"Jesus!" The Man with the Mustache nearly jumped out of his skin when I appeared behind him. He clutched his chest dramatically, his eyes wide with shock. "Make some noise when you approach, will you? My poor heart can''t take these surprises!"


    I rolled my eyes. His exaggerated reaction seemed suspicious, like he''d been doing something he shouldn''t. "What are you doing with that coffin?"


    Heposed himself quickly, smoothing down his ridiculous mustache. "Just admiring the craftsmanship. Ancient wood. Remarkable preservation techniques." His fingers traced the intricate carvings on the lid almost lovingly. "The people who made this knew secrets lost to time."


    I dropped the sack of auction treasures onto the table with a heavy thud. "I''ve got what you asked for."


    His eyes lit up immediately. All traces of fear vanished as he abandoned the coffin and rushed to the table. "Let me see, let me see!"


    The childlike excitement in his voice was at odds with the dangerous knowledge he possessed. I watched carefully as he began sorting through the items, muttering to himself and asionally letting out little gasps of delight.


    "Extraordinary," he whispered, holding up a jade figurine. "This piece alone would fetch enough to buy a small kingdom."


    "I didn''t risk my life for you to build a collection," I reminded him coldly. "These are means to an end, nothing more."


    He nodded absent-mindedly, barely registering my words as his hands moved methodically through the treasures. Then he froze.


    His eyes widened as he pulled out the in-looking sword I''d grabbed at thest moment. It was unremarkable—no jewels, no borate hilt, just simple steel with a leather-wrapped handle that had seen better days.


    "Where did you find this?" His voice had dropped to a reverent whisper.


    "In the back room with everything else. Is it important?"


    He cradled the sword like it was made of ss. "Important? Liam, do you have any idea what you''re holding?"


    I shrugged. "A sword that''s seen better days?"


    "This," he said, his voice quivering with excitement, "is one of the legendary Four Swords of Immortality."


    I narrowed my eyes. "Never heard of them."


    "Of course you haven''t." He scoffed. "These weapons are ancient beyond reckoning. Created during the Era of Mythic Glory, when the boundaries between mortal and immortal were still blurred."


    He held the sword up to the light. "This particr de belonged to Lu Wei, the Sovereign of Ten Thousand Victories. They say he never lost a battle while wielding it."


    "If it''s so special, why does it look so ordinary?"


    "The greatest treasures often hide in in sight." He ran his finger along the de. "Its power lies dormant. Only those with the right bloodline can awaken its true potential."


    I reached for the sword, but he pulled it back possessively.


    "Don''t," he warned. "Ordinary hands shouldn''t touch it carelessly."


    "You''re touching it," I pointed out.


    "I''m no ordinary man." His mustache twitched with pride.


    I sighed, growing impatient. "I didn''te here to discuss ancient weapons. I kept my end of the bargain. Now it''s your turn."


    His expression darkened. "Ah yes, the corpses."


    "I need to know how to control them," I pressed. "ra is waiting for my help."


    The Man with the Mustache set the sword down carefully and moved toward the coffin. "These aren''t just any corpses, Liam. They once belonged to two of the most formidable warriors from the Northern Wastes."


    "Can they be controlled or not?"


    "It''s...plicated." He stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "The technique requires extreme precision. One wrong move, and instead of controlling them, you''ll awaken them with their full consciousness intact."


    "Which would be bad?"


    "Catastrophic." He shuddered. "These warriors died rather than surrender. If they awaken with their memories and find themselves in servitude, the consequences would be... unpleasant."


    I leaned against the wall, studying his face for signs of deception. "So what do we need?"


    He hesitated, clearly weighing his words. "We need a specific artifact. A mask carved from the bones of the first demon emperor."


    "A mask?" My body tensed. "What kind of mask?"


    "Ancient. Dark. Frighteningly powerful." He spread his hands. "With it, I could bind the corpses to your will. Without it, attempting to control them would be suicide."


    A cold feeling spread through my chest. "This mask... does it have markings that glow when touched by someone with pure dark energy?"


    His eyes widened. "You know of it?"


    I didn''t answer. ra had found exactly such a mask in the ruins beneath the Huge Pit. The same mask that had caused her to float in the air surrounded by dark energy. The same mask that had shown me a vision of an ancient, terrifying woman.


    "Do you have this mask?" he asked eagerly.


    "No," I lied. "But I know where to find it."


    Hope flickered across his face. "You must retrieve it! With the mask and these corpses, ra would be protected beyond measure."


    I studied him carefully. "And why exactly can''t I perform this technique myself? Why do I need you?"


    "The binding ritual requires decades of study." He tapped his temple. "Knowledge I''ve spent my entire life acquiring."


    "So if I get this mask, I have to trust you with it? Trust you with ra''s safety?"


    His expression grew serious. "I understand your hesitation, Liam. But ask yourself—what choice do you have? The girl needs protection while you''re away. These warriors could provide that, but only if properly bound."


    He was right about one thing—I had few options. ra''s unique nature made her vulnerable, especially with the Guild hunting me. But handing over something as powerful as that mask to a man I barely trusted...


    "I need time to think," I said finally.


    "Of course." He nodded, though I could see the disappointment in his eyes. "But don''t take too long. The Guild won''t rest after tonight''s events."


    "One night," I promised. "I''ll give you my answer in the morning."


    He smiled thinly. "In that case, perhaps we should secure our position here. The Guild''s reach is extensive."


    As I helped him reinforce the safehouse''s protective formations, my mind raced. The mask was hidden away, essible only to ra and me. If I decided to trust this man, could I truly ce ra''s fate in his hands? But if I didn''t, how would I protect her while hunting for Isabelle?


    My heart ached thinking about Isabelle, still a prisoner somewhere in the Guild''s clutches. Every moment I dyed brought new risks to her life. But rushing headlong without ensuring ra''s safety would be equally disastrous.


    Across the city, in the imposing headquarters of the Veridia City Martial Guild, Darian Bancroft paced his office like a caged beast. The news of the auction attack had spread like wildfire, and the Guild''s reputation was taking a severe blow.


    "Ipetence!" he spat, ring at Jax Stone, his second-inmand. "How could our security be breached so easily?"


    Jax remained stoic. "The attacker used techniques we weren''t prepared for. Reports suggest it was the same individual who''s been causing trouble throughout the city."


    "And Julian?" Bancroft demanded. "Where is that coward now?"


    "Under house arrest, as you ordered."


    Bancroft mmed his fist on his desk. "He disgraced us tonight. Fleeing while his men died."


    "What would you have us do?"


    Bancroft''s eyes narrowed. "We need someone reliable to handle this situation. Someone whose loyalty is unquestionable."


    "Emerson Holmes," Jax suggested.


    "Yes, bring him to me."


    Minutester, Emerson Holmes entered the office. Tall and lean, with piercing eyes and a face like carved granite, he stood at attention before Bancroft''s desk.


    "You summoned me, Guild Master?"


    "Holmes." Bancroft gestured for him to sit. "I have a task that requires your unique skills."


    Holmes remained standing. "I''m honored, sir."


    "The ck-robed man who attacked our auction tonight—I want him found and eliminated." <dfn ss="in-imprint-b">Text acquired from M|V|LEMP&YR.</dfn>


    Holmes''s expression remained neutral, though something flickered behind his eyes. "May I ask why me specifically? There are others better suited for simple tracking."


    "Because this is no simple task." Bancroft leaned forward. "This man has made fools of us repeatedly. He''s skilled, resourceful, and clearly has inside information about our operations. I need someone who can think like him."


    "I understand."


    "You''ll have full authority. The ck and gold robes are at your disposal."


    Holmes stiffened. "Sir, with respect, I work better alone."


    "This isn''t negotiable." Bancroft''s tone hardened. "The Guild''s reputation is at stake. Use whatever resources necessary, but get results."


    Holmes nodded stiffly. "As you wish."


    "One more thing," Bancroft added as Holmes turned to leave. "I want him alive if possible. He has information we need."


    "And if capturing him alive proves impossible?"


    "Then ensure his death is appropriately painful." Bancroft''s eyes gleamed coldly. "Let it serve as a warning to others who might challenge the Guild."


    As Holmes left the office, hisposed fa?ade slipped momentarily, revealing a sh of deep conflict. He knew exactly who the ck-robed man was. Liam Knight—the upstart who had be an unexpected variable in his own carefullyid ns.


    Holmes had been watching Liam for months, gathering intelligence, assessing his threat level. Now he was being ordered to eliminate him directly, which would expose his own hidden agenda.


    "As long as Liam Knight dies, what does it matter if he knows!" Holmes muttered grimly to himself as he strode down the corridor, his decision made. The hunt would begin at dawn.