Chapter 97: Working plan II
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"First," he said, "you will go to the Dawn auction house and observe. Do not reveal your nature. Cover your wings. I want to know the current condition of the business. Who is managing daily operations. Who is loyal. Who is stealing."
Auri nodded once.
"Yes, master," she said.
Lily raised an eyebrow.
"You are sending her alone," Lily asked.
Sekhmet nodded.
"She can handle it," he replied.
Auri’s voice remained calm.
"I will complete the task," she promised.
Sekhmet continued.
"Second," he said, "I want you to learn the city’s current rumors. Quietly. No fighting. No attention."
Auri nodded again.
"Yes," she said.
The servant girls stared.
One of them whispered, "She sounds like a sword."
Sekhmet glanced at Elena.
"Elena," he said.
Elena answered immediately.
"Yes," she replied.
"Prepare Auri simple clothing suitable for a clerk or assistant," Sekhmet ordered. "Nothing flashy."
Elena’s gaze flicked over Auri’s wings.
"I will," she said.
Lily leaned in, eyes slightly sharp.
"You are moving fast," Lily said quietly.
Sekhmet’s eyes narrowed.
"I have to," he replied. "My father is not here. I cannot wait."
Lily studied him for a moment.
Then she nodded slowly.
"Fine," she said. "But do not drown yourself in work. If you collapse, I will drag you to the city lord mansion and force you to rest."
Sekhmet stared.
"That sounds illegal," he said.
Lily smiled sweetly.
"It is," she replied. "But I am Lily."
Sekhmet exhaled.
He looked at Auri again.
"Auri," he said, "go now. Observe first. Return with details."
Auri bowed.
"Yes, master."
She turned, took two steps, then paused and looked back.
"Do you wish Bat Bat to accompany me," she asked.
Bat Bat perked up instantly.
"Yes," Bat Bat said. "Bat Bat go."
Elena’s eyes narrowed.
"No," Elena said calmly.
Bat Bat froze.
Sekhmet’s voice stayed flat.
"Bat Bat stays," he said.
Bat Bat pouted.
Lily leaned down to Bat Bat.
"You have lessons," Lily whispered.
Bat Bat’s eyes widened in horror.
"No," Bat Bat whispered back.
Lily smiled.
"Yes," Lily replied.
Bat Bat glared.
"Lily is evil," Bat Bat muttered.
Lily smiled wider.
"Good," she said.
Auri departed quietly, slipping down the hall like a shadow with wings hidden beneath calm.
Sekhmet watched her go, then turned toward the library again.
He still needed to plan the auctions.
He still needed to decide which legendary items to sell, which to keep, which to hide.
He still needed to maintain secrecy about the most dangerous treasures. Not all wealth was safe to display. Some items invited gods.
He moved toward the library, but Lily’s voice stopped him.
"Sekhmet," she called.
He turned.
Lily’s expression was less teasing now, more serious.
"What," he asked.
Lily hesitated, then spoke quietly.
"Do not forget you are back," she said. "You spent years in purgatory. You survived things people in the city would not understand. Do not pretend you are fine just because you have a house and servants again."
Sekhmet stared at her.
For a moment, he did not have a reply.
Because she was right.
The chains were still in his bones.
The dark room still lived behind his eyes.
The water dripping still echoed in his memory.
Drip... drip... drip...
He forced himself to breathe.
"I know," he said finally, voice controlled. "I will handle it."
Lily did not smile.
She simply nodded.
Elena watched them with quiet understanding, her gaze softer than usual.
Bat Bat looked between them like a confused child watching adult emotion and not understanding why it tasted bitter.
"Master," Bat Bat said suddenly, voice small, "you sad."
Sekhmet’s eyes flicked down.
Bat Bat stared up at him with wide eyes, less naughty now.
Sekhmet exhaled.
"I am not sad," he said.
Bat Bat frowned.
"Then why face like dead fish," Bat Bat asked.
Lily choked on laughter.
Elena’s lips twitched faintly.
Sekhmet stared at Bat Bat with disbelief.
"Dead fish," he repeated.
Bat Bat nodded seriously.
"Yes," she said. "Dead fish face."
Sekhmet slowly rubbed his forehead.
So much for serious emotional moments.
He exhaled and spoke firmly.
"Bat Bat," he said. "Go sleep. You caused trouble all morning."
Bat Bat pouted.
"I am tired," she admitted.
Lily leaned down and picked her up carefully.
"I will carry her to a room," Lily said.
Sekhmet blinked.
"You will," he repeated.
Lily nodded, as if this was natural.
"Yes," she said. "Because if I leave her with the maids, they will fight each other for who gets to hold her."
Behind them, two maids looked away guiltily because it was true.
Sekhmet exhaled.
"Fine," he said.
Lily carried Bat Bat away, Bat Bat yawning and muttering about jam and injustice.
Elena followed, already planning the afternoon schedule like a commander arranging troops.
The hall emptied slowly.
Sekhmet stood alone for a moment.
Quiet returned.
He turned and walked toward the library.
His footsteps were steady.
He did not rush.
One step at a time.
He entered the library wing again, closed the doors, and sat at the main table.
He opened the business ledger.
Flip...
This time, his eyes focused.
He began making lists.
Which items to auction.
Which buyers to target.
Which suppliers to investigate.
Which rival houses might be sabotaging Dawn House.
Which underground connections could be leveraged.
His pen scratched against paper.
Scratch... scratch... scratch...
Hours passed.
The house stayed quiet.
Then, near late afternoon, a ripple touched the air.
Sekhmet’s head lifted.
Auri stepped in silently, wings concealed beneath a simple cloak Elena must have provided quickly.
She bowed.
"Master," she said. "I have information."
Sekhmet’s eyes sharpened.
He leaned forward.
"Speak," he ordered.
Auri’s voice remained calm.
"The auction house is under pressure," she reported. "Two supplier groups have stopped deliveries. I heard whispers of another merchant house offering higher contracts and threatening those who refuse. Several staff members are loyal, but two clerks are skimming chaos stones from small sales. The general manager is trying to hold the order, but he is afraid. Or he is acting."
Sekhmet’s gaze narrowed. "Which house," he asked.
Auri hesitated slightly. "I did not confirm," she said. "Rumors mention a name: Iron-Scale Consortium."
Sekhmet’s fingers paused.
Iron-Scale.
He knew them. The Iron family always tries to harm the reputation of Dawn house. The young master of the iron family always picked a fight with Sekhmet for no reason.
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Good," he said calmly. "You did well."
Auri bowed deeper.
"Thank you, master," she replied.
Sekhmet’s mind moved quickly.
If Iron-Scale was interfering, the business issue was not random. It was an attack. The dawn house has been losing more and more business since Sekhmet’s father left almost two months ago.
Sekhmet would need to defend Dawn House in the city while they were gone. He closed the ledger slowly. His lips curved faintly.
Not amusement.
Resolve.
"Tomorrow," he said quietly, "we begin."
Auri waited, ready.
Sekhmet looked toward the library cabinet where the god scroll slept, then back to the business papers.
He had forbidden knowledge. He had eaten divine blood. He had a harpy assistant. He had a tiny bat child learning manners. He had a business on the edge of collapse.
And he had enemies now.
Sekhmet exhaled and spoke, voice firm.
"Auri," he said. "You will stay close. We will move carefully. We will not show weakness. We will keep the Dawn House standing."
Auri’s eyes sharpened with loyalty. "Yes, master," she said.
Sekhmet leaned back in his chair, letting the weight of his choices settle.
Outside, Dawn House continued its quiet hum. But Inside, Sekhmet’s mind sharpened like a blade.