Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 618

Stella had no intention of playing along. "The rules don't state that participants are forbidden from wearing masks, do they? I'd prefer to keep it on."

She simply didn't want to expose her identity to the public.

With the Aeterna Pill resurfacing, if word got out that she was its creator, the endless harassment would drive her insane.

The host hadn't expected to be rejected so bluntly. Flustered, he quickly recovered. "Of course, that is entirely your right. All wagered items will be displayed here on the main stage.

We will keep your Aeterna Pill secured on the display table for now. Please take a seat. The live challenge will commence shortly."

He hadn't meant any harm; he just wanted to prolong their interaction. His instincts screamed that the woman beneath the mask possessed a flawless glow.

Stella stepped off the stage.

In the audience, her declared opponent, Kyohei Sano, locked his gaze on her. Unfortunately, due to the mask, he could only see her striking eyes.

What was this woman's true agenda?

He severely doubted she was merely "curious" about his rare herb.

Once Stella returned to her seat, the host addressed the crowd again. "Is there anyone else in the audience who wishes to enter as a walk-in challenger?"

The hall fell dead silent. Not a single hand went up.

It made sense. A live clinical challenge wasn't something amateurs dared to attempt. Even with ample preparation, success wasn't guaranteed—let alone entering on a whim.

With Stella being the only walk-in, the rules dictated that to acquire a specific item, one had to directly defeat its current owner.

Stella wanted Kyohei's Ametrine Herb, so she had challenged him.

However, her Aeterna Pill was highly coveted, making her the primary target for nearly everyone else.

"Who is that masked woman? How did she get her hands on an Aeterna Pill?"

"Do you think she's the one who made the pill from two years ago?"

"Who knows? From her slender figure and her eyes, she looks incredibly young."

"Maybe she bought that pill from whoever won the auction back then, and she's just using it as a prop today."

"Unlikely. That pill was bought by a complete mystery buyer. Nobody has ever figured out who it was."

"Right. Plus, if she has the guts to jump into a live, unscripted challenge, she must be a genuine master. You wouldn't risk it otherwise, right?"

"Good point. Let's just watch the show. Man, if I had the skills, I'd definitely go after that Aeterna Pill too."

The five minutes passed in a flash. The first two to take the stage were Stella and Kyohei Sano.