The aftermath of my sword strike was absolute chaos. Debris rained from the ceiling as the energy of my Second sh continued to pulse through the building''s foundation. Through the settling dust, I searched for Julian Radford''s body among his fallenpanions.


    He wasn''t there.


    "Coward," I muttered, scanning the destruction around me. The two ck and gold-robed Marquisesy motionless in the rubble, but Julian had fled, abandoning his own men to save himself. Typical Guild behavior.


    I didn''t have time to search for him. The building wasing apart, and Julian would undoubtedly summon reinforcements. I needed to move quickly.


    The remaining guests had scattered like frightened mice, screaming as they fought to escape the copsing auction hall. I strode toward the host, who cowered behind his overturned podium.


    "Where are the auction items?" I demanded, grabbing him by the cor.


    His face drained of color. "P-please... don''t kill me."


    I pressed my de against his throat. "I won''t ask again."


    "Back room!" he squeaked, pointing to a door behind the stage. "Everything''s in there! The key is in my pocket!"


    I fished out the key and shoved him aside. "If you value your life, run."


    He didn''t need to be told twice.


    The back room was a treasure trove—shelves lined with artifacts and weapons waiting to be auctioned. I swept everything into my spatial ring without bothering to examine each piece. Time was my enemy now.


    A long sword caught my eye—in-looking but emanating a faint energy that resonated with my qi. I grabbed it along with the rest of the items. Something told me it might be more valuable than it appeared.


    As I finished clearing the shelves, I felt a tremor run through the building. The structural damage from my sh was spreading. I needed to leave—now.


    Meanwhile, across the city, Julian Radford burst into Darian Bancroft''s office, his remaining arm clutching his wounded side.


    "We''ve been attacked!" he shouted, his voice cracking. "The auction—it''s beenpromised!"


    Darian Bancroft rose from his desk, his imposing figure towering over Julian. "Exin."


    "A man in ck robes—he ughtered our guards and stole the auction items," Julian gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "He used some kind of devastating sword technique. I barely escaped with my life!"


    "And yourpanions?"


    Julian''s eyes dropped to the floor. "They... didn''t make it."


    Darian''s face darkened. "So you fled while they fought?"


    "I came to alert you!" Julian protested weakly. "We need to mobilize the Guild''s forces immediately. He can''t have gotten far!"


    Darian mmed his fist on the desk, cracking the solid wood. "Do you understand what you''ve done? A Guild-sanctioned event attacked, our members killed, and our reputation tarnished—all under your watch!"


    "I had no choice!" Julian''s voice rose defensively. "His power was beyond anything I''ve faced before!"


    "Enough excuses," Darian growled. "Gather a team. We leave immediately."


    I slipped out of the auction hall through a side exit, moving swiftly through the shadows. The sounds of panic echoed behind me as the building continued to crumble. In the distance, I could hear the wail of emergency whistles—the Guild''s response teams were on their way.


    I nced back once. Julian must have gone straight to his superiors. They would be hunting me soon.


    As I navigated the dark alleys of Veridia City, a movement caught my eye. A figure huddled in the shadows, trying to remain hidden.


    Julian Radford.


    Our eyes met briefly. Fear shed across his face as he recognized me, even with my mask in ce. He was probably supposed to be dying me until reinforcements arrived, but his courage had failed him again.


    I could kill him now—one less problem to worry aboutter. My hand tightened on my sword hilt.


    But the approaching sounds of Guild enforcers changed my mind. Julian wasn''t worth the time it would take to finish him. My priority was escape.


    I vanished into the night, leaving Julian trembling in the shadows.


    Minutester, Darian Bancroft arrived at the scene with a formidable entourage of Guild elites. The auction hall had partially copsed, and survivors were still being pulled from the wreckage.


    "By the gods," one of Darian''s lieutenants whispered as they surveyed the destruction. "What kind of power could do this?"


    Darian''s eyes narrowed as he examined the massive sword mark that had nearly bisected the building. "Where is Julian?" he demanded.


    "Here, sir." Julian emerged from the shadows, his posture hunched.


    Mariana Valerius stood among the gathering crowd, her elegant robes untouched by the chaos. "Interesting," she remarked loudly enough for all to hear, "how the Guild''s representative managed to survive unscathed while his subordinates perished."


    Julian flinched as other auction attendees joined in.


    "He ran the moment the fighting started!"


    "Left his own men to die!"


    "Is this what the mighty Veridia City Martial Guild has be? Cowards who abandon their posts?"


    Darian''s face twisted with fury and embarrassment. The public humiliation was as damaging as the attack itself. "Enough!" he roared. "This situation is under Guild jurisdiction. Everyone clear the area immediately!"


    As the crowd dispersed, Darian addressed the remaining guests with forcedposure. "The Guild apologizes for this unfortunate incident. Rest assured, we will apprehend the culprit and recover all stolen items. Your cooperation in this matter will not be forgotten."


    When thest of the witnesses had departed, Darian turned on Julian, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You''ve disgraced us tonight."


    "I did what any reasonable person would do!" Julian protested. "That man was beyond our capability to handle. I came to get reinforcements!"


    "After running like a frightened child?" Darian hissed. "Tell me, did you even attempt to stop him from stealing the items?"


    Julian''s face flushed with anger. "I''ve served this Guild faithfully for twenty years! I''ve bled for the Guild, killed for the Guild, sacrificed my own arm for the Guild! And what have I received in return? Empty promises and impossible assignments!"


    "Watch your tongue," Darian warned.


    "No, you watch yours!" Julian''s voice rose, years of resentment finally boiling over. "You sit in yourfortable office while sending others to die. When was thest time you risked your life on a mission? When was thest time you faced an enemy who could tear you apart with a single sword strike?"


    Darian''s eyes narrowed dangerously. "This insubordination will not be tolerated."


    "Neither will your ipetence," Julian shot back. "You promised me a seat on the Council five years ago. Instead, I''m still running errands like somemon foot soldier!"


    "Enough!" Darian''s voice echoed through the ruined hall. "Return to headquarters and await further instructions. Your behavior tonight will be addressed at ater time."


    As Julian stalked away, Darian turned to his lieutenants. "Find this ck-robed attacker. I want him alive if possible, but dead is eptable. No one humiliates the Guild and lives to boast about it."


    I arrived back at the safehouse well after midnight, my body aching from the exertion of using the Second sh. The small building stood silent on the outskirts of the city, away from prying eyes.


    Inside, The Man with the Mustache paced anxiously beside arge wooden coffin in the center of the room. He jumped when I entered, his hand flying to the ornate dagger at his belt.


    "It''s just me," I said, removing my mask.


    He visibly rxed, though his eyes remained wide with worry. "Did you get everything?"


    I emptied my spatial ring onto the table, revealing dozens of artifacts and items from the auction. "Everyst piece."


    The Man with the Mustache quickly sorted through the pile, his fingers moving with practiced precision. "Excellent, excellent," he muttered, setting aside certain pieces while discarding others.


    "You didn''t tell me Julian Radford would be there," I said, unable to keep the usation from my voice.


    He didn''t look up from his work. "Would it have made a difference?"


    "I could have been better prepared."


    "Yet you seeded anyway." He paused, holding up the in-looking sword I''d grabbed at thest moment. "Ah, you found it. Very good."


    "What is it?"


    "Something more valuable than it appears." He set it aside carefully. "How many Guild members did you eliminate?" <i ss="ref-156332">Brought to you by *.</i>


    "Two Military Marquises. Julian escaped."


    The Man with the Mustache frowned. "Unfortunate. He''ll report everything to Darian Bancroft."


    "He already has," I said. "They''ll be hunting us by morning."


    "Then we''d better work quickly." He gestured toward the coffin. "Did you bring everything on the list?"


    I nodded, pulling out the specific items he''d requested: a jade pendant, a vial of amber liquid, and several rare herbs. "It wasn''t easy. Some of these were heavily guarded."


    "Yet here they are." His mustache twitched with a hint of a smile. "Your skills continue to impress me, Liam."


    I ignored thepliment and looked at the coffin. "Is that where they are?"


    He nodded solemnly. "Two perfectly preserved male corpses, as promised."


    I''d been avoiding thinking about this part of the n. The idea of using dead bodies for any purpose left a bad taste in my mouth, but I''de too far to turn back now. Isabelle''s life depended on our sess.


    The Man with the Mustache must have sensed my hesitation. "Having second thoughts?"


    "No," I said firmly. "I''mmitted to whatever it takes."


    I approached the coffin and ced my hands on its rough wooden surface. "I brought the things back for you, now you should tell me how to use the two male corpses."