(Evelina's POV — Aurelis Auction Hall—Later)
The lights dimmed again, painting the hall in velvet and shadow. The air thickened—money, perfume, and something sharper underneath: hunger.
Every eye turned toward the stage.
The Mermaid Tears Necklace glowed within its glass case, blue fire swirling at its core like it was breathing. The crowd's collective breath caught.
[System: Target Item Detected—Mermaid Tears Necklace.] [Reward: Quit the Game and Return to Your World.] [Balance: 9,999,000,000,000 Credits Remaining.]
My pulse skipped. Home. I… I can go back home. The real one. The one I built—not perfect, but mine. And now it was right there. Just a few steps away. Just a number on a bidding card.
A single price stood between me and freedom.
All I had to do was win.
No—I have to win.
This isn't luck. This isn't hope.
This is my only chance.
