"Open the door!" Following Jiang Hai's command, Azarina opened the door and gave a polite nod to the two men standing outside.
"Hello, my name is Vladimir Deriti Shernas Borievich. Is Mr. Jiang Hai staying in this room?" the man in the lead asked in a deep, resonant voice.
"Please, come in." Azarina nodded and gestured for the two to enter.
Under her guidance, the two men walked into the suite and saw Jiang Hai, who had already stood up to greet them.
"Welcome, welcome. I didn't expect your visit at this hour—my apologies, I just took a shower," Jiang Hai said with a polite smile as he stepped forward to shake their hands, all while discreetly sizing up the newcomer.
This man, too, was a typical Slav, but clearly older—probably in his forties or fifties. Despite his age, his build was solid and his demeanor carried a distinct air of authority. Jiang Hai could tell at a glance—this man was likely military.
"It's no problem. Meeting guests in such a relaxed state is actually a sign of trust," the man replied with a smile as he shook Jiang Hai's hand. After all, Jiang Hai was the wealthy client here—offending him would be foolish.
"Please, have a seat." Jiang Hai motioned toward the study, and once everyone was seated, they exchanged a few pleasantries before the man got to the point.
"Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Vladimir Deriti Shernas Borievich, but you may call me either Vladimir or Borievich. I'm here on behalf of the organization to collect your deposit."
"Deposit?" Jiang Hai raised an eyebrow, caught slightly off guard. He knew the concept—deposits were standard at auctions, especially those involving valuable or sensitive items.
At legitimate auctions, guests were required to put down a sizable sum to ensure they wouldn't bid recklessly. While Jiang Hai had never had to pay one himself—being a seller in past auctions—he was aware that most buyers were required to submit deposits. The minimum amount he'd heard of before was five million U.S. dollars.
This deposit would be applied toward any successful bid under the same amount. If a guest exceeded their deposit, they would need to pay the remainder within a set time. Failure to pay meant forfeiture of both the money and the item. On the other hand, if a buyer didn't win anything, the full deposit would be returned.
Still, Jiang Hai hadn't expected a similar system here. From the look on Azarina's face, she hadn't either—she looked visibly flustered.
"How much is the deposit?" Jiang Hai asked, glancing at Azarina.
"It's up to you," Borievich replied smoothly. "The price tiers vary depending on the items you're interested in. But rest assured—this is a national-level auction. We don't charge tax or engage in trickery."
"I see..." Jiang Hai nodded and gestured for Azarina to retrieve his wallet.
She stepped out and soon returned. Jiang Hai opened his wallet and took out a checkbook from American Express Bank. He didn't bother with multiple bank cards—one was enough. He trusted that American Express wouldn't fail him.
He quickly filled out the check, tore it from the book, and handed it to Borievich.
"Fifty million U.S. dollars? That's quite a statement..." Borievich said, his eyes widening slightly. He smiled, clearly pleased. They loved dealing with big spenders—and Jiang Hai was obviously a "local tyrant" in their eyes.
Kurole, standing behind, immediately stepped away to make a call and verify the check.
"When I buy things, money has never been the issue," Jiang Hai said casually, slipping his wallet back into his pocket.
"All clear," Kurole reported a moment later after his verification call. Borievich stood up and extended his hand to Jiang Hai.
"I hope you enjoy your time in Ulan," he said with a smile.
Jiang Hai stood up and returned the handshake, though he couldn't help but wonder what exactly that cryptic line was supposed to mean.
After the two men left, Jiang Hai looked toward Azarina. She still seemed a bit dazed.
Although she had seen a fair share of tense moments, Azarina had never dealt with high-level operations like this. The most senior officer she'd ever interacted with in her organization had only been a major.
Checks? Auction houses? This level of high-stakes diplomacy and wealth was all foreign to her.
Looking at her dazed expression, Jiang Hai chuckled and walked over, giving her cheek a firm but playful rub.
"So, are you sure there's nothing else you forgot to tell me?" he asked.
"I—I don't think so... maybe? I'm not sure..." Azarina stammered, suddenly remembering the awkward moment from earlier.
Jiang Hai laughed again. This girl really was something.
"Never mind. Just focus on keeping me safe. Leave the rest to me," he said, ruffling her hair affectionately.
Hearing this, Azarina bit her lip, then suddenly leapt into his arms and kissed him passionately. Their embrace grew more intense, eventually spilling into the master bedroom...
The next morning, Jiang Hai woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains and the pressing urge to use the bathroom. Glancing at Azarina, still sound asleep beside him, he couldn't help but chuckle.
Last night hadn't ended how he'd expected. Azarina had gently rejected him, citing mission rules. Still, she had helped him "relieve stress" in another way before the two drifted off in each other's arms.
Today, Jiang Hai had no plans to wander the city. The auction was tomorrow. He and Azarina simply got up, washed up, and headed downstairs for breakfast.
Why not order room service? Because they couldn't trust who might deliver it—or what they might slip into it. In this place, paranoia was survival.
After breakfast, they returned to the suite, where Jiang Hai spent the day watching TV and browsing the internet. The local programs were in Russian, with no subtitles, so he was quickly bored out of his mind.
Thankfully, he was used to being a homebody. The day passed slowly—lunch, more boredom, then dinner.
Around 3 p.m., Kurole stopped by to confirm the timing for the auction.
Due to the nature of the items being sold—and the shady crowd attending—there were no delays allowed. Entry was tightly controlled, and anyone late risked missing the whole event. A five-minute grace period was the absolute limit.
At 7 p.m., Jiang Hai and Azarina left their room. Kurole was already waiting to escort them to the top floor, where the auction would be held.
The venue was impressive. There were no open seats—only private rooms circling a central platform. Jiang Hai and Azarina were led into their assigned suite. Inside, there was a plush sofa, a fully stocked bar, fruit platters, and even a private bathroom.
A one-way glass wall offered a clear view of the rotating platform where the "lots" would be presented.
Each room had a touchscreen tablet to view detailed profiles of the lots, enter bids, and track upcoming items. It was cold, clinical—and deeply disturbing.
The platform design made it clear: these women weren't treated as people, but as merchandise.
Jiang Hai wasn't a saint, but watching them get presented like cattle still made him uneasy.
He pushed the feeling aside, sat on the couch, and began picking at the fruit. He didn't touch the alcohol—he needed to stay sharp.
Azarina stood guard by the door, refusing to sit. It was her duty, she said.
Just then, a voice echoed from all sides:
"Ladies and gentlemen, our auction is about to begin."
The accented English sent a chill down Jiang Hai's spine. He got up, used the restroom, washed his hands, and returned just in time.
There was no host, no auctioneer—just a rotating stage and a robotic voice counting down the minutes.
Suddenly, the platform dropped out of view. Ten seconds later, it rose again—now with a woman standing on it.
She was stunning—tall, elegant, with a face that would be worshipped online if she were anywhere else.
But here, she was simply:
"Lot 1. Codename: Web Spider 7A91.
Age: 21. Blood type: O.
Height: 178 cm. Weight: 110 lbs.
Measurements: 92-61-89 (cm).
Trained since age 6. Graduated at 17.
Mission completion record: 3 Level-One, 17 Level-Two, 6 confirmed kills.
Skills: close combat, disguise, intelligence gathering, firearms proficiency."