Alright, this is a solid setup for a strategic chapter—less chaos, more planning before the storm. I'll keep it grounded, character-driven, and intense without crossing into anything that would get you restricted. Let's build it properly 👇
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Chapter: Before the Auction
Akshat woke up to darkness.
Not the deep, heavy darkness of midnight—but the quiet, fading light of evening. The kind that slipped through curtains in dull orange streaks, telling him he had slept through an entire day without realizing it.
His body felt heavy.
Not weak—just… used.
Every muscle carried the memory of months spent under Kurogami's brutal training. His bones didn't ache anymore, but they remembered. His instincts were sharper now, constantly alert even in silence.
He sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair.
Fragments of last night flashed through his mind.
Candlelight. Warm skin. Soft voices. That strange, quiet peace he hadn't felt in a long time.
Akshat blinked once.
"…What exactly happened?" he muttered.
He stood up and walked toward the hall.
---
The living room was alive.
Not loud—but alive.
Aavya was the first to notice him.
The moment he stepped in, she turned—and her entire face lit up.
She walked toward him almost immediately, her steps quick, her expression brighter than usual.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked, her voice light, almost teasing.
Akshat stared at her for a second.
Not because of the question.
But because of her.
She looked… different.
Not just physically—though her athletic build and confident posture were impossible to ignore now—but emotionally. There was a warmth in her eyes that hadn't been there before.
A steadiness.
Akshat scratched the back of his neck slightly.
"…Did anything happen last night?" he asked.
There was a brief pause.
Then—
Ryuki's voice cut in from behind.
"Yeah," she said casually, leaning against the wall with a smirk, "you fell asleep before anything interesting could happen."
Akshat froze.
"…What?"
Aavya covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Ryuki pushed herself off the wall and walked closer, circling him slowly like she was inspecting something.
"You had the perfect chance," she continued, tilting her head slightly, "and you wasted it."
Akshat blinked again.
"…Chance for what?"
Ryuki leaned in just enough for her voice to drop.
"A threesome."
Silence.
Akshat immediately looked away.
"…I'm glad I slept," he said flatly.
Aavya burst into laughter this time.
Ryuki clicked her tongue. "How moral of you."
Akshat exhaled slowly, shaking his head.
"Or maybe I just didn't feel like dealing with two unstable women at once."
"Unstable?" Ryuki raised an eyebrow.
Aavya folded her arms. "Wow."
Akshat smirked faintly.
"Yeah. Definitely unstable."
But there was no tension.
Only familiarity.
---
After a few minutes, the mood settled.
Akshat leaned against the sofa and pulled out his phone.
"Enough jokes," he said. "We have work."
Ryuki's expression sharpened slightly.
Aavya sat down, her posture changing—less playful now, more attentive.
Akshat dialed.
The call connected almost instantly.
"Akshat," came Alexander's calm voice.
"I'm awake," Akshat replied. "Update me."
There was a brief pause.
Then Alexander spoke.
"We've located the primary operational site."
Akshat's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Fallen Star Auction?"
"Yes."
Alexander's tone remained steady.
"Location: Northeastern sector. Berlin outskirts. Industrial zone—Dakota district."
Aavya leaned forward slightly.
"Berlin?" she whispered.
Ryuki didn't speak—but she was listening closely.
Akshat remained silent for a moment.
"Timeline?" he asked.
"One month," Alexander replied.
"That's when the auction officially begins."
Akshat nodded slowly.
"Good. That gives us time."
Alexander exhaled faintly.
"I've already prepared an initial plan."
Akshat's lips curved slightly.
"Let's hear it."
---
Alexander's voice became more structured.
Less conversational.
More tactical.
"The auction isn't a simple event," he began. "It's layered."
Akshat listened carefully.
"Outer layer," Alexander continued, "is security and screening. Private guards, identity verification, surveillance."
"Second layer is internal control—dealers, handlers, movement coordination."
"And the final layer…" he paused slightly, "…is where the real transactions happen."
Akshat's eyes darkened.
"People," he said.
"Yes."
Silence filled the room for a second.
Then Alexander continued.
"We don't attack the core directly."
Akshat smirked slightly.
"Obviously."
Aavya and Ryuki exchanged a glance.
They already understood.
This wasn't brute force.
This was dismantling.
---
Alexander's voice sharpened.
"We divide the operation into three phases."
Akshat leaned back slightly, listening.
"Phase one: infiltration."
"We enter the system before the auction begins. Fake identities. Controlled access."
Ryuki spoke for the first time.
"Who handles that?"
Alexander answered immediately.
"I already have contacts working on forged credentials. High-tier. Not traceable to us."
Akshat nodded slightly.
"Good."
---
"Phase two," Alexander continued, "is disruption."
"Not chaos," he added. "Controlled interference."
"Cut communication lines. Disable surveillance. Isolate internal groups."
Aavya frowned slightly.
"That sounds risky."
"It is," Alexander said calmly. "That's why timing matters."
Akshat's eyes remained steady.
"And phase three?"
Alexander didn't hesitate.
"Collapse."
Silence.
"We hit the core during the auction itself."
"Maximum exposure. Maximum damage."
"We don't just destroy it."
He paused.
"We make sure it can't recover."
---
The room went quiet.
Akshat slowly exhaled.
"…Good plan."
Ryuki crossed her arms.
"It's clean," she admitted.
Aavya nodded slightly.
"But dangerous."
Akshat chuckled faintly.
"Of course it is."
He looked at his reflection in the dark screen of the TV.
"This isn't a school fight anymore."
His voice dropped slightly.
"This is war."
---
Alexander spoke again.
"There's one more thing."
Akshat's gaze sharpened.
"What?"
"Kuroda Haruki is involved."
Aavya stiffened slightly.
Ryuki didn't react—but her eyes narrowed.
Akshat smiled faintly.
"I expected that."
"She's not opposing us," Alexander added.
"She's… observing."
Akshat chuckled.
"That's worse."
---
The call ended shortly after.
The room remained quiet.
Akshat put his phone down and looked at both of them.
"One month," he said.
Ryuki nodded.
"We prepare."
Aavya looked between them.
"And after that?"
Akshat's expression didn't change.
"We burn it down."
---
For the first time since returning—
There was no hesitation in his voice.
No uncertainty.
Only direction.
Only intent.
And somewhere far away—
In the shadows of Berlin—
The Fallen Star Auction waited.
Unaware…
That something far more dangerous was already moving toward it.
End of ch 70
To be continue...
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