A Game of Shadows

The Obsidian Wing had records about it.

Ancient, fragmented records—half-forgotten texts buried in the depths of history—yet still enough to make a man like Lucas believe.

And he did believe.

For him, the Nine Way Cleansing Elixir was not just a treasure.

It was a turning point.

A weapon.

A key.

With it, he could break through to the Gold Realm in one go.

No bottleneck.

No hesitation.

No risk.

A clean, overwhelming leap.

His fingers tightened faintly around the fishing rod as that thought passed through his mind again.

A faint ripple disturbed the still surface of the artificial lake before him.

But his gaze remained calm.

Patient.

Cold.

By then...

That Julian D’Aurelius would be dead for sure.

The corner of his lips curved upward, slow and cruel.

Why would he need to care about Julian’s inexplicable power?

Whatever strange tricks that man possessed—

They would mean nothing once absolute strength crushed him.

Strength...

That was the only truth that mattered.

After killing him...

Lucas’s eyes darkened slightly, a different kind of desire surfacing beneath the ambition.

He would even have his way with Julian’s fiancée.

A slow breath left him, almost satisfied just imagining it.

And in doing so—

He could humiliate Evan.

That so-called favored son of fate.

That man who always seemed to stand above everyone else.

Lucas’s grip tightened again.

Not for long.

Not anymore.

Therefore—

He was determined to get this item.

No matter how expensive it was.

No matter who stood in his way.

No matter what it took.

...

Antique shop.

The bell above the door gave a soft chime as Julian D’Aurelius stepped inside.

The scent of aged wood and polished stone greeted him instantly, wrapping around him like a familiar memory.

The shop was quiet.

Orderly.

Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, catching dust motes that drifted lazily in the air.

Everything felt calm—

But beneath it, something was already moving.

Waiting.

The moment Julian entered, a figure straightened quickly from behind the counter.

An elderly man.

Thin, sharp-eyed, with hands that looked fragile—but carried the steady precision of decades of craftsmanship.

Manager Pang.

"Young Master Julian."

His voice was respectful, almost eager, as he stepped forward.

A slight bow followed.

He did not dare be careless.

The previous manager—Zain—had been sent far away after assisting Julian.

And not only had he survived—

He had prospered.

Rumor had it he received a reward worth a billion Euro.

And was promoted overseas.

For someone like Manager Pang...

This was not just a job.

It was an opportunity.

A blessing.

To serve Julian D’Aurelius—

Was fortune earned over eight lifetimes.

Julian gave a small nod, hands slipping casually into his pockets.

"Manager Pang..."

His golden eyes swept the shop briefly before returning to the old man.

"How’s the lion Gem statue I asked you to work on?"

His tone was light.

But there was intent beneath it.

"Oh—yes, that."

Manager Pang’s expression brightened instantly.

"It’s almost done, Young Master Julian. Please, take a look."

He turned quickly, gesturing with both hands as he led the way.

His steps were careful, respectful—yet tinged with a subtle urgency.

A few days ago, he had received the instructions.

Along with a photo.

He didn’t question it.

Didn’t hesitate.

He immediately gathered several skilled craftsmen and worked day and night to recreate exactly what Julian wanted.

Every detail.

Every line.

Every hidden mechanism.

All reproduced.

At all costs.

Now—

The result stood before them.

On a velvet-covered table.

A lion Gem statue.

Roughly the size of a coconut.

Its surface gleamed faintly under the light, intricate carvings flowing across its body like living patterns.

Powerful.

Majestic.

Yet—

Subtle.

Deceptively ordinary to an untrained eye.

Julian stepped closer.

His gaze sharpened.

His fingers brushed lightly across the surface.

Cool.

Smooth.

Perfectly weighted.

A faint smile appeared.

Although the cost was high—

And the materials expensive—

That had never been the problem.

Money?

Meaningless.

Compared to opportunity.

Compared to control.

He crouched slightly, turning the statue just enough—

His eyes flicked to the base.

There it was.

The mechanism.

A Nine Palace Lock.

Perfectly replicated.

Not just in appearance—

But in structure.

Precision.

Function.

Exactly as he remembered.

The original lion Gem statue—

The one that was supposed to appear at the auction—

Had this exact mechanism hidden beneath it.

And in the original story—

No one could open it.

No one...

Except Evan.

Julian’s smile deepened slightly.

Damn it... Fortune’s Chosen.

It really did seem like the entire world had been prepared for that man.

Every treasure.

Every opportunity.

Every advantage.

All placed neatly in his hands.

But now—

Things were different.

Because Julian knew.

He had seen the script.

And more importantly—

He remembered how to open it.

His fingers tapped lightly against the base.

Soft.

Confident.

"Good enough."

The words came easily.

Without hesitation.

Manager Pang immediately straightened.

Relief flickered across his face.

"Understood, Young Master Julian."

Julian stepped back, dusting his hands lightly.

"Pack it up."

His tone shifted—calm, but precise.

"Send it to the auction."

Manager Pang nodded quickly, already signaling the staff nearby.

But then—

Julian’s lips curved again.

A different smile this time.

Sharper.

More dangerous.

"I’m not going to compete with you directly..."

He let out a quiet chuckle.

Almost amused.

"I’ll do a switcheroo."

Manager Pang froze for a fraction of a second.

Then lowered his head further.

He didn’t ask.

Didn’t question.

Some things—

Were better left understood without words.

Julian reached into his pocket and pulled out a small packet.

Fine powder sealed within.

He held it between two fingers and handed it over.

"Manager Pang..."

His voice dropped slightly.

Here came the real instruction.

"Here’s a packet of medicinal powder."

The old man accepted it carefully, as if it were something fragile—and dangerous.

"Please help me make it into pills."

Julian’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer.

Then—

His smile returned.

Calm.

Almost playful.

"You can add something disgusting inside the pills..."

A brief pause.

"...and then send it to the auction house."