NOVPUBIn a blink of an eye, she took out a level two Evolver!
How did she do it?
Daniel glanced suspiciously at Arlo, wondering.
Having dealt with number 28, Arlo took off his gloves and stuffed them into his pocket.
Some people in the crowd caught this series of movements and realized: "That’s Black Gloved Arlo!" Almost simultaneously, everyone looked terrified.
Daniel frowned, wracking his brain.
Black Gloved Arlo...
Is he that famous?
Why does everyone seem so scared when they hear his name?
Someone in the crowd echoed Daniel’s confusion: "Who’s Black Gloved Arlo?"
Another quickly replied, "You don’t know?"
"Black Gloved Arlo, a level three Evolver. Some guess that his power lies in those black gloves. Once he wears them, he can kill without lifting a finger."
"I didn’t believe it at first, but it seems it’s true!"
Hearing this, those who hadn’t heard of Arlo also erupted in shock: "He’s a level three Evolver?!"
Among the world’s rare Evolvers, level three Evolvers are as rare as hen’s teeth.
According to official estimates, both the counted and uncounted level three Evolvers worldwide wouldn’t exceed a hundred!
That such a formidable figure appeared before them left them torn between feeling lucky or cursed.
Nine, on stage, chimed in with her bell-like laughter, "Please, don’t worry. As long as you follow the auction rules and don’t overreact, Arlo won’t lay a finger on you."
Arlo returned to stand behind Nine, reverting to his silent, enigmatic presence.
The crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The full intimidating force of a free-roaming level three Evolver was suffocating.
Daniel watched Nine and Arlo silently, his eyes shining.
Even someone as powerful as Arlo seemed subservient to a woman, almost like a servant to his master.
This girl named Nine was no ordinary character.
Thinking of the deal he would have to finalize with her after the auction made Daniel more vigilant.
The auction continued.
The allure of the Gene Magnet was undeniable.
So much so that everyone quickly put the tragic death of number 28 behind them, eagerly awaiting their turn to bid.
Nine announced, "Bidding for the Gene Magnet starts at 20 kilograms of gold!"
The price wasn’t steep, leading to a frenzied response from the audience.
"21 kilograms!"
"22 kilograms!"
"I bid 25 kilograms!"
Having seen what happened to number 28, the crowd was more cautious and orderly in their bidding.
Daniel hadn’t expected the price of the Gene Magnet to surpass 30 kilograms so quickly, reaching a bid of 32 kilograms of gold.
Converted to cash, that’s the equivalent of 13 million StellarCoins, exceeding the market price Mike mentioned.
It seemed that someone had reached the breaking point of their Resonance reaction and was willing to pay any price for the Gene Magnet.
Daniel felt no urge to bid.
After all, by joining the Investigation Bureau, he would receive a Gene Magnet every month as compensation.
Since he hasn’t unlocked his Gene Lock and hasn’t experienced the pain of a Resonance reaction, he naturally doesn’t have a burning desire for the Gene Magnet.
In the end, the Gene Magnet was successfully purchased by number 76 for a staggering 50 kilograms of gold, a price that exceeded the highest asking price on the forum.
Nine appeared highly satisfied, "Thank you all for supporting Nine. Our auction has come to an end. If we have more items to auction in the future, I will make announcements on the forum. Stay tuned!"
Those who didn’t secure a winning bid left the venue in disappointment.
As the murmurs and casual chat faded, only four individuals remained in the area.
Daniel looked at number 76, a short man with a rotund belly, and felt a sense of familiarity.
Seemingly sensing someone’s gaze, number 76 turned his head, locking eyes with Daniel.
Both were momentarily taken aback.
It’s him!
But number 76 quickly regained his composure, turning away as if nothing had happened.
Seeing this, Daniel remained poker-faced, yet internally, his mind raced.
Why did his eyes look so different from the last time?
It’s as if he’s a completely different person.
But his reaction upon seeing me suggests he recognizes me.
Could it be just my imagination?
Just then, Nine’s voice rang out, "Congratulations to the both of you for securing today’s limited items."
"Now, let’s discuss the transaction details."
Arlo had already brought out the other two auction items.
Saharak and the Spiritual Artifact were placed in front of Daniel, while the Gene Magnet was presented to number 76.
Then, Nine added, "You may take your items now, and you can provide the gold whenever it suits you."
Both Daniel and number 76 looked puzzled at her words.
Receive now, pay later?
Is such generosity really possible?
As Nine gracefully descended the stage toward them, without the crowd obstructing his view, Daniel truly noticed Nine’s stunning figure for the first time.
Under the lights, her figure seemed even more enchanting in her red dress.
Her long, fair legs looked even more alluring, emphasized by her attire.
Wearing high heels, with every step she took, her flowing hair seemed to dance in the wind, its slight curls adding an irresistible charm.
Her red, inviting lips and seductive gaze made it difficult for anyone to resist.
As Nine approached Daniel, she playfully lifted her delicate hand to tease his chin.
Then, with a dancer’s grace, she glided over to number 76, gently tapping his lips with her slender fingers, followed by a bell-like laughter.
For a moment, Daniel felt as if he were witnessing a mesmerizing fairy dancing right in front of him.
Compared to this ethereal beauty, Rachel, Sophia, and Gwen paled in comparison.
Under the fairy’s spell, the moonlight gently rose, and a tantalizing fragrance wafted from her sleeves.
The way she moved, with her porcelain skin accentuated by her red dress, stirred something deep inside Daniel.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him.
In his perception, a mysterious force converged within his body.
However, once it entered, the force vanished without a trace, much like a drop in the ocean.
But as more and more of this power gathered, the dizziness in Daniel’s head intensified.
He felt that if this continued, his brain might turn to mush from the sheer disorientation.
In a moment of determination, he bit down hard on his lip, drawing blood.
The metallic taste filled his mouth as he swallowed.
At last, the dizziness ceased.
Yet, he still felt too lightheaded to open his eyes, sensing his consciousness being pulled into this enigmatic force within.
Inside, he saw a foggy haze, blanketing every part of his body, encompassing his organs and limbs.
What was this substance?
Its presence somehow brought a newfound sense of tranquility, as if all negative emotions were purged from his being.
All except the hatred for the monsters, especially Atelarxus!
The anger from being killed hundreds of times, a grudge so deep that even turning to ash couldn’t erase it.
Suddenly, Daniel’s conscious heard a faint unlocking sound, followed by the rattling of chains.
Could it be that the Life Gate had been opened?
Guiding his consciousness, he followed the flow of the haze to a mysterious realm.
There, he saw his own soul, an exact miniature replica of himself.
It looked imprisoned, with tangible chains wrapped tightly around it, while the door to its cell had silently swung open.
Clearly, Daniel’s suspicions were correct.
His Life Gate had been opened for some unknown reason.
Looking at the chained version of himself, Daniel wanted to step in and free it.
But the moment he set foot inside, the whole space began to shake violently, making his head spin.
Overwhelmed by another wave of dizziness, when he finally opened his eyes, he found himself back at the underground auction.
In front of him, Nine was dancing, casting sultry glances at him from time to time.
It was clear; he had just been under her spell.
Without showing any reaction, Daniel sneakily glanced at 76 beside him.
The man’s gaze was distant, completely lost in the captivating dance.
Even Arlo, his adversary, had the same entranced look.
It clicked for Daniel.
No wonder Arlo, a level 3 Evolver, was so obedient to Nine; he had fallen for her charms hook, line, and sinker.
But Nine was not the pushover Daniel had initially thought.
Being able to mesmerize a level 3 Evolver was no small feat.
Thankfully, Daniel had managed to snap out of the enchantment just in the nick of time by opening his Life Gate.
Nine continued her dance, likely planning to complete the enchantment once the dance was over.
But Daniel wasn’t going to wait around. Confirming Arlo was still under Nine’s spell, he suddenly leaped forward, grabbing the cage containing Saharak and the Spiritual Artifact magazine.
In a swift move, he darted away from the corridor.
Nine froze, clueless about what just happened.
Turning around and seeing no sign of Daniel, she cursed, "Damn it! Get back here!"
