I'll report this to the government and send all the main characters to jail.

Chapter 252 The Eve of the Storm

The "Centennial Relics Exchange Meeting" of the Void Relics Market has finally entered its most crucial stage—the sealed-bid auction.

Unlike the hustle and bustle of a public auction, everything in a sealed bid is done in silence.

All qualified participants will receive an anonymous terminal.

The auction items are displayed via holographic projection, and participants submit their bids anonymously within a specified time.

Highest bidder wins!

It's simple, brutal, and full of uncertainty.

Su Chen sat in the safe house, looking at the terminal screen in front of him.

The screen is displaying a series of rare and precious treasures.

His finger traced across the surface and stopped on an item labeled "Ancient Starsail Fragment".

This thing looks ordinary; it's just a broken metal sail with some blurry patterns on it.

Following Qianmian's advice, he needed a cover, a cover that would make him look like an ordinary bidder.

"What's the typical market price for this?"

Su Chen asked the Thousand Faces beside him.

After looking at it carefully, Qianmian reported a number:

"This kind of thing is somewhat useful to scholars who study ancient navigation technology, but its value is limited."

"Around three million credits, once you reach five million, basically no one will follow."

"Okay." Su Chen typed "4.8 million" into the bid column.

A price that's neither too high nor too low shows interest without appearing overly eager, like an inexperienced runner-up.

Then, he found his true target—the "Soul-Gathering Orchid" that could heal the wounds of the soul.

This orchid is entirely deep blue, radiating a soft glow; it's clearly no ordinary specimen.

Su Chen didn't make a bid. He just watched quietly, as if waiting for something.

Finally, he found the real fragment of the map that Qianmian had told him about.

It was disguised as an ornament called "Key to the Tranquil Universe," with flowery descriptions.

But those in the know understand that this thing, apart from looking a bit old, has no actual energy fluctuations and is purely for show.

Su Chen's lips curled up slightly.

He directly entered an astronomical figure into the bid column—500 million credits.

"Sir, what's wrong...?"

Qianmian was dumbfounded.

This price is enough to buy a small fleet.

"It's just a smokescreen," Su Chen said casually.

"I need to make some people feel that I'm determined to get this."

After doing all this, Su Chen turned off the terminal, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to rest, seemingly indifferent to the result.

Time ticked by, and just as the sealed bid was about to end, a tense-looking man suddenly strode in.

"My lord, I have very bad news."

"explain."

"I just obtained top-secret information through one of my informants. The Vickers Foundation, which is hosting this auction... has a very deep secret partnership with the Cult of the Star Eaters!"

"The second-in-command of the conglomerate, and even a peripheral elder of the Star Devouring Cult!"

Su Chen suddenly opened his eyes.

This intelligence was more serious than he had anticipated.

"What does this mean?" he asked, looking at Thousand Faces.

"This means that this auction was a setup from the very beginning!"

Thousand Faces said urgently, "Even if you offer the highest price and win that 'key,' the Vickers Consortium will absolutely not hand it over to you!"

"They'll simply exploit the rules, declare the Star Eater Cult the ultimate winner, and then secretly give them the spoils! Your 500 million credits are completely wasted!"

Su Chen fell silent.

He tapped on the armrest, his mind racing.

Qianmian is right. In a casino where your own people are in control, you can never beat the house.

He had originally planned that if the disruption plan failed, he would use his substantial financial resources to force the issue to be resolved.

But now it seems that this path has been completely blocked.

You want to buy it with money?

No way.

This, in turn, made Su Chen make up his mind completely.

"It seems we have no other choice."

He stood up, a cold glint in his eyes:

"Since they're not going to play by the rules, then we'll flip the table."

His plan, once an "alternative option," became the only way out.

"Thousand Faces, take me to the outer passage of the Central Vault. I want to personally deliver a grand gift to our friends."

There wasn't the slightest wavering in Su Chen's voice.

Qianmian swallowed hard as he watched Su Chen's resolute back.

He had no idea what this mysterious adult wanted to do.

But he had a premonition that the entire Void Relics market was about to face an unprecedented storm.

He nodded emphatically: "Yes, sir! I'll take you there right away!"

The two left the safe house silently and disappeared into the shadows of the market.

At the same time, the results of the blind bidding were sent to each participant's terminal.

Su Chen received two messages.

Article 1: Your bid for "Ancient Starsail Fragment" has failed.

Article 2: Your bid for "Key to the Tranquil Universe" has been confirmed as the highest valid bid. Please proceed to Reception Room A-7 to collect your item.

Su Chen smiled as he looked at the second message.

The Vickers Group took the bait as expected.

Seeing this astronomical price of 500 million, they must have thought they were a complete rip-off who didn't know the market and were planning to sneak the money away behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, Shadow also received his notification.

"Congratulations! You have successfully won the bid for 'Soul-Gathering Orchid'. Please proceed to handover room B-3 to collect your item."

Everything is ready.

All that's left is for that fuse to be lit by my own hands.

The Vickers Group's central vault, located in the heart of the market, is made of a special alloy capable of absorbing energy and laws, making it impregnable.

Su Chen and Qianmian are currently lurking in a parallel, long-abandoned maintenance passage.

It was dirty and dark, filled with the pungent smell of rust, but it was the closest place to the vault.

"Sir, the handover of the auction items has begun."

Qianmian stared at the miniature monitor on his wrist and lowered his voice:

"In order, the Shadow's target, 'Soul-Gathering Orchid,' will pass through the transport passage behind this wall in five minutes."

"understood."

Su Chen responded and gently placed his palm on the cold metal wall.

He closed his eyes, and his entire being seemed to blend into the surrounding darkness.

Within his divine realm of will, the meticulously crafted, fake mark, shimmering with a faint blood-red light, was poised to strike.

"Prophet, lock onto the target energy fluctuation. Prepare to perform the Law Resonance Imprint."

"Target locked. The channel shielding field will enter its weakest state in thirty seconds, lasting for three seconds. Authorized personnel, please prepare."

Su Chen held her breath.

These three seconds are his only chance.

Time passed second by second, and the passageway remained deathly silent.