The Invincible Auction House

Chapter 32: Shadows in the Catacombs

Beneath the bustling city of Rydale lay an ancient maze of catacombs, carved into the earth long before the first cultivators raised their sects and merchants built their wealth. These dark corridors, damp and echoing with forgotten whispers, had become a haven for those cast aside by society. Today, however, they were alive with muted energy—flames flickered in braziers, and the sharp clang of metal against stone echoed as a faction regrouped.

A cloaked figure strode through the twisting passages, her steps confident despite the uneven ground. Elira, known among her allies as the "Shadow Weaver," was a master of subterfuge and a sworn enemy of the Merchant Guild. Her piercing green eyes scanned the room where a ragtag band of rebels and cult remnants huddled around a crude map of Rydale.

"The Merchant Guild grows bolder by the day," she said, her voice sharp and commanding. "They think their alliances make them untouchable. We'll remind them why they fear the shadows."

A burly man stepped forward, his scarred face illuminated by the firelight. "We've lost too many, Elira. The Ironclad Sect moves against us in the open now. Without more resources, we'll fall before we can strike."

Elira's lips curled into a sly smile. "Resources are not the problem. It's opportunity. And I have a plan."

Meanwhile, in the heart of the auction house, Adam watched the unfolding tensions through the orb's shimmering projections. The map of Rydale displayed glowing markers indicating faction movements—blue for the Merchant Guild, red for the Ironclad Sect, and a sickly green for the rebels. His sharp gaze lingered on the green, his mind calculating.

< SYSTEM MESSAGE: NEW FACTION INTELLIGENCE DETECTED. POTENTIAL THREAT: MODERATE. >

Ren stood nearby, his arms crossed tightly. "The rebels in the catacombs… they're growing desperate. They might attack the guild outright."

Adam tilted his head slightly, his smirk returning. "Desperation makes them useful. Elira is ambitious, but ambition without resources leads to recklessness. We'll give her a reason to act prematurely."

Ren frowned. "You mean you'll bait her?"

Adam's gaze didn't waver from the orb. "Precisely. Deliver an anonymous message to Elira. Tell her there's a shipment of guild gold being smuggled through the eastern warehouse tomorrow night. Tell her it's lightly guarded."

Ren hesitated. "But there's no shipment…"

"There will be," Adam said, his tone final. "One filled with enough bait to draw her forces out. And when she moves, we'll make sure the Ironclad Sect knows exactly where to find her."

The next night, the eastern warehouse stood eerily quiet, save for the occasional creak of the wooden beams. Adam observed from a concealed perch high above, his keen eyes tracking the shadowy figures slipping into the building. Elira's forces moved with practiced precision, their footsteps nearly silent on the stone floor.

Elira gestured to her team. "Spread out. Secure the shipment quickly and quietly."

But as her men pried open the crates, their expressions shifted from excitement to confusion. Instead of gold, the boxes contained mundane supplies—cloth, dried goods, and tools. Elira's heart sank. It was a trap.

Before she could give the order to retreat, the warehouse doors slammed open, and a dozen Ironclad Sect disciples poured in, their swords glinting in the moonlight.

"Rebels!" the lead disciple barked. "Lay down your weapons and surrender!"

Chaos erupted as Elira's forces clashed with the sect's enforcers. Sparks flew as blades met, and the sound of battle filled the warehouse.

Adam watched from the shadows, his smirk unfaltering. Lira appeared beside him, her own grin wide with amusement. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"It's not enjoyment," Adam replied. "It's necessity. Every conflict strengthens the house."

< SYSTEM MESSAGE: GOOD AND EVIL DEEDS DETECTED. POWER INCREASED BY 15%. >

Lira leaned against the railing, her eyes glinting mischievously. "You know, you're dangerously good at this. Elira doesn't even realize she's just a pawn in your game."

"She'll realize," Adam said, his tone indifferent. "But by then, it'll be too late."

As the battle raged below, Adam turned and left the scene, his footsteps silent as the night. He had other plans to set in motion, and his next move would shake Rydale to its core.

< SYSTEM MESSAGE: FACTION CONFLICT ESCALATED. GLOBAL EVENT PROGRESS: 99%. >

End of Chapter 32