Inside the VIP suite.
Serena remained leaning against Nicholas's chest.
Her expression barely shifted.
Even those beautiful, aloof eyes maintained the lazy, nonchalant aura characteristic of her persona as The Panacea.
She simply stared at the massive screen in the suite.
She stared at the yellowing laboratory label.
A.W.S. Aria Wynn.
Her grandmother.
Then, Serena's gaze shifted to the pale blue serum.
That was the legacy her grandmother had left behind.
It was the very research prototype her grandmother had genuinely wanted to use to save lives all those years ago.
Her grandmother had dedicated her life to researching neural repair and congenital neurological defects.
She had studied how to give those tortured by illness a second chance at life.
But now, her grandmother's life's work was being blatantly paraded on a black- market auction block.
Packaged as a commodity to reshape lives and satisfy the filthy desires of the corrupt.
They were even using her grandmother's name as a gimmick to drive up the price.
A fleeting emotion flashed deep within Serena's eyes.
The arm wrapped around her waist subtly tightened.
The large hand resting over hers squeezed gently, his thumb rhythmically caressing her cool knuckles.
He didn't say a word.
Nor did he ask any questions that might arouse the suspicion of whoever was listening in.
He simply pulled her closer.
Offering her silent comfort through his lingering warmth.
Nicholas knew exactly how important Grandma Aria was to Serena.
She was the person Serena respected most in the world, someone whose legacy
she would never allow to be profaned.
Serena slowly lifted her gaze to meet his.
Her red lips curved into a faint smile.
No words were needed; they completely understood each other's intentions.
But Nicholas knew Serena was holding back.
She didn't want to alert the enemy.
She refused to let Project Zero-Transit notice anything amiss.
Yet, he couldn't bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance.
Concealing the icy edge in his eyes, Nicholas lazily traced Serena's fingers.
His lips quirked into a smirk as he
spoke in that signature, arrogant
draw of The Sterling Sovereign, Ms Panacea interested in this serum?"
Serena laughed, shifting her gaze back to the pale blue serum on the screen as she raised an elegant brow Such phenomenal research material, such a lucrative asset...
who wouldn't be?"
to' FindNovel.net
She was a pharmacist, one driven by endless greed.
Showing interest in rare experimental materials fit her persona perfectly.
Hearing this, Nicholas chuckled softly. "Didn't Ms. Panacea just give me a wonderful surprise?"
"I thoroughly enjoyed it."
"So..."
Pet
He lifted his eyes, his gaze landing nonchalantly on the pale blue serum displayed on the screen. His deep eyes trimmed with the casual indulgence of The Sterling Sovereign. "Consider this serum my return gift to you, Ms. Panacea.
Serena's long, dark lashes fluttered.
She understood exactly what Nicholas was implying.
He was going to take back her grandmother's research for her.
Smiling, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.
"Then I'll have to trouble my Big Spender!"
Meanwhile, the bidding for the finale item, The A.W.S-0 Neural Stability Serum, had officially begun.
Every major faction threw their hat into the ring.
The bids flew in without a second's pause.
The price skyrocketed with terrifying speed.
The intensity in the room matched the frenzy over the S-Rank Neural Repair Serum
from earlier.
In fact, it was even more unhinged.
Yet, no one sitting in that hall found it the least bit exaggerated.
Because they all knew that the true value of The A.W.S-0 Neural Stability Serum
wasn't just the tiny vial of liquid itself.