Chapter 335: The Perfect Bait.

Enzo fell silent, considering her suggestion for a moment before slowly shaking his head.

"Nah."

Lexi blinked. "...Nah?"

"I’m not interested." Enzo turned slightly toward the training post. "I’d rather spend the time training."

For a moment, Lexi simply stared at him, her expression turning almost comically disappointed.

"Seriously?"

Enzo nodded. "Seriously."

Lexi looked as though she wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake some sense into him. Enzo, however, remained completely unmoved.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the potential value of attending an auction. He’d attended plenty of them back in the Northern Safe Zone. In fact, as a member of the Ironbull Clan, he’d occasionally been required to accompany other Clan members to such events, and that was precisely why he had so little interest in attending another one.

Those places are exhausting.

Enzo sighed inwardly. In his experience, auctions were rarely just about purchasing valuable items, at least, not when powerful clans and influential organizations were involved. Instead, they often turned into elaborate stages where wealthy individuals competed to demonstrate their superiority over one another.

A valuable treasure would appear, and before anyone could properly consider its usefulness, two or three influential families would already be fighting over it. Whenever a smaller family or an independent warrior tried to compete, there was always the risk of drawing unwanted attention.

Enzo had witnessed such situations more times than he cared to remember.

There were occasions when powerful clans deliberately pressured weaker bidders into withdrawing, and others when an influential individual would buy something at an absurd price purely to humiliate a rival. And throughout it all, everyone was expected to maintain polite smiles while pretending the entire affair was perfectly civilized.

It was a suffocating atmosphere, and Enzo had never enjoyed it. He preferred straightforward competition.

If someone wanted to prove they were stronger than him, they could step into a training ground and fight, at least then, the result would be decided by ability rather than the size of someone’s treasury.

Unfortunately, auctions didn’t work that way. Money was everything.

And that brought him to another problem.

Although Enzo had accumulated a considerable amount of wealth over the years, he’d already spent most of it. Training resources weren’t cheap, and neither were the various materials required to strengthen his body and refine his bloodline.

Unlike some of his more privileged siblings, he couldn’t simply request an unlimited supply of resources from the Clan. Much of what he possessed had been obtained through his own efforts, and naturally, he’d used it to improve his strength whenever possible.

As a result, while he wasn’t exactly poor, his remaining wealth was hardly enough to confidently compete against the representatives of several great clans and organizations from other Safe Zones in a bidding war.

What’s the point of going if I probably won’t be able to afford anything worthwhile?

He’d rather spend the evening training. At least that way, he could make some progress instead of wasting several hours watching wealthy people fight over treasures he couldn’t purchase.

With that thought, Enzo looked back at Lexi.

"Besides, the tournament starts tomorrow. I’d rather focus on preparing for that."

Lexi stared at him, then sighed. "Honestly, Enzo, sometimes I wonder whether you even know how to enjoy yourself."

Enzo shrugged. "I enjoy training."

"That’s exactly the problem!"

"..."

He decided not to respond. Arguing with Lexi about his training habits was a battle he’d already fought countless times, and judging from their previous conversations, it was one neither of them was likely to win.

However, just as Enzo was preparing to return to his training, he noticed something unusual. The disappointment on Lexi’s face had gradually vanished, and in its place, a faint, almost mischievous light had appeared in her eyes.

Enzo narrowed his gaze.

What’s she thinking now?

He’d known Lexi long enough to recognize that expression. Whenever she looked at him like that, it usually meant she’d thought of something troublesome. And sure enough, the young woman spoke again.

"Well, that’s a shame." She shook her head slowly. "I really thought you’d be interested."

Enzo frowned. "Interested in what?"

"The auction, obviously."

"I already told you—"

"Especially considering what I heard will be appearing there."

Enzo paused.

Lexi continued as though she were merely making casual conversation.

"Apparently, there’s going to be an Elixir."

"..."

Enzo froze. For a brief moment, he didn’t react at all. Then his head snapped toward her.

"What?"

Lexi blinked innocently. "Hm?"

Enzo took a step forward. "What did you just say?"

She tilted her head. "About what?"

"Lexi." His voice had become noticeably more serious. "The Elixir."

"Oh, that?" She nodded. "Yeah. I heard an Elixir will be appearing at tonight’s auction."

Enzo’s entire body stiffened.

An Elixir?

His heartbeat quickened. For several seconds, he simply stared at Lexi, trying to determine whether he’d heard her correctly. There was a particular reason the mere mention of an Elixir was enough to make him forget about his training, a reason Lexi understood very well.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

Lexi nodded. "That’s what I heard."

"From where?"

"People have been talking about the auction. Apparently, the Guild organizing it has prepared some pretty impressive treasures."

Enzo’s brows furrowed. "Which Guild?"

"Mothlight Guild, I think."

"Mothlight..." He repeated the unfamiliar name quietly.

He’d never heard of it before. That wasn’t particularly surprising, since he knew very little about the Guilds operating within the Eastern Safe Zone. However at the moment, the organization’s name was the least important part of what Lexi had just told him. What mattered was the Elixir.

Could it really be appearing tonight?

His thoughts began racing. If the information was accurate, then this was an opportunity he couldn’t afford to overlook. But before he could ask anything more, Lexi suddenly sighed.

"Well, anyway..."

Enzo looked at her as she spread her hands.

"I only came over because I thought you might be interested." Her expression turned to one of exaggerated resignation. "But since you’re clearly more interested in punching that poor training post than going anywhere with me, I guess there’s no point bothering you."

Enzo blinked. "Wait—"

"I’ll just go by myself." She turned around. "Have fun training."

"Lexi, hold on."

But she’d already started walking toward the courtyard entrance. Enzo opened his mouth, wanting to stop her, yet for a moment he couldn’t find the right words. After all, hadn’t he just told her he wasn’t interested? And now, barely a minute later, he was suddenly desperate to know more about the auction. Even he understood how ridiculous that looked.

Meanwhile, with her back turned toward him, a small smirk appeared on Lexi’s face.

Got you.

She knew Enzo far too well. Ordinary treasures wouldn’t interest him. Neither would promises of entertainment or a chance to explore the city. If she wanted him to willingly leave his training ground, she needed to give him a reason he couldn’t ignore, and fortunately, she knew exactly what that reason was.

Of course, she hadn’t made anything up. The Elixir really was among the treasures rumored to appear at the auction. She had simply chosen the perfect moment to mention it.

Lexi continued walking for a few more steps before stopping.

"Oh, right." She turned her head slightly. "I almost forgot."

Enzo immediately looked at her. "What?"

"The auction starts tonight." She smiled. "I’ll be leaving around eight."

Enzo remained silent.

Lexi continued. "So, if you happen to change your mind..." She paused deliberately. "You can wait for me outside the villa at eight o’clock. We can go together."