Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1619: The Auction: Part-2

Henry sensed the danger, the kind of pressure that warned of an imminent collapse.

Things were about to get messy, and with Emperor Kaelen convinced that Amara Rosavere had colluded with the Terra Empire... along with the damning proof resting coldly on the tray... Henry knew the Rosavere company was finished.

They would soon be erased from the Empires, not even a whisper left behind to mark their existence.

’I don’t think I need to marry into her family... Hahah~’ he thought, a crooked smirk tugging at his lips as he carefully eased the door open.

He moved slowly, deliberately, making sure not a single creak betrayed him. His eyes flicked back one last time toward the chamber, where tension coiled like a snake.

’Damn... they are really going to kill each other,’ he muttered inwardly before slipping out—

Thud!

A solid force slammed into him before he could take a proper step. Henry staggered back, his balance lost as his body hit the ground with a dull impact.

A sharp groan escaped him, ’W-What was that—’

Henry’s eyes widened as he registered the figure... tall, unyielding, like a wall carved from something far more dangerous than stone.

CLAP!

The sound cracked through the chamber.

”Ai, ai~ what a lively auction we have here~”

Every head turned almost instinctively, drawn toward the source as if pulled by an invisible thread.

Amara Rosavere’s breath caught when her eyes fell on Victor... the Dragon Emperor.

Julian, who had been lingering at the corner of the chamber, stiffened before abruptly stepping forward.

His pace quickened despite the strain in his legs. Pain flashed across his face, but he ignored it, moving as though this single moment might decide everything.

Reaching Victor, he bowed deeply, his posture rigid with desperation and respect.

”Welcome to my humble auction, Dragon Emperor. It is an honour to receive the one who guides the Pride.”

Victor’s gaze barely brushed past him.

Instead, Victor walked forward. His attention settled on the woman standing upon the podium.

”Good evening, Amara Rosavere.”

Julian remained bowed, but no flicker of insult crossed his face.

He understood too well how dragons behaved. Considering that the new Dragon Emperor likely had no idea who he even was, this treatment felt almost merciful.

He had endured far worse under the previous Dragon Emperor, even at the height of his power as CEO.

At the very least, this Dragon Emperor chose to acknowledge his granddaughter, the current CEO.

Amara steadied herself. She gathered the hem of her dress with practised grace, her fingers barely trembling as she dipped into a refined bow. When she rose, her expression had already smoothed into polite composure.

”Good evening, Dragon Emperor. Your presence graces this auction... I am truly honoured to welcome you.”

Victor’s lips curved faintly, a quiet amusement flickering across his face. His gaze shifted, landing on Penelope.

The girl flinched under his attention, her shoulders tensing as she hurriedly lowered her head.

”G-Good mor— I mean... good evening, Dragon Emperor,” she stammered, her voice catching midway before she corrected herself.

Victor’s eyes softened just a fraction, ’She is holding up better than I expected,’ he thought, the corner of his mind amused as he turned his attention away.

His gaze swept across the chamber, settling briefly on the five individual decorative tables arranged with careful precision, each one occupied by figures who now sat far more quietly than before.

Kaelen had already returned to his seat as if he had never stirred the storm moments ago.

What unsettled everyone far more, however, was something else entirely.

Mary... was silent.

No sharp remarks, no cutting words, no playful provocations.

She sat there in complete stillness.

That alone felt unnatural.

Even Victor noticed. For a brief second, a flicker of curiosity crossed his expression. He had expected a clash of words.

He had been looking forward to a little banter.

But... utter silence before him?

That... didn’t make sense, right?

Victor’s expression shifted, a faint crease forming between his brows.

Something... felt off. He had not noticed it before, but now, as his attention sharpened, his gaze settled on a blurred presence across the chamber.

A thread of familiarity brushed against him as if he connected with Mary—

Snap!

The sensation vanished as abruptly as it had appeared.

Victor blinked, ’What was that?’ he wondered, ’Could it be because she and Lia share the same Primordial bloodline...?’

The moment the thought settled, his face turned pale.

’Oh shit! If she felt that connection... I am completely screwed! I need to shut this down... now!’

If Mary were aware of this connection... he so fucked up!

He swallowed hard... a fear rising at the thought of never being able to face Lia again.

Across the chamber, Mary sat frozen beneath her composed exterior, her fingers tightening subtly against the armrest.

’Fuck... fuck... fuck!’

’I managed to cut it off for now, but if he focuses... if he forces it... he will know. He will know it has been me all along...’

Her thoughts spiralled, ’Ah! FUCK!! I SHOULDN’T HAVE COME HERE LIKE THIS!!’

Panic pressed against her ribs, her breathing threatening to lose rhythm as sweat gathered along her skin despite the calm she forced onto her face.

What if her ’son’ felt disgust?

What if her ’son’ turned away from her?

What if her ’son’... hated her?

The thoughts came in waves... destroying her happy home!

She struggled to hold herself together, her posture steady only by sheer will... SHEER WILL!!

She had forgotten that part.

She had come here without thinking. So much time had passed... she just wanted to see him... after all this time.

To see how much he had grown.

To stand at a distance, like any quiet, unseen mother?

And yet... that simple desire had become a catastrophic mistake.

Now, all she could do was hope he had not noticed.

At the same time, Victor forced his gaze elsewhere, anchoring himself away from her presence.

He could only hope she had not noticed either.

Neither of them looked at each other.

Not once!

Victor exhaled slowly, shifting his focus toward the centre of the chamber. His eyes landed on the grand, empty seat positioned prominently among the arrangement.

A faint smile returned to his lips, ”Oh? That seat... is it meant for me? I must say, I am quite honoured to receive such a grand welcome.”

He had not expected the Rosavere family to go this far to accommodate him. The difference in treatment felt... deliberate.

’Did I establish some kind of connection with her?’

His brows knit faintly.

’No... that does not make sense. Apart from allowing her to handle transport duties within my Empire, I have not granted her or her company any real advantage.’

His gaze flickered briefly toward Amara.

’Perhaps she is trying to curry favour... expand her reach into my territory. That would be a more reasonable explanation.’

Amara hesitated for a brief second, her eyes lingering on the empty seat before she inclined her head.

”Please... take your seat, Your Majesty. It would be our honour.”

Victor gave a small nod before stepping forward. His movements remained calm, though he gulped when he passed by Mary’s position.

He kept his gaze straight ahead, deliberately avoiding her, just as she kept hers lowered, refusing to meet his.

He took his seat, sinking into the plush cushions of the chair.

His eyes drifted toward the table before him, noting the neatly arranged selection of drinks, each glass reflecting soft light.

’She really is trying hard to expand her company,’ he thought, a faint amusement returning as he picked up a glass and took a measured sip. The cool liquid slid smoothly down his throat.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed subtle movements.

His family... watching him.

They tried to be discreet, but their glances betrayed them.

Victor set the glass down with quiet ease, leaning back into the chair as his posture relaxed.

”What are you waiting for?” he said, his voice calm yet carrying authority. ”Continue.”

Amara blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Her gaze shifted toward the other rulers seated around the chamber.

Silence.

An unusual, heavy silence had settled over them all.

Each of them sat still, their attention fixed on her, as if silently urging her forward... waiting for her to take control once more.

Amara frowned for a brief moment, her thoughts shifting rapidly behind her composed expression.

’Does this man... hold a higher authority than the others? No... wait... I see it now. He is the only one capable of storing and utilising energy within the barrier. Of course... they would be cautious around him.’

Understanding settled in, and with it, a subtle, knowing smile curved her lips.

She had not considered that angle before his arrival.

But now... it only made things easier.

She straightened, her posture regaining its natural confidence, and continued with a bright, controlled smile. As long as Victor did not interfere, everything would unfold exactly as she intended.

”First of all, I understand your disdain toward this artifact... or anything that bears resemblance to the invaders.”

Her voice carried clearly across the chamber.

”It is only natural. They took what belonged to us without hesitation, without mercy. Hatred, in such a case, is not misplaced. We have every right to hate what they are holding”

”But this is not the time to be guided by that hatred.”

Her tone sharpened slightly.

”We must think rationally. Many of us no longer possess the power we once held, and even those who do... cannot guarantee the safety of their people. Our enemies outnumber us, and their weapons... adapt. They counter our abilities as though they have studied us in advance.”

Her gaze swept across the chamber. It lingered for a fraction longer on Kaelen, ensuring the young emperor understood without provoking his temper again.

”So, if we are to face such an enemy...” she continued, her voice lowering just slightly, ”we have no choice but to turn their own strength against them.”

A few clenched their jaws at her words, discomfort flashing openly across their faces. Others simply exhaled, their expressions resigned.

None of them liked it... But none of them could deny it either.

If there had been another way, they would not be here.

”And no... I did not collude with those monsters for profit.”

”This artifact...”

She gestured lightly toward the tray.

”...is made from the virgin materials of our own Empires.”

A ripple of surprise moved through the audience.

Amara’s smile deepened, carrying a hint of pride. ”Yes. This artifact was built by my company.”

A faint smirk followed, ”In fact, the one responsible... is my most trusted partner. The only individual who managed to decode the original structure, something no one else in this world could achieve.”

She allowed a brief pause, letting anticipation tighten the room.

”And not only decode it... but rebuild it.

Adapt it.

Refine it to function within our environment, using our own materials.”

Eyes widened in disbelief, flickering across multiple faces.

Even Victor’s gaze shifted, a subtle spark of interest catching in his eyes.

Amara’s smirk sharpened.

”Our company’s most trusted partner... no.”

She corrected herself deliberately, her tone carrying personal weight.

”My most trusted partner... Mr. Lackey.”

She let the name echo. Julian’s lips twitched slightly, ’She’s doing it on purpose.’

”The greatest engineer of this New Era.”

Her chin lifted slightly,

”The one who reverse-engineered these so-called artifacts... which are, in truth, nothing more than advanced technology.

A man whose work surpasses even that of the SA Academy’s former chief engineer... Mr. Kennedy.”

”...”

A heavy, stunned silence.

The name ”Lackey” lingered in the air, imprinting itself into every mind present.

Victor, on the other hand, leaned back slightly, amusement flickering behind his calm expression.

’She knows exactly how to weave her words,’ he thought, a faint grin tugging at his lips. ’If I did not already know the truth... even I might have believed her completely.’

She had done it neatly.

She claimed Lackey as hers, not merely as a company asset.

Then by elevating his name, she increased his value... and by extension, the value of everything tied to him.

A clever move.

’Damn girl... You’re really an interesting one’

Victor’s thoughts stirred with faint echoes, voices of his beloveds brushing against his mind, questioning, probing about this new character who popped out of nowhere.

Yet he acted; he was too surprised and had no idea who this person was.

As though he had no connection to that name at all.

Expect a pair of multicoloured eyes staring at him.

Why hide it... even from them?

Only he knew.

And whatever path he walked, it was one chosen with intent.

!~Ding~!

[Alert! Mutation Progress: 95% forcibly halted due to interference from an unidentified entity!]

Victor’s brows lifted slightly, ’Unidentified entity?’