Tyler looked at Mike, who was still standing nearby with a confused look. He stretched a bit and said casually, "Come with me. We have a place to go."
Mike blinked. "Where, boss?"
"Richie's auction," Tyler replied. "I owe him a bottle of wine."
Mike nodded, falling into step beside him. They made their way to the garage, where Tyler's latest luxury car waited, shining like a mirror.
As they slid into the seats, Tyler leaned back and let out a thoughtful sigh. His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel. "You know, Mike…"
"Yeah?"
"I used to think being the richest man in the state was enough." He looked out the window. "But last night changed things. If there are people out there with secret sects, ancient powers, and wealth deeper than even Elon Musk's bank account, then I've been thinking too small."
Mike glanced at him but said nothing. He could tell Tyler was in deep thought.
Tyler continued, "Richie, the guy we're visiting, he's big in the media game. Owns multiple YouTube networks, news sites, nightclubs, and entertainment chains all over the country. He's flashy, but smart. Helped me last night when I needed it."
Mike raised an eyebrow. "That Richie? The guy who made a movie about his own life?"
"Exactly. That's him," Tyler smirked. "He's got eyes everywhere. If anyone can help me get a foot in the entertainment industry, it's him."
As the car glided down the highway, Tyler thought about his own business empire. Stone crushers, oil exports, casinos… His hands were in everything gritty and high-profit. But it wasn't enough anymore. Not for the future he had in mind.
He thought, Entertainment. Media. That's where the eyes are. The ears too. And the money.
His tone shifted to a mix of amusement and ambition. "Mike, I've got plans to expand—really expand. Entertainment, streaming, maybe even a few scandals to spice things up. Slowly but surely, we'll take it all."
Mike blinked again. "You're serious about this, huh?"
"Dead serious." Tyler glanced at him. "But one step at a time. First, the auction. Then we aim for the stars."
As they pulled up to the grand auction house, the building shimmered with lights and luxury. Security was tight, with men in suits checking names and clearing guests. Tyler didn't even need to show anything. One look at him, and they stepped aside with a respectful nod.
He turned to Mike with a grin. "Relax, we've got all the time in the world."
Tyler stepped out of the luxury car with Mike, feeling a bit of the morning chill. The auction house loomed in front of them, lights twinkling like the stars had decided to take residence in the building itself. It wasn't hard to spot Richie, who was standing by the entrance with his usual grin plastered across his face.
"Hey, boss," Richie called, waving them over. "Nice to see you made it. That wine bottle better be in your hand. You promised me, remember?"
Tyler smirked, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out the bottle, the label glinting under the bright lights. "Of course. You don't think I break my promises, do you?"
Richie chuckled, taking the bottle from Tyler. "I'm just making sure, man. You know how it is, you don't keep me happy, and I'll get those other auctioneers on your case."
Mike, still standing behind Tyler, raised an eyebrow. "What, are you really that powerful around here?"
Richie just gave a knowing look. "I've got connections, Mike. A lot of them."
They exchanged some more banter as they walked inside the auction house, the crowd buzzing in excitement. Tyler wasn't too impressed by the spectacle; flashy lights, expensive suits, rich people bidding on useless trinkets. But then again, he wasn't here for the show. He was here for business.
Richie led them through the hall and to a VIP room, complete with plush velvet couches, dim lighting, and people lounging in a way that made it look more like a night club than a place to bid on rare items.
As soon as Tyler entered, he glanced around. A few girls were sitting on the couches, their eyes flicking to him briefly. But Tyler wasn't here for that. Not today. Not ever.
"Richie," Tyler said flatly, "Get them out."
Richie chuckled, not phased by Tyler's request. "You never change." He waved over to one of the girls, and she got up, gathering the others with a casual gesture.
Mike raised an eyebrow, watching Tyler. "You really don't like distractions, do you?"
Tyler didn't even turn to him. "Distractions slow things down. And we don't have time for that."
After the girls were cleared out, Richie led Tyler and Mike to the center of the room, where an auctioneer was preparing to start. The first few items passed by—coins, rare statues, and even an ancient scroll or two—but Tyler couldn't care less. None of it interested him. He didn't even look up from the glass of whiskey Richie had poured for him.
Then, the next item appeared—a necklace. Beautiful, with diamonds and rubies arranged in an intricate design. Tyler's eyes flicked up, and he felt a stir inside. It wasn't the necklace that caught his attention, but the thought of Sophie. What if she liked this? What if it could bring some peace into the complicated situation he had been ignoring?
The auctioneer announced the starting bid.
"2 million," someone called out.
Without hesitation, Tyler raised his hand. "10 million."
The room went silent. Richie's eyes widened, but he quickly gestured for the auctioneer to proceed. Tyler's offer wasn't something anyone could just ignore, and Richie didn't want to offend him.
The auctioneer nodded, clearly not expecting anyone to raise the bid that high. He signaled to his staff to deliver the necklace to Tyler.
Richie leaned over and whispered, "So, found a girl, huh?"
Tyler just smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Something like that."
Mike, still standing behind Tyler, couldn't believe what he was seeing. Tyler, the ruthless businessman, the man who never bought gifts for anyone, was spending 10 million on a necklace. This was a side of Tyler Mike had never expected to see.
But Tyler didn't care. The deal was made. And there was more to his plan.
After a few moments, Tyler stood up. "I'll be right back. Need to hit the washroom."
Richie looked at him and then shrugged. "Sure, I'll come with you. I need to go too."
The two of them made their way toward the bathroom, with Mike following a few paces behind. As they entered, the bathroom was quiet, the flickering fluorescent lights above casting long shadows across the tiles.
Tyler walked toward the mirror, adjusting his suit as he stood before it. Richie moved beside him, doing the same.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by a voice.
"Drop it."
Tyler turned quickly to see a man standing in the doorway, a knife pressed to Richie's neck.
Tyler's instincts kicked in instantly. His body moved before his mind could even process what was happening. In a flash, he was in front of Richie, his fist swinging with the force of a wrecking ball. It was a perfect boxing move—one of the many moves he'd copied from the Dragon King.
The man barely had time to react before he was knocked back against the wall, his grip on the knife loosening. Tyler grabbed the weapon and twisted it from the man's hand.
Before Tyler could even open his mouth, 10 more guys poured into the bathroom from behind him, all armed and ready for a fight.
Tyler didn't flinch. He simply looked at the group, his gaze cold and unblinking.
"Alright, alright," he said, smirking. "One versus ten, huh? Let's make this fair. You guys want to see what happens when you pick the wrong fight?"
The thugs froze, unsure what to do. Tyler wasn't acting like someone who was outnumbered. He was acting like he had the advantage.
He pulled the handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped it around his hand. "I'm just getting ready, fellas. This isn't going to be easy for you."
With a swift motion, Tyler smashed the bathroom mirror, grabbing a shard of glass. He twirled it in his hand, eyes never leaving the group of thugs in front of him.
"You know," Tyler said, his voice dripping with confidence, "I've got a new set of skills. Let's see how well they work."
He took a deep breath and took a stance, the shard of glass held like a blade. He smirked, waiting for them to make the first move.
Richie, still in the corner, whispered under his breath, "What the hell is happening?"
Tyler grinned at him, a dark glint in his eye. "This, Richie, is what happens when you mess with the wrong person."