Chapter 99: Smelled Like Trouble II
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As they approached the Dawn House business district, the familiar building came into view: tall stone, iron reinforcements, the Dawn crest displayed proudly above the entrance. There were two main doors. One for the shop, bustling with daily buyers. One for the auction hall, quieter, guarded, and used when high-level deals happened.
The building looked the same as in Sekhmet’s childhood.
But the air around it felt different.
Tense.
Like a blade hidden under a cloth.
Sekhmet stepped inside the shop first.
The smell hit him immediately.
Metal. Old wood. oil. faint blood residue from beast parts used in crafting.
And fear.
Fear was not a smell for most people.
For Sekhmet, with his blood awakened and his senses sharpened, it was.
He could smell it on clerks. On guards. On customers who looked over their shoulders too often.
A middle-aged man approached quickly from behind the counter.
He was not tall. Not short. His hair was neat. His beard was trimmed. His clothing was clean but slightly worn at the edges — like a man who tried very hard to look respectable while quietly bleeding inside.
This was Reyan.
Manager Reyan.
He forced a smile as he bowed.
"Young Master Sekhmet," he said warmly. "Welcome home. It is... it is a relief to see you alive."
The words sounded right.
But the way his eyes flicked once toward Auri and then away felt wrong.
Reyan’s smile widened.
"We heard rumors," he continued quickly. "Many rumors. But I said... I said, no. Dawn House young master does not fall so easily."
Sekhmet studied him.
Reyan’s respect was perfect. Too perfect.
Sekhmet offered a polite nod, his tone calm.
"I am here now," he said. "Give me an update."
Reyan’s smile tightened. "Of course, young master," he replied.
He guided Sekhmet behind the counter and into a private office. The shop noise softened behind thick doors.
Thunk...
Reyan gestured toward a chair.
Sekhmet did not sit immediately. He remained standing, looking at the shelves and papers like a predator pretending to be a customer.
Auri stood behind Sekhmet quietly, hands folded, eyes calm.
Reyan cleared his throat.
"First," Reyan said, "the shop is stable. Sales are lower than last year, but not catastrophic. Our regular clients still come."
Sekhmet’s eyes narrowed slightly. "And the auction house," he asked.
Reyan’s smile twitched. "That," Reyan said carefully, "is... difficult."
Sekhmet did not speak. He waited.
Reyan continued.
"We have fewer legendary items," Reyan admitted. "Suppliers are delaying. Some claim their routes are unsafe. Some claim their items are already reserved. The auction hall—" He exhaled. "We are running on older stock."
Sekhmet’s gaze hardened. "How long," he asked.
Reyan hesitated.
"Almost two months," he admitted. "Since your father left."
Sekhmet’s jaw tightened slightly.
"So it matches," he thought. "The business started bleeding harder the moment Father disappeared for something."
Sekhmet’s voice remained steady. "I will hold an auction," he said.
Reyan blinked. "An auction," he repeated, as if the word itself was dangerous.
"Yes," Sekhmet replied. "Next month. First day."
Reyan’s eyes widened slightly.
"Young Master," Reyan began, voice cautious, "we do not have the items for that. It is dangerous. If we announce an auction and fail to deliver quality, Dawn House will become a joke. Our rivals will laugh. Buyers will stop trusting us. It could—"
Sekhmet lifted one hand.
Reyan stopped instantly.
Sekhmet’s gaze was calm, almost cold.
"I will find the items," Sekhmet said. "You will handle the announcement and preparations."
Reyan’s smile returned quickly, forced but obedient. "Of course," Reyan said. "If you insist, I will... I will handle it."
Sekhmet watched him closely.
Reyan’s words were loyal. But his heartbeat was wrong.
Ba - dum... Ba - dum...
It was not the heartbeat of a loyal servant speaking to his lord.
It was the heartbeat of a man smiling through fear because he was already owned by someone else.
Sekhmet did not show suspicion. He did not accuse. He did not threaten.
Not yet.
He spoke as if the business was a simple equation.
"Give me lists," Sekhmet said. "Supplier names. Missing shipments. Buyers who stopped coming. Staff who changed behavior."
Reyan nodded rapidly. "Yes," he said. "Yes, Young Master."
Reyan pulled papers. Reyan offered numbers. Reyan spoke smoothly.
And Sekhmet listened.
Auri stood behind, watching everything silently. Her eyes were sharp, but her face remained blank.
After enough conversation, Sekhmet nodded once.
"That will be all for today," he said.
Reyan’s shoulders relaxed slightly, as if a storm had passed.
"Of course," he replied. "We are honored to have you back."
Sekhmet turned toward the door.
Auri followed.
As Sekhmet opened the office door, the shop noise rushed back in again.
Clang... chatter... laughter... bargaining...
Sekhmet walked through the shop calmly. He did not glance back.
But behind him, in the office, Reyan’s expression changed the moment the door closed.
His smile dropped like a mask thrown into dirt. His eyes hardened. He muttered under his breath.
"Brat," he said quietly. "You think you can fix this with one auction."
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples like he was annoyed by a fly.
Then he stood and walked toward a hidden drawer in his desk.
Click...
He pulled out a communication stone.
It was small, dark, and carved with iron symbols / patterns.
Reyan held it and smirked. "Iron House," he murmured. "He is alive."
The stone warmed faintly.
Reyan’s smile twisted into something ugly.
"He wants an auction next month," Reyan said. "First day. He believes he can ’find items.’"
Reyan’s eyes flicked toward the door as if imagining Sekhmet’s calm face.
"He does not have anything," Reyan continued, voice low. "He is returning from purgatory with nothing but pride. This is perfect."
... He paused. Then he laughed softly.
"He will announce an auction. Buyers will come. Dawn House will fail publicly. The name will collapse."
Reyan’s smile widened. "This is the best chance to destroy Dawn House completely."
The communication stone pulsed once.
Reyan nodded, satisfied.
Outside, Sekhmet and Auri stepped into sunlight again.
The street noise hit them.
Shout... wagon wheels... negotiation...
Sekhmet’s expression remained calm.