Chapter 31: Obsidian Gold Card 

Slap! The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the hall, stunning everyone present. No one could believe what had just happened—Fafnian had slapped Nocshade so hard that he was sent flying. Even Lyverius, usually calm and collected, stood there momentarily speechless. Who is this guy? How could he be so bold as to hit someone without a second thought? The sheer audacity! "Kid, you've gone too far this time!" Lyverius glared at Ruxley, his face darkening with anger. Nocshade had only spoken on his behalf, but now he'd been humiliated in front of everyone. This was a direct slap in the face for Lyverius as well. If he didn't stand up for himself, how could he maintain any respect in Shiphay City? "President Medici, you've got to help me! This kid dared to hit me—he doesn't respect you at all!" Nocshade, blood trickling down his face, scrambled to his feet and pleaded with Lyverius, his voice filled with grievance. "I've gone too far?" Ruxley replied coldly, casting an indifferent glance at Lyverius. "Your man insulted me, and I gave him a little lesson. Was I wrong to do so?" His eyes locked onto Lyverius, daring him to take further action. "What? Are you going to stand up for him?" Lyverius' eyes narrowed as he studied Ruxley. "You hit someone in public—clearly, you have no respect for me. Of course, I must stand up for him!" "Oh? Then let's see if you have what it takes." Ruxley clasped his hands behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips, completely unbothered by Lyverius' threat. The crowd erupted into murmurs, taken aback by Ruxley's fearlessness. Who is this guy? How could he show such blatant disregard for Lyverius, one of Shiphay City's wealthiest and most connected figures? Lyverius, though furious, hesitated. As he stared at Ruxley's calm and composed demeanor, doubt crept in. Could this kid be bluffing, or was he someone important—perhaps the scion of a powerful family? He had never seen or heard of anyone like Ruxley before, yet something about his confidence made Lyverius second-guess his next move. Just as the tension reached a breaking point, Corruptor, the owner of Imperial Boutique, approached with a wide smile. "Young man, I heard you're interested in buying this jade stone. Will you be paying by card or bank transfer? We deal strictly in cash and carry here at Imperial Boutique." With Corruptor's arrival, the atmosphere lightened slightly. Ruxley gave a slight nod. "Card." At that, Fafnian smoothly produced a sleek black and gold card from his pocket and handed it to Corruptor. The moment both Corruptor and Lyverius laid eyes on the card, their expressions shifted to shock. "This… This is an Obsidian Gold Card?" they both gasped in unison, disbelief filling their eyes. The Obsidian Gold Card was a supreme VIP card, jointly issued by the top twelve banks of Kyushu. Only those with assets exceeding ten million were even eligible to apply for one, and possession of the card signaled immense wealth and influence. There were fewer than a hundred holders in the entire country, each one a distinguished figure. Corruptor's demeanor shifted instantly. "Sir, to show our appreciation for your patronage, we'd be happy to offer you a 20% discount on this jade stone. We hope you'll continue to support Imperial Boutique in the future." The crowd was stunned once more. A 20% discount! The original price was two hundred thousand—meaning Ruxley was saving a whopping forty thousand dollars. "Thank you," Ruxley said calmly, accepting the gesture with a faint smile. Corruptor, still beaming, nodded vigorously. "It's our pleasure. We hope to serve you again soon!" Lyverius, standing nearby, paled as he watched the exchange. He had no idea Ruxley held such power. There was no way he could compete with someone in possession of an Obsidian Gold Card. His face contorted with forced humility as he stammered, "Sir, I… I was mistaken earlier. Please forgive me." Ruxley raised an eyebrow, his lips curling slightly in amusement. "Oh? Didn't you just say I didn't respect you? What's changed now?" His voice dripped with mockery. Lyverius' face turned ashen. Cold sweat broke out across his brow as the weight of Ruxley's presence bore down on him. He couldn't afford to provoke someone like this. "Sir… I didn't recognize you earlier. If I've offended you, please forgive me. I—" "You think you can just walk away after provoking me?" Ruxley's voice turned cold, and the playful smile vanished from his face. Lyverius' body went rigid, his heart pounding with fear. For the first time in years, he felt his limbs tremble.  Slap! Without hesitation, Lyverius slapped himself hard across the face. The sound echoed through the room, and his cheek quickly swelled. "Sir, may I leave now?" Lyverius forced a pained smile, his voice trembling. Ruxley gave him a dispassionate glance before turning away, deciding to let it go. He had made his point, and there was no need to escalate the situation further. Relieved, Lyverius bowed slightly and quickly scurried away, disappearing from the boutique as fast as he could. After completing the payment, Ruxley officially claimed ownership of the jade stone. He settled into the resting area of Imperial Boutique, waiting for the final stone cutting when, suddenly, a young man strode confidently into the shop. "Mr. Capet!" The staff at Imperial Boutique hurriedly greeted the newcomer, their faces full of admiration and deference. "Mr. Capet, it's great to see you! We were wondering if you'd make it today." Corruptor rushed over to greet the young man, his enthusiasm even more apparent than when he had greeted Ruxley earlier. The man in question was Voragoshe Capet, the eldest son of the Capet family, one of Shiphay City's wealthiest clans. Although not the most powerful family, no one dared cross Voragoshe. His aunt was the matriarch of the Savoy family, one of the most influential families in all of Saultrouge Kingdom.