The Grand Maritime Hall of Athens stood proudly beneath the ancient Acropolis.
Towering Corinthian columns carved from Pentelic marble supported a gilded ceiling painted with mythological sea gods and naval triumphs. Below the crystal chandeliers sat hundreds of shipping magnates, private equity barons, and maritime lawyers. They sipped iced espresso from porcelain cups, discussing freight rates, bulk ore shipping, and tanker charters with cold, calculated precision.
Around the edges of the hall stood television cameras from three international financial networks.
The salt air from the Aegean Sea drifted through the tall arched windows, mingling with the scent of expensive cologne and roasted coffee beans. Several Greek maritime bank officials sat on the raised dais, whispering among themselves while reviewing the foreclosure dossiers. They had already arranged a private celebration dinner with Stavros, expecting an effortless rubber-stamp transfer.
At the center of the raised auction stage, an electronic map of the Aegean Sea glowed in deep sapphire blue.
Twelve emerald islands sparkled along the coastline. Each island was marked with natural deep-water anchorages, terraced hillsides, sheltered white sand coves, and ancient olive groves. The display listed their agricultural yields, spirit-vein densities, and deep-water mooring capacities.
Standing in the front row was Stavros.
