Alex continued.
Ten boxes.
Fifteen boxes.
Twenty boxes.
Every single one was the same.
No hiddenpartments.
No secret mechanisms.
Just useless junk.
Nothing special.
After searching the entire wooden boxes, Alex straightened up calmly.
There was nothing else.
Clearly, it was pure luck.
"I''ll take only this book," Alex said, lifting the nameless volume. "Tell me where to transfer the money."
“Sir, our boss said there''s no need,” us replied, bowing again. “Thank you foring to our establishment."
"No," Alex said firmly. "You''re running a business. I take the book, I pay for it. Open your bank ount."
us didn''t dare argue. He apped his bracelet and activated his three-dimensional banking interface.
Alex tapped his bracelet once, aligned it with us''s, and sent the payment.
A million dors transferred instantly.
us watched the number appear. His throat tightened.
"Thank you for your payment, sir," he said carefully.
"No problem," Alex replied. He turned to Pauline. "Pauline, let''s go home."
“Okay,” Pauline answered, standing up.
"Wait."
A woman stepped forward.
She was stunning—tall, sharp-featured, her figure wrapped in sleek, high-tech clothing that hugged her body like liquid metal. Every step carried authority. Her eyes locked onto the book in Alex''s hand.
"Give me that book,” she said coldly.
"Nope.” Alex slid the book into his pocket without hesitation. "I already bought it. You didn''t."
Her eyes darkened. "I warn you. I''ve been searching for that book for a long time. It belongs to me."
Alex sneered. "I bought it here."
She turned instantly, fury snapping toward us. "I told you. Every unnamed book from Xia is mine."
us bowed deeply. "Miss Leonora von Silberkreuz, I apologize. But that book already belongs to this gentleman."
Leonora''s expression hardened, sharp as steel. "Then take it from him. I want that book."
us''s face went pale. "For that... I don''t dare, Miss Leonora."
She froze. Shock flickered across her face. us had never refused her before.
Her anger ignited. "Do you understand the consequences of refusing my demand?" "Miss Leonora von Silberkreuz," us said, bowing again, his voice steady despite the fear, “Duke Silberkreuz is known for his kindness and justice. I believe he will understand once I exin everything. Please don''t make this more difficult.”
He lifted his head slightly, eyes serious.
"This gentleman... is not someone I can afford to offend."
Leonora studied Alex carefully, her gaze sharp and cautious.
Is this man really someone special?
Her grandfather''s voice echoed in her mind-It''s better to make friends than enemies.
The dissatisfaction still burned in her chest, but she forced it down. She straightened, put on a practiced, graceful smile, and spoke politely.
“Hello. I''m Leonora von Silberkreuz, daughter of the Silberkreuz family. How should I address you?” She looked at Alex. “I''m willing to pay ten times the price you paid.”
Alex smiled faintly. "That means you think everything has a price.”
"And you don''t?"
"I do," Alex replied. "Just not one you can afford."
Leonora''s smile held. Barely.
"...How unfortunate."
"Yes," Alex agreed. "For you."
Pauline winced. us nearly fainted.
Silberkreuz?
The Silberkreuz family-the most elite family in Winchester. The true owners of the city itself.
Duke Silberkreuz was a name that made nobles bow and corporations kneel.
Pauline never imagined she would meet someone from that family in a ce like this.
Alex, however, showed no reaction at all.
The Silberkreuz family was immensely powerful. But he was the richest man in Prussia. Even dukes bowed before wealth.
Leonora had never been rejected in Winchester. Whenever she spoke, people rushed to please her, desperate to curry favor. They gave her whatever she wanted-no questions asked.
us knew it.
Pauline knew it.
The moment people heard the name Silberkreuz, they bowed.
But Alex didn''t.
Leonora bit her lip hard. She really wanted that book.
A man standing behind her stepped forward, his eyes cold. "Miss Leonora, if he refuses to hand it over, why don''t I take it from him
myself. Even if he dies, it can just counted as bad fuck."
Alex nced at him. "That''s very brave."
The man sneered. "You don''t look frightened."
be,
"I''m not," Alex said. "I was admiring your confidence."
"...In what?"
"In believing your life insurance covers stupidity."
us broke out in a cold sweat. Panic seized him. He immediately shouted into hismunicator.
"Men! Protect this gentleman with your lives! Anyone can die—but this gentleman must not be harmed!"
Leonora and her guards stared at him in shock.
us stepped directly in front of Alex, his men forming a wall behind him as weapons were drawn.
Leonora snapped, "us, stand aside."
us stepped forward instead. "With respect, miss, this is the most correct position
I''ve ever taken."
"You''re choosing him?"
us nodded solemnly. "Yes."
"...Over the Silberkreuz family?"
us sighed. "Miss, your family can ruin my business."
He nced at Alex. "He can ruin my existence."
"us!" one of the guards barked. "How dare you threaten Leonora von
Silberkreuz!"
"I warned you again. This
gentleman, us said firmly, "is not to be touched. As for you-if you
proceed, will file a report to D
item in my
Silberkreuz himself. I''ll report that you attempted to steal a shop and threatened others without just cause. Let''s see how the duke
judges that."
The manughed softly, eyes gleaming with malice.
"He''ll just destroy this shop."
He raised his hand.
"Everyone—prepare your weapons."
The armed men had shifted their stances. One wrong word would have shattered