The heavy, suffocating silence that followed Victor's declaration was broken only by the sharp, rhythmic clicking of tactical boots on the concrete floor. The SWAT officers moved with practiced, lethal efficiency, their flashlights cutting through the haze of aerosolized chemicals and ceramic dust t

The aftermath of the raid was a masterclass in federal efficiency. Within an hour, the Thorne Auction House basement had been transformed from a chaotic forgery den into a sterile, heavily monitored crime scene.

Forensic technicians in white Tyvek suits swarmed the workshop, meticulously photograp