The moment the sleek ck card came into view, the atmosphere shifted. The other security guards'' eyes widened, their confidence visibly crumbling.


    At that moment One of them stammered, "This card… it''s…" but he couldn''t finish his sentence, the weight of realization robbing him of words.


    Immediately The senior guard quickly recovered, though his tone was far more respectful now.


    "This card is only issued to the top fifty invitees," he muttered, almost to himself.


    At that moment his gaze darted back to Ethan, disbelief etched across his face.


    "But there were only supposed to be fifty invitations, no exceptions."


    The murmurs began immediately. Seeing what was going on Several attendees who had already passed through the checkpoint turned back, curious about themotion. Whispers rippled through the crowd as more eyes fell on Ethan.


    "I heard the organizers made an exception for one person," someone whispered. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire


    "Yes, but it was supposed to be for someone groundbreaking. A legend in their field," another replied, their tone tinged with confusion.


    "Who is he?" a third person asked, ncing at Ethan with narrowed eyes. "A kid like him? He doesn''t even look like he belongs here."


    However Ethan remained silent, his expression impassive as the murmurs grew louder.


    He could feel their stares, their skepticism cutting through the air like knives. To them, he wasn''t the enigmatic figure they had envisioned when they heard about the exception. He wasn''t an older tycoon, a veteran in the business world, or even a recognizable name. He was just… a young man. To their eyes, a nobody.


    At that moment Robert Wesley, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, couldn''t hide his amusement.


    He smirked, his voice dripping with mockery as he spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.


    "So, this is the grand exception? The one person the organizers deemed worthy of bending the rules for? A kid?"


    Upon hearing what he just said.


    Theughter that followed was low and scattered, but it was enough to draw more attention to Ethan. Immediately Wesley crossed his arms, his smug expression daring Ethan to respond.


    "I have to admit, I''m curious now. What exactly did you do to get that card? A favor? maybe a fluke?"


    Ethan''s eyes flicked toward Wesley briefly, his gaze calm and measured. He didn''t rise to the bait. Instead, he turned back to the senior guard, his voice steady. "Are we done here?"


    The guard, clearly shaken by the realization of Ethan''s importance, straightened immediately.


    "Yes, sir. Please, proceed."


    Without wasting anymore time.


    Ethan nodded once and stepped past the checkpoint, the murmurs still following him like shadows. He could feel their disbelief, their doubt, but he didn''t care. Let them wonder. Let them question. What mattered was that he was here, and his presence alone was already unsettling the so-called titans of the event.


    Ethan was finally allowed inside, but as he stepped through the grand doors of the auction hall, a wave of hesitation washed over him. The grandeur of the room, with its crystal chandeliers and polished floors, was enough to make anyone feel out of ce. ''Should I even be here?'' he wondered, his thoughts conflicted.


    At that moment he nced around, the sight of impably dressed individuals mingling and chatting reinforcing his doubts.


    Without being told he could tell this wasn''t just an auction—it was a stage for the elite to unt their wealth, exchange contacts, and secure deals behind the scenes. The auction itself was almost secondary.


    Do I really need to go through with this? Ethan thought. But then his mind went back to Serenity''s grandmother. He wasn''t here as the Godly Investor.


    He wasn''t here to make a statement. He was here to find something meaningful, something tangible to give to Serenity''s grandmother for her birthday. With that thought, his resolve hardened. I''ll do it for her, he decided.


    Without wasting anymore time. Ethan made his way to the registration desk. "Name?" the attendant asked, her tone polite but brisk, her fingers poised over a tablet.@@novelbin@@


    "Ethan," he replied simply, handing over his ck invitation card.


    Immediately the woman scanned it, and her eyebrows shot up slightly. "You''rete," she said, her tone shifting slightly, as if she were scolding him.


    "There''s a penalty fee forte arrivals."


    At that moment Ethan raised a brow but remained silent, waiting for her to continue.


    Without wasting anymore time She tapped a few buttons on the screen and nced up at him.


    "The fee is five times the regr entry price, sir. Thates to one million dors."


    At that moment a soft murmur rippled through the nearby crowd as they overheard. Ethan caught a few sideways nces—some curious, others incredulous. A million dors just to get inte?


    However without hesitation, Ethan pulled out his card and handed it to the attendant.


    "Go ahead," he said calmly, his voice betraying none of the irritation he felt.


    The transaction was swift, and the attendant handed him a receipt along with a small, elegant pin to denote his status as a participant. "You''re seated at the front, sir," she said, gesturing toward the main hall.


    Ethan entered, his steps purposeful despite the lingering tension. The hall was filled with the hum of conversations,ughter, and the asional clinking of sses. Gentlemen in tailored suits leaned toward one another, exchanging business cards and whispers about deals far more significant than the items being auctioned.


    At that moment It was clear that for many of them, the auction itself was merely a backdrop forworking.


    Ethan made his way to his assigned seat at the front, drawing a few more curious stares as he passed.


    They couldn''t  understand what a kid was doing in such a ce.


    His presence was unusual, and people were trying to ce him—was he a rising star in business? A hidden heir? Or just a young man in over his head?


    As he sat down, Ethan''s thoughts remained focused.


    ''This isn''t about them,''he reminded himself.


    ''I''m here for one reason—to find something meaningful for Serenity''s grandmother.''


    Not long after the auctioneer stepped onto the stage, signaling the start of the event, but Ethan''s mind was already racing ahead, wondering what woulde up and whether he could secure the perfect gift.


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