Chapter 273: Number One on Six Leaderboards

“Stone…”

The moment Marcus stepped into the Old Vine Auction House, Firebrand felt something jolt through her like a sudden current. Her heart slammed hard against her ribs, so violently she nearly called out his name on instinct.

It annoyed her, more than she wanted to admit. Stonehaven was the only man who could consistently make her furious one moment and on the verge of tears the next, and yet she couldn’t stop thinking about him. She wanted to see him, talk to him, even irritate him if that was what it took to get his attention. The feeling was tangled and bittersweet, something she couldn’t quite untangle no matter how hard she tried.

She lifted her gaze as he walked in, a flicker of hope rising before she could stop it, only for it to collapse just as quickly.

Marcus’s eyes passed over her and Icefall as if they were nothing more than part of the background. He didn’t pause , linger, or acknowledge them in the slightest. It was as though they weren’t even there.

’Stone…’

The sting hit deeper than she expected. Firebrand felt her throat tighten, her vision blur slightly, and she had to fight the urge to bury her face in her sister’s shoulder just to hide it. Watching him stand so casually beside Elara only made the ache sharper, more difficult to ignore.

Icefall felt it too.

Their connection as twins made it impossible not to. The hurt radiating from Firebrand seeped into her own chest, stirring something cold and unpleasant. She straightened slightly, a rare irritation surfacing beneath her usual calm.

Are we really so unworthy of even a glance? she thought, her mind sharpening with quiet bitterness. Or are you truly blind to what’s right in front of you?

Part of her wanted to walk straight up to him and demand an answer, to ask if he was still clinging to some petty grudge from before. It seemed childish, beneath someone like him.

Fortunately, years of discipline held her in place. Her Frostheart Discipline had reached the fifth level, and combined with her naturally restrained temperament, it gave her just enough control to suppress the storm beneath the surface.

“Elara, Stone,” she said evenly, her tone steady despite everything, “Grandpa is waiting inside. Let’s not keep him.”

Her expression remained composed, but her thoughts were anything but. If not for the fact that they had been waiting specifically for Stonehaven, she and Firebrand would never have stood out in the open like this, letting countless players stare and whisper.

Wait… what?

Marcus slowed slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing his mind.

Something felt off.

Firebrand hadn’t snapped at him. No glare, no sarcastic remark, no immediate challenge thrown his way. The silence from her was so out of character that it felt almost unnatural.

Did something happen?

He glanced at her again, more carefully this time, and what he saw made him pause.

The girl who was usually all fire and energy looked… dimmed. Her head was lowered, her bright eyes clouded with something heavy and lingering. Even her lips, usually curled into that playful, defiant smile, were pressed into a thin, unhappy line.

What’s going on with her?

He shifted his attention to Icefall, hoping for some clue, but she remained as unreadable as ever. The only thing that stood out was the way she held Firebrand’s hand, firm yet gentle, as if quietly shielding her.

That alone told him enough. Something had happened.

Seeing Firebrand like this tugged at him more than he expected. A strange sense of protectiveness rose in his chest, uninvited but impossible to ignore.

’Who did this to her?’ His jaw tightened slightly at the thought.

Then, just as quickly, a different realization crept in.

’…Was it me?’

Memories surfaced, uncomfortably clear. The way he had deliberately provoked her, the petty arguments, the unnecessary sharpness in his tone. At the time, it had been nothing more than a way to test Icefall, to see if he could crack that cold exterior.

Looking back now, it felt… childish.

He had been picking fights with a girl who wore her emotions openly, while he himself should have known better.

The thought left a faint, unwelcome weight in his chest.

He opened his mouth, intending to say something, anything, but before he could, Firebrand spoke first.

“Let’s go. Grandpa is waiting.”

Her voice was quiet, almost fragile.

She turned immediately and walked inside without looking back.

Marcus hesitated for half a second before stepping forward, falling in beside Icefall.

“Ice… what’s wrong with her?” he asked, unable to hide the concern in his voice.

Icefall didn’t answer.

She shot him a single cold glance, sharp enough to cut, then turned away and followed her sister without another word, leaving Marcus standing there for a brief, awkward moment.

’…Alright then.’

A trace of irritation flickered back to life.

’Forget it. Talking to her is a lost cause anyway.’

—

Inside the private lounge, Old Vine was bent over a ledger, tapping rapidly on a calculator. The moment he noticed them, his entire face lit up.

“Stone! You’re here. Come, come, sit!”

“You look like you’re in a good mood,” Marcus said as he approached. “Did the auction go that well?”

Old Vine let out a hearty laugh. “With the third Guild Creation Token in the entire game? It would be harder not to profit. Though if we’re being honest, the one who really struck gold tonight is you. I’m starting to regret not charging you a commission.”

Marcus leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice with a hint of anticipation. “So… how much did it sell for?”

The two of them exchanged a knowing look, like a pair of foxes sizing each other up, before breaking into matching grins.

“Sit first,” Old Vine said, gesturing toward the table. “Have a drink. We’ll talk numbers properly.”

The table had already been set. Elara, Icefall, and Firebrand had arranged several cold dishes, clearly prepared ahead of time.

“Try this,” Old Vine said, pouring a glass for Marcus. “Three-hundred-year-old wine. You won’t find anything finer.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow. “Three hundred years?”

Old Vine puffed up slightly. “Not just old. That bottle alone is worth five million gold coins.”

Marcus nearly choked before he even took a sip. “Five million? You’re serious?”

“Dead serious,” Old Vine replied, clearly pleased with the reaction. “And even if you had the money, you might not be able to find another bottle. A player uncovered five of them from a treasure map three days ago. That’s all that exists in the entire game right now. When something becomes that rare, price stops mattering.”

Marcus let out a low breath, shaking his head. “Then I guess I’d better not waste it.”

“Exactly,” Old Vine said, raising his glass. “Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

The wine was smooth beyond expectation, rich with a lingering aroma that settled comfortably on the palate. Marcus couldn’t deny it, it was the best thing he had ever tasted.

At that price, it had every right to be.

The flavor reminded him faintly of something he had read before, a note on Silas the Wanderer’s map mentioning Monkey Woods and its so-called Monkey Wine. Supposedly, it far surpassed anything else of its kind.

Of course, the creatures guarding it were Level 60, fast, cunning, and notoriously difficult to deal with. For now, that kind of thing was completely out of reach.

“Stone, try this,” Elara said, gently pushing a plate toward him. “Ice made the cucumbers, and the shredded salad is Firebrand’s.”

Marcus glanced up slightly.

Icefall didn’t react at all, as if the compliment had nothing to do with her. Firebrand, on the other hand, looked a little better than before. The heaviness hadn’t completely disappeared, but there was a faint spark returning to her expression.

When their eyes met, the moment lingered just a second too long.

Marcus offered a small, careful smile.

Firebrand froze, her face flushing instantly before she dropped her gaze, staring down at her plate as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.

’…Okay, seriously, what is going on?’

He decided not to push it. Whatever was happening, pressing her now would probably make things worse.

Instead, he focused on the food and the wine, and had to admit, both sisters were exceptional cooks. Easily on par with Lily.

Then Old Vine spoke again.

“Three hundred and sixty million gold.”

Marcus nearly spat out his drink. “How much?”

“Three hundred and sixty million,” Old Vine repeated calmly. “That’s about thirty-six million dollars.”

Marcus stared at him, completely stunned.

’Thirty-six million.’

That wasn’t just a large amount of money. That was the kind of money that changed everything.

Old Vine watched his reaction and sighed quietly to himself. It was clear enough now, Stonehaven didn’t come from wealth. No powerful backing, no hidden family resources. Just a regular player who had climbed his way up through sheer ability and a bit of fortune.

That realization brought a different kind of concern.

His granddaughters were clearly becoming attached to this man, and not slowly, either. The effort they had put into preparing this meal alone said more than enough.

He should have stepped in earlier. Created distance before things got complicated.

Now it was too late.

Once those two set their minds on something, there was no changing it.

“Competition was fierce,” Old Vine continued. “Guilds that haven’t secured a base yet are desperate. With Black Dragon and Violet Thunder already ahead, the rest are scrambling. Some smaller guilds even formed temporary alliances just to bid on your token.”

Marcus nodded slowly. ’That explains it.’

At that exact moment, a system announcement rang out.

[System Announcement: Player InfernoRider001 has established the third guild in Dominion: The Inferno Clan. The Inferno Clan has taken the third spot on the Guild Leaderboards.]

Marcus let out a quiet breath. “Talk about timing.”

Old Vine gave a small nod. “InfernoRider001. That sounds about right. Someone like him wouldn’t need an alliance. Plenty of money, and an ego to match.”

Marcus recalled the man vaguely. Spending that much without hesitation wasn’t just wealth, it was a statement.

Still, his thoughts drifted briefly to the “Furious Three” he had encountered before, wondering if their paths would cross again.

Old Vine handed over the final settlement.

Between the token and the equipment Marcus had sold, his total earnings came to three hundred and seventy-eight million gold after deductions.

His balance jumped instantly to four hundred and twenty-one million.

At the same time, the leaderboard updated.

Stonehaven: Rank 1.

Marcus let out a laugh. “That makes six.”

He pulled up the rankings, scanning through them with clear satisfaction.

Level. Reputation. Wealth. Pet. Mount. Divine Artifact.

All Rank 1.

He was now the first player to hold the top position across six leaderboards at once.

’Shame there’s no reward for it,’ he thought.

Then again, considering what had happened last time, maybe that was for the best.

The difficulty of the Mist Veil Palace mission was still fresh in his memory, and If the system tried to “reward” him again, he’d think twice before accepting.

“Stone,” Elara said after a while, her tone softer now, “my brother just logged in. He picked up a quest and needs my help.”

Marcus nodded. A skilled Cleric was invaluable, especially one like her.

“Want me to come along?”

Elara hesitated, a faint blush appearing on her face. She clearly wanted to say yes, but something held her back.

“He should be fine,” she said instead. “I’ll introduce you another time.”

Marcus didn’t press it. “Alright. I’ll walk you out.”

They said their goodbyes and stepped out together. Once he was sure she didn’t need him, they parted ways, each heading toward their own objectives.

Behind them, Firebrand stood in the doorway, watching him leave. For a moment, it looked like she might run after him.

“He… asked about me?” she said quietly.

Icefall glanced at her.

“Yes.”

That was all it took.

Firebrand’s expression lit up instantly, the dullness in her eyes burning away as she threw her arms around her sister.

For the first time in days, the fire was back.

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