Akira smiled and hugged Stellen tightly.
"Okay, baby, you can come with Mommy, but promise me you'll behave and stay close, okay?" She stood up and took Stellen's hand, looking at Cruz.
"I'll see you later, Uncle Cruz. Please take care of the twins for me."
Cruz nodded and smiled, his expression softening slightly as he looked at the twins.
"Don't worry, Akira, I'll take good care of them. You go and take care of...whatever it is you need to take care of." He glanced at Stellen and winked. "And I'm sure Stellen here will keep you out of trouble."
Akira chuckled and rolled her eyes.
"I'm not sure about that, but I'll try my best." She turned and walked away, Stellen by her side, as they made their way to the Sau Auction Palace. The palace was a grand and opulent building, with a large sign that read "Sau Auction Palace" in bold letters. Akira pushed open the door and stepped inside, Stellen following closely behind.
Sau Auction Palace is a prestigious auction house where the wealthy and powerful gather to bid on rare and valuable items, from ancient artifacts to advanced technology. It's a place where fortunes are made and lost, and where the elite come to showcase their wealth and status.
Akira's eyes scanned the room, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of the auction palace. The air was thick with the smell of money and power, and Akira's instincts told her that something big was about to go down. She spotted a few familiar faces in the crowd, including some of the most powerful players in the city's underworld.
Stellen looked up at Akira, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Mommy, what are we doing here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Akira smiled and leaned down, her voice low.
"We're here to watch the auction, baby. And maybe, just maybe, we'll make a few deals of our own."
A rich and arrogant woman bumped into Stellen and Akira frowned. "Apologize to my daughter," Akira snapped coldly. The rich arrogant woman Emma flipped her long red hair and she pointed at Akira and Stellen.
"Who brought these two homeless people inside Sau Auction Palace? Get them out they will embarrass the owner of this place and everyone around here," Emma said and Akira eyes darken. Akira was about to open her mouth but Stellen did it first.
"Yet you wear far too much makeup are you a clown?"
The room fell silent, with all eyes on the exchange between Akira, Stellen, and Emma. Emma's face turned bright red with rage, and she took a step forward, her hand raised as if to strike Stellen. Akira's eyes flashed with anger, and she positioned herself between Emma and Stellen, her body tense and ready to defend her daughter.
Emma's voice was venomous.
"How dare you, you little brat! You don't know who I am, do you? I'm Emma Laurent, and my family owns half of this city. You're just a nobody, a poor, pathetic nobody."
Stellen stood her ground, her eyes flashing with defiance.
"I don't care who you are. You're still a mean, ugly woman who wears too much makeup."
Akira's voice was low and deadly.
"That's enough, Emma. Apologize to my daughter, or we'll have a problem."
"As for you what kind of gold digger bitch are you!" Emma shouted. Akira knew that the House of Laurent are on the top twenty most powerful families in Heavenly Crystal City but did that bother Akira at all nope she didn't even flinch nor run away. She won't even bow down any royal families why makes this woman any different?
Akira's expression didn't change, her eyes still flashing with anger, but her voice remained calm and even.
"I'm not a gold digger, Emma. I'm a woman who knows my worth, and I won't be intimidated by the likes of you. You may think you're above me, but I've got news for you: you're not. You're just a spoiled, entitled rich girl who thinks the world revolves around her. But it doesn't."
Akira took a step forward, her eyes locked on Emma's.
"You want to know what I am? I'm a woman who's been to the depths of hell and back. I've fought for every scrap of food, every breath of air. I've been betrayed, abandoned, and left for dead. But I'm still standing. And you know why? Because I'm stronger than you'll ever be."
The room was silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the two women. Emma's face was red with rage, her eyes bulging with fury. But Akira just stood there, her eyes flashing with defiance, her body language screaming.
"I'm not afraid of you"
Emma waved her hand as a powerful aura around our and six rune cycle appeared around her a staff also appeared and she disappeared at this moment Emma was ready to take Akira when the owner of Sau Auction Palace walked up. She had beautiful long pink hair ocean blue eyes her aura was also powerful she blocked the attack and she looked at Emma. "How dare you harm my best friend," the woman said and that made everyone shocked in the room. Everyone knows the owner of this auction isn't to get along with yet this unknown woman has connection with her!?
"Auntie Aria!" Stellen shouted. Aria smiled.
Aria was the owner of Sau Auction Palace, a powerful and mysterious woman with a reputation for being ruthless in business. But to Akira and Stellen, she was "Auntie Aria", a close friend and ally. Her true identity and relationship with Akira were unknown to the public, adding to the intrigue and surprise of her sudden intervention on Akira's behalf.
When Aria tried to hug Akira her cold gaze stared at Aria and she threw her daughter in Aria arms. Aria sighed that's her best friend.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming."
"If I did you would something stupid like last time."
"Oh please it was a grand welcome party for you!" Aria whined as they walked up the stairs.
Akira's expression remained cold and unyielding, her eyes still flashing with a hint of warning.
"A grand welcome party" was not exactly how she would have described the last time Aria had tried to throw a surprise party for her. More like a grand disaster, with armed guards and a full-blown battle in the middle of the auction palace.
Aria chuckled and shook her head.
"Oh, come on, Akira. You have to admit, it was a little exciting. And it's not like anyone got hurt... much."
Akira raised an eyebrow, her gaze skeptical.
"Much?"
Aria just laughed and continued to chat as they walked, completely undeterred by Akira's cold demeanor. It was clear that she was used to dealing with Akira's prickly personality, and was not intimidated by it in the least.
As they reached the top of the stairs, Aria led them to a private room with a stunning view of the city. The room was elegantly decorated, with soft music playing in the background and a delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen.
Aria gestured for Akira to take a seat, and Akira complied, her eyes scanning the room with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Stellen, on the other hand, was bubbling with excitement, chatting happily with Aria as they sat down.
Aria smiled and poured Akira a cup of tea, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"So, what brings you to the auction palace today? I didn't think you were interested in attending the auction."
Akira's gaze narrowed, her expression unreadable.
"I'm not. I'm here for a different reason. I need to speak with you about something."
Aria's eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she leaned forward, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"You have the Yin Soul Elixir that you are putting on auction right?" Akira asked she took a sip of her drink and her daughter played on her Zany pad.