The intermission had ended, but the game had just begun.
Kafu sat in Box 13, his ordinary brown eyes fixed on the auction floor, but his mind elsewhere. The Varnax heir's words still echoed in his thoughts—the mockery, the arrogance, the casual dismissal of his wives as "trained animals."
Morana had reported everything. Every word. Every laugh. Every implication.
And Kafu had listened.
Now he was planning.
"Kyrella," he said quietly. "I need you to make some calls."
His Starlight wife leaned closer. "What kind of calls?"
"The kind that make the House of Gold real. We've been playing at being nobility—now we need to be nobility. I want records, histories, witnesses. I want the Varnax family to investigate us and find nothing but solid evidence."
Kyrella smiled. "I know people. Give me an hour."
"Take two. Make it perfect."
She slipped away, her form dimming to near-invisibility.
Kafu turned to Morana. "The heir. Valerius Jr. Where is he now?"
"Box 7, with his father and siblings. They're preparing for the next round of bidding."
"Good. Keep watching him. I want to know everything—his habits, his weaknesses, his desires."
Morana nodded and dissolved into shadow.
---
THE CALLS
In a private communication room hidden within the villa, Kyrella worked her magic.
[CONTACTS ACTIVATED]
Contact Role Task
Archivist Velkor Academy Records Create 10,000-year history of House of Gold
Merchant Lord Dorn Trade Guilds Establish trade routes, accounts, transactions
Information Broker Sera Intelligence Network Spread rumors of House of Gold's wealth
Forgemaster Doran Artifact Authentication Verify "family heirlooms"
Array Master Kael Dimensional Records Create false dimensional signatures
Within two hours, the House of Gold had a complete history—10,000 years of trade deals, alliances, marriages, and conflicts. Any investigator would find exactly what they expected to find.
Kafu reviewed the records and nodded with satisfaction.
"Perfect. Now we're real."
---
THE APPROACH
The auction continued, but Kafu's attention was elsewhere.
Morana returned with a full report on Valerius Jr.
[VALERIUS VARNAX JR. — COMPLETE PROFILE]
Aspect Detail
Age 50,000 YEARS
Cultivation ETERNAL CELESTIAL 3
IF 3 TRILLION IF
Personality ARROGANT, CRUEL, GREEDY, VAIN
Weaknesses EASILY FLATTERED, LUSTS AFTER POWER, OBSESSED WITH STATUS
Desires TO IMPRESS HIS FATHER, TO OWN RARE TREASURES, TO CONTROL OTHERS
Current Goal WIN THE CHAOS WRITER TABLET FOR HOUSE VARNAX
"He's desperate to prove himself," Morana reported. "His father has twelve children, and Valerius is neither the oldest nor the most talented. The tablet is his chance to shine."
Kafu smiled. "Perfect."
He rose from his seat. "Keep bidding on anything that isn't the tablet. Make it look like we're interested in everything. I'm going to have a conversation."
---
THE MIND CONTROL
Kafu found Valerius Jr. in the Crystal Garden, surrounded by sycophants and servants. The heir was holding court, boasting about his family's wealth and power.
Kafu approached slowly, his ordinary brown eyes fixed on his target.
"Lord Valerius."
The heir turned, a sneer already forming. "Lord Aurelius. Come to accept my offer of collaboration?"
"Actually, I came to offer something better." Kafu stepped closer, close enough that only Valerius could hear. "An alliance. A real one. Not between houses, but between... us."
Valerius's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
"Your father doesn't respect you. Your siblings overshadow you. The tablet is your one chance to prove yourself—but you're competing against beings with ten times your experience, a hundred times your cunning."
The heir's face tightened. "What's your point?"
"My point is that I can help you win. Not just the tablet, but everything. Your father's respect. Your siblings' envy. Your place as heir apparent." Kafu's voice dropped to a whisper. "All I ask in return is... friendship. A connection between our houses. Nothing more."
Valerius studied him for a long moment. "Why? What do you get out of it?"
"I get an ally in one of the most powerful families in existence. I get protection, influence, opportunity." Kafu smiled. "I get everything I've ever wanted."
The heir's arrogance warred with his suspicion. Arrogance won.
"Prove it. Help me win the next lot."
Kafu nodded. "Watch and learn."
He raised his hand, and at that exact moment, his soul power reached out—not to control, but to persuade. A gentle nudge. A subtle suggestion. The barest whisper of influence.
[SOUL CONTROL — SUBTLE INFLUENCE]
· [TARGET: VALERIUS VARNAX JR.]
· [METHOD: GENTLE SUGGESTION]
· [EFFECT: INCREASED TRUST, OPENNESS TO ALLIANCE]
· [DURATION: INDEFINITE (RENEWABLE)]
Valerius blinked, then smiled. "You know, Lord Aurelius, I think I misjudged you. You're not just wealthy—you're useful."
"I aim to please."
---
THE BIDDING WAR
They returned to the auction floor just as lot 14 was announced.
[LOT 14: DIMENSIONAL COMPRESSOR]
Aspect Value
Starting Bid 10 TRILLION UC
Effect COMPRESS ENTIRE DIMENSIONS INTO PORTABLE FORM
Use TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, WEAPONIZATION
Valerius leaned toward Kafu. "My father wants this one. Badly."
"Then we get it for him."
The bidding opened at 10 trillion. Box 4 bid 11. Box 9 bid 12. Box 7—Valerius's father—bid 13.
Kafu raised his hand. "15 trillion."
Gasps. Box 7's occupants stirred angrily.
Valerius's eyes widened. "You're bidding against my father!"
"I'm establishing your independence. Watch."
Box 7 bid 16 trillion. Kafu bid 18. Box 7 bid 19. Kafu bid 20.
The Void Speaker's voice rang out. "20 trillion from Box 13. Do I hear 21?"
Box 7 was silent.
"Going once... going twice... SOLD to Box 13!"
Valerius stared at Kafu in disbelief. "You... you won."
"For you." Kafu handed him the transfer crystal. "Give it to your father. Tell him you made a deal with the House of Gold. Tell him we're allies now."
The heir's face transformed—greed, ambition, and something approaching genuine gratitude.
"You really mean it? You're giving this to me?"
"A gift. A symbol of our friendship." Kafu smiled warmly. "Go. Impress your father. We'll talk more later."
Valerius hurried away, clutching the compressor like a child with a new toy.
Morana appeared at Kafu's side. "You just gave away 20 trillion UC."
"An investment." Kafu's eyes followed the heir. "That 20 trillion just bought me access to House Varnax's inner circle. Their plans. Their weaknesses. Their secrets."
"And when you have those secrets?"
"Then we break them from within."
---
THE ALLIANCE TALK
An hour later, Kafu received an invitation to Box 7.
Lord Valerius Varnax Sr. was an imposing figure—tall, silver-haired, with eyes that had seen a billion years of scheming. His twelve children surrounded him like a living throne.
[LORD VALERIUS VARNAX SR. — ASSESSMENT]
Aspect Value
Age 1.2 BILLION YEARS
Cultivation ETERNAL SOVEREIGN LEVEL 5
IF 5 SEXTRILLION
Personality CALCULATING, PATIENT, DANGEROUS
Goal EXPAND HOUSE VARNAX'S POWER
Interest in Kafu CAUTIOUS CURIOSITY
"My son speaks highly of you," Valerius Sr. said, his voice like grinding continents. "The Dimensional Compressor was a generous gift."
"Your son is a promising young man. I believe in building relationships with the next generation."
"Indeed." The patriarch's eyes narrowed. "And what do you want in return?"
"A simple alliance. Mutual benefit. Trade agreements, military support, shared intelligence." Kafu spread his hands. "Nothing more."
Valerius Sr. studied him for a long moment. "You understand that if this is a trick..."
"It's not. I have nothing to gain from deception and everything to gain from friendship."
The patriarch nodded slowly. "Then let's discuss terms."
---
THE PLANET
As they negotiated, one of Valerius Jr.'s siblings spoke up—a woman with cold eyes and a cruel smile.
"Father, we should tell our new ally about our latest acquisition. It might interest him."
Valerius Sr. nodded. "We've recently purchased a planet in the Outer Reaches. Zambezi-7. Perhaps you've heard of it?"
Kafu's blood froze.
"It was the homeworld of that failed cultivator—Kafu, the one who died a century ago. The Ashari breeding stock there is excellent. We plan to use it for slave breeding. The children will be raised from birth to serve House Varnax."
Kafu's wives, hidden in the shadows of his mind through their bonds, reacted with fury. He felt their rage, their grief, their desire to strike.
He kept his face perfectly calm.
"An excellent investment," he said smoothly. "The Ashari are resilient. Their bloodline carries... potential."
"Indeed." The Varnax woman smiled. "We expect the first generation of breeders to be ready within a decade. After that, production will be constant."
Kafu nodded as if discussing crop rotation. "If you need assistance with... infrastructure, the House of Gold would be happy to help."
Valerius Sr. raised an eyebrow. "You'd help us breed slaves?"
"I'd help my allies achieve their goals." Kafu's smile didn't waver. "That's what friendship means."
The patriarch laughed. "I like you, Lord Aurelius. You're practical."
"Practicality is its own reward."
---
THE PLAN WITHIN THE PLAN
As the negotiation continued, Kafu's mind raced.
Zambezi-7. His homeworld. His birthplace. The place where he had suffered, loved, lost. The place where 36,000 souls had entered him and changed everything.
And now House Varnax planned to turn it into a slave breeding colony.
He felt Kyrella's voice through their bond.
Husband, we can't let this happen.
We won't.
What are you planning?
A rescue. An intervention. A statement.
When?
Soon. But first, we need more information.
He turned to Valerius Jr. with a warm smile. "My young friend, I'd love to see this operation sometime. Perhaps visit the planet, observe the... facilities?"
The heir nodded eagerly. "I can arrange that. Father?"
Valerius Sr. considered, then nodded. "A tour might be beneficial. Show our new ally the scope of our operations."
"Excellent." Kafu rose, bowing formally. "I look forward to it."
---
THE WIVES' REACTION
Back in Box 13, Kafu's wives surrounded him.
"You can't be serious," Kyrella hissed. "You're going to visit Zambezi-7? With them?"
"As someone else." Kafu's voice was cold, controlled, deadly. "I'll go as Lord Aurelius, observe their operation, learn their security, identify their leaders."
"Then?"
"Then I come back as Kaelen. Or as no one. Or as someone they'll never see coming." He looked at his wives. "And I free every single Ashari on that planet. Every man, woman, child. And then I make sure House Varnax never breeds slaves again."
Morana smiled—a predator's smile, cold and beautiful.
"That's our husband."