"Is that right? Do you want in?"
Orion's gaze lingered for a moment, weighing the gravity of his decision. The allure of the Dark Continental had been his clandestine pursuit all along. After a brief pause, he finally acquiesced with a composed nod.
As the agreement settled, a sly grin crept across the shopkeeper's face, a silent acknowledgment of his victory. "Got you," he murmured to himself.
"I already know we'll both be weaving our tales," the shopkeeper admitted, his tone softening with sincerity. "But since you're privy to my code name, what shall I call you?"
Orion's response was curt, his focus unwavering. "It matters not. When?"
With each exchange, the tension between them simmered, yet the shopkeeper maintained his facade of geniality. "Tonight, at the stroke of ten if you want to participate in auction," he revealed, a glimmer of impatience threading through his words. "Or, if you prefer to deal individually, we can depart immediately."