Under the Heiress' Facade

"No," Hera said to Samantha as she withdrew her gaze.

She took out a specially prepared golden mask and put it on before stepping out of the car.

It was mid-October, and the Norburgh weather had already turned chilly.

Hera draped herself in a red cloak, wearing a golden mask.

As she stood before the security guards, who were dressed uniformly in suits, she seemed out of place yet oddly fitting against the backdrop of the palace's red walls and green tiles.

Once their invitation was verified, a female attendant ushered Hera and Samantha into the venue.

At the front, Ember walked slowly while being supported by Aurora. As the courteous attendant guided them forward, Ember smiled and nodded in response to the greetings.

However, her attention was momentarily captured by a figure in red passing by. She paused, and her eyes instinctively followed the red silhouette.

Aurora noticed her distant gaze and asked, "Granny, what's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing."

Ember snapped out of her thoughts.

"It's just that I'd heard that Dr. Shadow once attended an international medical research conference wearing a bright red cloak and a golden mask."

"Wait, you mean that was Dr. Shadow?"

Aurora suddenly looked up, but the red figure had already disappeared from sight.

Their goal for this trip was to obtain the Eclipse Stone, but they had also heard rumors that the anonymous miracle doctor might attend the auction. So, they wanted to seize the opportunity to meet him.

"I'm not sure."

Ember shook her head. Then, she turned around and noticed another attendant escorting someone wearing a red cloak and a golden mask past them.

…

The main auction venue was located in a tower in the center of the palace.

The tower had seven floors, and each floor served as an independent viewing platform. Each floor symbolized the guest's prestige, with higher levels denoting greater importance.

Hera was on the fifth floor, while Samantha was on the fourth. Not wanting to be alone, Samantha quietly slipped away after the attendant left and sneaked up to the fifth floor to find Hera.

As Hera welcomed her in, they noticed an attendant escorting another individual.

The mysterious figure was dressed in a red cloak and golden mask. She stopped at Room 509 next to Hera's.

In that brief moment of eye contact, Hera sensed the avoidance in the other person's gaze before she entered the room.

"Is that a coincidence, or is she copying your style?" Samantha mused.

She considered knocking on the door to investigate.

The golden mask and red cloak had become Hera's trademark attire for attending international medical research conferences.

While she couldn't dictate what other people wore, seeing someone imitate her outfit at such a prestigious event raised suspicions.

"The auction is starting soon. Let's not cause a scene," Hera advised and stopped Samantha's impulse to investigate.

The bold imitation suggested that the other party was well-prepared. Hera grew curious and wanted to unearth the imposter's plans. Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Although Samantha was irritated, the unfolding commotion inside the tower diverted her attention. Seated in the stands, they both observed as everyone turned to look at the seventh floor.

"Oh my gosh! The seventh floor is occupied!" Samantha exclaimed.