Vogue stared at the closed door of the private exchange room but decided he might as well wait and hear what Sean wanted to say. The young man had been helpful so far and seed genuinely friendly rather than having hidden motives.
After approximately five minutes, Sean erged from the room looking quite satisfied with whatever techniques he had selected from the archives. His smile suggested he had found exactly what he was looking for.
"Alright, let’s go," Sean said cheerfully.
They both bid polite farewells to Mr. Malcolm, who bowed respectfully and wished them success in their cultivation journeys. Then they exited through the private office and made their way back toward the main entrance of the Citadel Administration Center.
Just as Vogue and Sean left the building and disappeared from view, sothing happened back inside.
The young woman who had been assisting with their registration entered a small storage room and closed the door behind her. She reached into her blouse and pulled out a phone that had been hidden inside her bra, holding it carefully as she dialed a number from mory.
The phone rang twice before soone answered. A harsh, masculine voice spoke from the other end.
"Report."
The young woman’s tone beca cold and businesslike, completely different from her earlier professional deanor.
"I have information on a dual-talent student who just registered today."
"Family affiliation?" the voice asked imdiately.
"No family backing whatsoever," she replied with barely concealed satisfaction. "He’s just a nobody from the outer districts. Not belonging to any of the established clans or organizations. No one with power would even notice if he went missing."
There was a pause on the other end as the person processed this information. When they spoke again, their voice was scrambled and distorted, making it impossible to identify who was speaking.
"Send all available data imdiately."
"Already done," the young woman confird. "I’ve transmitted his full registration file, including photo, talent assessnt results, ho address, and university selections. I trust this information settles our previous arrangent?"
The scrambled voice on the phone suddenly beca louder and more aggressive, the vicious tone coming through clearly despite the distortion.
"We’ll see about that. If this lead proves valuable, your debt is cleared. If it wastes our ti, you’ll owe us even more."
The call disconnected abruptly with a harsh click.
The young woman stood there for a mont, staring at her phone with a conflicted expression. Then she took a deep breath, deleted the call from her history, and returned the phone to its hiding place before leaving the storage room to return to her normal duties.
anwhile, outside the building, Sean turned to Vogue as they walked down the front steps. He scratched his neatly trimd beard thoughtfully, as though considering how to phrase sothing important.
"Let get straight to the point," Sean finally said, abandoning any pretense of casual conversation. "I’m from the Klein Family. We’re one of the major powers in the inner ring, and my father is the current family head."
He paused to gauge Vogue’s reaction before continuing.
"My family would very much like to arrange an exchange for your Sky Grade ditation technique and whatever combat techniques you might possess. We can also purchase any extra Evolution Fruits you might have acquired during your trial. Na your price for the fruits, literally any amount you can think of, and we’ll pay it."
Vogue raised an eyebrow at this straightforward business proposition. He continued walking forward calmly as he considered his response, then shook his head slowly.
"I only have one technique available that I might potentially consider exchanging," he said carefully. "But I honestly don’t think your family can afford what I would require in return."
Sean’s expression showed genuine interest rather than offense at the implied challenge.
"Try . The Klein Family has resources you might not expect. State your terms."
"Alright," Vogue said with a slight shrug. "If you can provide with a complete Heaven Grade technique of equivalent value, then sure, we can arrange an exchange. As for Evolution Fruits, I’m sorry but I don’t have any extras to sell. I only obtained three total, and I’ve already used or donated all of them."
Sean actually stopped walking for a mont when he heard the words "Heaven Grade technique." His eyes went wide with genuine shock.
He had seen a Sky Grade technique during the trial and knew how incredibly rare and valuable those were. But now Vogue was casually claiming to possess a Heaven Grade technique? That was on an entirely different level of rarity.
Not even the top three Great Families in the entire city possessed confird Heaven Grade techniques in their archives. Such items were legendary treasures that appeared maybe once in a generation if you were extrely fortunate.
Sean’s expression shifted to one of bitter acknowledgnt. He smiled wryly and shook his head.
"I’ll inform my father and the family elders about your offer. Perhaps there’s sothing of equivalent value we could arrange as exchange, though I honestly doubt it. Heaven Grade techniques are simply too rare."
He paused, then added sincerely,
"But I appreciate you even considering the possibility."
Vogue nodded his head in understanding, and the two young n separated at the street corner with friendly farewells. Sean headed toward the inner ring district where his family resided, while Vogue needed to return to his apartnt in the outer areas.
Vogue stood on the sidewalk and hailed a passing vehicle. A taxi pulled up to the curb, and Vogue opened the door and climbed inside.
His smile faded slightly when he noticed the driver was an extrely muscular, buff man with a scarred face who looked more like a street fighter than a professional taxi driver.
But Vogue decided not to judge based on appearances alone. He simply stated his destination address clearly.
The driver grunted acknowledgnt and started driving without saying anything else.
At that exact mont, before Vogue could settle into his seat properly, two people suddenly opened the vehicle doors on both sides and slid into the back seat, trapping Vogue between them. A fourth person entered
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