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And Silver Crown intended to claim its prize.

Storm Gate

Madame Jin’s auction house floated on the edge of Storm Gate’s infamous harbor, where ships from all supernatural realms docked in perpetual mist. Unlike Dark Haven’s aristocratic shadows or Silver Crown’s icy refinement, Storm Gate dealt in a more practical currency: profit.

Tonight, that profit had a name: Luca Valentine.

“Play the aerial feed,” Madame Jin commanded, jade pins glinting in her elegant coif as she studied the multiple screens surrounding her private booth. Each showed a different angle of the New Vale incident, courtesy of their extensive network of spies. “The moment he manifests.”

The main screen shifted to a bird’s eye view. Luca Valentine hung suspended in pure light, his power making even Storm Gate’s most hardened mercenaries lean forward with naked greed.

“Bidding starts at one billion,” Madame Jin announced to her select audience. Pirate lords. Shadow merchants. Assassin kings. All of them drawn by the scent of the greatest prize in centuries. “Though I expect that number to rise significantly.”

“Dark Haven offers blood gold,” Captain Zhao noted from his place near the window, where ghost ships dotted the misty harbor. “Silver Crown promises titles and territories.”

Madame Jin’s smile could cut glass. “How predictable. Dominic thinks in terms of ancient power. King Isolde dreams of perfect bloodlines.” She gestured to another screen showing real-time market prices. “But here in Storm Gate, we understand what truly matters.”

The numbers scrolling across the screen made several crime lords inhale sharply. Black market values. Private collector offers. Underground bounties. All of them rising by the minute.

“The Whitlock brothers will be an issue,” noted Shadow Lord Wei, his face obscured by perpetual darkness. On-screen, thethree alphas moved with lethal grace, their power devastating Dark Haven’s forces. “Their security is… impressive.”

“Everything has a price,” Madame Jin said, pulling up detailed surveillance of Whitlock Tower. “Every defense can be breached. Every guard can be bought.” Her perfectly manicured nail tapped one image. “Even New Vale’s famous sanctuary has weak points.”

Multiple feeds showed Luca’s daily routine. His shopping trips with cousins. His visits to various clan territories. The brothers might be vigilant, but they couldn’t watch everything.

“Our agents are already in position,” Captain Zhao reported, spreading a detailed map across the auction table. “The Underground Transit System has… convenient maintenance schedules.”

“And the other cities’ agents?”

“Dark Haven’s hunters stick to the shadows. Predictable.” He marked several locations in red. “Silver Crown’s nobles prefer social infiltration. Tedious but effective.” Blue markers joined the red. “Both groups are so focused on their primary objectives, they’re missing the obvious opportunities.”

Madame Jin’s laugh tinkled like poisoned wind chimes. “Let them plot their grand schemes. Let them waste resources on dramatic gestures.” She turned to her assembled buyers, each representing fortunes that could buy small countries. “We deal in results.”

On-screen, Luca’s power flared again. The bidding frenzy that followed would have impressed even Storm Gate’s most notorious merchants.

“Prepare the extraction teams,” Madame Jin commanded, watching the numbers climb. “Multiple scenarios. Multiple backup plans.” Her smile promised profitable violence. “The highest bidder gets first attempt, but be ready to adapt when they fail.”

In Storm Gate’s eternal mist, deals were struck. Bribes were paid. Plans were set in motion.

The shadow war for Luca Valentine had begun.

And Storm Gate intended to profit from every move.