Chapter 523: Hello, Invitation?

Chapter 523: Hello, Invitation?

With Aurora's help, they quickly arrived at the border auction venue.

The place looked like a casino on the surface, but it was also a marketplace.

The border auction was held on the top floor, heavily guarded.

Aurora walked towards the entrance of the border auction without a hint of hesitation. Just as she approached, a burly bodyguard blocked her path.

"Excuse me, miss, do you have an invitation?"

The auction was by invitation only. Leonard had received his invitation back home.

Aurora, arriving on short notice, naturally didn't have one.

Ash gave Aurora a look, signaling her not to cause a scene.

But Aurora? She never backed down from a challenge.

With a glint in her eye, Aurora calmly looked at the bodyguard and spoke softly.

"I don't have an invitation, but I've heard so much about the border auction. Can't I go in?"

The bodyguard remained expressionless, his tone firm. "No invitation, no entry. Sorry."

Aurora didn't seem bothered. She gently placed her hand on the scented pouch at her waist and opened the topmost pocket.

Instantly, a unique fragrance filled the air, soothing and pleasant.

The bodyguard's stern face inexplicably softened.

With a pitiful look, Aurora pleaded, "But I came all this way. Does it really have to be an invitation? I just want to take a look. Isn't there another way?"

The bodyguard, as if under a spell, suddenly became friendly and smiled.

"Of course, if you can earn the equivalent amount in the casino, someone will personally escort you to the auction."

"Don't worry, the auction will last a long time. You should have enough time."

Ash's eyes widened in disbelief at the scene before him.

Aurora waved and thanked the bodyguard, then slowly headed towards the casino.

Ash followed closely behind, unable to hold back his curiosity. "Did you drug that guy or something? He changed so suddenly."

Aurora casually tossed her scented pouch to Ash and spoke nonchalantly.

"It's in here."

As Aurora's words fell, Ash's hand trembled slightly, his expression odd.

He didn't know whether to hold the pouch or not. What if he got affected?

Seeing through Ash's thoughts, Aurora scoffed and spoke disdainfully.

"You're overthinking it. It's not some mind-control magic. It just relaxes people and lowers their guard."

"Besides, even if it was, I wouldn't use it on you. What do you take me for?"

A god, an all-powerful god.

Ash silently grumbled, carefully putting the pouch away.

He looked seriously at Aurora. "Are you going to the casino to earn your way in?"

Aurora nodded. They were too few to force their way in. The only option was to play by the auction's rules.

Ash nodded solemnly. "You go ahead. I won't join you."

"This place is dangerous. I need to gather some intel. I'll notify you if anything comes up."

"We'll meet at the auction entrance."

...

Ash left.

Aurora walked into the casino alone. As she approached the counter, the clerk gave her a sly smile.

"Miss, would you like to exchange for chips? Once you do, you can play inside."

"I'd like to exchange," Aurora paused, then asked, "What's the exchange rate here?"

Unlike Leonard, Aurora wasn't wealthy. Her studio had just started.

She couldn't afford to exchange millions of dollars.

The clerk, unhurried, pulled out a slightly yellowed piece of paper.

He grinned. "Miss, our chips aren't exchanged for money."

"If you need chips, you can fill in your birth date and hour. We'll give you chips based on your details."

Aurora frowned. This was the first time she'd seen such an exchange method.

As her fingers touched the yellowed paper, a chill ran through her.

This was her feng shui radar alerting her.

There was something fishy about this exchange.

Aurora didn't refuse immediately. She leaned on the counter, intrigued.

"If this is how you exchange chips, how does the casino make money?"

"In regular casinos, clerks can always skim a bit."

"What about you?"

The clerk's face darkened. Her words hit a sore spot.

Most people here exchanged their luck, an intangible asset he couldn't take.

Even if he did, his superiors would know. No chance of skimming.

That's why he was ecstatic when the mysterious woman gave him two copper coins.

Noticing the clerk's reaction, Aurora leaned closer to his ear.

"I'm cautious. I don't mess with weird stuff."

"How about you exchange your details for me?"

The clerk jumped like a cat whose tail was stepped on, immediately refusing.

"No way! Absolutely not! I can't gamble with my future!"

"I would never—"

He stopped, realizing he shouldn't admit the exchange had side effects in front of everyone.

The clerk's face turned awkward, forcing a smile.

"Our casino has rules. We can't exchange for others."

"If you don't want to participate, you can look around elsewhere."

Aurora wasn't in a hurry. She tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table, the sound eerie.

"Why worry? Life and death are fated, wealth is in the heavens."

"If you exchange for me, I'll pay you ten times the rate."

"Luck is intangible. Just be careful."

True, he thought. He had little luck anyway, struggling here. Why not exchange it for some money?

The clerk was tempted.