Korrath Vex returned without warning.

A swirl of black smoke coalesced in the corner of the private box, and the towering bodyguard materialized from the shadows. Dark tendrils curled around his form for a moment before fading away completely. He dropped to one knee immediately, bowing his head low with perfect deference.

“Master,” he said, his voice deep and mechanical, carrying that faint electronic hum from his internal systems. “I am here.”

The Eternal Veil Syndicate representative nodded once, his expression cold and calculating. He slowly scanned the surrounding private boxes, his augmented eye glowing with a faint crimson ring as it swept across every corner and shadow. He was taking no chances. After a long moment of careful observation, he reached into a hidden fold of his robe and activated a small palm-sized device. A soft, almost inaudible hum filled the box as a translucent forcefield shimmered into existence around them — a compact privacy bubble that blocked all sound, Qi signatures, and any attempt at eavesdropping from outside. The field created only a faint distortion in the air, nearly invisible to anyone looking from afar.

“Speak,” the representative ordered, his voice now completely isolated within the protective bubble.

Korrath Vex remained kneeling but lifted his head slightly.

“The target is a lone wanderer named Zephyr Kane,” he reported in a low, precise tone. “He is a rogue cultivator with no known ties to any major sect, clan, or organization. He drifts from planet to planet across the outer sectors, never staying in one location for more than a few weeks at a time. He is wanted in seventeen different sectors with a substantial bounty on his head for the systematic assassination of high-ranking officials, the theft of several ancient progenitor relics from secure vaults, and the complete destruction of three major black-market auction houses that refused to pay protection fees to smaller independent groups. He is extremely dangerous and powerful. His exact cultivation level remains unknown — every scanner returns errors or incomplete readings, which suggests he uses advanced concealment techniques or possesses a rare bloodline. He has a confirmed record of over two hundred kills, including at least three Stellar Circuit star 6 experts who were sent after him. He always works alone, leaves behind no witnesses, and is rumored to command forbidden techniques that let him disappear like smoke. There are also reports of him single-handedly wiping out entire teams of elite bounty hunters. His methods are ruthless, efficient, and leave scenes that look more like the work of a vengeful ghost than a man. Importantly, he has no connection whatsoever to the Four Pillars. No alliances, no backing, no one who would dare seek revenge on his behalf.”

The representative listened in complete silence, his fingers tapping lightly against the arm of his chair. As Korrath Vex finished speaking, a slow, genuine smile spread across the representative’s face. His eyes lit up with pure, dark satisfaction.

“Perfect,” he whispered, his voice dripping with delight. “Absolutely perfect. A lone wanderer with a bounty on his head and no powerful backers. No sect, no family, no allies who would mourn him. I can kill him without any consequences. No revenge, no political fallout, nothing. Just clean elimination.”

He leaned back in his seat, the smile growing wider and more predatory.

“I only need to wait for this auction to end. Then I will strike. I will make him understand exactly who he dared to challenge. And as an extra gift, I can collect the bounty on his head. Two birds with one stone.”

His joy was unmistakable. For the first time in a long while, the representative looked genuinely pleased.

He waved a hand toward the edge of the forcefield. A waiting servant outside noticed the signal and approached respectfully once the field was briefly lowered.

“Bring three of your best girls for my loyal servant here,” the representative ordered calmly. “The most beautiful and skilled ones you have. Make sure they are eager to please.”

The servant bowed deeply and hurried off.

A short while later, three stunning young women entered the box. They were Lumina — a species that looked almost exactly like humans, with flawless, smooth pale skin, elegant features, and graceful, alluring bodies. Their long hair flowed in shades of silver, gold, and violet-streaked waves, and their striking violet eyes sparkled with practiced seduction. They wore thin, revealing silken dresses that clung to every curve, designed to entice and arouse.

The women moved with confident, seductive grace. The first one, with cascading silver hair, approached Korrath Vex first. She pressed her body against his side, running a delicate finger slowly down his chest as she whispered in a low, breathy voice.

“My strong lord... I’ve been craving a powerful man like you all night. Let me drain every bit of tension from that big, hard body of yours.”

The second, with golden hair and full, inviting lips, leaned in close from the other side, her hand boldly sliding lower as she purred into his ear.

“I love a man who knows how to dominate... but I bet you’d enjoy it even more if I dominated you first. Tell me how rough you want it, handsome. I can take everything you give.”

The third, with violet-streaked hair and a mischievous, hungry smile, traced her nails gently along his arm while licking her lips.

“We three can be as filthy as you desire, my lord. Want us on our knees? Want us fighting over who gets to please you first? Just say the word... we’ll worship every single inch until you can’t think straight.”

Korrath Vex let out a low, rumbling chuckle, a rare grin spreading across his scarred face. He allowed the three seductive women to surround him, their hands and lewd whispers guiding him as they led him away from the main box toward a private side room reserved for such pleasures. Their soft laughter and increasingly dirty promises echoed faintly as they disappeared down the corridor.

The representative watched them go with a deep, satisfied smile still playing on his lips. The excellent news about Zephyr Kane had put him in a wonderful mood. No consequences. No complications. Just pure opportunity.

He leaned back comfortably in his seat, the forcefield still active around him, and turned his attention back to the ongoing auction with renewed interest.

Power Scale / Cultivation Realms (Quick Reminder)

Foundation Realm (Layers 1–9): Body forging, no external Qi.

Circuit Awakening Realm (Early–Peak): First Qi loop, internal bursts.

Core Condensation Realm (Early–Peak): External Qi release, short flight.

Stellar Circuit Realm (1–9 Stars): True flight, Qi armor, energy projection.

Nebula Dominion Realm and higher: Domain control, galaxy-level power, etc

Power Scale Reminder

Lian Yu: Stellar circuit Star 1

Elara Voss: Core Condensation Early to Middle

The Four Pillars: the most powerful organizations in the lower core universe — ancient, influential, and dangerous beyond measure.

Zephyr Kane: Lone wanderer

Keep it as reminders