Chapter 48 Waiting to Be Auctioned
Red Hill is located north of Silvania.
Though it is free from the bombs of war, the town is teeming with criminals from all over the world. This makes Red Hill one of the most dangerous places on Earth, as well as a hub for all kinds of illegal activities.
There is a superstition in Red Hill that "having sex with a virgin brings three years of good luck." Wealthy gamblers, in particular, believe this.
Many wealthy merchants and gamblers come seeking this fortune and specifically seek out a virgin to have sex with before entering the casino, believing it will bring them good luck.
Of course, that alone isn’t enough; she must also be beautiful.
The more beautiful the girl, the more people compete for her.
Sometimes such girls are scarce, and the less scrupulous will even take girls as young as eleven or twelve.
Kevin had encountered many such girls before, but Iris was the first with her exceptional beauty and grace.
He treated her like a treasure, rushing her back to the ancient castle at Red Hill before dawn. He washed her from head to toe and dressed her in a sheer, almost transparent gown.
Iris sat quietly by the bed, head bowed, her soft hair cascading gently down her cheeks.
Early morning sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window and bathed her in light, making her look like an angel who had fallen to Earth—so pure and beautiful that one couldn't look away.
The moment Kevin walked in, he froze after just one glance.
If not for the injury he’d suffered years ago to his lower body, robbing him of his manhood, he would have loved to keep this woman, chain her to the bed, and torment her to his heart’s content.
The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became.
He strode forward, grabbed Iris by the hair, and dragged her out.
He had to sell her off immediately—every extra minute she spent by his side was pure torture.
"Ah! It hurts!"
Iris screamed in agony, but Kevin showed no mercy. In fact, his grip tightened.
Iris struggled to keep up, not daring to slow down, let alone fall—her scalp felt as if it were being torn off!
They descended the spiral staircase within the castle’s outer walls and passed through a narrow, dimly lit passageway. Kevin led Iris to the backstage auction hall of the castle’s underground casino.
He released his grip and hung a numbered tag around her neck.
Iris followed Kevin, and along with several other equally beautiful and unfamiliar girls, she was locked inside a large iron cage.
Seven muscular, bare-chested men with dark skin patrolled outside the cage, guns in hand.
In front of the cage was a massive glass wall.
Through the glass, she could see the dim, spacious underground venue.
If she had to compare it to anything, it most resembled the runway shows she usually saw on TV.
A man wearing a bright pink suit and sporting an exaggerated look stood on the runway in the center of the venue.
Each time a number was called, a girl was dragged out of the cage.
She had to walk step by step along the runway toward the men surrounding her. Their eyes gleamed with greed as they watched her. Finally, she stopped at the end of the runway. She waited in despair to be auctioned off.
"Number 369."
As soon as the cage door opened, the girl with the 369 tag shoved the burly man beside her and screamed as she charged toward the exit.
A bodyguard stationed at the entrance knocked her to the ground with a single punch and pinned her down.
Unable to move, she clutched her head and screamed, "I won't go! I’d rather die than go! Just kill me! Kill me!”
"Bring out No. 370 first."
Kevin, who had been smoking the whole time, spoke coldly from the corner.
He flicked away his cigarette butt, stood up slowly, and walked toward the girl.
The moment she saw him, she broke down further. "Just kill me!"
Kevin laughed coldly, ran his index finger across her cheek to wipe away her tears, and suddenly clamped his fingers tightly around her face.
"Kill you? Make me lose money and risk my own life? Do I look like an idiot?"
With that, his hand slid downward from her face.
The sleeve on her right arm tore completely open, revealing the pale skin beneath.
Kevin raised his hand, signaling to the bodyguards behind him.
"Keep her in line."
"Yes, sir."
A bodyguard stepped forward, opened a jet-black leather briefcase, and pulled out a small syringe.
He aimed the cold, gleaming needle tip at the girl’s delicate arm and, without hesitation, pierced her skin, injecting the entire contents of the syringe.
Her gaze went blank almost instantly, and her body curled into a ball. She clutched her neck, convulsing and scratching frantically.
A few minutes later, she became unusually agitated, clinging to the burly man’s leg and scrambling up his body.
Kevin nodded, and the man grabbed the girl by the back of her collar and dragged her into another room.
Kevin strolled leisurely to the iron cage and leaned on the bars to peer inside.
A sinister, terrifying smile spread across his pale, sickly face.
“Anyone else want to run or die? We’ve got plenty of this stuff in Red Hill. I wouldn't mind letting you have a taste of it. Then, you'll be good."
Iris stared in horror at the box in the bodyguard’s hands. She didn't need to guess what was in the syringes.
Like the other girls, her legs gave way, and she cowered, trembling, in the cage, scrambling backward as fast as she could.
“I’ll be good…”
"Me too..."
Kevin nodded in satisfaction, turned, and sat back down on the sofa in the corner. He lit a cigarette and continued watching the show outside through the glass wall.
Trelania, Mørketid Havn, inside the casino.
6:00 p.m. local time.
Robert watched helplessly as the chips on the table dwindled, cursing under his breath. "What a fucking run of bad luck! Not a single win since yesterday! Are you guys in on this together?"
The man across from him immediately snapped, slamming his fist on the table. "Who are you calling a cheat? If you can’t afford to play, then get the hell out of here!”
"Who said I can't afford it? Let's keep going!"
"Are you still playing after losing all your chips?"
The onlookers burst into laughter.
Robert’s face turned bright red. He pulled a ruby bracelet out of his pocket, waved it in front of everyone, and slammed it down on the table. "See that? This bracelet is worth over ten million! I’m going to win back every cent I’ve lost today!”
The man across from him snorted derisively. "You say it's worth over ten million? Well, my watch is worth twenty million! If you want to play, bring real cash. Don’t try to fool anyone with this junk!”
Robert was about to explode with rage when the heavy wooden door of the casino was suddenly smashed open by a massive force.
Wood shards flew everywhere.
Before the thugs guarding the entrance could react, they were kicked into the room, knocking over a gambling table.
The light at the doorway was blocked by several towering figures.
The man in the front strode into the smoke-filled casino hall. The sleeves of his floral shirt were casually rolled up to his elbows, and his arms still bore several fresh bloodstains.
His cold gaze swept over the chaotic scene, finally settling on Robert, who was clutching the ruby bracelet, looking utterly bewildered.
Donovan removed his dust-covered sunglasses, a cold, emotionless smile curving his lips.
“Where are my men?”
The casino’s main entrance had been blown to smithereens by an explosive charge.
A tall man in camouflage combat fatigues walked in, followed by more than twenty mercenaries brandishing submachine guns.
A bearded man with a battered and bruised face emerged from the back of the crowd and pointed at Robert by the gaming table. “That’s Robert.”