Kaelen's fake smile completely shattered. He choked on his own breath, completely paralyzed.
Test him? Was he insane?
Did he have a death wish?
With a single word, The Sterling Sovereign could have the entire Obsidian Sun High-Value Auction utterly dismantled.
"I wouldn't... I wouldn't dare... Please, forgive me, sir..." Kaelen's voice shook violently. "Ms. Panacea's creations are obviously our highest priority. We will slot them in the second she's ready."
He was absolutely terrified to even breathe The Panacea's name again.
This Sterling Sovereign was so utterly obsessed with her, it was legitimately horrifying!
Satisfied that the man was sufficiently terrified, Nicholas offered a condescending smirk. "I have zero interest in the garbage you're pushing in the early rounds."
"Since you're already standing here, tell me about the finale piece."
Kaelen blinked, stunned.
He had genuinely believed the man cared about absolutely nothing they had to offer tonight.
He never expected...
That he would personally ask about the main event?
He frantically wiped his sweating face, desperately latching onto the lifeline. "Sir, are you actually interested in the finale?"
Nicholas shot him a dark, half-amused look. "Whether I'm interested or not entirely depends on what you have the guts to put on that stage."
"Since your people have been aggressively claiming that tonight's auction was thrown exclusively for my benefit. I expect you not to insult my intelligence with cheap trash."
Kaelen's expression grew even more incredibly strained.
Every single word felt like a sledgehammer smashing directly into his chest.
He forced a desperate smile. "Please rest assured, sir! The finale is unquestionably the most highly sought-after prize of the entire night!"
"Is that so?" Nicholas asked lazily. "Then bring me the full technical profile for the finale."
Kaelen nodded frantically. "Yes, of course, right away! I'll have the summary prepped immediately."
Nicholas arched an eyebrow. "I don't want a summary. I want the complete, uncensored raw files. Including... all the clinical research data."
Kaelen froze, his face instantly draining of all color. "Sir... that completely violates our protocol... The finale item is..."
The finale item...
It was The Aria Wynn Research Serum.
A revolutionary medical breakthrough that could completely upend the scientific world.
And an asset that Project Zero-Transit had spent a truly terrifying amount of resources to secure.
The raw data files contained sensitive information regarding the serum's violent origins and its deeply illegal supply chains.
There was absolutely no way they could just hand that over.
"Protocol?"
Nicholas looked at the sweating executive, his sharp lips curling into a deeply sadistic smirk.
The smile was bone-chilling. "You throw an auction in my name, yet you're terrified to show me the spec sheet on a single item? Is this the extent of your supposed loyalty?"
Kaelen was practically
hyperventilating now. "No, sir! The
data on the serum involves
extremely classified operational
secrets! I would need direct authorization from the board to..."
"Authorization?" Nicholas scoffed darkly. "You invite me to this little show and when finally see something want, you have the absolute audacity to tell me Phave to wait for your permission?"
He locked eyes with the man.
His gaze was an absolute void, devoid of a single ounce of mercy. "You have exactly ten minutes. If those files aren't in my hand by then, I'm shutting this entire auction down."
Kaelen turned a sickening shade of grey, the sweat practically pouring off him.
He frantically wiped his face, his
voice trembling uncontrollably. "Yes, sir! I will override the security clearance immediately!!! bave the data brought up to you right away!"