Chapter 28
Author: Manuel Sterling
last update2024-08-31 10:44:36

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
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    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

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    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.

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    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

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    “Keisha!” Zen’s voice sliced through the room with a commanding tone.Keisha turned swiftly, her usually calm expression attentive. “Yes, Chief?”Zen took a slow step towards her, his eyes fixed with a calculating stare. “I need you to respond to Malia. Tell her we’re willing to lend her the money she needs for ‘Operation: Sky City’ but on one condition.”Keisha raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. “What’s the condition?” she asked, curiosity lacing her tone.Zen’s lips curled into a sly smile. “We’ll tell her that we’ll start reclaiming our loan from the profits generated by the city they’ll build. It sounds beneficial, right? Like a fair deal.”Sinclair, sitting nearby, leaned forward, his interest piqued. “That does sound fair. What’s the catch?”Zen’s smile widened, the devious glint in his eyes becoming more pronounced. “The loophole is this: the contract will specify ‘profits from when they build the city.’ But we won’t wait until it’s completed. We’ll start demanding

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    Zen watched through a narrow opening in the door as the other interns buzzed around the ward. They were all busy with their tasks, some carefully preparing tinctures, while others mixed herbs. There was an air of quiet concentration, interrupted only by the occasional clatter of a jar or the muttered instructions of a more experienced nurse. He observed them for a moment longer, then turned his attention back to Tasha as they finished up their own tasks.Tasha glanced at Zen, noticing his gaze drifting towards the other interns. "Want me to introduce you to the others?" she asked, gesturing toward the group.Zen shook his head, his expression indifferent. “No need. I don’t want to bother myself with remembering names.”One of the interns overheard and looked up, scoffing. “He sounds like a rich kid.”Another intern, without looking up from his work, added, “Yeah, that’s how they all are. Snobbish.”Zen’s lips curled into a faint smile, finding their assumptions amusing. He wasn’t offe

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    As they weaved through the bustling crowd, Rosalia led Zen with a firm grip on his arm. The grand hall echoed with laughter and chatter, but the moment she approached a group of older men standing at the center, the noise seemed to diminish. Zen could feel the weight of every gaze in the room. "Come," Rosalia whispered, pulling him closer. "I want you to meet my grandfather, the patriarch of the Albrecht family."Zen’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t say a word. He followed her with a relaxed posture. As they reached the group, Zen found himself standing before the Big Four—powerful men whose influence stretched across the country.Rosalia's grandfather, a tall man with a deceptively cheerful face, stepped forward, his smile was wide. “Rosalia, my dear,” he greeted warmly, his voice carrying an air of authority. “Grandfather,” Rosalia said, with a respectful but light tone. “I’d like you to meet Tom.”Zen stood his ground, unbending, unbowed. No gestures of respect, no nods. J

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