zen smirked, leaning forward as he slowly unlatched the chest. The hinges creaked softly as the lid lifted, revealing a dark, empty interior. Sinclair stared at the empty space, his mouth agape. “What the hell? It’s empty!”Zen chuckled, shaking his head. “Of course, it’s empty. It would only be empty if someone had already gotten to it first.”Sinclair stumbled back, his face pale. “Twenty billion, Chief! You just spent twenty billion on an empty box! Do you think the aucti
They barely made it a few steps before bumping into a woman in a sharp, tailored suit. She was standing right in their path, her posture rigid, her face obscured by a sleek mask with gold detailing. Sinclair was quick to speak. "Hey, move it," he snapped, a hint of irritation in his voice.But Zen raised a hand, followed by a smirk playing at his lips as he recognized the poised figure before them. "You're quite the superstar these days, Keisha. I hardly see you anymore."Keisha removed her mask with a practiced grace, revealing a calm, composed expression that seemed almost serene amidst the chaos of the auction. Her lips curled into a slight smile. "Well, when my boss decides that blowing twenty billion on a chest is his idea of fun, I have to stay busy."Sinclair’s eyes widened in surprise. "Keisha!" he exclaimed, realizing who she was. He didn’t expect to see her there, let alone hear her speak so casually about the staggering sum Zen had just spent.Zen chuckled softly, unfazed.
The soft hum of the car engine was drowned out by the news blaring from the radio. “Breaking news from Fairy Island: the Albrecht family has recorded their highest surge in income in a single day—twenty billion dollars.” Zen leaned forward and switched off the radio with a flick of his wrist, his expression unreadable as he took of his mask. “No mention of the auction hall,” he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. He turned to Sinclair, who was seated next to him, a thoughtful look on his face. “Why wasn’t the auction mentioned? They made it sound like it came from nowhere.”Sinclair shrugged, leaning back in his seat. “These sorts of things, the general public doesn’t need that kind of information. The allure of Fairy Island is its mystery. People are drawn to it because it’s like a dream—a place where anything can happen. Keeping details under wraps keeps that dream alive for 90% of the citizens.”Zen nodded, his fingers drumming lightly against his knee. “I suppose you’r