Chapter 26: Don’t Make Boss Yi Laugh

Ivette leaned back on the sofa in the private box, watching Yelena’s nervous expression, and let out a chuckle.

“Little Fox, don’t worry. Leave the money to me.”

With that, Ivette pulled a black card from her pocket and twirled it between her fingers.

Yelena stared at the card, her fox eyes full of confusion.

“What’s that?”

“The exclusive credit card of the Astreia family.” Anna explained calmly beside her.

“The head of the household has a monthly credit limit of one hundred thousand gold coins, issued and recognized by the Capital Central Bank.”

Ivette casually added, “What can I say? The family business spans the entire nation, so naturally the bank gives us face.”

Yelena: “…”

The box fell silent for a few seconds.

Yelena slowly turned her head to look at Ivette.

“You said… how much?!”

“I allocated a budget of ten thousand for this mission.” Ivette put the card away and wagged her finger at her.

“So if you want to buy something, just say it. Potions, equipment, materials—we’ll get them all.”

Yelena’s mind was filled with a string of numbers.

“Th-then… what about the Silver Flame Chef’s Blade?”

“That’s a mission reward. We have to complete the mission to get it.” Ivette spread her hands. “But if you really want it,

if there’s a similar kitchen knife at the auction later, I can buy it for you.”

“No, no, no!” Yelena waved her hands frantically. “That’s enough, enough! Just the potions, just the potions are fine!”

She felt light-headed. So this was the world of the rich.

No wonder Aisha was so nervous over there…

The Golden Lion Holy Alliance might have a big reputation, but when it came to financial power, they were on a completely different level from the Astreia family.

Just as Yelena was thinking this, the auction began.

The first item was a set of enchanted daggers, won by a dwarf mercenary for two hundred gold coins.

The second item was three bottles of Intermediate Healing Potion, bought by a noble’s guard.

And the third item…

“This is the highlight of today’s auction! Five bottles of High-grade Fire Resistance Potion, starting bid at one hundred fifty gold coins, with a minimum increment of fifty.”

The auctioneer held up a crystal bottle containing a golden-red liquid.

“Two hundred!” Someone spoke from a box on the second floor.

Yelena recognized the voice as Kate’s.

Being sharp-minded, Kate naturally knew how important High-grade Fire Resistance Potions were for conquering the Lava Colossus.

She hadn’t used the team’s limited funds. Instead, she had approached her own family, and they had agreed to the magic prodigy’s extravagant request, prepaying her two thousand gold coins as her activity budget for the next two years.

“Three hundred.” Ivette picked up her teacup and took a slow sip.

“Three hundred fifty.” Kate’s voice rose a bit.

“Four hundred.” Ivette didn’t look up.

“Four hundred fifty!”

“Six hundred.”

“Ah? Six hundred fifty!…”

“One thousand.”

Ivette immediately called out a price that broke the ladder, and the entire hall fell silent.

Kate was silent for a long time before grinding her teeth and saying, “Ar-are you crazy?…”

“A thousand gold coins for five bottles of potions is a good deal.”

Ivette set down her teacup and crooked her finger at the auctioneer on stage.

“Anyone else raising? If not, settle the bill.”

The auctioneer, seeing the money, raised the wooden hammer. “One thousand gold coins, going once…”

“One thousand one hundred gold coins!” Aisha’s clear voice came from the opposite side.

Yelena turned her head. Although the two boxes were a bit far apart, her gaze happened to meet Aisha’s.

Aisha pretended to be calm, but her palms gripping the railing were sweating.

When Ivette smiled, people always thought she looked disdainful.

“Two thousand.”

“What?! Ivette, you—!” Aisha’s voice trembled, helpless.

“…”

The Golden Lion Holy Alliance squad on the opposite side had no further reaction.

The auctioneer’s hammer fell three times. “Two thousand gold coins, sold! Congratulations to the Phoenix Nirvana Team.”

Yelena heard Kate from the next box shouting, “Aisha! Why didn’t you raise?! Don’t we have that much money?!”

Aisha’s voice was soft but calm: “That’s enough. But there’s no need to continue.”

What does “no need” mean? That was an important mission item.

“Kate, calm down…” Aisha cut off her argument. “We still have other ways.”

“What ways?!”

“…I’ll figure something out.”

[Ding, Collected Key Character Emotion Change: Moderate Regret]

The system prompt sounded in Yelena’s mind.

She looked toward the opposite box, observing the hero team’s state based on the system’s prompt.

Yelena watched them, thinking about why Aisha’s squad had acted so recklessly at the auction like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Aisha’s eyes were full of suppressed emotion, while Kate spoke with urgency and guilt.

What were they thinking?

Could it be that Aisha and the others were still thinking about her?

But their decisiveness back then, that coldness that hadn’t even spared a “sorry”… what was that about?

She felt a bit unsettled and closed her eyes.

Even now, she couldn’t say for sure whether she should be moved.

But one thing remained unchanged: her rationality still reminded her.

During this time, who had been giving her laughter and warmth?

Forget it. Whatever their intentions, it had nothing to do with her.

Yelena pulled her gaze back, suppressing that wavering thought. The past wouldn’t be overturned by a few glances.

“Got the goods. You take care of them.”

Ivette handed over five slightly warm bottles of Fire Resistance Potion, neatly arranged in front of her.

Ivette’s voice also brought Yelena’s mind back.

Ivette patted her head. “This should be enough, right?”

“More than enough…” Yelena held the potion bottles, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Two thousand gold coins…

Just for five bottles of potion.

Just because she said she wanted the Silver Flame Chef’s Blade, Ivette had thrown money at it without a second thought.

Compared to Aisha and her ilk, it was clear who was superior and who was inferior.

“Ivette.” Yelena looked up, her fox eyes reflecting the warm yellow light of the box’s wall lamps.

“Hmm?”

“W-why are you so good to me?”

Ivette was taken aback.

Then she smiled and reached out to tousle Yelena’s fox ears.

“Because you’re my little fox.”

Wasn’t this girl embarrassed at all?!

Yelena’s ears instantly burned red.

She lowered her head, pretending to organize the potion bottles, while her tail secretly curled into a heart shape behind her.

Outside the box, the Golden Lion Holy Alliance group was preparing to leave.

Kate was still grumbling: “That nouveau riche, so arrogant! Just because she has money!”

Sylvia quietly tried to soothe her: “Kate-chan, don’t be angry…”

“I’m not angry! I just—”

“Enough.” Aisha spoke, cutting off her words.

She walked to the end of the corridor, her back to the three.

“I’ll handle the potion situation.”

“How? The black market potion dealers near Lava Canyon have already fled. The nearest supply point is three hundred miles away, no way to make it in time…”

“I said, I’ll find a way.” Aisha turned around, her icy blue eyes emotionless. “For now, let’s go back to the inn and organize our equipment.”

Kate wanted to say more, but seeing Aisha’s expression, she swallowed her words.

Mira remained silent, following at the back of the group.

Her gaze swept across the other end of the corridor, where Yelena was being embraced by Ivette, the two happily walking side by side toward the exit.

Mira lowered her eyes, muttering something to herself, and at a point imperceptible to the others, showed a brief, malicious grin.

How interesting. She was becoming more and more interested in this fox-tribe girl.

Yelena hugged the potion bottles, then suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Ivette asked.

“Nothing.” Yelena shook her head, then glanced back toward the guild hall.

It felt like an ill-intentioned gaze had just been there.

But it was so fleeting that even the Emotion Menu hadn’t caught it.

“Let’s go.” She withdrew her gaze, clutching the potions close. “Set out early tomorrow morning for Lava Canyon.”

“Okay.” Ivette put an arm around her shoulder and asked softly, “Nervous? Or tired from two days of adventuring in a row?”

“Not tired, but a little nervous…” Yelena answered honestly. “An A-rank mission. First time.”

“What’s there to be afraid of?” Ivette leaned in, flashing a confident smile. “With me here, I’ll shield you from any danger.”

Yelena’s ears immediately tinged with red.

She muttered quietly, “Who said I need you to shield me…”

But behind her, her nine tails were wagging genuinely, the tips gradually shifting from deep crimson to light red, glowing brightly under the setting sun.

Ivette watched her, the smile in her eyes growing.

Anna followed behind the two, silently recording all of today’s expenses.

Two thousand gold coins for the potions.

Six hundred gold coins for spare equipment.

And four hundred gold coins for various miscellaneous purchases.

Total: three thousand gold coins.

Anna closed her ledger, calculating in her mind.

Today, Lady Ivette spent enough gold coins to keep Miss Yelena running her stall for two years.

Still… she watched the two walking ahead, shoulders touching, a faint, gratified smile on her face.

Actually, this was pretty good too.

The night wind swept through the streets, and Yelena’s tails fluttered with the breeze.

She didn’t notice that behind a second-floor window of a nearby inn, a pair of eyes was silently watching her every step.

There was no warmth in that gaze—only scrutiny.

Like looking at a prey about to be caught.