?Chapter 65:

Then she vanished into the night without a sound.

Next door, Chris leaned casually against the window, one shoulder propped against the frame, watching a slender silhouette slip out of the apartment building’s exit.

“You’re so disobedient.”

In Erygan, Maia swiftly located the hidden entrance beneath the old iron crossing. She recalled Zoey once saying these so-called bazaars were simply illegal trading hubs masked under different names. They were havens for forbidden treasures and trafficked merchandise.

Yet, that never discouraged adventurers from venturing in, hoping to discover rare finds. Word had it someone once unearthed a medieval ivoryb here,ter auctioned for millions.

Contrasting the quiet exterior, the underground bazaar buzzed with life. Murkynterns cast soft pools of light while the atmosphere resembled a jam-packed festival. Stalls were tightly packed, and vendor calls rang endlessly through the air.

Maia showed a picture of Vicki’s bracelet on her device, intending to ask around each booth. If it existed here, someone had surely seen it.

After she questioned more than a dozen merchants, none could recognize it. She then halted before a liquor shop, its broad front suggesting smuggled alcohol dealings — something Maia found uninteresting.

As she prepared to leave, a voice sounded behind her. “Miss, we just received exclusive bottles. Care for a peek?”

“Searching for something — not thirsty,” Maia replied with a shrug.

The shop assistant’s gaze sharpened. “Looking for something, huh? You’re in luck. Nothing escapes my notice in this ce.”

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“Is that right?” Maia paused, then decided to gamble. She handed him her phone. “Ever spotted this?”

The bracelet appeared ancient, its rich hue and borate engravings breathtaking.

Despite extensive experience, the shop assistant hadn’t encountered anythingparable.

“You sure this piece is floating around here?”

Maia tucked the device back into her pocket. “Forget it.”

She pivoted, but he blocked her path. “Hey, no need to bolt. I might not know, but my boss surely would. Nothing slips past him — not even spare change.”

“Your boss?” Maia’s stare sharpened. “Is this another setup?”

The shop assistant lifted three fingers. “Promise. Just follow.”

Actually, he wasn’t sure if his boss had ever seen this bracelet before. But if this bracelet really was in the market, he had to make sure his boss seized the opportunity to learn more about it — and perhaps gather clues to secure it.

Maia agreed and trailed him inside.

Rows of rare, imported bottles lined the store. Maia’s eyes flicked across them, her brow arching slightly.

The shop assistant snapped a photo of the bracelet. “Hang tight. I’ll go ask.” While he disappeared into the back, Maia perched on a tall stool, idly browsing her phone.

Momentster, a man in a dove-gray coat entered, carrying a sleek case. He dropped onto the seat next to her, drumming on the counter, and said to another shop assistant nearby, “Is my package prepared?”

The shop assistant’s posture straightened immediately. “Ready, sir!”

Reaching up to the towering shelf, the man carefully retrieved an elegant bottle and passed it reverently.

The man inspected it, gave an approving nod, and ced the case down, preparing to leave — until a slim hand seized his wrist.

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