The consequences of endlessly courting death seemed to be looming closer and closer to Louis. But if he didn't seek death, how could he ever find life? It wasn't like he wanted to do this—circumstances left him no choice!

Louis truly felt like crying, but had no tears, so he could only lower his eyes and put on a disinterested facade.

Just earlier, Athena had also reminded him not to let his gaze wander. Heh, he was just a little kitten who knew how to behave.

"Sis Athena, I want them, I want them!" Joshua's eyes sparkled as he stared at the screen, so excited he couldn't stay still. His small legs hopped up and down uncontrollably.

He had finally found them—those two criminals looked pretty formidable. They definitely wouldn't die even if thrown into Leo's cage!

If possible, they could even replace Leo's position in his heart! Joshua thought with excitement, his bright eyes locked on the Demonic Twins.

Seeing Athena remain silent, Joshua continued to wheedle: "Sis Athena, I don't have friends my age, but they're just like me. Sis Athena, I want them."

Damn it!

Louis nearly cursed aloud. As expected, he and Joshua could not get along!

If Luna and Lucas were bought, Louis didn't know how often he would have to redraw his plans. Surrounded by enemies on all sides, he couldn't guarantee he'd be able to handle everything! His current situation was already like treading on thin ice—if Luna and Lucas were brought in, they'd instantly become a meteorite crashing through that fragile layer!

He didn't want to be drowned by a pack of lunatics. Please, Athena and Joshua were already having enough of a headache!

As if the heavens had heard Louis's desperate, punctuation-less prayers, Athena finally spoke softly: "No, Joshua. You can't restrain them."

Hearing this, Joshua's eyes widened, then immediately furrowed in displeasure. He pouted, "I can! I'm part of the Aurellan family!"

Athena still said nothing. Joshua quickly said, "Even if I can't, you definitely can! Sis Athena, under your wings, I'm invincible!"

Joshua was childish, but he wasn't stupid. Perhaps that was part of why he could still remain by Athena's side, causing trouble as he pleased.

When Athena heard that, she couldn't help but chuckle. She lowered her gaze, her eyes appearing incomparably gentle. She reached out to ruffle Joshua's hair and said softly: "You're right."

Joshua's eyes lit up, already ready to shout out a bid—but then Athena continued: "Because you're under my wings, Joshua, I also have the responsibility to keep you away from danger."

"They're just a bunch of slaves meant to serve under me, what danger could there be?!" Joshua shouted, his eyes flushed red.

Athena shook her head without saying a word.

Because of internal reasons, she knew about the strength of the Demonic Twins. Although some information had been deliberately kept from her, the power of those two siblings was truly formidable.

Athena's goal was the highest position, and she had no intention of wasting her energy by bringing those two back, only to spend even more effort guarding against them later.

"Sis Athena, Sis Athena..."

The price outside had already reached 600,000 gold coins, and the atmosphere grew even more heated when someone from Room No. 3 joined in—the representative of the Smith family, the clan that shared nearly half the power of Zone 5 with the Aurellan family.

Many had already withdrawn once the Smith family entered the bidding. But Joshua knew this was nothing. As long as Athena raised her price, what if it was the Smith family? They would still have to remain silent!

Thinking this way, Joshua wanted to continue pestering.

Athena narrowed her eyes. Suddenly, the sharp sound of something slicing through the air rang out. The atmosphere in the room instantly turned silent, making the bidding voices coming from the screen sound outdated and almost ridiculous.

Joshua's eyes went wide. His eyes began to dry out, yet he didn't dare to blink or move even a fraction.

Athena's index and middle fingers had suddenly sharpened and elongated, two icy-blue glowing blades pointing straight at Joshua's eyes. Very close—so close they might have already touched.

Joshua froze, even his breathing turned difficult. Cold sweat streamed down his face. "S-Sis... Sis Athena..."

"Do you have the ability to resist, Joshua? Can you dodge this strike, or can you only wait helplessly to be slaughtered? The power you have now, Joshua, is because you have me. Have you ever thought about what you'd become if I weren't here, Joshua?"

Athena's voice remained soft, so gentle that it carried not the slightest trace of anger.

And of course—it wasn't as though Joshua was even worthy of making her angry. She was stating the raw, naked truth for him to hear.

Her two fingers slid down, elongated, grazing against Joshua's skin. A line of fresh blood stretched down to his chin, like a trail of bloody tears.

"Your so-called slaves could even devour you alive. You'd be thrown into Leo's cage without me, Joshua." Athena whispered.

Joshua trembled, lowering his head as blood dripped onto the floor. He stayed silent, not daring to utter another word.

In the end, the Demonic Twins fell into the hands of the Smith family for 870,000 gold coins.

Joshua sat there looking spiritually crushed, while Louis silently thanked the heavens.

Even though Luna and Lucas were still within Zone 5, at least they weren't in the same place. Of course, danger remained—Louis thought he should accelerate his plans.

Today, Joshua had suffered enough of a blow, and Sylus likely uncovered some clue about his true identity. Everything was falling into place...

Standing off, G frowned slightly at Louis's absent-minded expression. As though sensing it, Louis furrowed his brow and looked back, only to see G lowering his gaze, staring intently at Athena, as if unable to tear his eyes away.

In the end, Athena's words had turned prophetic. She had said bringing Louis here was to reward him, and indeed, Louis was the only one who got to take something home—a seemingly ordinary black gemstone, bought at no ordinary price.

As soon as they boarded the car, Athena suddenly paused, her gaze contemplative as she looked toward the top floor of the Astar Auction House. Clearly, her subordinates must have reported something to her.

Seeing Athena's expression, Louis thought of the distinguished guest rumored to be from Zone 1. Then, remembering the appearance of The Demonic Twins, he couldn't help but think of Aboli.

Fate hadn't changed. The Demonic Twins had still become Aboli's subordinates. And their very first target was surely to take Louis's head. Ha.

Meanwhile, on the third floor of the Astar Auction House, inside VIP Room No. 1...

Aboli stared at the phone in her hand. The device was pitch black, and no matter how one looked at it, it was hard to believe this was the same phone that had once been shattered beyond repair.

The screen lit up, revealing the wallpaper—an image of a girl sleeping. That girl was none other than Aboli herself.

It was nothing more than wallpaper, yet it had been enough to drive those foolish twins mad.

A mocking smile curved Aboli's lips. "Louis, I didn't know you liked me this much. But tell me—which of your words were true? That adorable mouth of yours only ever speaks lies."

She chuckled, her face radiating gentle, saintly grace. "I hope you'll put on an entertaining play for me. After that, I'll bring you home. I'll rip out your tongue so that all you can do is cry and beg me."

Her thoughts wandered back to Louis's tearful eyes. Narrowing her gaze, she murmured, "Even those eyes of yours know how to lie. They shouldn't be kept either."

"Achoo!"

Louis suddenly sneezed twice in a row, his eyelids drooping, his whole demeanor looking utterly listless.

"Hmph, so weak." Sylus sneered dismissively.

The business van had seats facing each other—Athena, Joshua, and Louis sat on one side, while Sylus and G sat opposite.

At that moment, Sylus suddenly said, "How skilled is this new driver of ours?"

Joshua had no energy left to respond. Louis looked puzzled, but G answered directly: "All our drivers are licensed with Class 1 permits."

"I thought he might've been a racer. Otherwise, it'll be hard for us to shake off the bugs tailing us," Sylus said lightly, casually warning them of danger ahead.

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