Chapter 154: Merchant’s Coin

The harem dynamics were volatile and highly dangerous but Leon thrived in the chaos. He gently lifted the flustered knight off his lap standing up to finalize their infiltration plan.

The Obsidian Vault was holding the magical catalysts required for the Emperor’s dark ritual. The strike team was going to walk through the front doors and burn the entire corrupt establishment to the ground.

The Obsidian Vault sat in the center of the upper merchant district projecting an aura of intimidating wealth. It was a massive four-story structure built from polished black marble featuring towering bronze columns and reinforced crystal windows.

To the average citizen it was a highly exclusive banking institution. To the criminal underworld it was the primary funding hub for the Eclipse Syndicate and Lady Morgana’s dark operations.

The mid-morning sun attempted to break through the capital smog as a sleek luxurious carriage pulled up to the Vault’s grand entrance.

Leon stepped out onto the cobblestones looking like a wealthy foreign aristocrat. He wore a pristine dark velvet suit tailored to perfectly highlight his heavily corded muscles. He did not carry his massive steel weapon opting instead for a pair of hidden daggers to maintain his highborn disguise.

He reached back into the carriage offering his large hand.

Valeriana stepped out her hand resting gracefully in his palm. The beautiful spy was in her absolute element. She wore a breathtaking crimson silk gown that hugged her generous curves featuring a scandalous neckline adorned with expensive glowing jewels.

She projected an aura of haughty aristocratic boredom flawlessly playing the role of a spoiled heiress.

Seraphina Isolde Beatrice and Elara were stationed in the surrounding alleyways securing the perimeter and preparing to intercept any reinforcements once the vault was breached.

"Keep your temper in check Leon," Valeriana murmured softly her lips barely moving as they walked up the marble steps. "These guards are highly trained Adepts. If you start breaking bones in the lobby they will lock down the subterranean levels."

"I am a perfect gentleman," Leon replied a dark wicked smile playing on his lips.

They approached the heavy bronze doors. Four towering mercenary guards wearing polished silver breastplates moved to block their path. They held glowing enchanted halberds projecting a unified wall of dense magical pressure meant to intimidate lesser nobles.

"The Vault is closed for private auctions today," the lead guard stated his voice dripping with condescension as he eyed Leon’s lack of a visible noble crest. "Return tomorrow."

Valeriana scoffed loudly waving a delicate hand in the air. "Do not speak to us peasant. My fiancé is looking to procure rare beast cores for his private collection. We have an appointment with the Head Teller."

She reached into her small silk clutch producing a heavy pouch of solid gold coins. She tossed it casually hitting the lead guard squarely in the chest. The mercenary caught the heavy bag his eyes widening at the sheer volume of wealth.

The guard hesitated his greed warring with his strict orders. He gestured for a subordinate to open the bronze doors.

"You may enter the lobby," the lead guard conceded stepping aside. "But all guests must submit to a magical pat-down. We do not allow offensive artifacts inside."

The guard reached out his thick armored hand moving aggressively toward Valeriana’s waist to conduct the search.

He never made contact.

Leon blurred into motion moving far faster than the Adept’s eyes could track. He reached out and clamped his large calloused hand directly over the guard’s armored wrist. He did not use flashy magic. He simply channeled a fraction of his monstrous physical strength.

He squeezed.

The thick steel gauntlet groaned loudly before violently crumpling inward. The guard shrieked in pure agonizing pain dropping to his knees as the bones in his forearm were effortlessly crushed into powder.

"Keep your filthy hands off my fiancé," Leon whispered his deep voice echoing with chilling demonic authority.

He activated his Aura Suppression completely hiding the sudden spike of kinetic energy. To the surrounding guards it looked as though the towering aristocrat possessed impossible terrifying physical might without utilizing a single drop of mana.

The remaining three mercenaries froze gripping their halberds but refusing to attack. They were terrified by the sheer effortless brutality displayed by the wealthy stranger.

Leon casually stepped over the weeping guard offering his arm to Valeriana. The beautiful spy fought a desperate battle to hide the massive jolt of breathless heat flushing her cheeks. The violent possessive protection scrambled her professional composure leaving her feeling incredibly small and profoundly cherished.

They walked through the grand bronze doors entering a breathtaking lobby paved with solid gold tiles and massive crystal chandeliers. Wealthy corrupt nobles mingled near long mahogany counters sipping expensive wine while waiting for their illicit transactions to clear.

Leon swept his intense midnight eyes across the room memorizing the layout. The heavy reinforced steel door leading to the subterranean vaults was located at the far end of the lobby heavily guarded by complex runic arrays.

Before they could approach the Head Teller a sudden suffocating wave of heavy elemental pressure violently flooded the golden room.

The chaotic chatter of the corrupt aristocrats died instantly. The temperature in the lobby plummeted causing the crystal chandeliers to rattle softly.

A man walked slowly out of the VIP lounge. He wore a heavy black military coat adorned with the silver crest of the Divination Court. He possessed sharp hawkish features and pale glowing eyes that radiated the unmistakable terrifying pressure of a Tier One Grandmaster.

"I heard a rat squealing on my front steps," the Grandmaster announced his voice cutting through the silence like a jagged blade. He locked his pale eyes directly onto Leon. "And it seems the feral beast of House Sterling has decided to walk right into my cage."

Lady Morgana’s loyal hound had arrived and the stealth mission was officially over. Leon smiled a dark feral grin rolling his broad shoulders. It was time to burn the bank to the ground.