The latches on the suitcase clicked open under Rose's fingers.
She lifted the lid slowly.
Inside, nestled on dark velvet, wasn't a "weapon" in the traditional sense...
It was a simple, ornate crown made of a dull, brassy metal.
It looked old and tarnished, not shiny or grand.
Seth felt an odd kind of pressure push against his mind...
Like a silent and mocking voice that seemed to say "Look at me. I am better. You are less."
It was a faint feeling, but it was undeniably there, seeping out of the crown.
'The Sin of Arrogance...'
"It's genuine," Rose said, her voice heaving a relief.
She didn't touch it and just observed.
"What were the buyer's instructions?"
"Wear thick gloves lined with lead wool when handling. Never make direct skin contact. Do not speak to it or acknowledge the things it says to you..."
Darius recited.
"Standard procedure for an Arrogance artifact. Probably at the third or second circle..."
Rose nodded, satisfied.
