The woman's voice slid through the air like a blade wrapped in velvet.
Mira tensed beside Tyler, instinctively leaning a little closer—as if proximity alone could shield him from the newcomer's attention.
Tyler didn't blame her.
The woman radiated trouble.
Not the messy street-gang kind.Not the arrogant rich-kid kind.This was cultivated danger—quiet, precise, intentional.The type that made CEOs sign deals they didn't understand… and made criminals disappear without leaving a headline.
Her smirk deepened.
"Fifty-five thousand, hmm?" she purred.
Tyler didn't look away.
The System thrummed beneath his skin.
[Emotional Regulation Activated][Nerve Suppression: 17%]
It helped. Just enough.
The auctioneer cleared his throat.
"Fifty-five thousand offered by Mr. Brooks. Do we have—"
"Seventy thousand."
She didn't even lift her hand.Just tilted her head, eyes locked onto Tyler, as if daring him to breathe too loudly.
Whispers exploded throughout the hall.
"Who is she…?""Why jump that high?""Is she insane?""Or does she know something we don't?"
Tyler felt Mira squeeze his sleeve.
"Tyler… be careful. This woman isn't bidding with money. She's bidding with intent."
He nodded.
"I know."
The System pulsed again.
[Danger Level Increased][Unknown Opponent's Intent: INTEREST / TESTING / BLOCKING]
Interest.Testing.Blocking.
Three conflicting motives—none good.
Tyler lifted his tablet slowly, keeping his gaze level with hers.
"Seventy-five."
A murmur rippled through the hall.
This time, her smirk faded.
Not gone—just… sharpened.
"Oh?" she murmured. "So you're not a stray who wandered in. You came to play."
She raised her hand lazily.
"Eighty-five thousand."
Mira whispered harshly, "Tyler—!"
But he wasn't panicking.
Because the System flickered again.
[Auxiliary Insight Activated]Prediction Window: 12 secondsOpponent Profile: Aggressive buyer, prefers intimidation over escalation.Flag: She expects you to fold.Probability she will surpass 100k: LOW.
Tyler exhaled.
The System wasn't telling him she was weak.It was telling him she wanted a reaction.
And he refused to give her the one she expected.
He leaned back in his seat.
Calm.Confident.Like he belonged here.
Then he raised his tablet again.
"Ninety thousand."
The hall snapped into a stunned silence.
Even the auctioneer hesitated.
The woman's eyes widened for a fraction of a second—barely noticeable, but enough to confirm what the System predicted.
She hadn't expected him to match her spirit.
Then her expression shifted.
Interest became attention.Attention became… amusement.Amusement slid into fascination.
She rested her chin on her hand.
"Well… now you're very interesting."
But she didn't raise her tablet.
She didn't bid again.
The auctioneer cleared his throat loudly.
"Ninety thousand going once… going twice…"
Tyler felt the tension swell—
Then snap.
"SOLD! To Mr. Tyler Brooks!"
Applause erupted softly, polite and restrained.
Tyler's pulse hammered, but he kept his expression neutral, smooth.
The woman behind him crossed her legs the other way.
And said, with a slow, knowing smile:
"Congratulations. You bought yourself a headache."
Mira leaned in, voice low and tight.
"Tyler. She's from something big. Something… you don't want to cross."
"I didn't cross her," Tyler whispered back."She tested me."
"And you passed," Mira muttered. "Which is somehow worse."
The System chimed with a sharp, triumphant tone.
[Major Event Completed]You have acquired: Crown Complex – Full Property RightsTier: A+Original Estimated Value: ???Condition: Extremely Poor / Locked ZonesWarning: High-risk presence detected within property.Benefits unlocked:– Exclusive Property Owner Menu– Potential Blueprint: Hidden Room (Unrevealed)– Rare Material Nodes– ??? anomaly detected
Then a second panel opened:
[Title Earned: First-Time Shark]You participated in your first high-stakes auction and didn't die.Perk: +2% NegotiationPerk: +1% Aura Influence
Tyler let out a slow breath.
"Okay," he said. "That was… intense."
Mira slapped his arm—not hard, but definitely not soft.
"What were you thinking! Ninety thousand!? Tyler, do you even have that!?"
The System chimed smugly.
[Financing Complete]Temporary Line Borrowed: $70,500Interest: 0%Repayment Window: 60 daysPenalty: ??? (Severe)
Tyler coughed.
"…I do now."
Mira stared at him in helpless disbelief.
"Tyler… you're insane."
He grinned.
"Probably."
Before Mira could scold him again, someone approached from behind.
Footsteps soft as silk.
Intent sharp as a knife.
Tyler turned around—
And the woman was standing right beside him.
Close.Too close.Her presence felt like stepping into the gravity of a planet—impossible to ignore.
She smiled—a real smile this time.
"You didn't tell me your name."
Tyler swallowed.
"Tyler. Tyler Brooks."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Tyler," she repeated, tasting the name."I'm Selene Nightfall."
Mira's breath hitched.
"You're… that Selene Nightfall?"
Selene winked at her.
"So people still talk about me. How cute."
Then she stepped toward Tyler again.
"You just bought a cursed building, Tyler."
His eyebrows rose. "…Cursed?"
"Oh, yes," she said with a soft, delighted laugh."Very cursed. Very dangerous. Very… appealing."
Mira groaned. "Tyler. Run."
Selene ignored her and took Tyler's chin gently between two fingers, tilting his face just slightly toward hers.
"Let me give you some advice, handsome."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Don't enter your new property alone."
Tyler froze.
"Why not?"
Selene whispered:
"Because something inside it is already awake."
His heart dropped.
Mira's fingers clenched around his sleeve.
The System chimed.
[WARNING]Energy Signatures DetectedThreat Level: UNKNOWNRecommended Team Size: 3+Additional Note:Selene Nightfall has now marked you.
Tyler blinked.
"…Marked me?"
Selene tapped his chest lightly with her finger.
"Oh, yes. Very much so. I'll be seeing you again, Tyler Brooks."
Then she turned, hips swaying as she walked toward the exit.
The crowd parted for her like the sea.
Mira stared after her, horrified.
"Tyler… what the hell did you just get us into…?"
Tyler rubbed his face.
"I don't know."
The System chimed again with a cold, merciless finality.
[Next Mission Unlocked: ENTER THE CROWN COMPLEX]Difficulty: ???Reward: ???Penalty: Unknown Catastrophic Consequence
Tyler exhaled.
"…But I guess we're going to find out."