However, Alex did not move. The gaze behind the golden mask looked empty, as if the commotion before him was nothing more than dust carried by the wind.Clara gently tugged at his sleeve.“Alex…” her voice was soft, almost drowned out by the heavy breathing of the envoys from the great families of Draken City.“That’s enough. There’s no need to drag this out.”Alex turned his head slightly. For the first time since the auction began, he truly looked at Clara. There was no hesitation in his eyes, no fear—only a sincere calm. He nodded.“All right,” he replied briefly.He then looked back at the elders of the Han family.“I have no interest in bullying someone who has already lost.” His words were light, yet they struck like a hammer smashing down on the Han family’s dignity.Several elders frowned, while Han Yi lowered his head, his face pale as paper. Alex kept Han Yi’s ATM card.“This asset is enough as a lesson,” he continued. “If I had wanted his life, he wouldn’t still be standing

Alex stared at him for a long moment—long enough for the S-rank assassin to feel uncomfortable again. The faint smile on Alex’s face was not a friendly one. It was the smile of someone who had already made a decision.“My condition is simple,” Alex said softly. “Starting tonight, you no longer work for the Jack family. Not for Agra. Not for anyone who lives under Olivia’s shadow. Instead, you will work for me.”The assassin fell silent. His breathing was still heavy, his chest rising and falling unevenly. Pain still crawled through his body, making every second stretch unbearably long.“A-and if I break it?” he asked quietly.Alex leaned forward slightly. “Then I will find you,” he said calmly, “and take your life—so no one else will ever know who Alex truly is.”The assassin swallowed hard. He knew this was not an empty threat. The man before him was not merely strong—he was terrifying in his own way. Not with explosive madness, but with a calmness that made every decision feel absol

“Understood, sir,” Candra replied firmly. This time, his voice no longer trembled.Alex gave a slight nod, then turned toward his room. “Leave before evening. Don’t draw attention.”Candra bowed deeply and hurried out of the house. Once the door closed, silence returned.Alex stood in the middle of the living room, letting out a long breath. His hand slowly clenched.“The limitations of Origin Qi in this new world prevent me from moving freely… This time, I can only gamble with time… Follow the rules of this world.”He took a shallow breath. Without realizing it, Alex fell asleep.*By midday.Draken University stood majestically beneath the scorching sun. Modern buildings blended seamlessly with classical architecture, wide courtyards filled with students coming and going. The atmosphere was the same as ever—noisy, busy, and full of small ambitions held by young people who had yet to understand the real world.Alex walked into the campus at an unhurried pace.No one stopped him.No s

Sofian stared at Alex for a long time. A very long time.As if trying to make sure that the student sitting before him was not joking, not bluffing, and not merely throwing out empty theories.“Become an investor?” Sofian repeated slowly. “Do you realize what you’re saying?”Alex remained calm. His shoulders were relaxed, his back leaning lightly against the chair. There was no trace of hesitation.“This company doesn’t lack ideas,” Alex continued flatly. “The problem lies with the people controlling the flow of funds. As long as they remain in key positions, no matter how much money comes in, it will only leak out in different ways.”Sofian let out a quiet sigh.“You speak as if money isn’t an issue,” he murmured.Alex shrugged.“Money is always a problem for people who don’t know how to control it.”Silence fell over the office.Behind the glass wall, executives could still be seen pacing with tense expressions. Phones rang incessantly. On the large monitor at the far end of the roo

Just as Alex was about to launch his attack, even preparing himself to receive Agra’s punch, the sound of light footsteps suddenly echoed from the direction of the main staircase.“Stop.”One word.Firm, crystal clear, and filled with authority.Every head instinctively turned.A young woman stepped down the stairs, wearing a simple yet elegant dress. Her hair fell neatly over her shoulders, her expression cold, and her gaze sharp like ice that would never melt.Olivia.Whispers immediately erupted.“Miss Olivia…”“The daughter of the Jack family…”“She came down herself?”Abel froze. The smug smile on his face instantly stiffened. At the same time, Agra tensed up.“Miss Olivia,” Agra said quickly, bowing his head slightly. “This is just a small misunderstanding.”“Silence.”Olivia did not raise her voice. Yet that was precisely what made it far more terrifying.Agra fell silent.Olivia stepped forward. With each step, the space in front of her parted naturally. Her gaze locked direct