"Mhm."
Serena offered a soft, barely-there response.
The slender fingers curled around the man's neck slowly tightened.
Then, she kissed him back with matching intensity.
This kiss was entirely different from the one before. It was no longer just an act to maintain the scandalous illusion between The Panacea and The Sterling Sovereign.
Nor was it merely a performance for Project Zero-Transit's watchdogs.
At this moment, she truly, undeniably wanted to kiss him.
Sensing her fleeting loss of control, the dark intensity in Nicholas's eyes softened inch by inch.
He didn't say a word.
Instead, he simply pulled her closer, his embrace tightening.
Shielding her completely from any prying eyes lingering in the shadows.
...
Meanwhile, on the grand stage of the Obsidian Sun High-Value Auction.
The Lead Auctioneer stood at the absolute center, wearing a flawless, practiced smile. He offered a slight bow to The Buyers. "Thank you, esteemed guests, for participating in tonight's exclusive event aboard Project Zero-Transit."
"At this time, all items for this evening have been successfully bid upon."
"I officially declare tonight's auction completely—"
Before he could finish the final word.
A heavy, deafening thud echoed from backstage.
The sound was incredibly dense.
It was as though something massive had violently rammed against the steel doors leading to the main stage.
The entire hall seemed to shudder from the impact.
The Lead Auctioneer's voice died in his throat.
The Buyers who had already stood up, ready to filter out of the room, froze in their tracks.
Every single head snapped toward the source of the sound.
"What was that?"
"It sounded like it came from behind the stage."
"Is there another item left?"
"Didn't he just announce that everything was done?"
"Could it be another sudden addition to the Living Assets?"
Hushed whispers and frantic murmurs swept through the crowd.
Then came a sharp, electronic beep.
The massive screen on the stage, which had been displaying the closing graphics, abruptly blacked out.
A split second later, a striking line of crimson text flashed before everyone's eyes. [Final Asset Detected.]
Seeing the text, someone gasped in disbelief. "A final asset?"
"There's actually something else tonight?"
"Weren't we told that Aria Wynn's serum was the ultimate finale?"
"But didn't The Panacea's S-Rank Neural Repair Serum get added at the last minute too?"
"Is there seriously more?!"
"Wait, could it be that?"
Sudden realization dawned on someone in the crowd.
"Could it be the rumor that's been tearing through the ship? The Supreme Biological Consignment, something supposedly far more valuable than the finale?"
Even now, nobody had forgotten the wild speculation about that hidden item.
Seeing this sudden interruption, everyone's minds instantly jumped to the rumored secret lot.
All eyes locked onto the stage, and
even those who had made it to the
aisles hurriedly rushed back to th seats. FindNovel.net
They had caused a massive uproar
earlier, with quite a few even risking to break into the cargo,
their ve
hold's perimeter.
FindNovel.net
All of it was to uncover that elusive, legendary asset, the one whispered to dwarf tonight's main event in worth.
Yet, no matter how hard they pressed, Project Zero-Transit's management had stubbornly denied its existence.
They had even used The Panacea's S-Rank Neural Repair Serum as a distraction to throw everyone off the scent.
Everyone assumed the mystery would simply fade away unresolved.
But to their absolute shock, at the very last second of the night, the true asset had finally surfaced!
How could they not be thrilled?
The entire hall erupted in feverish anticipation.
Then, the main screen flickered once more.