What the— Why was that guy holding a phone?!
"Wait a moment," someone said, eyes round and fixed on Llewellyn. "Isn't that—"
Llewellyn saw the phone too and glared.
"You're filming guests without permission. Delete it. Now."
"That's just something we've been doing because of Collins' Guinness World Records applic—" someone started before they were shushed harshly.
The phone disappeared.
"You're not in the position to make demands, sir," a guard said.
"Oh?" Llewellyn said, fixing his clothes as I awkwardly did the same. "Do you think privacy laws don't apply to security staff?"
"Collins was still right, in a sense," someone muttered in the background, "even though there was nothing dangerous happening here."
"Sirs," one of the guards stepped in, taking control of the situation. "You can't be here. I'm going to have to ask you to go back."
"We just got turned around," I said. "Looking for the restrooms."
"The restrooms are on the other side of the building."
…Honestly. What kind of luxury hotel was this?! Surely they needed to have more than one bathroom per floor?
"Hence the 'turned around' part," I said instead.
Llewellyn's eyes darted between the guards and the hallway behind them, as if he was considering whether fighting our way out was a viable option.
"We'll escort you back," the guard said. It wasn't a suggestion.
"That's really not—"
"Sir." His tone hardened, his eyes focusing Llewellyn. "Please. We know who you are and are grateful for all you do. But you can't be in this area. I'm assuming you're here for the auction? If you follow us, we'll just escort you back."
Llewellyn sighed.
"Fine," he said. "Lead the way."
We were led back toward the ballroom by three of them—two in front, one behind.
The phone guy who'd been recording had pocketed his device, but the damage was done.
Damn it. I'd not expected that, or I'd have tried to think of something else.
Should we threaten him? But what good would that do? He'd probably uploaded that already. I mean, if he monetized it, he was going to make tons of money. I didn't believe for one second he'd deleted anything, especially since Llewellyn had never sued anyone.
Still. He could start.
Llewellyn fell into step beside me. His voice dropped to barely audible as he murmured something I couldn't make out.
A crackle in my ear. Then Shea's voice came in: "Yeah, I see you. Sorry, guys, I couldn't do anything. I'd suggest you… um… fix your hair before you go back."
"…"
This was embarrassing.
I guess the cat was out of the bag now. At least… somewhat.
Did we have to tell them that we…?! Was that necessary?
We walked sandwiched between the guards. They kept a respectful distance—probably more afraid of Llewellyn than anything—but they weren't letting us out of their sight.
"Just to update you," Shea said a few moments later. "They moved the artifact. The second things got hectic, someone gave the order. You were so close…"
Great. Fuck.
Looked like Plan A had failed, then. I'd been hoping we'd be able to try again once we ditched these guards, but it didn't look like that was the case.
We could only rely on Jihoon now.
We'd finally reached the ballroom.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening," one of the guards said with a nod.
We walked the last part of the hallway and made sure they saw us step through.
The ballroom was almost full now.
Some eyes landed on us, the whispers getting louder. We ignored them, actively working on preventing anyone who looked ready to come talk to us by changing direction or avoiding them entirely.
At least this crowd didn't seem overbearing.
There were still ten minutes before the beginning of the auction. What could we do? Go to the bar again? But I didn't want another coffee and alcohol was out of the question.
I let my eyes land on the buffet again and a shock of wine-red hair caught my attention.
Wait…
"Llewellyn," I said.
Llewellyn followed the direction of my gaze. His eyes narrowed.
Gilded's head snapped up from his vol-au-vents as if he'd sensed something. He scanned the room quickly and his gaze landed on us. As soon as he saw us, he rolled his eyes before looking away, ignoring us completely.
"That's suspicious at best," I said, frowning. "He was involved last time too."
"Precisely," Llewellyn said, eyes still narrowed.
In our earbuds, Shea went, "No way. Isn't that the GPS tag guy?!"
"He is," Llewellyn said. "I think we need to have a talk with him."
We'd meant to approach him immediately, but suddenly a bell rang. The auction was about to start.
"Let's keep an eye on him for now," Llewellyn said. "Shea?"
"Got it," Shea said.
We found seats near the back.
"Ladies and gentlemen," a smooth voice announced. "Welcome to today's exclusive event."
***
The auctioneer stepped up to the podium.
"We have a wonderful selection for you today. Rare pieces from private collections across the globe. Please hold your paddles until I call for bids."
I scanned the crowd again.
Jihoon sat in the second row, looking every bit the bored chaebol heir. Yuè Zhōu stood on the stage, near the back, looking watchful and I spotted Roan sitting opposite to us, close to the corridor, looking ready for anything.
Gilded had taken a seat near the middle.
"First item," the auctioneer announced.
He went through a few generic artifacts and some art pieces that looked completely nondescript to me, but had apparently great value, then a velvet-lined tray was wheeled out. On it sat a crystal formation, pale blue and roughly the size of my fist.
"Lot four. A rare crystal, harvested from Malaysia. Starting bid: fifty thousand."
Paddles went up. Gilded's arm shot up at seventy thousand Oryang.
Wait… Was he here for the crystals then?
It still felt like too much of a coincidence, though.
The numbers climbed up.
Eighty…
Ninety…
He won it at one hundred and ten.
"Lot five. Another crystal, this one from South Africa—"
Gilded bid on that one too. And the next. And the one after that.
With every single crystal that was brought on stage, his paddle went up.
He won all of them—apparently angering someone who stormed out of the room.
Gilded leaned back, looking pleased with himself.
Next to me, Llewellyn kept glaring.
"Has he texted you since…?"
Huh?
"No," I said. "I don't think he likes us very much."
Maybe I'd imagined it, but Llewellyn seemed to relax slightly.
"The feeling is mutual," Llewellyn grumbled.
A jade bracelet went for two hundred thousand. A painting for three hundred. Some kind of ceremonial dagger for four fifty.
Gilded didn't bid on any of those.
The crowd shifted restlessly. Some were clearly here for these items and were upset they couldn't win them.
The dagger in particular seemed to interest many people.
"Do you think he put up a show for us, or is he really here for the crystals?" I asked.
"Difficult to tell," Llewellyn said. "He looks like he has the money to pull that kind of plan off, though." He frowned. "I don't trust him."
Yeah, I couldn't fault him. Since he'd also appeared at the "crime scene" last time, his presence here was doubly suspicious. Two dangerous Destabilized Artifacts, and he happened to be lurking at the crime scene both times? Yeah, right.
I could feel the anticipation in the room build.
"And now," the auctioneer said, "the centerpiece of today's event."
A hush fell over the room.
Two guards emerged from the side door, flanking a glass case on a wheeled platform.
Inside sat the silver bull.
"Not even a containment box," Llewellyn said, displeased.
"We should just grab it and run," Shea said in our ears, "but there are too many guards."
"Don't even think about it," Tiernan's voice suddenly cut in, sounding like he'd snatched Shea's mic. "Llewellyn, Ryo, Yuè Zhōu, Roan, I'm talking to you. Nothing rash, got it? There are too many guards."
I sighed.
I couldn't make out Yuè Zhōu and Roan's faces from here, but their postures were tense.
Gilded had sat up in the chair, too.
"A truly exceptional piece," the auctioneer was saying. "Silver bull ornament, origin unknown. Unique Elemental properties."
Yeah, I bet.
"Starting bid: one million."
Jihoon's paddle went up immediately. "One million."
"One point two," came a voice from the left.
Baugh. Of course.
"One point five," Jihoon countered.
A woman in the front row raised her paddle. "Two million."
"Two point five," Baugh said.
"Three," Jihoon replied.
The room went electric. Paddles were flying up faster than the auctioneer could acknowledge them.
"Three point five—"
"Four—"
"Four point two—"
"Five million," Baugh said loudly.
"Six," countered Jihoon.
A man near the back jumped in. "Six point five."
"Fuck," Shea said. "At least seven of those are Alliance. What the hell are they doing? Why are they racing each other?"
Huh? Were they trying to drive the price up?
But that didn't make any sense. Unless the Alliance was the one selling it?
But surely, if these people were known to be associated with the Alliance, this wasn't allowed?
"Seven," the woman in front said.
"Seven point five," Baugh countered.
"Eight," Jihoon said.
"Eight point five—"
"Nine—"
"Ten million," Baugh announced, standing.
The room gasped.
Jihoon paused, then shrugged.
"Eleven," he said.
More gasps.
"Twelve," Baugh shot back.
"Thirteen," the woman added.
Three of them now.
Gilded had leaned forward, seemingly eyeing the bull with a frown, at least from what I could tell from here. Was he going to bid too?
"Fourteen," Jihoon said. His voice was steady.
"Fifteen," Baugh said immediately.
"Sixteen," the woman went again.
The man in the back raised his paddle again. "Seventeen!"
Fucking hell.
How much money did Tiernan actually have access to?!
"Eighteen," Jihoon said.
"Nineteen," Baugh replied.
"Twenty million." The woman's voice was sharp.
Jihoon seemed to hesitate for a moment. Damn, he was good.
The silence stretched.
"Twenty million going once," the auctioneer said.
Jihoon raised his paddle. "Twenty-one."
"Twenty-two," Baugh said immediately.
Damn it. How did these people have so much money!
"Twenty-three," Jihoon countered.
"Twenty-four."
"Twenty-five."
This was insane.
"Twenty-six," Jihoon said.
"Twenty-seven," Baugh said.
"Twenty-eight," the woman went again.
Shea's voice crackled in my ear. "Tiernan says we're at our limit. Two more bids and we're done."
Fuck.
"Twenty-nine," Baugh said.
The room held its breath.
Baugh looked at his associates. Something passed between them.
Seemed like he thought he'd won.
"Thirty million!" Jihoon said.
Baugh froze. People were half-standing in their seats now.
"Thirty million going once," the auctioneer said. "Going twice—"
"Sold! To the gentleman with the black hair!"
The room went wild.
In my ear, Shea and Tiernan both cheered.
We'd done it! Fucking hell. We'd really just bought a Legendary-level Destabilized Artifact.
…There was a sudden screech.
The itch in my chest flared.
I saw Yuè Zhōu and Roan dart forward with wide eyes, trying to put a seal on it, but it was too late.
The glass case exploded.