Chapter 92:Blue Ice at the Auction House

That figure in the audience was not just anyone. It was Raven, the same woman Jax had encountered during his forced conscription into The Vanguard. The scent of roses he had caught in the hallway earlier had unmistakably trailed from her.

“Do you know her?” the stylist asked, catching Jax’s intense stare.

“I don’t know her,” Jax replied, his voice low. “But I’ve heard of her.”

Just then, movement caught his eye. The heavy double doors behind the stage cracked open. Urgent, hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor beyond. A cluster of men huddled in the shadows of the doorframe, their voices hushed and frantic. Though the words were indistinct, Jax’s gut tightened. He sensed the invisible fingerprints of Lab One all over this.

He glanced back at the audience. Raven sat in her black evening gown, poised and motionless, as if the chaos backstage didn’t exist.

She’s no fool, Jax thought. She has to know the Wither Serum is a trap. Why take the bait?

Filled with doubt, he withdrew his gaze. The auction had reached its scheduled intermission.

Hazel walked toward the backstage lounge, her expression an icy mask. Julian trailed her like a shadow he couldn’t shake, sticky and persistent.

Bang!

Hazel slammed the lounge door directly in his face. Julian didn’t even flinch; he merely dusted off his nose, clearly accustomed to the cold shoulder. Jax watched the scene with a wry smile, intending to stay out of it.

“Jax! Get in here!”

Hazel’s command rang out from behind the closed door.

Jax froze. He shot a glance at Julian, whose face had turned the color of a raw liver.

Good grief. Is this girl doing this on purpose? Jax thought. I’m not afraid of Julian, but using me as a shield to provoke him? What’s the endgame here?

Ignoring the murderous glint in Julian’s eyes, Jax walked to the door and knocked twice. “Miss? You needed something?”

“Come in! I need to talk to you!”

The backstage crew exchanged stunned looks. A man and a woman, alone in a closed room? In their world, rumors started over less.

The most incensed person was undoubtedly Julian. He stepped in front of Jax, blocking the path with his body. “You are not going in there!”

Jax looked him up and down. “Sorry, but I’m afraid I have to.”

He reached out, placing a hand on Julian’s arm. With a casual flick of his wrist, he pushed.

Julian felt an irresistible force sweep him aside. He stumbled, eyes widening in shock. He knew his own strength—though his Awaken ability was common, he had fortified his body with Cores. He could handle three or four ordinary men with ease. Yet Jax had moved him with a seemingly accidental touch, as if he were made of paper.

Jax stepped inside. Hazel sat at her vanity, cracking macadamia nuts as if nothing had happened.

“You’re provoking him on purpose, aren’t you?” Jax asked, leaning against the doorframe somewhat helplessly.

Hazel didn’t turn. “So what if I am? Are you scared?”

Jax sighed. “Why would I be scared of him? I just think you’re being childish.”

“Hmph! If you aren’t scared, then stop whining. Relax! He wouldn’t dare touch you.” She tossed a document onto the table. “Check this list. See if the person you’re looking for is on the payroll.”

Jax’s heart skipped a beat. He snatched up the list. “How did you get this?”

“Don’t worry about the how. Just look.”

Jax didn’t waste time questioning her methods. He immediately began scanning the names.

Hazel watched him, a faint smile playing on her lips. She hadn’t pulled this list from thin air; she had sourced it immediately after investigating Jax that afternoon. Her interest in him wasn’t romantic—it was calculated.

Her intel showed that Jax now held the deed to a villa formerly owned by Sawyer, the second young master of The Helios Syndicate. The Helios Syndicate wasn’t the richest faction in Redrock Bastion, but they controlled considerable resources. For wealthy scions like them, owning multiple properties was normal. But for Sawyer to sell a villa? That was rare.

In Hazel’s view, something fishy was going on. She knew Sawyer well; he was capable, ambitious, and held real authority. If he had transferred a villa to Jax, it meant Jax possessed capabilities worth investing in.

Furthermore, rumors were swirling that The Helios Syndicate had acquired a new type of energy conversion device for Defense Tower, boasting an efficiency rate exceeding sixty percent. If mass-produced, every family in Redrock Bastion would flock to them, likely securing Sawyer’s rise to the position of patriarch.

Few knew these details, but Hazel’s background was far from simple. Her family was a powerhouse in Redrock Bastion, though she usually ignored family business, preferring to prove her own worth.

Jax remained oblivious to her scrutiny, his mind entirely focused on the paper in his hands. The club was massive, employing over 1,000 staff; the text blurred as he speed-read through the columns.

First three pages: nothing.

“Damn it, she’s not here!” Jax muttered. “The rest are management.”

He turned to the fourth page. The header read: Management Layer.

Jax had a bad feeling. He knew Elena well—her personality, her skills. She had no ambition for power, no background, and no status. The chances of her climbing to management were zero.

Sensing his mood plummet, Hazel asked softly, “What is the name of the person you’re looking for?”

“Elena.”

“Elena…” Hazel tapped a fingernail against her teeth, thinking. “I know almost everyone in management. There’s no one by that name.”

Jax looked up, desperate. “Is this list complete?”

“It is. And I’m sure. There really is no Elena here.”

Jax felt the blood drain from his face, his heart sinking.

“Could she… could she have already left?”

Seeing his grave expression, Hazel asked, “What is your relationship with this Elena? Is she your girlfriend?”

“No! She’s the older sister of one of my brothers. She saved my life.”

“Oh, I see! I didn’t expect you to be such a loyal and righteous person.” Hazel considered this. “I haven’t heard of any dismissals recently. Wait—don’t panic yet. I’ll go get the archives for former employees. Maybe she was let go before the ownership transfer.”

“Thank you,” Jax said, his voice earnest.

“Don’t mention it.” She waved a hand dismissively.

Just then, a knock interrupted them.

“Hazel,” the stylist called out from the hall. “The second half of the auction is about to start!”

“Oh! I know! By the way, bring me the old employee list!”

The door swung open. Jax turned to see not only the stylist but also Julian standing there.

Julian took one look at the proximity between Jax and Hazel—barely a dozen centimeters apart—and his mind snapped. He practically saw a neon green hat glowing above his head.

“You! Get out here! I challenge you to a duel!”

Roaring, Julian charged into the room, throwing a wild punch directly at Jax’s face.

However, Jax had sensed the killing intent the moment the door opened. He didn’t flinch.

Thud.

Jax’s palm intercepted the fist. He closed his fingers, clamping down like a vice.

“Are you sure you want to fight?” Jax asked, his voice dangerously calm.

Julian gritted his teeth, struggling to retract his hand. “Yes! I’m going to fight you, and then I’m going to kill you!”

Hazel immediately stood up, eyes flashing. “Julian! Stop it!”

Jax smirked. He glanced at Hazel, then turned back to Julian.

“Julian, I suggest you stop harassing Hazel from now on.”

“What? What did you just call her? Who gave you the permission?”

Jax maintained his smile, but the strength in his hand ratcheted up a notch. “Sorry, I forgot to mention. I just confessed to Hazel, and she agreed to be my girlfriend. So, have some self-awareness. Stop being a toad lusting after swan meat!”

After speaking, Jax exerted force, crushing the hand in his grip. He looked down at Julian, who was now kneeling on the floor in agony.

“Do you hear me?”

Julian finally felt the terrifying gap in their strength. Sweat poured down his face as the pain blinded him. He could only nod.

“I hear you!”