Chapter Six: Boss, It Seems Our Sister-in-law Is on the Wanted List

“I’ll bid one billion!” Xue Tian’ai’s words exploded like thunder, yet she remained perfectly composed, sitting on the sofa with her auction paddle raised.

Wes, beside her, nearly stumbled, muttering inwardly, “I told the boss to raise the bid, but I didn’t mean for her to go this far.” He’d expected Xue Tian’ai to increase the price by ten million increments, not double it outright. This was the sheer audacity of the truly wealthy.

The club’s cameras hadn’t caught up yet, their lenses still focused on Balat, the previous bidder. On the large screen, Balat looked utterly awkward, his raised hand frozen mid-air, his forced smile betraying his embarrassment. The audience had already begun searching for the source of this new offer.

Ms. Hong glanced around the room with her captivating eyes and quickly spotted Xue Tian’ai holding the paddle. Her gaze gleamed with excitement, but then, as if recalling something, a wave of jealousy surged within her.

The legendary and enigmatic “Phantom Butterfly,” the God of Assassins, was the very image of her ideal man. Yet in all the years Phantom Butterfly had attended her Midnight Auctions, he’d never shown the slightest interest in any earthly treasure—at least, never once since Ms. Hong had been the host. This was the first time Xue Tian’ai had ever made a move! It had to be for his fiancée, Ms. Hong thought, her heart aching with a pang of helpless envy.

By now, the cameras had shifted to Xue Tian’ai. When the image of the “Goddess Butterfly in White” and her black suit appeared on the big screen, many in the hall gasped aloud.

Her attire was iconic—unmistakable, awe-inspiring. Only Phantom Butterfly could carry such presence, wearing that ensemble before the world. “Phantom Butterfly’s making a move!” Devotees in the audience began to cheer.

Balat, upstaged and feeling far from pleased, was a newly minted tycoon and a first-time guest at the Midnight Auction. He had no idea who “Phantom Butterfly” even was. Undeterred, he struck the auction bell again and shouted, “One point one billion dollars!”—then strode confidently out of his box, arms wide as if basking in imminent victory.

He was certain his financial might would trump any butterfly. But to his dismay, expecting applause and adulation, he was instead met with a hail of boos and jeers. Even the cameras barely lingered on him before quickly returning to Phantom Butterfly. Those below looked at him as if he were a fool—who dared challenge Phantom Butterfly? Was this man insane?

“I bid two billion,” Xue Tian’ai announced lazily from her sofa, utterly unperturbed, idly inspecting the vintage on her glass of Lafite wine.

As her offer echoed, the hall erupted in thunderous applause! Several women even leapt up, shouting brazenly, “Oh, Phantom Butterfly! I’ll spend the night with you!”

Balat, stung by the dramatic shift in the crowd’s attitude, felt his rage and jealousy boil over. This was supposed to be his moment, yet this butterfly-masked interloper had stolen the show! His eyes reddened, his reason slipping away. “Five billion!” he roared, his voice raw with fury. “You damned bug, let’s see you top that!”

The room fell briefly silent. Then a torrent of angry glares pinned Balat in place—he had dared insult the God of Assassins. The air filled with furious curses in a dozen languages. “Did that pig just call Phantom Butterfly a bug?” “This idiot’s got a death wish!” “He’s not even worthy of Phantom Butterfly’s blade—I could break his bones myself!”

If looks and spit could kill, Balat would have died a thousand deaths.

Xue Tian’ai’s expression was unreadable behind her mask, but Wes was visibly trembling with rage. His voice trembled as he growled, “Boss, that pig’s gone too far! He’s insulted not just you but all of Butterfly! Let me kill him!”

With a cold shake of her head, Xue Tian’ai placed a calming hand on Wes. “He must die, but not now. No killing during an auction. Since he’s so proud of his wealth, let’s play his game.”

“Eight billion,” Xue Tian’ai said, as calm as ever.

“Fine, bug! Didn’t think you had that kind of money! Eight point five billion!” Balat no longer cared for decorum, flinging insults without restraint.

Yet all he earned was more outrage from the crowd.

“One hundred billion. If you want to play at raising the stakes, do it properly. Why bother with such petty increments?” Xue Tian’ai’s tone was tinged with disappointment.

The jeers and ridicule struck Balat like a flurry of slaps. His face burned, his gaze grew venomous. Gritting his teeth, he spat, “You said it! Bug, today I’ll break your wings!” He drew a deep breath and, in a desperate gamble, shouted, “One hundred and fifty billion!”

Balat was rich, but his company was still a young upstart, with other shareholders involved. At this price, he was utterly spent. Consumed by envy and madness, he was like a rabid dog, willing to destroy himself just to tear off the butterfly’s wings.

Xue Tian’ai glanced at the deranged Balat and gave a scornful smile. “I’ll stick with a hundred billion, but I’ll throw in an extra.”

Balat froze, then burst into crazed laughter. “Out of cash, bug? What could possibly be worth more than fifty billion?”

His expression was twisted, almost grotesque. The audience was startled but said nothing—they all knew Phantom Butterfly’s ‘extra’ was no trivial matter. The room grew quiet, everyone waiting to hear more.

Ms. Hong was astonished, her lovely face filled with disbelief. “Phantom Butterfly, may I ask, what is your extra?”

Xue Tian’ai rose from the sofa, bowed slightly to the crowd, and asked with a gentle smile, “I wonder, would a single promise from me be accepted as a stake?”

A stunned silence fell over the room as everyone mulled over her words.

“Oh, of course, my promise must be within my power. Destroying a nation or dying for someone is a bit too much. But killing? That I can manage.” She added this with a grin, her gaze pointedly sliding toward Balat.

Even across the room, Balat felt a chill sweep over him as Xue Tian’ai’s eyes fixed on him like a predator’s.

He shivered uncontrollably, but forced himself to retort, “Bug! You’re a clown, a promise from you? Pah! Kill someone? Pah! Who do you think you are, the God of Assassins?”

The entire hall erupted with incredulity—this fool in white had just questioned the God of Assassins to his face. He was practically walking into his own slaughter.

Even Xue Tian’ai paused for a moment at this, then suddenly threw back her head and laughed before turning steely. “Mr. Balat, I may not dare call myself the God of Assassins, but believe me, I could kill you as easily as a chicken.” With that, she unleashed her murderous intent, unrestrained.

Even with the box separating them, a wave of icy fear swept the crowd. The killing aura was so intense it felt as though a glacier had enveloped their hearts—chilling them to the bone.

It was as if this cold, ruthless presence declared that the authority of the God of Assassins, Phantom Butterfly, was not to be challenged or profaned.

Under this crushing pressure, Balat’s legs gave out and he collapsed onto the floor, trembling violently. On closer inspection, a yellow stain had spread across the hem of his white robe—he had wet himself in terror.

“Of course, Phantom Butterfly, your promise is more than sufficient as a stake. According to our backstage assessment, your promise alone is worth at least ten billion dollars! Your offer remains the highest,” Ms. Hong announced, not sparing a glance for the cowering, speechless Balat. Her beautiful eyes lingered on Xue Tian’ai with deep affection.

Ms. Hong had heard countless stories of Phantom Butterfly and met him many times, but never before had she witnessed his dominance so directly. If she had once admired him, now she was hopelessly in love—beauty loves a hero, as the old saying goes.

Xue Tian’ai exhaled, cupped her hands to the cameras, and said, “Forgive me for the spectacle. I’ll not further interrupt the auction.”

She dropped back onto the sofa, resuming her languid pose. Wes frowned slightly, leaned in, and whispered, “Boss, was that wise? Aren’t you about to take a break? Making such a promise now…”

“That’s exactly why I did it now. I want everyone to know that Butterfly’s authority is not to be trifled with. It’s a warning.”

Xue Tian’ai raised an eyebrow and turned to Wes with a mischievous grin. “As for the promise… well…”

Wes was unsettled by the look, unsure of her intent. “Boss, what do you mean…?”

Xue Tian’ai finally revealed her sly side, sizing Wes up. “You’ve never shown your face, and our builds are rather similar. Of course, you could never match my… prowess… but if you were to stand in for me… you get the idea.”

Wes’s face paled as realization dawned. “Boss…”

But before he could finish, Xue Tian’ai interrupted, “Hey, look! I’m the highest bidder now!”

Wes, silenced, could only take out his phone and mutter, “At that price, how could you not be?”

“One hundred billion and a promise from Phantom Butterfly, first call!” Ms. Hong raised her gavel.

“One hundred billion and a promise from Phantom Butterfly, second call!” The hall was unexpectedly silent, either waiting for a new bid or still awestruck by Phantom Butterfly’s display.

“One hundred billion and a promise from Phantom Butterfly, third and final call! Sold! Congratulations to Phantom Butterfly for winning the ‘Tears of the Azure Ocean!’” Ms. Hong brought the gavel down hard, as if driving a nail into wood.

Xue Tian’ai nodded in satisfaction. Though she hadn’t tracked down the three old dogs to avenge the tragedy of Butterfly two years ago, the Butterfly Organization’s prestige had once again been displayed for all the world to see. In that sense, her goal was achieved.

At that moment, Wes, fiddling with his phone, suddenly looked up. “Boss, what’s your wife’s name again?”

Xue Tian’ai was puzzled but answered, “Qin Mengxue. Why?”

“She lives in Tianyang City, Northeast Huaxia? CEO of the Menghua Group?”

“That’s right. How do you know?” Xue Tian’ai’s confusion deepened.

“Boss, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”

“Good news,” Xue Tian’ai answered, suddenly uneasy. Could it be…?

“The good news is, Boss, your wife is absolutely gorgeous! You’re a lucky man.”

“And the bad news? Out with it!” Xue Tian’ai, having already seen Qin Mengxue’s photo, was unimpressed and only grew more anxious.

“The bad news is, Boss, your wife seems to have been listed on the bounty board.” Wes handed over his phone, displaying the chip trading platform with a bitter smile.

Xue Tian’ai’s pupils dilated instantly as he read the screen.