Heiress Unmasked: Shaking the World With Geomancy novel Chapter 1984

The exquisite navy blue suit appeared as elegant and alluring as ever.

Zidane stood there in the mist-filled, empty main street of Phantom Market, and somehow, his presence felt strangely fitting and strangely harmonious with the eerie surroundings.

He bore a resemblance to the version of him she had just seen in the painting, yet there was a clear difference in style—subtle, but undeniable.

Shannon had a pretty good guess about what was going on. These two had most likely shown up after watching the tournament livestream.

Mystic, the organization Zidane had personally founded, was deeply tied to the underworld—so deeply that it, in fact, operated alongside it without being bound by its restrictions.

To be that entangled with the underworld without being crushed by it, he would need some serious connections.

Shannon figured that the man who had mysteriously trapped her in this version of Phantom Market was probably Zidane's connection. She just didn't know exactly what kind of relationship the two of them had.

Whatever it was, though, it didn't really matter to her right now. What mattered was that these two were delaying her participation in the tournament.

"If you two are acquaintances, could you please tell him to let me leave? There's a time limit, and if I don't get back in time, I'll get eliminated."

As for who the painting would be sold to—or not—that could be negotiated after the tournament. If all else failed, the two of them could just duke it out right here.

Shannon said this to Zidane because, compared to the ghostly, intimidating stranger who had appeared out of nowhere, he was someone she actually knew.

He nodded at her words, giving her a brief, reassuring glance before turning to the man and saying casually, "You heard that? She told you to screw off."

She was suddenly at a loss for words. No, she didn't. She had made a fair request in a polite tone.

The man in regal clothing seemed unbothered by Zidane's attitude. Instead, he turned to Shannon and asked, "What do you want in return?"

Shannon parted her lips, just about to speak, when a sudden burst of golden light flared behind her.

Brilliant and radiant, it cut through the blue mist that cloaked the market, dispersing it in shimmering waves. From the torn spatial rift behind her, she felt a familiar and powerful presence.