Not A Small-Town Girl
Chapter 40-1

Chapter 40

"Hades and Shadow are at the auction? We never see both of them together. If we can get close to either one of their Fortresses, our gang will rise with them," someone said, excited.

"It’s not that simple. I tried to greet Hades earlier but had no chance... let alone Shadow," another replied.

"The virus in the border is brutal. Small gangs like ours are really suffering, and there’s still no cure. So many have died already."

"I heard the virus came from Wulf Clan’s lab!"

"We can’t mess with Wulf Clan. I saw Mr. Wulf here at the auction."

Elliot and his team overheard the conversation.

On the second floor, in a private box. "Miss Darling, we saw someone watching us as soon as we arrived. Probably Wulf Clan," Aiden said, his eyes scanning the room.

Danielle raised an eyebrow. "They’re waiting for the auction to end, planning to make a move on me."

Aiden thought, ’There’s going to be a showdown after this auction, but Miss Darling’s so calm. She really is something.

"The army snuck in too, just a few of them. Wulf Clan probably knows by now. This auction is tied to them," Aiden added.

Danielle smirked slightly. "Wulf Clan’s ambitions have grown a lot these past couple of years."

"They’ve been trying to ally with Hades Fortress. If those two gang up, we’ll be in serious trouble," Aiden said, his voice tense.

Danielle scoffed, "Am I supposed to be scared of them?"

The auction reached its final item: the Ice Velvet Plant. This rare, almost extinct plant had incredible healing properties. It could bring someone back from the brink of death, no matter how severe the injury.

"Miss Darling, that’s the Ice Velvet Plant we need," Aiden said.

The hostess walked on stage with a wooden box, revealing the plant for all to see.

"Starting bid for the Ice Velvet Plant is thirteen million dollars!" the auctioneer called.

Aiden immediately raised the bid to seventeen million dollars. ’Miss Darling has plenty of money, she won’t mind, he thought.

The crowd was shocked. ’Seventeen million dollars for the first bid? Who is this person?’ they wondered.

Danielle glanced at Aiden, thinking, ’He’s spending my money so freely, raising the bid like it’s nothing...

"Miss Darling, I’m awesome, right? I jumped in with