Chapter 336: Kina Proenza.

Enzo’s lips parted slightly, but before he could respond, Lexi waved her hand.

"Anyway, that’s all I came to say." Her smile widened. "See you later, Enzo."

And with that, she walked through the courtyard gate and disappeared from view, leaving Enzo standing where he was.

For several seconds, he didn’t move.

The courtyard gradually settled back into silence, only the faint rustling of leaves and the distant sounds of the residential compound drifting through the air. But Enzo’s attention was no longer on his surroundings. His mind was occupied by a single thought.

The Elixir...

He slowly lowered his gaze, and the expression on his face had changed completely. The mild annoyance and indifference he’d shown earlier were gone, replaced by a look of intense concentration.

If it’s really going to appear at the auction...

His fists tightened.

He knew Lexi well enough to understand that she occasionally enjoyed playing tricks on him. However, there were certain things she would never joke about, and this was one of them.

Lexi understood exactly how important the Elixir was to him, and she knew what he hoped to accomplish with it. Despite their frequent disagreements, Enzo didn’t believe she was cruel enough to use something so important as mere bait for a harmless outing.

She wouldn’t lie about this. He was certain.

Which meant there was a very real possibility that an Elixir would be appearing at tonight’s auction.

Enzo slowly raised his head, his eyes shining with determination.

Then I have to go.

It didn’t matter that he disliked auctions. If the Elixir was truly going to appear, then he had to try. He couldn’t afford to let such an opportunity slip past him. Of course, there was still the problem of money, but that was something he’d have to deal with later.

For now, there was only one thing he knew for certain.

He must get his hands on that Elixir, no matter what.

---

Meanwhile, as the afternoon progressed, information about the Mothlight Guild’s auction continued to spread.

The visiting representatives from the other Safe Zones weren’t the only ones taking an interest.

Within the Eastern Safe Zone itself, numerous individuals and organizations had already begun making preparations to attend. Some were drawn by the rare treasures rumored to be appearing, while others were simply curious about the newly established Guild that had suddenly begun attracting so much attention.

And naturally, there were also those who had been keeping a close eye on Mothlight for entirely different reasons.

Among them was a particularly influential organization.

The White Comet Guild.

Its headquarters was a magnificent skyscraper that towered above the surrounding buildings, its exterior covered in reflective glass that gave the structure a sleek, imposing appearance. It was one of the most recognizable headquarters belonging to a major Guild in the region.

And on one of its highest floors, inside an expansive office overlooking the city, a conversation was currently taking place.

A beautiful blonde woman sat comfortably behind a large desk. She appeared to be in her late twenties, with striking features and an elegant figure, her long blonde hair falling neatly over her shoulders, complementing the expensive outfit she wore.

One leg was crossed over the other, her posture relaxed. Yet despite her casual appearance, there was an unmistakable air of authority about her. She was the kind of woman who had grown accustomed to giving orders and having them obeyed.

Standing across from her was a man in a neatly pressed suit, a document in one hand. He had just finished delivering a report.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke. The blonde woman remained silent, her fingers lightly tapping against the armrest of her chair, her expression thoughtful. Then, after a while, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Interesting." She leaned back slightly. "It seems we’ve underestimated that Guild."

The man lowered his head. "That appears to be the case, Guild Master."

The woman was Kina Proenza, Guild Master of the White Comet Guild, one of the largest and most influential Guilds operating within the Southern Safe Zone, and also the mastermind behind all the harassment the Mothlight Guild had been facing lately.

Over the years, the White Comet Guild had steadily expanded its operations, accumulating considerable wealth, influence, and military strength. Its members included numerous talented Hunters, experienced researchers, and individuals possessing valuable abilities.

Under Kina’s leadership, the Guild had gradually established itself as one of the dominant organizations in its territory. However, its success hadn’t come without considerable expense.

Maintaining a powerful Guild required enormous amounts of money.

Recruiting talented Hunters was only the beginning, because those Hunters needed equipment and training resources, and the more powerful a Hunter became, the more expensive their development tended to be.

Of course, powerful Guilds also generated enormous revenue. But no matter how profitable their operations became, their expenses tended to rise alongside their influence.

It was a problem almost every major Guild eventually encountered. The stronger an organization became, the more resources it needed to sustain its position, and if its income failed to keep pace with its expenses, even a powerful Guild could gradually begin experiencing financial difficulties.

Naturally, the major Guilds had developed various ways of addressing this problem. Some established businesses. Others invested in research and development. And many sought to expand their influence over smaller organizations that possessed profitable products or valuable resources.

The reasoning was simple. Rather than relying entirely on the Guild’s own activities to generate income, why not establish additional sources of revenue?

And one of the most effective methods was through subsidiaries. Smaller Guilds. Independent companies. Research organizations. Or any other profitable establishment that could be brought under the influence of a larger power.

As long as they continued generating profits, the parent organization would benefit.

# #

Hey guys, two more Chapters will be posted soon. Also, it’ll be a new month in less than 24 hours, so make sure to send in your Golden Tickets before they expire, and also, a castle or two would be a great way to end the month, don’t you guys think? ????