章 4: Chapter 4: Confrontation in the Shadows.

Chapter 4: Confrontation in the Shadows

Arthur moved swiftly from one location to another, collecting high-energy antiques with the ease of a seasoned traveler. With his enhanced abilities, no place was too far, no situation too dangerous. His reputation among collectors was starting to grow, but not in the way he had hoped.

As he entered a small, hidden auction in Prague, his eyes immediately locked onto a particular antique—an ancient Roman vase, faintly glowing with a rich energy signature. This was the one the system had guided him to.

"Perfect," Arthur whispered to himself. He approached the auctioneer, discreetly negotiating the price, ready to add yet another powerful artifact to his sub-space. But as he completed the transaction, he felt a presence behind him—watchful, cold, and calculating.

Arthur turned slightly, noticing a group of men dressed in dark, formal clothing standing near the back of the room. Their eyes locked on him, following his every move. He had seen them before, lurking in the shadows during other auctions. He hadn't paid them much mind at first, but now, it was clear. They were watching him.

As the auction concluded, Arthur quickly exited the building, his instincts on high alert. The men followed.

After a few minutes of walking through narrow streets, Arthur decided to confront them. He stopped in an alleyway, turning to face the group of three men as they approached.

"You've been following me," Arthur said calmly, his enhanced senses detecting every subtle movement of the strangers.

One of the men stepped forward, smirking. "You've been collecting some very interesting antiques lately, haven't you? We know what you're up to."

Arthur's eyes narrowed. "I'm a collector. That's what I do. Now, I suggest you leave before this gets unpleasant."

The man laughed, clearly amused. "You think you're the only one who can sense energy in these artifacts? We've been tracking you, and we know exactly what you're after. Hand over the antiques, and maybe we'll let you walk away."

Arthur's patience was wearing thin. "I'm not in the mood for this. Leave now, while you still can."

The men exchanged glances, then suddenly lunged toward Arthur, their intentions clear. But Arthur had been prepared for this. His reflexes, enhanced by the serum, were quicker than they had anticipated.

With a swift movement, he dodged the first man's punch, countering with a powerful strike to the attacker's abdomen, sending him crashing into the wall. The second man pulled a knife, but before he could even swing, Arthur disarmed him with a precise kick to the wrist, sending the blade flying across the alley. A quick follow-up punch knocked him out cold.

The third man hesitated, realizing he was outmatched. "Who… who are you?" he stammered, backing away slowly.

Arthur stepped forward, his voice cold. "Someone you don't want to cross."

The remaining man turned and fled, leaving his unconscious partners behind. Arthur watched him disappear into the distance, then glanced at the two on the ground. They weren't a serious threat, but their appearance meant one thing—he was being noticed, and not by the right people.

He sighed, looking at the antique vase in his hand, its energy now safely stored in his sub-space. "I guess things are going to get a little more complicated from here."

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Back at the Mansion

When Arthur returned to his mansion later that evening, he was still on edge from the encounter. The system had warned him that others might start noticing his activities, but he hadn't expected direct confrontation so soon. He opened the system interface, thinking of the next steps.

"System," Arthur said, leaning back in his chair. "Who were those people, and are there more like them?"

The system responded with a soft chime. *"Those individuals belong to a group of energy seekers who have been tracking powerful artifacts. Their objective is to gather energy for their own purposes, much like you. However, their methods are more… aggressive."*

Arthur frowned. "Great. Just what I needed—competition. Is there a way to avoid them?"

*"You may not be able to avoid them entirely, but you can use the system to track their movements and stay ahead. Additionally, upgrading your combat abilities will help you deal with future encounters."*

Arthur considered the advice. He had the strength and survival skills, but if these confrontations were going to become a regular occurrence, he might need to invest more in combat abilities. He scrolled through the system shop again, eyeing skills that could give him the edge in future fights.

"I'll think about it," Arthur muttered, closing the interface. He had enough energy to last him for a while, but he couldn't afford to be careless.

For now, he would continue his quest to gather more energy, but he would keep a closer eye on those who might be hunting him down.

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