Danny couldn’t help but frown. It seemed that his brother was right—the world was not as simple as he
thought.
Once the wretched man was carted off-stage, Bryce sat back on the bed. “Are you pleased with this
outcome?” he asked breezily.
“There’s nothing to be pleased about—you just cut this man down. In the future, there will be
thousands of others to take his place. Bryce Fiore, I know that this black market of yours is outside the
jurisdiction of the law, but do you not even have any basic principles?” Elise asked indifferently.
Bryce didn’t even look up. “On the contrary, I had no idea that you have become an advocate for the
police.”
“This has nothing to do with the police. In business deals, you pay the agreed price, and you get the
promised merchandise. Now, that man’s blood is on your hands. Is this any different from a dog-eat-
dog world?”
“All right, all right…” Bryce waved a hand in dismissal with utmost patience. “I have already rendered
that man a cripple, and I will also drive the others away. Let us not allow this little matter to ruin this
beautiful meeting of ours when we have not seen each other for such a long time, shall we?”
“If that’s the case, then there’s nothing for us to chat over tea.” Elise composed herself before she went
straight to the point. “I want to make a deal with you.”
“Truly, one never comes to me without a reason.” Bryce looked at Elise reproachfully. “Just for once,
can you leave with empty hands after you have given me your offerings?”
“No,” Elise replied boldly. “Haven’t you heard that thieves aren’t supposed to go back empty-handed?
I’m the thief here, the evil one. Of course I will only be taking from you; who has ever heard of a thief
leaving a present for the one they’re robbing?”
“Hehehe… Someone learned how to crack a joke. How fascinating.” Bryce let out a low laugh. At last,
he lifted his head. His eyes were absolutely similar to Alexander’s inky-black ones. As though he was
teasing her, he pulled a leg up onto the bed and placed an arm on top of his knee. Then, he gestured at
her. “El, come here.”
Alexander couldn’t help clenching his hands that were by his sides into fists.
El? This was even more intimate than the nickname ‘Ellie.’
“If I keep standing here, you’re going to turn down that deal, aren’t you?” Elise asked, not cooperating
with him at all.
Seeing how he didn’t get to have some fun with Elise, Bryce put his leg down in disappointment. “When
have I never followed your whims? Tell me then—what do you have your eyes on this time?” he asked
languidly.
“Nothing too rare; just some dragonmoon grass and solaria flowers. You have them, so spare me
some,” Elise said.
“You truly are here to fleece me,” Bryce said in annoyance. “I do not have them.”
“Come on, old sport, are you still deliberately trying to play me?” Elise was all smiles. Anyone could see
the evilness behind it.
“Who are you calling ‘old sport’! Look at my beautiful, delicate features—do they look like those of an
old man’s?!” Bryce stood up in agitation. With his arms behind his back, he shot a meaningful look at
Alexander.
Elise rolled her eyes. “I already said that he’s my fiancé. If you keep having funny ideas about him, I’m
going to actually have to strike you down.”
Everyone else was bewildered. What was going on?
“Such pettiness.” Bryce’s tone instantly turned charmingly saccharine once Elise had seen through his
intentions. “It’s just one look; it’s not as though I will actually lay a hand on him!”
The corners of Alexander’s lips twitched awkwardly as he quietly moved to stand behind Elise. This
Bryce person did not look like he was one to give up even until the very end.
Bryce instantly frowned. “Such a beautiful man as well. It’s such a pity that he’s not my beau…” he
lamented, a melancholic look on his face.
“Ahem…” Elise narrowed her eyes as she chuckled coldly. The next moment, she lifted a hand and
smacked the back of Bryce’s head. She swiftly followed up with a few more smacks. “What weirdo
nonsense are you saying? You should be looking for a girlfriend to date instead! A girlfriend! How many
times do I have to say it?!”
Bryce couldn’t block the rest of Elise’s strikes after the first few times, so he stood up and puffed his
chest out. “Enough! Allow me to maintain some dignity while within my territory!”
Seeing how he had returned to normal, Elise finally stopped hitting him and retreated to the side.
Nonetheless, Bryce wasn’t one to remember past grievances. In an instant, he pressed close to her,
taking her hand and grinning. “Yes, this is how sisters should be like!”
Alexander raised an eyebrow. “Sisters?”
“What else were you expecting?” Bryce stated. “And mind your own business! Since you don’t belong
to me, stay away from us. Do not hurt my little El, you dog!”
Alexander had no words.
Meanwhile, down the stage, Danny shuddered, gooseflesh prickling all over his body.
“Quit your yammering,” Elise turned to say harshly to him. “What about the goods I asked for?”
At the mention of that, Bryce immediately pulled his face away from Elise’s shoulder. Quietly, he let go
of her hand and returned to his bed. “It’s not that I don’t wish to hand them over to you. You know as
well that I love seeing men fight each other. I may not have the solaria flowers, but the dragonmoon
grass has already been sent to the arena as a prize for the tournament.”
Elise lowered her head to think. He wasn’t lying; Bryce had always loved watching boxing tournaments.
Not once had he missed a single match. But Elise hadn’t thought that he would simply decide to host
his own tournaments.
“So, as long as I win the tournament, I can get the dragonmoon grass for free, yeah?” Elise asked.
“Of course, little El. You know that I do not allow anyone to break the rules when it comes to the arena.”
As Bryce spoke with a smile that didn’t quite resemble one, his gaze once again shifted over to
Alexander. “If you cannot participate, you can also get someone else to take your place…” I wonder
what his body looks like once those clothes are off…
He had only just finished speaking when two fingers suddenly appeared in Bryce’s line of sight. They
then viciously jabbed into his eyes.
“Ow, ow, ow—El! How could you poke me in the eyes again!” Bryce cried out in pain as he whined with
his hands over his eyes.
Elise looked at him, unfazed. Her arms were folded in front of her chest as she looked down at him. “If I
hadn’t jabbed your eyes, your head would have been filled with dirty thoughts. This is for your own
good.”
Bryce rubbed his temples. “Why, thank you. Thank you so very much!” he said through gritted teeth.
“You’re welcome. We’re like sisters, after all. Gotta rib you over a man!” Elise said, smirking.
“…I do not wish to talk to you now.” Bryce was still licking his wounds as he waved a servant over.
“Bring them to the arena.”
The servant nodded before turning to beckon at Elise and Alexander. “Miss Sinclair, Mr. Griffith, please
come this way!”
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