"Then I'll gladly accept your kind offer, boss. Thank you!" the woman said.
Rivaz nodded, though he was already cursing her out in his mind. The woman lurking in the shadows was the other major buyer who'd been absent all day. If not for her wealth and power, he would've sent her packing long ago.
"Old Niu, what are you standing around for? Go collect the goods!" the woman said coldly.
Heavyhammer shuddered and hurriedly answered before running onto the stage. Seeing that things below had settled, Big Goldtooth had already taken Andy backstage.
"Big Goldtooth, you're in luck!" Heavyhammer said. "My boss took a liking to this kid. It's his good fortune!"
"Took a liking?" Big Goldtooth and Andy blurted out in unison, but they'd clearly misunderstood.
"Yeah. Hurry up and stop dawdling. If you keep my mistress waiting, none of us will enjoy what comes next!" Old Niu said anxiously.
Big Goldtooth knew that all too well. Every one of those people seated up front was loaded and had money to burn. Never mind the power behind them—even if they simply threw money at him, he wouldn't have enough lives to pay them back!
Heavyhammer led Andy out from backstage, his hands bound, and brought him to his mistress. Andy frowned as he studied the woman shrouded from head to toe in shadow. Though he couldn't make out her face, he could tell she was studying him, too.
"Hmm?" The woman sounded puzzled, then said softly, "How crude!" As she spoke, she waved her shadow-wrapped right hand, and the ropes binding Andy were cut. She waved again, and a streak of lightning emerged from the shadows, instantly coursing all over Andy's body.
Andy stared at her in astonishment. Was that... magic? Was this woman a mage?
"As long