The Understated Dragon Lord novel Chapter 436

Bella didn't have any ulterior motives; she just wanted Daniel to be indebted to her. That way, she could have him at her beck and call, ensuring he followed her every command.

Gary, growing more irritated, warned Daniel, "Country boy, you'd better keep your mouth shut! If you keep blabbing nonsense, I swear I'll make you pay!"

"Gary, my mouth is none of your business; only Bella can shut me up. And good luck trying to 'get' me. If I've got anything, it's a strong will to live. The way I see it, I’m indestructible. So, your threats? They're empty," Daniel challenged.

"Country boy, you'd best face reality!" Gary spat, no longer wanting to waste breath on Daniel. He made his bid to Leo: "I'll offer a hundred million and a hundred dollars."

Though trivial, the additional hundred dollars was well within Gary's means. However, Leo felt insulted by Gary's gesture of bidding the bare minimum - just one hundred dollars more to claim the 'Gray Tree.' He blamed himself for not specifying a minimal increment when setting the rules, which now left a loophole for Gary to exploit.

Without the option to enforce a minimum bid raise, Leo turned his attention to Daniel, seeing an opportunity to use the gullible country boy to his advantage. "Country boy," he began slyly, "when Bella told you to 'do whatever,' she was assigning you a task to secure the 'Gray Tree' at any cost. Gary is now bidding a hundred million and a hundred dollars. Do you have the guts to beat that?"

Daniel raised two fingers in response to Leo's goading. Confused, Gary mockingly asked, "What's that supposed to mean, country boy? Are you admitting you're a fool?"