There was silence on the other end of the line for a while before Henry finally said, “Okay.”
Then he added, “How about going tomorrow?”
As long as she could go, Evelyn didn’t mind waiting another day. She happily agreed.
Listening to the cheerful humming on the other end of the line, Henry’s expression softened, and he smiled. Turning back to face the executives, his eyes regained their coldness. “Let the meeting continue.”
The executives exchanged glances but remained silent. They were used to it.
After the meeting, Henry immediately instructed David to select personnel for Evelyn, but when the mention of ‘Shadowguard’ came up, both of them froze simultaneously.
“Boss, the elders are causing trouble everywhere for ‘Shadowguard’. It seems more dangerous to have them accompany Madam,” David explained.
Henry pondered for a moment, “Then go find Noah.”
Although Noah’s team was not as skilled as ‘Shadowguard’, it was the most reasonable option at the moment.
Noah dispatched ten people to accompany Evelyn. However, to avoid attracting attention, she only brought Hector and two guards into the underground trading market, while the rest waited outside.
Located in the desolate outskirts of Memphis, the underground trading market was built underground and consisted of three levels.
The first floor was for entertainment, the second floor for gambling, and the third floor for auctions and important material transactions. The ring band material they needed was on the third underground level.
“There’s an unwritten rule in the underground trading market. You must spend half an hour on the first and second floors before you’re eligible to enter the third underground level,” Hector explained as he led the way. “And don’t touch the flowers on the chests of the attendants.”
Curiously, Evelyn asked, “Why not?”
“I only know that touching the red rose worn by the attendants signifies an intention to purchase the attendants for the night.” Hector replied.
As they passed through the first floor, they arrived at the location of the elevator. When Evelyn glanced back, she saw a wealthy woman with layers of fat touching the red roses on the chests of three male attendants.
She couldn’t help but shiver. This place was indeed more chaotic than she had expected.
When the elevator stopped at the second underground level, they were greeted by a scene of extreme extravagance.
The entire second floor was practically buried in wealth.
Evelyn had no interest in these money-winning games, so she planned to find a small table in the corner and pass the time for half an hour.
As she sat down and observed the flowers on the chests of the attendants, she suddenly noticed a familiar figure among them, a limping attendant.
Just as she was about to get up to confirm, a female attendant suddenly handed her a glass of water.
Evelyn took it absentmindedly, but her fingertips suddenly felt a sharp pain. When she turned her head, she realized that a black rose had been placed behind the water glass.
Before she could react, someone nearby exclaimed in surprise, “Someone picked the black rose.”
Instantly, the whole room was filled with astonishment and murmurs, all eyes turning towards Evelyn.
“Wow, who’s this girl? Daring enough to pick the black rose?”
“Bro, I’ve been coming to this underground market for five years, and it’s the first time I’ve seen someone pick the black rose. I’m done with my game; let’s watch the show.”
“Five years? I’ve been here for seven, and I’ve never seen it either. That’s a fifty million high-stakes gamble. Who dares?”
…
Amidst the various discussions, Evelyn finally understood the significance of picking the black rose.
A high-stakes gamble of 50 million doesn’t mean putting 50 million on the bet; it means the minimum raise must start at 50 million.
There had only been three instances in the history of the underground market where someone had picked the black rose, and each of them had met a tragic end.
Hector stared at her hand for a long time, his face pale.
Evelyn asked awkwardly, “Can I return this?”
“No,” Hector shook his head, “Even though the black rose was forcibly given to you by that woman, you didn’t refuse. The rules here automatically interpret it as your voluntary action.”
Marcus, the manager of the second underground level, appeared as soon as someone picked the black rose. From the moment he appeared, Evelyn knew there was no escaping.
“Young lady, you are so bold to pick the black rose. I wonder how many rounds you intend to play?” Marcus remarked.
“How many rounds at least?”
“Three rounds, no less,” Marcus replied.
“Then three rounds it is,” Evelyn agreed.
Marcus nodded and presented three options in front of Evelyn, “Twenty-four points, big and small, and dice cup. Choose one that you’re good at.”