Forbidden Zone of Eurasia.

On a silent snowy night, Seton City's underground auction house was brightly lit. Unlike other auctions, this one sold only rare and exotic creatures.

"Next is the final lot of the evening, the star attraction of tonight's auction—a mermaid!"

The auctioneer's announcement caused a collective gasp from the crowd.

"A mermaid? Isn't that just a myth? I can't believe they actually exist!"

"Whoever wins this will be rich beyond measure! It's said that a mermaid's tears turn into the rarest pearls!"

"I want to see what she looks like. Is she beautiful? Does she have legs?"

As the murmurs continued, a large glass tank draped in red silk slowly descended onto the display stage. The red silk fell away to reveal a girl inside!

She lay quietly on a red velvet blanket within the tank, her eyes closed, her body covered only by a thin layer of gauze. Her long black hair spread across her back, highlighting her skin that was as white as snow, radiant and pure, evoking an urge to worship her.

Her legs were long and graceful, her exposed feet seemed carved from white jade, more exquisite than the finest artwork.

Beautiful!

Such a breathtaking beauty, and she's a mermaid?

Some couldn't help but voice their doubts. The auctioneer, looking at the girl, introduced her: "She is the only known girl in the world with mermaid blood. According to her former caretakers, when she cries, her tears become priceless ice pearls."

Ice pearls!

The rarest gems from the northern seas! The crowd buzzed with excitement.

"Since she's the star attraction, let's see her cry! We want to see the pearls!"

"Yes, make her cry! I've never seen ice pearls before!"

The auctioneer smiled politely and raised his hand. An electronically controlled golden whip appeared inside the glass tank. The whip was specially treated to not break the skin or leave scars, only to inflict pain.

In the next second, the whip lashed out, striking the girl's delicate back with a sharp "crack!" She didn't cry out in pain but seemed to awaken from sleep, opening her eyes.

Her eyes were a deep emerald green, mysterious and beautiful, like a mythical mermaid emerging from the depths of the sea, making everyone hold their breath.

As she turned her face, a small black mole at the corner of her right eye became visible, like a teardrop, poised to fall, heartbreakingly captivating.

Another lash fell. The girl bit her lip hard, seemingly enduring the pain with a stubbornness that evoked pity.

After ten lashes, she hadn't shed a single tear and closed her eyes again.

The auctioneer said, "As everyone knows, mermaids grow more beautiful with age. She's only just turned eighteen and is already this stunning. In the future, she'll be an unparalleled beauty. But mermaids are inherently proud and stubborn. How to make her cry and how many ice pearls she can produce will depend on the abilities of her new owner."

The crowd, enchanted by her unusual green eyes, was no longer skeptical.

The bidding started quickly and soared to an astronomical price, reaching 100 billion.

In a special box hidden in the shadows, a young man with crossed legs sat on a leather sofa, playing with a silver ring on his little finger. His dark, enchanting eyes were filled with a cold indifference.

He watched the mermaid girl on the display stage with a playful smile on his lips, but his eyes were chillingly aloof.

"Duke Leize," Borin Ricardo bowed respectfully, "the little tiger you won has been inspected and packed. You may leave now."

The man said nothing. Borin Ricardo, seeing him looking at the display stage, asked, "Duke Leize, are you interested in the mermaid girl?"

"An abused little waste."

Unexpectedly, Leize Mill sneered disdainfully. His tall, slender figure stood up, and he walked away.

Borin Ricardo hurried to follow, feeling foolish for asking. Duke Leize had never shown kindness to any woman. What did it matter if she was a mermaid with exceptional beauty? She was still just a woman.

At that moment, the auction concluded with an unprecedented final bid of 300 billion. The winner was an elderly tycoon who immediately demanded the glass tank be opened so he could show off his newly acquired treasure to everyone.

This wasn't unheard of, so the auctioneer signaled for the control panel to open the glass tank.

However, as the bulletproof glass door opened, the girl suddenly opened her eyes!

The pretense of endurance faded, revealing her original cunning and cleverness, like a fox whose trick had succeeded, her eyes mocking the foolish crowd.

Mira Carlisle sprang up, grabbed the golden whip from the top of the tank, and quickly dashed out!

The guards outside couldn't catch her in time as Mira Carlisle rushed out.

She proudly wielded the long golden whip, knocking the person who had whipped her from the second-floor control panel down to the first floor with a single blow!

The scene descended into chaos, with screams and people fleeing in all directions.

"Catch her! Block the exits!" The auctioneer's face changed drastically. If she escaped, his boss would be furious, and his life would be forfeit.

A dozen guards pulled out electric batons and chased after her. But Mira Carlisle was too fast, soon reaching the top of the circular viewing stand, searching for an exit.

Seeing three guards approaching from the right, Mira Carlisle reacted swiftly, grabbing a cage covered with a black cloth from a nearby cart and hurling it at the guards!

Her aim was perfect; the guards were knocked unconscious, and the cage fell to the ground with a few pitiful howls before falling silent.

The boy pushing the cart turned pale, collapsing in fear. "That was Duke Leize's tiger... we're doomed..."

Mira Carlisle frowned. Duke Leize?

But she had no time to think. Her sensitive hearing detected people approaching from the left.

Seeing the crowd fleeing towards an exit, she guessed it was above. Mira Carlisle quickly wrapped the golden whip around the upper railing and leapt up, climbing swiftly.

She kicked an advertisement board off the railing, knocking down the guards chasing her below.

The auctioneer, chasing from the back, was stunned by her agility.

Determined not to let her escape, he drew his gun and aimed at her slender right leg.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Two gunshots rang out simultaneously.

One shot knocked the auctioneer's gun from his hand. He looked at the tall, noble figure before him in terror. "Duke... Duke Leize..."

The other shot hit the golden whip, breaking it.

Mira Carlisle, feeling her hand empty, began to fall.

She quickly somersaulted to reach another point.

But a long, slender hand reached out, grabbing her ankle.

Mira Carlisle lost her balance, pulled into a cold, hard embrace.

The man's powerful presence was overwhelming, making her hold her breath for a few seconds.

She immediately pushed against his chest and kneed his abdomen, trying to break free from his domineering grip!

But the man caught her wrists with one hand and pinned her legs with his long legs.

In that moment of restraint, two long fingers suddenly gripped her chin, forcing her face up.

Mira Carlisle, furious, looked up, meeting a pair of dark, mesmerizing eyes.

The man was extremely handsome and young, with a face that could be described as devilishly attractive. His features were deep and defined, his skin a cold, aristocratic pale, with seductive eyes and blood-red lips.

His lips naturally curled up, making him appear sinister even when silent. 

Leize Mill stared at her, his gaze penetrating, as if examining her soul.

He had glanced over at the commotion and seen her desperately climbing with the golden whip, her stunning green eyes filled with the light of survival and hope.

So vibrant, so alive.

He felt a sudden desire to conquer and crush her spirit.

She wasn't an abused waste after all.

She was... interesting.

Leize Mill's long fingers brushed her lips, cruelly pressing. "Little thing, do you know what mistake you made?"

"..." Why was he calling her little? Was he implying he was much bigger?

"You killed my little tiger," Leize Mill said with a hint of amusement. "What do you think should be done about that?"

Did he want her life in exchange?

Did he think he could have anything just because he was handsome?

Mira Carlisle, unsure of his intentions, became highly alert. She always knew that to these pure-blooded humans, she was no different from an animal, to be abused or killed at will.

Seeing her silence, Leize Mill raised an eyebrow and pinched her delicate earlobe playfully. "Can't you understand human speech?"

"..."

Good question.

Mira Carlisle's eyes flashed with cunning. This man was not easy to deal with, surrounded by guards. Fighting head-on wouldn't be wise. Better to play dumb and strike later.

Having been sold here for three years, Mira Carlisle had never spoken in front of people and was used to pretending.

So, she continued to act innocent, glaring at him fiercely without speaking.

Like a little beast provoked.

And her green eyes remained pure and untainted.

Beautiful.

He usually felt a violent urge to destroy beautiful things, but she was an exception. 

"So, just a little fool who only knows how to run."

Leize Mill clicked his tongue, suddenly letting go. 

Was he planning to let her go? 

Mira Carlisle finally stood on her own, quickly calculating how to escape to the nearest exit, her foot ready to turn...

Leize Mill spoke again, "No matter, I don't mind you being foolish."

Mira Carlisle: "?"

In the next second, she felt something cold around her neck and heard the click of a lock.

She looked down to see a collar embroidered with a tiger pattern around her neck, connected to a fine gold chain, held by Leize Mill.

Then he arrogantly declared to her—

"You killed my pet, so from now on, you are my pet."