The private jet cut through the night sky toward Tokyo. Inside, Ochieng leaned back in his leather seat, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. The message from the Phantom still glowed on his phone screen.
"Welcome to Tokyo, Ochieng. Let's see if you can keep up."
A challenge. An invitation. A game where the stakes were unknown.
Across from him, Syvoria crossed her legs, studying him with amusement. "You seem excited."
Ochieng smirked. "I don't just play the game, Syvoria. I own it."
She chuckled, swirling the wine in her glass. "Then let's see if the Phantom is ready for his owner."
---
The moment they landed, the air felt different—as if the city itself was watching them.
They were greeted by Aeltharion, a high-level informant, dressed in a crisp suit, his expression unreadable.
"The Phantom is waiting," he said, leading them toward a convoy of black cars.
"Where?" Ochieng asked.
Aeltharion's lips curled into a faint smile. "A place only the powerful can enter—the Auction of Kings."
Syvoria's eyes gleamed with understanding. "Ah, so this is bigger than we thought."
---
The venue was underground, hidden beneath one of Tokyo's most extravagant casinos. The room was lined with the wealthiest and most dangerous figures in the world—billionaires, warlords, trillionaire ghosts, and shadow investors who never showed their faces in public.
At the center of the room, a golden platform stood, where rare assets were being auctioned—companies, islands, military-grade technology, entire economies.
And at the very front, the Phantom sat like a king.
Ochieng's eyes locked onto him. For the first time, the hunt had brought him face to face with the ghost.
---
The auctioneer's voice rang out:
"The next item: A 10% share in Luxford Enterprises. Starting bid—$3 billion."
Ochieng's lips curled into a smirk. So this was how the game would be played.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand.
"$10 billion."
Gasps echoed through the hall. He wasn't here to play small.
The Phantom chuckled, his voice smooth and confident. "Interesting. Let's see how far you're willing to go."
And just like that, the battle had begun.