Ultimate Tycoon: Building the Richest Empire with System and Heroines-Chapter 62: Checkmate: The Disciple’s Fall

Gregory’s mind was spiraling into chaos.

How?

He stared at the black titanium case in Lukas’s hand,the unmistakable container that held the priceless painting, Mosalina.

We left it in the tunnel. We didn’t touch it. How the hell did it end up here?

Trevor beside him looked pale, barely able to stand still. Gregory wiped the sweat forming on his brow.

We’re fucked. Dead.

Just then, a calm yet commanding voice rang across the auction hall like a thunderclap in silence.

"Wait a minute, Princess."

Heads turned instantly toward the voice. It was Ethan. He had taken a step forward, his hands still casually in his pockets, his posture relaxed,yet his words brought the entire room to a halt.

"I don’t think Master Yun is the culprit."

A stunned silence followed.

Then—

"What?"

"Is he defending the thief?"

"This boy... what is he even saying?"

"Explain yourself!" came the shout from a noble in the crowd.

Even Seraphina’s sharp gaze narrowed. "You have my attention, Ethan Bond. Explain."

Ethan smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious glint. "Let’s look at the situation logically."

He took a step forward, slowly pacing before the stunned crowd. "Master Yun was the one who bid aggressively on the painting, correct? If he truly wanted to steal it, why draw attention to himself in the first place?"

Murmurs began again in the audience. That did make sense.

Ethan didn’t stop there. He raised a hand lightly, as if asking them to hold their objections.

"Let’s consider an alternate theory. Suppose Master Yun was just bidding as a distraction. Maybe someone from his side planned to steal it during the chaos."

Gregory and Trevor felt their throats dry up. Ethan’s gaze flicked toward them, catching their twitching faces before returning to the crowd.

"Let’s say... They succeeded. They stole it. Great. They pulled off the impossible. But then..."

He turned and pointed at the black case Lukas still held.

"They just... brought it back and left it in Master Yun’s own VIP room? Really?"

Ethan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "We’re talking about Master Yun here. A man known for being mysterious, strategic. If he had really stolen it, would he leave it in his own room, the most obvious place to be searched?"

Others started nodding.

"That’s ridiculous..."

"Why would he keep it there?"

"He would’ve sent it away by now..."

Ethan’s voice turned serious.

"This didn’t accidentally end up in his room. Someone wanted it to be found there. Someone wanted to frame him." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

A new wave of gasps spread through the room.

Master Yun, still silent behind his mask, stared at Ethan intently. Gregory glanced at Trevor, who looked seconds away from collapsing.

Seraphina remained motionless, but her eyes sharpened.

"Are you suggesting this was a setup?" she asked coldly.

Ethan nodded. "Yes, Princess. All signs point to that. Someone wanted to eliminate Master Yun, or distract you from something bigger."

He turned to the audience and declared clearly, "This painting... it didn’t walk here on its own. It was placed here."

Master Yun stood in silence, watching the young man named Ethan Bond with hawk-like intensity. His masked face hid his thoughts, but behind it,his mind was racing.

Why is this boy defending me? What does he gain from this?

It made no sense. Master Yun had never met Ethan before tonight, and yet the boy had stepped in at the perfect moment,challenging the accusation, dismantling it with sharp logic, and shifting attention elsewhere.

And worse?

He guessed correctly.

Master Yun’s pupils narrowed.

Yes... I was bidding to stall. My plan was never to buy the painting. So I bought time. My men were to take it from the hidden vault during the blackout. Once gone, it wouldn’t matter who bid the highest.

But now?

*The ones I sent,they should be far away by now. Which means...

His eyes flicked toward Gregory.

Gregory was the only one I gave the exact location to.

Suddenly, a darker possibility dawned.

Did he betray me? Did he get greedy after hearing the $300 million reward?

Did he plan to return the painting himself, pose as the hero, and impress the Princess with his false loyalty?

Master Yun’s fists tightened behind his back.

Foolish. Reckless. Well now that you have turned against me, Gregory, I will not spare you.

His thoughts broke when Seraphina’s voice cut across the room.

"Ethan Bond," she said clearly, "If Master Yun didn’t steal the painting... then who did?"

All eyes turned to Ethan once more.

He smiled slowly, then raised his hand and pointed.

"There were only two people," he said calmly, "who didn’t step onto the stage after the painting was stolen."

A long pause followed.

Then Luke asked coldly, "Who?"

Ethan turned his hand toward the side of the room.

"Gregory... and Trevor."

Gasps rippled through the audience. Every tycoon and guard stared at the two men now frozen in place.

Trevor looked like he’d been struck by lightning, sweat pouring down his forehead. Gregory’s face turned pale, his throat dry. He opened his mouth,but nothing came out.

Seraphina’s eyes darkened. "Is that true?"

"If you don’t believe me," Ethan said coolly, "ask Sir Alistair. He was there when they arrived, ten minutes after everyone else."

Alistair nodded solemnly. "It’s true. They weren’t present until much later."

A wave of whispers echoed throughout the hall.

"Ten minutes late?"

"Why weren’t they here?"

"Were they the ones who moved the painting?"

Trevor took a step back, nearly tripping. Gregory tried to keep his composure but failed.

Ethan continued, voice low and deliberate, "So the question is... what were they doing while the entire auction house was in chaos?"

Trevor looked like he was about to faint.

Then came the blow no one expected.

Master Yun turned his head slowly. His voice, when it came, was colder than frost.

"...Gregory."

Gregory jerked as if stabbed. "M-Master..."

"I gave you everything. My trust. My teachings. You were my only student. And this... is what you do?"

His tone was not angry,but disappointed.

But it hit harder than any scream.

Gregory’s lips trembled. " Master..."

"You betrayed me," Master Yun said, looking away. "Is this the path you chose, after all I gave you?"

A storm of murmurs broke out.

"He was Master Yun’s disciple?"

"To betray your own master... how shameful."

"A disgrace..."

Gregory’s heart shattered. Everything... his pride, his status, his future, it all collapsed with that one sentence.

"Master... What are you—" Gregory choked.

"Enough," Yun said.

Trevor whispered, "Gregory... we’re finished..."

Ethan watched the scene unfold, lips curling into a smile.

Fight master and student. Fight.

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