Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
Then ca the afternoon’s highlight items—the truly rare pieces that drew the most serious attention.
The auctioneer’s voice took on additional gravity as she announced the next offering.
"A truly exceptional item now. Seed of Origin, mystical catalyst capable of awakening a second Art affinity in practitioners who currently possess only one. This is a standard Seed of Origin, not a Great Seed, which ans it functions for single-affinity practitioners seeking dual capabilities."
The reaction was imdiate and intense.
Conversations ceased.
Attention focused absolutely on the central platform where the Seed rested in a secured display case, its mystical energy visible even through the containnt wards.
Rey leaned forward despite himself, his enhanced perception examining the Seed carefully.
It was legitimate—a genuine Seed of Origin, exactly the kind of transformative resource he’d been seeking. Not as powerful as a Great Seed that could grant third or fourth affinities, but perfect for his needs. With this, he could develop a second Art affinity to supplent his Chaos Art, dramatically expanding his capabilities.
"This item is offered by the Red House," the auctioneer announced. "Starting bid: five million Nether currency."
The bidding erupted.
Multiple Houses competed imdiately, driving the price upward in rapid incrents. Independent buyers joined in, so bidding on behalf of wealthy clients who weren’t present. Even a few disguised Nobles participated, their desire for the Seed overcoming their caution about illegal acquisition.
Rey watched the bidding carefully, tracking which of his planted buyers was supposed to secure this item.
According to his arrangents, the White Tulip House would bid on behalf of his anonymous client’s identity. They had a budget of up to thirty million Nether currency with instructions to secure the Seed regardless of competition.
The price climbed: fifteen million, eighteen million, twenty-two million.
Several bidders dropped out as the cost exceeded their resources. But the White Tulip’s representative remained active, thodically outbidding each new offer with the confidence of soone operating with deep pockets.
Twenty-eight million. Thirty million. Thirty-two million.
Finally, the last competing bidder—a Purple Orchid representative who’d been driving the price up—withdrew with evident reluctance.
"Sold to bidder seventy-three for thirty-two million Nether currency!" the auctioneer declared.
Bidder seventy-three was one of the White Tulip’s shell identities. Which ant Rey had successfully acquired the Seed of Origin through his network, exactly as planned.
’Perfect,’ Rey thought with satisfaction. ’The most critical objective achieved.’
Unfortunately for him, however, this transaction held significance for another observing party.
—The Special Investigators.
In the surveillance post, alarms were triggering across multiple analysis systems.
"The Seed of Origin," Selene said sharply, her attention fixing on the transaction. "Pull up the background on that sale."
Thane manipulated controls, bringing up docuntation. "Listed by the Red House. Wait—this is interesting. According to the records, this Seed was supposed to be sold privately to a Noble client about months ago. Lord Ashton of the Ashton Barony. But the sale never completed."
"Why not?" Marcus asked.
"Let check." Thane accessed deeper records, cross-referencing with their investigation database. "The paynt was supposed to be delivered by a ssenger from the Ashton estate. But... the ssenger is listed as missing. Disappeared en route approximately two weeks ago, along with the paynt he was carrying."
Selene’s eyes narrowed. "So the private sale fell through due to non-paynt, and the Red House decided to auction the item instead to recoup their investnt."
"The timing is suspicious," Marcus observed. "Two weeks ago would be right around when we tightened the noose on Elkrim and decided to kickstart the Auction."
Selene pulled up their intelligence on Red House operations.
"And who oversees the Red House stores where this Seed would have been held?"
"Modred Helt," Thane confird. "He was appointed to that position shortly after joining the organization."
The pieces clicked into place with damning clarity.
"It’s him," Selene stated with absolute certainty. "Modred Helt is our perpetrator. He joined the Red House, arranged for the Noble’s ssenger to disappear, ensured the private sale fell through, then held the Seed for auction knowing he could acquire it through interdiaries."
Marcus looked skeptical. "We’ve been watching Helt. He has alibis for every significant event. We even surveilled him during the Fanged Serpent operation and saw nothing suspicious."
"Because he’s been operating through proxies and clones the entire ti," Selene countered. "The pattern is clear—he infiltrated the Red House to gain access to the Dark Comrce District’s infrastructure. He eliminated the Fanged Serpent to remove threats to his cover. He distributed Desgarron rchandise through multiple sellers to obscure the source. And now he’s acquiring the Seed of Origin through a shell buyer while maintaining an alibi elsewhere."
She turned to Thane. "Where is Modred Helt right now? According to his supposed alibi?"
Thane checked their surveillance feeds. "At a Red House administrative eting in district six. Multiple witnesses confirming his presence, surveillance capturing his image. He’s docunted as being nowhere near the auction."
"Which is exactly what he wants us to believe," Selene said. "But that Seed of Origin is his objective—the one item he couldn’t acquire through any other thod. He’s here, sowhere in this crowd, probably heavily disguised. And we cannot let him leave this building with that Seed."
She activated ergency communication protocols, her voice carrying absolute authority.
"Priority alert: suspect identified as Modred Helt of the Red House. He’s in the auction hall under disguise. Objective is to acquire the Seed of Origin just purchased by bidder seventy-three. Locate him, capture him, and prevent him from leaving with the Seed at all costs."
Marcus and Thane were already moving, activating enhanced perception techniques and pulling up every surveillance angle they had on the auction hall.
"Sweep every attendee," Marcus said grimly. "He’ll be using heavy disguise, but we know what to look for—soone watching the Seed transaction too carefully, soone positioned to intercept it during delivery, soone whose mystical signature doesn’t quite match their appearance."
"And seal the building," Selene ordered. "No one leaves until we’ve verified they’re not our suspect. This is a Category S Guard operation—we have the authority."
The hunt had entered its final phase.
The trap had finally sprung.
And this ti, there would be no escape.
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