Chapter Three: Admission to the Evernight Court

The screen revealed frantic collateral transfers. Guests began buying the remaining warehouse receipts. While the auction dissolved into greed, Su accessed the case's wireless mirror. At sixty-seven percent, the host looked directly at her earring. “The Evernight Court dislikes thieves.” Every bronze door locked. The ring became painfully cold, its inner light forming a closed circle. Shen understood. Cold meant frozen liquidity. Someone was sealing every exit—financial and physical. “But the Court likes trades,” Shen said. “My true identity for the complete file.” Applause came from the darkest box. A young man stepped into the light, elegant, with the closed-eye crest engraved on his cuff links.