Alex had not yet answered when a deep voice came from behind the gate.“What’s all the commotion about?”A young man wearing sunglasses stepped out. His suit was immaculate, his face stern—just like during their first meeting. The moment he saw Alex, his brows immediately furrowed.Agra recognized that face. The young man who lived on the outskirts of Draken City. A cramped house that, in his opinion, was not even fit to be called a home.“I warned you during our first meeting…” Agra said coldly. “Don’t you dare approach Young Lady Olivia. It seems you completely ignored what I said.”Alex did not answer yet. His gaze remained calm and flat, as if those sharp words failed to stir anything inside him.Agra stepped closer. He lowered his sunglasses slightly, revealing a gaze filled with undisguised disgust.“You know,” Agra continued coldly, “I’m honestly curious. Where does your courage come from? That house of yours on the outskirts of Draken City… narrow, old— even rats might hesitat

Clara turned sharply toward Alex. “Looking for you?” she repeated, her tone clearly filled with disbelief.Before Alex could answer, the car door on their left was suddenly yanked open. A man in a black suit tapped the car roof with the handle of a pistol, his face cold and expressionless.“Get out,” he ordered shortly.Clara instinctively moved to open the door, but Alex’s hand moved faster, lightly holding her wrist.“Stay inside,” Alex said softly, almost whispering. “And don’t panic.”His voice was far too calm for a situation like this. Clara swallowed. For some reason, she chose to obey.Alex opened the door and stepped out of the car.The headlights of the black cars shone brightly, forming a semicircle that surrounded them. Six men stepped out almost simultaneously. Their movements were neat and disciplined—clearly not street thugs.“Alex,” one of them called his name. “Come with us. Don’t cause trouble.”Alex looked at them one by one. Black suits, earpieces in their ears, up

Rendy growled in anger. His voice echoed through the cashier area, causing several guests to turn around with displeased expressions.Rendy wanted to chase after them, but two large men in black suits had already stepped in front of him, blocking his path with a professional yet intimidating stance. The waiter’s earlier smile had disappeared, replaced by a neutral expression.“Young Master,” the waiter said calmly, “please settle the payment. Otherwise, we will be forced to call the security manager.”Rendy’s face turned pale. The amount displayed on the cashier screen made his breath hitch. That number… was not something he could pay easily, even with his current status.*The next day.The Sky Antiquities Auction Hall stood majestically in the center of Draken City. The building towered high with a classical-modern architectural design. White marble pillars blended with golden carvings, radiating luxury and authority. Here, wealth and influence were tested not through physical stren

The auction hall, which had been noisy moments ago, suddenly dimmed into brief silence. Several heads turned simultaneously toward VIP Room Number Three. Quite a few people swallowed nervously. That statement was clearly a provocation.But to Han Yi, it was a blatant slap delivered in front of all the influential families of Draken City. His face stiffened, veins bulging visibly, turning crimson red.As his eyes narrowed sharply toward the curtain of VIP Room Number Three, for the first time since the auction began, his expression completely lost control.“What did you say?” Han Yi’s voice was low, yet carried an icy pressure.Several Han Family elders exchanged glances.“Yo-Young Master, remain calm. He’s only trying to provoke us…” one of them whispered, but Han Yi raised his hand, silencing him.Meanwhile, the whispers around the hall began changing tone.“How bold.”“Is the Wine Family trying to ignite an open conflict?”Alex leaned back casually in his seat. Behind the golden mas

Han Yi turned fully toward VIP number three—toward the man in the golden mask. His gaze was sharp, not merely angry or offended, but like a beast whose territory had been disturbed.“A bet?” he said slowly, yet every syllable echoed clearly throughout the hall.Alex did not move. His seated posture remained relaxed, one hand resting against the armrest, as if the most dangerous thing in the world was nothing more than boredom. The eyes behind the golden mask showed not the slightest trace of unease.“Yes,” Alex replied lightly. “A bet.”Several heads immediately turned toward one another. Whispers began to drip into the air like needle rain.“He’s insane.”“With Han Yi? He just won two stones… Even if the first one was trash, the second isn’t necessarily!”“This masked man… Who exactly is he?”Han Yi sneered faintly. “You want to exchange ATM cards with me?”Alex nodded casually. “If your last stone does not contain the highest-grade jade. Simple. You can ask anything you want from me