I sat in the dimly lit room, staring at the two corpses laid out before . Their skin had the waxy sheen of death, but remarkably preserved—no decay, no rot. Just empty vessels that once housed powerful warriors.
"What am I supposed to do with you?" I muttered, running my hand along the arm of one. "How can you help save Isabelle?"
My mind kept replaying Bancroft's words about the blood ritual. Isabelle, my Isabelle, being drained like so resource. The thought made my blood boil. And now Dominic had enhanced his powers using her blood. The gap between us was widening when I needed it to close.
I slamd my fist against the wall, cracking the plaster.
"Dammit!"
My current strength wasn't enough. The Veridia City Martial Guild housed countless experts. Dominic was now stronger than ever. And Isabelle remained locked away sowhere in their vast complex, subjected to their twisted experints.
I paced the room, my frustration building with each step. Ti was running out. Every day that passed was another day Isabelle suffered at their hands.
I glanced back at the corpses. I'd taken them from that ancient tomb weeks ago, sensing they were special sohow, but I hadn't figured out how to harness whatever power they possessed. They remained inert, useless.
"There has to be a way," I whispered. "I need more power. I need—"
A soft chuckle interrupted my thoughts.
"Talking to yourself? First sign of madness, they say."
I whirled around, blade in hand, only to find The Man with the Mustache lounging in the doorway, twirling his ridiculous facial hair between his fingers.
"How did you find ?" I demanded, not lowering my weapon.
He raised an eyebrow. "Please. You think I can't track a desperate man carrying two ancient corpses across the city? You weren't exactly subtle."
"What do you want?"
"The better question is what do you want?" He sauntered into the room, eyeing the corpses with undisguised interest. "These are quite the specins. Guardian Corpses of the Seventh Dynasty, if I'm not mistaken. Very rare. Very valuable."
I narrowed my eyes. "Guardian Corpses?"
"Indeed." He circled the bodies like a rchant appraising goods. "Created by the ancient Corpse Masters to serve as eternal guardians. Nearly indestructible when activated. Each one worth a small fortune to the right buyer."
"I don't want to sell them. I want to use them."
He paused, his eyes eting mine with newfound interest. "Use them? You an... control them?"
"Is that possible?"
The Man with the Mustache stroked his facial hair thoughtfully. "Perhaps. But it would require certain... items. Knowledge that few possess."
I stepped closer to him. "I need power. Fast. The Veridia City Martial Guild has Isabelle. They're using her blood for so twisted enhancent ritual."
"Ah, the Blood Heir program. Nasty business." He nodded knowingly. "Been going on for generations. Take soone with a special bloodline, drain them bit by bit, use their essence to enhance others."
"You know about this?" I asked, surprised.
"I make it my business to know things others don't." He tapped his nose. "Information is more valuable than gold in this city."
I gestured to the corpses. "Can I control these? Would they be strong enough to help against the Guild?"
The Man with the Mustache circled the bodies again, examining them more closely. "These particular specins? They'd be quite formidable if activated properly. Forr Martial Marquises, by my estimation. But controlling them..." He sucked air through his teeth. "That's the tricky part."
"I'll do whatever it takes," I said, desperation edging into my voice. "Just tell how."
"Well..." He hesitated, clearly enjoying dragging out the mont. "There's a mask. Ancient thing, tied to these corpses. It belonged to their forr master. With it, you could potentially command them."
My heart raced. "Where is this mask?"
"That's the problem." He sighed dramatically. "It was stolen decades ago. Last seen in the hands of a collector who disappeared into the Northern Wastes."
"So it's lost," I said flatly, disappointnt crushing my brief surge of hope.
"Not quite." His eyes glead. "I happen to know where it is now. Or rather, where it will be in three days' ti."
I grabbed his arm. "Where?"
He winced at my grip but smiled through it. "The Veridia City Martial Guild's Annual Auction. Item number 394. Listed simply as 'Antique Funerary Mask.'"
"The Guild has it?" I released him, mind racing with implications.
"Ironic, isn't it? The very people you want to fight against hold the key to your potential victory." He smoothed his ruffled sleeve. "But there's a catch."
"There always is with you." My Virtual Library Empire (*) thanks you for reading at the source.
"The mask is estimated to fetch around three billion at auction. And I want sothing being sold there too. The Midnight Fang Sword. It's expected to go for at least ten billion."
I scoffed. "Ten billion? I don't have that kind of money. And even if I did, I can't exactly walk into the Guild's auction. I'm supposed to be dead, rember?"
"Details, details." He waved dismissively. "I'm sure a resourceful fellow like yourself could find a solution."
"What's your interest in all this anyway?" I asked suspiciously. "Why tell about the mask? What's in it for you?"
The Man with the Mustache grinned. "I told you—I want the Midnight Fang Sword. You get that, and I'll tell you exactly how to control those corpses with the mask."
"Even if I sohow got the money, I can't access my accounts. The mont I try, the Guild would know I'm alive."
"That sounds like your problem, not mine." He shrugged. "No sword, no information. It's as simple as that."
I stared at him, my mind churning. The auction was in three days. There was no legitimate way I could get ten billion in that ti, let alone attend the event. But if what he said was true, that mask could give the power to finally rescue Isabelle.
"If I get you this sword," I said slowly, "you swear you'll tell everything about controlling these corpses?"
"Cross my heart." He made an exaggerated gesture across his chest. "Though I do wonder how you plan to acquire such funds on short notice."
A dangerous idea ford in my mind. The kind of idea that would either save Isabelle or get killed. Probably both.
"I don't need funds," I said, my voice hardening. "I'm going to steal it."
The Man with the Mustache's eyes widened, his trademark smirk faltering for the first ti. "Steal? From the Veridia City Martial Guild's auction? Are you insane? That's suicide!"
"You have a better idea?" I challenged.
"Actually, yes! Several! All of which don't involve certain death!" He threw his hands up. "The auction will be crawling with Martial Lords and Marquises. Their security is legendary. No one has ever successfully robbed them. Ever."
"Then I'll be the first."
He stared at as if I'd grown a second head. "You can't be serious."
"Dead serious." The irony of the phrase wasn't lost on . "The stuff of the Veridia City Martial Guild is worth stealing."
"Listen, I know you're desperate to save your girlfriend, but this is—"
"This isn't just about Isabelle anymore," I interrupted. "The Guild is using innocent people for their twisted experints. They've positioned themselves as the protectors of this city while preying on those they claim to protect. Soone needs to send them a ssage."
The Man with the Mustache ran his hand through his hair, looking genuinely concerned. "And that soone has to be you? What happened to the cautious man I t months ago?"
"He watched the woman he loves get abducted. He discovered a conspiracy that goes deeper than he ever imagined. And he realized that playing it safe won't save anyone."
We stood in silence for a mont, the weight of my decision hanging between us.
"You're really going to do this?" he finally asked.
"Yes."
He sighed deeply. "Then you're going to need help. A lot of help."
"Are you offering?"
"Gods, no!" He looked horrified at the suggestion. "I value my life too much to directly challenge the Guild. But I can provide information. Floor plans, security rotations, details about the auction items."
I nodded slowly. "That would be useful."
"And if—and this is a monuntally large if—you sohow succeed and get both the mask and the sword, I expect my paynt. The Midnight Fang Sword."
"Agreed."
He shook his head in disbelief. "I've t a lot of crazy people in my ti, but you might just top the list."
"I'll take that as a complint."
"It wasn't ant as one." He moved toward the door. "I'll gather what information I can about the auction. You... try not to get yourself killed before then."
After he left, I turned back to the corpses. In three days, I'd either have the ans to control them and save Isabelle, or I'd be joining them in death. Either way, the waiting was almost over.
I placed my hand on the cold chest of one of the Guardian Corpses.
"Soon," I promised. "Soon we'll all have purpose again."
---
The next morning, I found myself standing atop a building across from the Guild's main compound, watching their preparations for the upcoming auction. Supply wagons rolled through the gates, carrying expensive delicacies and decorations. Security teams patrolled the periter, their movents precise and coordinated.
"Quite the spectacle, isn't it?"
I didn't turn at the sound of The Man with the Mustache's voice behind . "Did you get the information?"
"So of it." He handed a rolled parchnt. "Guard rotations, entry points, basic floor plan of the auction hall."
I unrolled it, scanning the detailed drawings. "This is good."
"Don't get too excited. I couldn't get the vault locations or the exact security asures for the items. They keep those details close."
"It's a start."
He hesitated, then said, "There's sothing else you should know. The rumors say Dominic Ashworth will be acting as security for the event."
My jaw tightened. "After his blood enhancent ritual."
"Yes. The Guild wants to show him off—their newest success story. He's already boasting about how he'll catch the Black-Robed Reaper if you show your face."
"Let him boast," I muttered, rolling the parchnt back up. "It'll make it more satisfying when I take what I want right under his nose."
"You're really going through with this madness?" He shook his head in disbelief. "Even knowing he'll be there?"
"Especially knowing he'll be there." I turned to face him. "I want him to know it was . I want him to feel powerless when I walk away with both prizes."
The Man with the Mustache studied my face. "You've changed."
"Had to. The old couldn't save Isabelle."
"And you think the new you can?"
I looked back at the Guild compound. "I have to try. Every second I waste, she suffers."
He sighed heavily. "Well, if you're determined to commit suicide, you might as well do it thoroughly. The auction begins at sundown three days from now. Most items won't be presented until later in the evening."
"Including the mask and sword?"
"Yes. The most valuable items are always saved for last to build anticipation." He tapped the parchnt in my hand. "The security will be lightest during the opening speeches when everyone's attention is focused on the stage."
I nodded, already formulating a plan. "And the items? Where will they be kept before being brought out?"
"In secured chambers behind the main auction hall. Each guarded by at least two Martial Lords."
"Challenging, but not impossible."
The Man with the Mustache let out a bark of laughter. "Not impossible? Do you hear yourself? This is the most heavily guarded event in Veridia City! Every powerful person will be there, surrounded by their own security. And you think you can just waltz in and take two of the most valuable items?"
"No," I said calmly. "I think I'm going to cause so much chaos that no one will notice what I'm really after until it's too late."
His eyes narrowed. "What are you planning?"
"The less you know, the better. For your safety."
"My safety?" He scoffed. "If they connect to this in any way, I'm dead regardless of what I know."
I turned to him fully. "Then why help at all? Why take the risk?"
Sothing flashed across his face—an emotion I couldn't quite identify. "Let's just say I have my own reasons for wanting to see the Guild taken down a peg."
I studied him for a mont, sensing there was more to his story than he let on. But now wasn't the ti to press.
"Three days," I said instead. "Get whatever additional information you can by then."
"And if I can't?"
"Then I'll work with what I have."
He shook his head again. "You know, most people would see these obstacles and choose another path."
"I'm not most people."
"Clearly." He started to leave, then paused. "One more thing. The auction guest list is extrely exclusive. Even if you sohow disguise yourself, you'll need credentials to get in."
"I'll figure sothing out."
As he walked away, I returned my attention to the Guild compound. Three days to plan the impossible. Three days to prepare for a heist that could change everything.
But as daunting as the task seed, a strange calm had settled over . For weeks, I'd been reacting to the Guild's moves, always one step behind. Now, finally, I was taking action. Making them react to .
"Hold on, Isabelle," I whispered. "I'm coming for you. No matter what it takes."
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