"Huh? What did you just say?!" Qin Wei asked, her initial surprise sharpening into intense focus. She placed down the complex political documents she was reviewing, her gaze fixed on Qin Li with a slight frown.

​"I... I kind of told Sir Alex I have four extra invitations cards to the auction... when I don't have them, Sister," Qin Li confessed, the words tumbling out in a rush of anxiety and desperation.

"Please, you are the only one that can help me! I can't appear dishonest to a Fourth Order powerhouse who just showered me with wealth."

​He quickly retrieved the heavy bag of gold Sunny had given him and placed it ceremoniously on the ground before Qin Wei's desk. "This here is 50,000 gold coins, Sir Alex gave it to me as a gift, just like that. So please, I don't want to be embarrassed tomorrow without any cards. Please! If you do this, I will do anything you ask, Sister." He pleaded, his vulnerability a deliberate tool to secure her help.

​"Anything you say?" Qin Wei asked, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. She saw her opportunity:

'This brother of mine, might be a troublemaker, but he'll be useful.' She thought, and slowly nodded her head.

​"Ok then. I have three cards here." She snapped her fingers, and three shimmering, golden Auction Invitation Cards materialized on the table. "And I know someone who can spare one more card."

​She pointed toward the bag of gold. "You can go ask him if he will give you the card, or better yet... sell it. Let him see that you are now a man of substance, capable of independent, wealthy transactions."

​Qin Li immediately understood the theater required. This wasn't just begging; it was an investment demonstration. "Who is the person?" he asked, ready to carry out the mission.

​"Sir Robert," Qin Wei replied, naming their Mercenaries' leader—a move that would test Robert's loyalty to the family and Qin Li's new standing.

​".....??!"

Qin Li was stunned speechless. Robert was notoriously difficult and held immense informal power, especially to their father.

​"Good luck," she finished with a cryptic smile, leaving him to complete the challenging task.

​Qin Li nodded, taking the three cards. "What do you want me to do for these?" he asked, acknowledging the price of the favor.

​Qin Wei gave him a mysterious smirk and simply gestured toward the door. "You will know soon, little brother... Just not today. Your service begins with a display of absolute diligence toward Sir Alex's needs."

​Qin Li nodded, walked toward the door, then paused, returning to pick up his heavy bag of gold coins—the means to secure the final card. He exited, his anxiety replaced by ambition.

​'Hmm.... Sir Alex will be going to the auction tomorrow?' he mused.

'The only important thing in the auction is the key. Does the key to the Soul secret realm holds immense value for a Fourth Order powerhouse, pursuing it. I should go and see what's happening there too. The Heiress of the Xin family, and the Heir of the Blade family will be present—the true players of the Succession Wars. I should be there to witness the battle.' Qin Wei thought, staring at her brother's back.

____

​[Biden Town Inn - First Floor Restaurant. Next Day.]

​Sunny and Josephine sat at their table, sipping tea. They were a beacon of quiet power. At another table, Elara and Precious maintained their cover, sitting like complete strangers while surrounded by their newly merged mercenary forces, all acting as low-key protection.

​"Sir, your food." Brite placed a plate of fried rice and fruits in front of the two.

​"Thank you," Josephine said, her voice warm. "Thank you again for what you did yesterday. That level of genuine concern for strangers is commendable."

​"It's nothing, Madam. I thought you might be in danger," Brite replied, slightly flustered by the praise.

​"That's nice of you. What's your name?" Josephine asked, initiating the connection.

​"I am Brite, Madam," she answered with a respectful smile.

​"Ok. I am Isabella, and he is Alex. We are planning on building something important here. What do you say if we ask you to come work for us? That is, after we're done building it," Josephine offered, making a calculated move to recruit trustworthy, high-moral character individuals.

​Brite blinked, turning to Sunny in surprise at the magnitude of the job offer.

​"Don't look at me, I go with whatever she says," Sunny said, peeling a banana, confirming Josephine's authority.

​"I will be happy to," she accepted with a bright, earnest smile.

​"Good. We will get in touch when we are ready," Josephine said, concluding the informal interview. Brite bowed and walked away.

​"Hey, I mean Brite!"

​Brite froze, hearing Elara's voice. She turned back to see the former ruthless gang leader waving her over. Taking a deep, shaky breath, she approached the table.

​"Umm... I don't know how to do this. This is new to me," Elara began, struggling with the sincerity of her mandated atonement.

"I just want to apologize for, well... everything I did to you. The way I treated you. You know what I mean?" she asked, her new loyalty to Sunny demanding she clean up her past.

"...…?!"

​Brite blinked, utterly stunned by the unexpected apology.

​"You heard me?" Elara prompted, a slight frown of social awkwardness.

​"Yes... Yes, Lady Elara." She gave a shallow bow. "I didn't take any offense. I accepted your apologies."

​"Um... What about when I'm free, I'll buy you food, You know, to apologize more properly and show our commitment to change," Elara suggested.

​"Oh. Ok." Brite nodded, quickly walking away, bewildered by the mercenary's sudden turn.

​"You like her?" Precious asked Elara, placing a sliced meat in her mouth.

​"Yeah... She is cute," Elara admitted.

​"Oh, if something happens between you two, how will you tell her?" Precious asked, testing her resolve.

​"Tell her what?" Elara challenged with a raised eyebrow.

​"That you are... Well... Forget it," Precious hesitated.

​"That I am a transgender woman. Don't worry, I am not embarrassed with that. I already accepted who I was from the start," Elara stated with a small smile, taking a sip of wine.

​"That is good. Go ahead, hit your shot... You might score," Precious encouraged.

​"Forget that. For now, that's not my target." Elara turned her gaze back to Sunny and Josephine. "I just want to take my new job seriously. I feel there is something between those two we can't yet set our eyes on. They are far stronger than what they showed. Our job is to learn and support."

​"I won't refuse that. The Boss killed a massive Rock Golem three times with a glance, and his wife could take down a Third Order, rendering their energy completely powerless. I don't know if they're the only ones with such terrifying, unique skills or if there are more of them," Precious concurred, her voice hushed with awe.

​CLICK!

​Everyone looked toward the door, as Qin Li walked in, the expression on his face a triumphant smirk.

​He walked directly to Sunny's table. "Good morning, Sir Alex." He greeted with a smile.

​"Sit," Sunny said, his gaze fixed on him.

​"Any news?"

​"Yep... These are the four invitation cards I told you about yesterday." He placed the four golden cards on the table.

​"How did you get them?" Sunny asked, the question direct and penetrating.

​"...Huh?" Qin Li was momentarily nonplussed.

​"Come on now, I know you were lying yesterday. You didn't have these cards," Sunny said, his expression flat, demanding honesty.

​"Haha... It seems nothing can escape your eyes. My sister helped me get them," he revealed, offering a genuine, sheepish smile.

​Sunny took the four cards, passed one to Josephine, and then, in a clear display of their new inner circle status, tossed one to Elara and one to Precious.

"...?!!"

The two women were stunned, staring at the card in confusion, then turned to Sunny.

​"You're both coming with me," Sunny stated, making the decision absolute. He turned back to Qin Li.

​"How much do you need for these cards?" he asked.

​"Hahaha... You don't have to worry about that, Sir Alex. Just taking it as a friend helping a friend," Qin Li insisted, hoping to buy goodwill.

​Sunny nodded, filing away the gesture. 'Does he thinks he is buying an ally? I accept the gift, knowing the price will be loyalty to my future throne.'

​"When does this auction start?" he asked.

​"In thirty minutes at most," Qin Li answered.

​"Ok then." He turned to the girls: "Are you done eating?"

​"Yes." They nodded in unison.

​"Come on then, we are going to the auction." He stood up with Josephine, and walked away with the two women.

​"Huh? Does he know how many powerful people will be present?" Qin Li muttered to himself, watching the four exit:

"He's taking two mercenaries into a room with the future leaders of the Human Kingdom. I didn't expect him to be so reckless... or so confident." He quickly stood up, eager to watch the inevitable sparks fly.

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