CHAPTER 3: THE AUCTION OF DECEPTION

BLACK MARKET AUCTION HOUSE

The auction house pulsed with danger.

Voices overlapped___ whispers of weapons, blood money, and power.

"The K41 is on the list, right?"

"Yes. But it should be quite expensive."

"I wonder if I can get my hands on some rare commodities and weapons."

The crowd murmured... all excited about the upcoming auction.

The Dark Horse auction___ One of the biggest and rarest auction houses in the underground world.

Cassian sat leisurely in the front seat. He sat with his legs crossed, a cigarette resting between his fingers.

His dark and piercing eyes glanced lazily at the people around him until they settled on the masked figure sitting in the last front seat on the east side.

Cassian's eyes glowed with interest. He handed the cigarette to one of his guards, and he flashed a provocative smile.

"You’re harder to kill than I thought, Swan."

All eyes fell on Cassian.

The murmurs stopped, and some even pushed their seats back, hoping not to get caught in the fire.

Little Swan didn't look at Cassian's way.

Cassian's lips curled.

He brought out his gun and rubbed his fingers on the trigger. "I was hoping to rid the world of an incompetent leader." He clicked his tongue.

"But I guess I was wrong."

Little Swan glanced at him, but the calmness in his eyes didn't waver a bit.

Cassian's expression darkened.

"Wanna chicken out, huh?"

A bell rang.

Light flickered in the dark space.

Cassian swallowed back his words.

No matter how much he hated or wanted to provoke Little Swan, he knew better than to disturb the auction.

He wasn't strong enough to face off against the anonymous power behind Dark Horse Auction House.

A bald, tall, and bulky man walked out with a microphone in hand.

He stood before the only source of light in the space, and his shadow loomed before the crowds.

"The auction starts." He declared with authority.

"The first item on the list is Ironwood."

"A newly developed acidic chemical used for dazing your opponent for a few hours. A drop in a room could knock 10 opponents out."

"Starting price is..."

The man explained, and the crowds immediately became active.

Every attendee in the auction house was a tycoon. Both from the underground world and from the legal world.

Each of them had enough to bid, and they used this to their advantage.

However, Little Swan kept quiet.

The auction continued. First item. Second, third, fourth, and even to the second to the last... but Little Swan still didn't seem interested.

Cassian's eyes lingered on him.

He seemed to notice something wrong with Little Swan tonight, but he couldn't point it out.

While watching Little Swan, he also forgot to bid, which drained his mood for a few minutes after the second-to-last item was taken away by another.

He sat right, ignoring Little Swan as he focused on the man on the stage.

The next item would be the last item for the night, and no one knew what it would be.

It wasn't written on the list, which made everyone even more curious about what it could be.

Cassian wasn't any different.

The bald auctioneer had a scary smile on his face as he gestured to the light behind him.

"The last auction for tonight isn't a chemical, nor is it a commodity."

"Instead, it's a deadly weapon." The man announced.

The crowd's eyes brightened.

Cassian glanced at Little Swan, and when he saw the interest in Little Swan's eyes, his interest also grew.

"We are getting that item at all costs." He said to the guard closest to him.

The guard nodded without a word.

Cassian's lips curled. He gave Little Swan a provocative glare.

"It's a weapon that isn't only deadly to your enemy but also to yourself."

"It's a beauty. A beautiful omega, elegant and incomparable. An empire toppling beauty. One who wouldn't appear in the world twice."

Some crowds booed.

Displeasure was clearly written on most people's faces.

Cassian's brows twitched, but he stayed calm.

"Out!" The man declared.

The chandelier turned on, brightening the space around the bald man as a figure bound with a chain was being dragged toward the center of the stage.

The figure looked tall, yet fragile. His long silver hair cascaded down his waist, and his ethereal face was like a dose of frost with a hint of sunshine.

He was like a fallen celestial... incomparable even in the world where omegas were generally known as beauties.

A glass dropped, shattering upon contact.

"Fuck!" Someone cursed.

"He isn't real, is he?" Another murmured.

Cassian's gaze sharpened.

He sat right as he looked at the beauty on stage.

The delicate-looking omega was pushed to the ground, and his sea blue eyes fell on Cassian.

The omega blinked___ and tears welled in his eyes.

Too quickly.

This action caused many in the crowd to lose their senses for a long while.

Even the bald man was stunned for a few seconds.

However, hidden from everyone's expectation, the omega made a sign with his fingers toward the corner where 'Little Swan' was sitting.

No one noticed.

"The starting price is 10 million!"

The bidding began.

"15!" A man immediately voiced out.

"18." Another said.

"20."

'Little Swan' bidded.

Cassian's eyes flashed with intensity. His black eyes were filled with determination as he glanced at 'Little Swan.'

"40." He raised the bid.

The room grew silent for a few seconds.

"42." A man said.

"Fifty." Little Swan mumbled.

Silence fell.

Cassian smiled slowly.

"One hundred."

Gasps filled the air.

Reluctance showed in the eyes of many as they slowly dropped their hands.

'Little Swan' also glared at Cassian but slowly dropped his hand, too. His eyes glinted with reluctance.

"100." The auctioneer mentioned. "1,"

"2,"

Silence.

"3!" He sealed the deal.

The person holding the beauty grabbed his arm and dragged him toward Cassian.

Cassian's eyes settled on the beauty, and a hint of confusion flashed across his face.

The omega was released. He fell on his knees. His rosy lips were only a few inches away from Cassian's knee.

He was the center of everyone's attention.

Cassian bent forward. He held the omega's arm and gently helped him up.

The omega looked slightly scared yet submissive.

He stood up alongside Cassian. A low groan escaped his lips as he rested his head on Cassian's chest.

Cassian's body went rigid___ like something about this omega felt… wrong.

Especially the soft, intoxicating floral scent that lingered far too familiarly.

'Little Swan' stood up. He glared at Cassian and sneered. "I will take him away from you sooner or later." He murmured and turned around to leave.

Cassian's eyes regained focus. He glared at 'Little Swan's' back and laughed.

"Sorry. You won't get the chance."

He lifted the omega in his arms and carried him out of the auction house.

In a place where Cassian couldn't see, a heart-blowing yet obsessive smile formed on the omega's lips.

His sea blue eyes glowed with power and satisfaction. His nose twitched, taking in the familiar tobacco scent on Cassian, and his smile deepened.

'A step closer, Cassian.' He said inwardly.