— Three days prior - Sector Alpha City, Prosperity Hall Auction House —
Aryan Sharma jolted awake in the plush embrace of a Prosperity Tower suite. A dull throb pulsed behind his eyes, a souvenir from whatever just transpired. Opulence surrounded him: thick carpets muffled his steps, gleaming marble reflected the cityscape sprawling beyond panoramic windows, the very air itself reeked of exorbitant comfort. Yet, a sense of unease gnawed at him, the memory of how he ended up here hazy and unsettling.
The last sliver of clear recollection was the face – a face with skin the color of rich mahogany, etched with a knowing smile that grated on Aryan's nerves. It belonged to a man built like a brick wall, his head a testament to the futility of hair growth.
