Chapter 123: Victor Steele, Alaric’s Father, Gets Caught

Just as Zylle began to feel the tide of the battle turning against the Phantom Assembly, a flicker of movement caught her eye. Through the swirling chaos of combat, she spotted one of her elite subordinates escorting Brita Kuusk towards a less congested area of the auction hall.

A wave of relief washed over her. Their primary objective had been secured. Brita was safe.

’Excellent,’ Zylle thought, a small, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips. ’With Brita secured, there’s no need to prolong this engagement.’

She immediately made a decisive move, reaching into a hidden pouch at her side. With a swift motion, she unleashed a volley of small, spherical objects, tossing them high into the air.

Dozens of smoke bombs erupted simultaneously, filling the auction hall with a thick, white cloud. The sounds of clashing steel and crackling magic abruptly ceased as the kingdom’s knights and soldiers found themselves blinded, their vision obscured by the dense smoke.

At that very moment, Zylle’s voice echoed through the auction hall, clear and commanding, amplified by a subtle enchantment. “Phantom Assembly members,” she called out, her voice cutting through the confusion. “Withdraw! Immediately! Do not engage! Retreat to your designated escape routes!”

Her words had an immediate effect. The Phantom Assembly members, trained to operate in such conditions, instantly ceased their attacks and began to move towards their designated escape routes. They were familiar with the layout of the auction hall, even in the thick smoke, and they navigated the chaotic scene with surprising ease.

Meanwhile, Drustan and Kaelith, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the smoke, quickly issued orders to their own forces. “Hold your positions!” Drustan shouted, his voice booming through the smoke-filled hall. “Form defensive circles! Don’t let them flank us!”

The kingdom’s knights and soldiers, though disoriented by the smoke, quickly obeyed, forming tight defensive formations, their shields raised, their weapons at the ready. They were wary of ambushes, knowing that the Phantom Assembly members were skilled in guerilla tactics.

The auction hall descended into a scene of utter confusion. The white smoke swirled and billowed, obscuring everything from view. The only sounds were the coughing of the soldiers, the shuffling of feet, and the faint echoes of Zylle’s voice.

Zylle, taking advantage of the chaos she had created, quickly made her way towards her subordinate and Brita. She moved with incredible speed and agility, using ’Shadow Step’ to teleport short distances, navigating the smoke-filled hall with ease.

She reached them in a matter of seconds, grabbing Brita’s arm and pulling her along. “Come on,” she urged, her voice low and urgent. “We need to move. Now.”

She led them both towards a secluded chamber at the back of the auction hall, a chamber that housed a secret teleportation circle, their most secure escape route. This route would teleport them far away from the auction hall, far away from Porthaven City, ensuring their safe escape.

As they hurried through the smoke-filled hall, Brita turned to Zylle, her expression filled with gratitude. “Madam Zylle,” she said, her voice sincere, “thank you for coming to save me. I was worried that…”

Zylle cut her off with a dismissive wave of her hand. “It’s quite alright Brita,” she said, her voice businesslike. “It’s my duty to ensure the safety of our members.”

Brita then continued, “Right after these Kingdom soldiers and knights had come, I went to the treasury hall and had stored all the treasures in our storage pouches. After all, it’s a pity that our plan to inflict chaos in the world by giving away these artifacts and treasures has failed, it’s still better than letting these treasures land in the hands of the Kingdom.”

Zylle nodded, a hint of approval in her eyes. “You did well, Brita,” she said, her voice impressed. “That was a wise decision. It’s always better to deny our enemies any potential gains.”

They finally reached the secluded chamber, the heavy door closing behind them, sealing them off from the chaos outside. The chamber was small and dimly lit, the only light source coming from the faint glow of the teleportation circle etched into the floor.

Zylle quickly activated the teleportation circle, a soft blue light emanating from the intricate runes. “This will take us to a safe location far from Porthaven,” she explained, her voice reassuring. “We’ll be safe there.”

The trio stepped onto the teleportation circle, the blue light intensifying. The air around them shimmered, and then, in a flash, they vanished, leaving the chamber empty.

Meanwhile, outside the secluded chamber, the smoke began to dissipate, slowly revealing the scene of chaos that remained. The auction hall was a mess, littered with overturned furniture, shattered glass, and the bodies of fallen Phantom Assembly members.

The kingdom’s knights and soldiers, still in their defensive formations, slowly emerged from the dissipating smoke, their eyes scanning the hall, searching for any remaining enemies.

Drustan and Kaelith, having regrouped with their subordinates, surveyed the scene, their expressions grim. The Phantom Assembly members had vanished, escaping through their hidden routes.

“They’re gone,” Drustan said, his voice low and frustrated. “They managed to escape before we could capture them.”

Kaelith grunted in agreement, his eyes scanning the hall. “They won’t get far,” he said, his voice determined. “We’ll track them down. And we’ll make them pay for this.”

While Zylle, Brita, and the other Phantom Assembly members had managed to escape, they had left behind a significant number of their fallen comrades. And, more importantly, they had left behind all the participants of the auction, including those in the VIP section.

Drustan turned to his subordinates, issuing new orders. “Round up everyone who’s left,” he commanded. “The auction participants, the staff, everyone. Take them to the city dungeon. We’ll interrogate them later.”

The kingdom’s soldiers quickly moved to obey, rounding up the remaining individuals and escorting them out of the auction hall. The chaos had ended, but the consequences were just beginning. The Phantom Assembly had made a grave mistake, and the kingdom was determined to make them pay.

~~

At this very moment, far from the chaos of the auction hall and the strategic maneuvering of Zylle and the kingdom’s forces, Alaric was enjoying a decidedly more relaxing experience. He was immersed in a steaming herbal bath in the luxurious private bath attached to his room at the Golden Barrel Inn.

The tub was enormous, easily large enough for two, maybe even three, people. ’This is definitely worth the coin,’ Alaric thought, sinking deeper into the fragrant water. The warm water, infused with a blend of soothing herbs, was working wonders on his minor injuries from his encounter with Brita. The aches and bruises were fading, replaced by a pleasant tingling sensation.

He stretched his legs out, enjoying the feeling of the warm water swirling around him. The steam rising from the bath filled the air with a calming aroma, further enhancing the relaxing atmosphere. ’This is exactly what I needed,’ he mused. ’A good soak to wash away the stress of the day… or rather, the night.’

He closed his eyes, letting his mind drift. He thought about the battle at the auction hall, the chaos, the destruction. He wondered if Zylle had managed to escape. He knew she was powerful, resourceful. ’She’s not the type to get caught easily,’ he thought. ’Even if Drustan and Kaelith managed to overwhelm her subordinates, she’d find a way out. The difference in their strength is too great.’

His thoughts then drifted to Brita Kuusk, the beautiful auctioneer with the fiery spirit. He chuckled softly, remembering their… encounter. ’It would be interesting if Drustan and Kaelith managed to capture her,’ he thought, a mischievous glint in his eyes. ’I’d love to have another… chat with her. Maybe tease her a little more. See if I can get her to blush again.’ He chuckled again, a hint of amusement in his voice. ’Though, I don’t particularly care either way.’

His thoughts then shifted to the other participants at the auction, the ones who had been in the other VIP rooms. He was curious about their identities, their connections. ’Who were they?’ he wondered. ’Which aristocratic families do they belong to? Which noble houses?’ He knew that if Drustan and Kaelith had managed to capture any of them, he would soon find out. It would be… disappointing if they didn’t manage to capture any of them. He was quite curious about the connections of those individuals.

He opened his eyes, glancing around the luxurious bathroom. The walls were covered in polished marble, the fixtures were made of gleaming brass, and the air was filled with the fragrant steam from the bath. ’This place is definitely top-notch,’ he thought. ’I might have to stay here for a few more days. Just to… unwind.’

He leaned back against the edge of the tub, closing his eyes once more. He let the warm water wash over him, letting his mind drift into a state of peaceful relaxation. He was finally able to relax, to let go of the tension and stress that had been building up inside him.

The night passed quickly, the darkness giving way to the first rays of dawn. Alaric remained in the bath for a while longer, enjoying the peace and quiet before finally deciding to emerge.

He stepped out of the tub, grabbing a large, fluffy towel and drying himself off. He then wrapped the towel around his waist, heading into the main room of his suite.

The room was bathed in the soft morning light, the city outside slowly coming to life. Alaric walked over to the balcony, opening the doors and stepping out into the fresh air.

He took a deep breath, enjoying the cool morning breeze. He looked out over the city, watching as the streets began to fill with people, the sounds of the city slowly rising to a crescendo.

He thought about the events of the previous night, the battle, the escape, the encounter with Brita. He had played his part perfectly, sowing chaos and confusion, furthering his own agenda.

He smiled to himself, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. Everything was proceeding according to plan. The kingdom and the Phantom Assembly were now locked in a conflict, a conflict that he had helped to orchestrate. And he, Alaric Steele, would be the one to benefit from it all.

He turned away from the balcony, heading back into his room. He needed to get dressed, to prepare for the day ahead. He had a lot to do, a lot of plans to put into motion.

He dressed quickly, putting on a clean set of clothes. He then gathered his belongings, making sure he had everything he needed. He was ready to leave the inn, to return to the world of intrigue and deception that he had become so adept at navigating.

As he was about to leave his room, there was a knock on the door. He paused, a flicker of curiosity crossing his face. ’Who could that be?’ he wondered. He hadn’t been expecting any visitors.

He walked over to the door, opening it to reveal two figures standing outside.

Alaric’s eyes widened slightly as he recognized them. It was Drustan and Kaelith.

’Well, this is unexpected,’ Alaric thought, a hint of surprise in his voice. ’I wonder what brings them here?’ He had expected them to be busy dealing with the aftermath of the battle at the auction hall.

Drustan and Kaelith entered the room, their expressions serious. They nodded to Alaric, their eyes scanning the room.

“Alaric,” Drustan said, his voice grave. “We need to talk.”

Alaric nodded slowly, his expression serious. “I also wanted to talk,” he said, his voice calm. He gestured towards the sitting area of his suite. “Please, have a seat.”

Drustan and Kaelith moved to the plush chairs, their eyes still holding a hint of tension. Alaric sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on Drustan. “So,” he began, his voice casual, “how did the… cleanup operation go? Were you able to apprehend any of the Phantom Assembly members? And what about the treasures? Were they recovered?”

Drustan and Kaelith exchanged a grim look before Drustan shook his head slowly. “We failed to secure either,” he admitted, his voice heavy with disappointment. “The Phantom Assembly reinforcements arrived just as we were about to secure the area.”

Kaelith grunted in agreement. “We managed to hold them off for a while,” he said, his voice gruff. “But then they deployed some sort of smoke bombs. It completely obscured our vision. By the time the smoke cleared, they were all gone. Taking the treasures with them.”

Drustan sighed, rubbing his temples wearily. “All that was left were the corpses of their fallen members,” he said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t extract any useful information from them.”

Alaric nodded slowly, feigning disappointment. ’Pity,’ he thought, a hint of amusement in his voice. ’It seems my plan worked perfectly.’ He then looked at Kaelith, noticing the strange look in his eyes. “What is it?” he asked, his voice curious. “You seem… tense.”

Kaelith was the one who spoke up as he stared at Alaric. “We did manage to capture the participants of the auction,” he said, his voice low. “Including those in the VIP chambers.”

A flicker of genuine interest crossed Alaric’s face. This was the information he had been waiting for. He wanted to know who had been attending the auction, who was connected to the Phantom Assembly.

However, he noticed the tense look in Drustan and Kaelith’s eyes, and his curiosity turned to concern. “What is it?” he asked, his voice sharp. “What’s wrong? Why do you both look so tense?”

Drustan took a deep breath before revealing the bombshell. “In one of the VIP chambers,” he said, his voice grave, “we found… Victor Steele.”

Alaric froze, his mind reeling. ’My father?’ he thought, his heart pounding in his chest. ’What was he doing there?’ He hadn’t spoken to his father in months. Their relationship had been strained for years, ever since Alaric had decided to join Drustan and Kaelith’s group. His father had disapproved of his choice, believing that he should focus on restoring the Steele family’s reputation, not chasing after dangerous missions.

The news that his father was involved in an auction organized by the Phantom Assembly was… deeply troubling. It could have serious repercussions for the Steele family.

Drustan, sensing Alaric’s shock, quickly reassured him. “Don’t be alarmed, Alaric,” he said, his voice reassuring. “We understand that this is a personal matter. We’ll make sure to mention in our report that the Steele family had no involvement in this. It was purely Victor Steele’s personal involvement.”

Kaelith nodded in agreement. “We’ll also ensure that this information doesn’t leak out,” he said, his voice firm. “Your family’s reputation is safe.”

Alaric looked at them, a mixture of gratitude and relief washing over him. He knew what this meant. If news of his father’s involvement with the Phantom Assembly were to become public, the Steele family would be ruined. They would be ostracized by the other noble houses, perhaps even targeted by the royal family.

“Thank you,” Alaric said, his voice sincere. “I… I appreciate this more than you know.”

Drustan nodded, his expression softening. “We trust you, Alaric,” he said. “You’ve proven your loyalty. You risked your life to save Rowena, Helena, and Petra. You wouldn’t have done that if you were allied with the Phantom Assembly.”

Alaric offered a weak smile. ’They trust me,’ he thought, a hint of amusement in his voice. ’How ironic.’ He was actively working against them, feeding information to the Phantom Assembly, and yet they trusted him implicitly.

He then decided to change the subject, focusing on the other captured VIPs. “What about the other participants?” he asked. “Were there any other members of noble families among them?”

Drustan and Kaelith exchanged a look before nodding. “Yes,” Drustan confirmed. “There were several.” He then began to list off the names of the captured individuals, rattling off a long list of noble and aristocratic families. The Bennet Noble House, the Blackwood Aristocrat Family, the Hawthorne Noble House, and many others.

Alaric listened intently, committing each name to memory. This information could be valuable, both for his own purposes and for the Phantom Assembly.

Drustan then added, “All of them, including your father, are currently being held in the city dungeon. We’ve placed powerful restraining enchantments on them, suppressing their magical and martial abilities. They won’t be going anywhere.”

Alaric nodded slowly, his mind racing. He needed to see his father, to understand what he was doing at an auction organized by the Phantom Assembly.

“I want to see them,” he said, his voice firm. “Take me to the dungeon.”

Drustan and Kaelith exchanged a look before nodding in agreement. “Very well,” Drustan said. “We’ll take you there.”

They left the inn, heading towards the city dungeon. The streets were bustling with activity, the city slowly returning to its normal rhythm after the chaos of the previous night.

As they walked, Alaric’s mind was filled with thoughts of his father. He hadn’t seen him in months, hadn’t spoken to him in years. Their relationship had been strained for as long as he could remember. His father had always been distant, cold, focused solely on restoring the Steele family’s lost glory.

Alaric had chosen a different path, a path that his father vehemently disapproved of. He had joined Drustan and Kaelith’s group, seeking adventure, seeking purpose. He had wanted to prove himself, to make a name for himself, not just live in the shadow of his family’s past.

Now, he was about to face his father again, under very different circumstances. He wondered what his father would say, what he would think. He wondered if their relationship could ever be repaired.

They reached the city dungeon, a grim, imposing structure made of dark stone. The air around it was thick with the smell of damp earth and decay. Drustan and Kaelith showed their credentials to the guards at the entrance, gaining access to the inner levels.

They led Alaric through a maze of dark corridors, the only light coming from flickering torches that lined the walls. The sounds of moaning prisoners and clanking chains echoed through the dungeon, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

They finally reached a heavily guarded cell, beyond which each of the captured VIPs was provided a separate cell. The trio continued to walk and soon they reached a very particular cell.

Alaric’s eyes immediately fell on his father, Victor Steele. He was sitting on a rough wooden stool, his head bowed, his expression grim.

Alaric took a deep breath, steeling himself for the encounter.