Chapter 877

He lifted his gaze, looking straight toward Serena.

Smoothing out his impeccable suit, he maintained his signature polite smile.

He simply watched her from across the crowded room.

Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his stare was profoundly dark and obscure.

It was a cloying, predatory gaze.

Serena sharply looked up.

Sebastian smiled.

It was a refined, elegant smile, angled to perfection.

Yet, under the dazzling chandelier lights,

That smile looked chillingly twisted.

He raised his glass in a flawless, gentlemanly gesture.

His lips moved, silently forming words.

From a distance,

Though she couldn’t hear him, Serena read his lips effortlessly.

He said, “The game has just begun p>

Serena smirked, a careless curve playing on her lips.

She picked up her champagne, tipped it casually in his direction, and downed it in one smooth motion.

Her posture was wildly arrogant.

A clear provocation.

And a direct response.

It was yet to be seen who would be controlling this game.

The smile on Sebastian’s lips deepened, and the look behind his lenses grew even more sinister.

He grinned.

It appeared gentle, yet practically dripped with malice.

He raised his glass in return and finished his drink.

Sitting beside her, Nicholas took the empty glass from Serena’s hand, his thin lips pressing into a displeased line as he let out a soft scoff.

A dangerous glint flashed in his mesmerizing eyes.

“I really don’t like the way that Doyle kid is looking at you p>

It was unmistakably the look of a hunter sizing up its prey.

A look of intense, obsessive interest.

Who the hell did Sebastian think he was?

How dare he look at his Serena like that?

How dare he covet what was his?

Was Sebastian even worthy?

“He’s just a jumping clown,” Serena said, her smile turning cold, her expression perfectly can, “Lets, focus on getting the Astra

Titanium p>

Nicholas curled his lip. “If worst comes to worst, we’ll just take it by force. They’re just the Doyles p>

Serena turned, meeting the man’s jealousy-filled eyes.

She reached out and gave his cheek a light pinch.

“This is Elyndor. We’re upstanding citizens, don’t talk like we’re a bunch of thugs p>

She smiled playfully. “The Doyle family doesn’t matter p>

With the Doyles deliberately speeding things up,

The auction soon reached its finale.

The auctioneer took a deep breath, his expression turning unprecedentedly solemn.

trembling slightly with revet

His voice rose with passion,

“Ladies and gentlemen! Next tonight’s grand finale-the

presentation of the Astral Titanium p>

The lights dimmed.

A powerful spotlight hit the stage.

An attendant wheeled a display case forward, stepping slowly into the light.

The black velvet cloth was pulled away.

Resting on the velvet tray was a fist-sized mineral, emitting a strange, violet-blue luster.

At first glance, it didn’t look particularly impressive.

But as the light shifted,

The surface of the violet-blue stone seemed to ripple with a galactic glow.

“Astral Titanium p>

The moment the name left the auctioneer’s lips,

The entire atmosphere of the room shifted.

Those in the know sharply inhaled.

“It’s actually Astral Titanium… This is incredibly rare. Forget finding a piece in Elyndor, you could count the number of these globally on one hand p>

“More importantly, wasn’t Astral Titanium classified as a restricted resource ages

ago? How did the Doyles even get their hands on this p>

“This is a strategic-level material p>

“I heard top research institutes from every country have practically turned the globe upside down looking for it p>

“Whoever wins this stone essentially gets a golden ticket into the nation’s core elite circle p>