Chapter 40
Chapter 40
“Hades and Shadow are at the auction? We never see both of them together. If we can get close to either one of their Fortresses, our gang will rise with them, someone said, excited
“It’s not that simple. I tried to greet Hades earlier but had no chance… let alone Shadow, another replied.
“The virus in the border is brutal. Small gangs like ours are really suffering, and there’s still no cure. So many have died already.
“I heard the virus came from Wulf Clan’s lab!”
“We can’t mess with Wulf Clan. I saw Mr. Wulf here at the auction.”
Elliot and his team overheard the conversation.
On the second floor, in a private box.
“Miss Darling, we saw someone watching us as soon as we arrived Probably Wulf Clan,” Aiden said, his eyes scanning the
room.
Danielle raised an eyebrow. “They’re waiting for the auction to end, planning to make a move on me.”
Aiden thought, “There’s going to be a showdown after this auction, but Miss Darling’s so calm. She really is something
“The army snuck in too, just a few of them. Wulf Clan probably knows by now. This auction is tied to them,” Aiden added. Danielle smirked slightly. “Wulf Clan’s ambitions have grown a lot these past couple of years.”
“They’ve been trying to ally with Hades Fortress. If those two gang up, we’ll be in serious trouble,” Aiden said, his voice tense. Danielle scoffed, “Am I supposed to be scared of them?”
The auction reached its final item: the Ice Velvet Plant. This rare, almost extinct plant had incredible healing properties. It could bring someone back from the brink of death, no matter how severe the injury.
“Miss Darling, that’s the Ice Velvet Plant we need,” Aiden said.
The hostess walked on stage with a wooden box, revealing the plant for all to see.
“Starting bid for the Ice Velvet Plant is thirteen million dollars!” the auctioneer called.
Aiden immediately raised the bid to seventeen million dollars. Miss Darling has plenty of money, she won’t mind, he thought.
The crowd was shocked. ‘Seventeen million dollars for the first bid? Who is this person?‘ they wondered.
Danielle glanced at Aiden, thinking, ‘He’s spending my money so freely, raising the bid like it’s nothing…
“Miss Darling, I’m awesome, right? I jumped in with seventeen million dollars right off the bat, and knocked out a bunch of people in one go!” Aiden flashed a big grin, clearly expecting some recognition.
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Chapter 401
Several gang leaders started bidding as well. If they won, they’d resell it for a huge profit.
Box 8, forty–three million dollars.
“Box 4, sixty–three million dollars.”
“Box 5, eighty–seven million dollars.”
“Box 4, one hundred and ten million dollars.”
The crowd on the first floor watched the intense bidding on the second floor, like witnessing a battle of giants. They could only watch, knowing they couldn’t compete. If they had the wealth, they wouldn’t be stuck down here on the first floor.
Danielle didn’t want to waste time. “Raise the price, shut them out,” she ordered.
Aiden, feeling bold, immediately raised the bid to two hundred million dollars.
“Box 3, two hundred million dollars.”
Everyone on the first floor gasped. The last bid was one hundred and ten million dollars, and now it was up to two hundred million.
In another private box.
“Boss, looks like someone’s competing for the Ice Velvet Plant. They raised the bid really high,” Nathan observed quietly. David remembered the last auction, where he and Danielle had fought over a Crimson Lily. ‘What is she doing now… If I win this Ice Velvet Plant for her, will she be pleased?‘ he wondered.
“Raise the bid,” David said calmly.
Nathan quickly pushed it up to two hundred and seventy million dollars.
“Box 1, two hundred and seventy million dollars.”
“Box 4, two hundred and eighty million dollars.”
“Box 3, three hundred million dollars.”
Jackson, sitting in box 4, saw the bid hit three hundred million dollars. He stepped out of his box, leaned against the second- floor railing, and flashed a bloodthirsty smile. “Shadow, long time no see.”
Danielle, still in box 3, heard her name. She walked to the railing “Mr. Wulf, something you need?”
“Shadow, you’ve been bidding on this Ice Velvet Plant for a while. What do you need it for?” Jackson’s voice was sharp.
“Since when did Mr. Wulf start meddling in everything?” Danielle’s eyes were filled with contempt.
“Since you like the Ice Velvet Plant so much, I won’t take it from you. It’s yours,” Jackson said, a glint of calculation in his
eyes.
“I don’t need you to hand me what I want,” Danielle’s gaze turned sharp and cold.
The people in the other boxes overheard the exchange and came out to watch the drama unfold.
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Chapter 40
G
Nathan, standing by the railing, suddenly felt a flicker of recognon, “That voice… it’s so familiar. Where have I heard it before?‘
David also recognized Shadow’s voice, thinking, ‘Isn’t that Danielle’s voice? He strode toward the railing, his eyes fized on her, deep in thought.
ངས་ཁོག་ཆག་ང་གས་ནང་ལ་
“Boss, it looks like Mr. Wulf and Shadow are going head–to–head But I swear this Shadow seems familiar, like I’ve seen her before,” Nathan said, puzzled.
For years, Hades Fortress and Shadow Fortress had kept their distance in the border area, so Nathan had never actually interacted with Shadow herself.
As Danielle turned to go back to the box, her eyes locked with David’s. Despite his mask, she recognized him instantly. Wasn’t he abroad? How did he end up here… Wait, this mask is exclusive to Hades. Could he be… Hades? she wondered.
David instantly recognized Danielle. “Danielle,” he said, confused
He wondered, ‘What’s she doing here? Isn’t that fox mask for Shadow? No wonder… last time at the club, she was drunk but still took down a whole group like it was nothing.
Nathan froze when he heard his boss call out Danielle’s name. ‘Wait, that voice… isn’t it Miss Darling?
He suddenly realized, ‘No way, this is the same Miss Darling who has my boss wrapped around her finger. How is she here at the border, bidding on the Ice Velvet Plant? First the Crimson Lily, now this… it’s like my boss and Miss Darling are fated.
He paused. ‘Wait a minute–Mr. Wulf just called her Shadow! The infamous woman with the ruthless reputation… Miss Darling is Shadow?‘ Nathan was in shock.
David was surprised, thinking, ‘Danielle always said she was busy, but now she’s here at the border.
Danielle was equally shocked, thinking, ‘Hades is David? Seriously?‘
Aiden watched Danielle, thinking, ‘Why is Miss Darling staring at Hades like that? Did she fall for him? She was just on the phone with her boyfriend this morning, and now she’s eyeing another guy. Feels like Miss Darling might be a little… fickle,
AD
