164 THE HEART OF RA
"Welco to Silver City," Arom said with a smile that looked more rehearsed than sincere.
His tailored silver-gray suit glead under the do's filtered light, and his thin eyes narrowed just enough to betray his disdain.
Zairgid returned the gesture with equal precision—his own plastic smile. They exchanged handshakes that lasted a heartbeat too long.
After a few minutes of polite small talk, Arom finally excused himself, leaving his entourage of assistants to escort Zairgid and his companions to their hotel.
As they walked through the terminal, Dan leaned closer and whispered, "Why is Arom here? I thought he vanished months ago."
Zairgid exhaled sharply through his nose. "My father banished him here after he found out he was scheming behind his back."
Dan frowned. "So that's where he went—Silver City."
"Yes. He ca here to manage our Aukouma Auction branch, the one responsible for trading ta-artifacts. The business is not bad." Then his tone hardened. "Ignore him if he becos rude. We still need him to organize the upcoming auction."
Dan nodded silently, but his instincts told him this wouldn't be the last ti they crossed paths with Arom Aukouma.
-----
A large truck rumbled through the gates of Aukouma Auction, Silver City. Zairgid ca down to receive it just as Liorea and Kail jumped out.
"Where did you steal this truck?" Zairgid whispered under his breath.
Liorea smirked. "We didn't steal it. It was parked nearby, so we borrowed it to deliver the ta artifacts. I can't exactly show these people that I used spatial dinsion to bring them here."
Zairgid nodded with approval.
Liorea's power was rare and unique — the kind that attracted unwanted attention. If too many knew she could manipulate space itself, hiding anything in front of them would beco impossible.
A woman in a dark suit and high heels approached, flanked by two assistants. She inspected each crate carefully, marking notes on her data pad before ordering the goods to be sent into the auction vault.
When she finished, she turned to Zairgid.
"Sir, all the ta-artifacts have been docunted and secured," she reported crisply.
Zairgid didn't glance at her data pad. His eyes lingered on her instead.
"What's your na?" he asked.
The woman blinked, surprised. "Erm… Kassely. I'm the auction manager."
"Good," Zairgid said with a faint smile. "I'll be seeing more of you soon."
He turned away with his friends, leaving Kassely slightly flushed.
-----
Later, the auction began.
They sat in their own private suite overlooking the grand chambers below. Auctions in Silver City weren't like those in lrose — there, they were parties for the rich.
Here, they were business.
Eight holo-screens flickered to life before them, each showing one of the simultaneous auction halls. Custors could bid openly in the halls or privately from suites like theirs.
"This is interesting," Kail said, leaning forward. "Everything's done electronically. Aren't you afraid of being hacked?"
Kassely, who had been assigned to attend to their suite, replied smoothly, "We have the most secure system Silver City can buy. Multiple failsafe layers. It's not easy to cheat in our auction unless we et a Quantum Mind."
"Quantum Mind? What happens if a Quantum Mind hacks your system?" Dan asked.
"The SIA would be notified imdiately, and they would send a team to deal with the intrusion. A Quantum Mind wouldn't risk being found here
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