"You promised, General. That you would buy the land in my name. It's the land that Marco wanted to buy for Arien. If it's a gift, it's only right,"

said Elisha as she looked up at Lucerne.

"Of course, I'll buy it for you."

She said these words without thinking, but Lucerne stared blankly at Elisha for a few seconds as she spoke and replied softly with an affirmation. Elisha nodded with a barely visible smile.

"I'll see you at the auction house,"

Lucerne laughed and left.

The next day, rumors circulated that Lucerne and Marco had a quarrel involving their wives. And they decided to fight for a new villa.

It was only a matter of time before the tales circulating in Yurif spread to the capital.

***

"Are you satisfied?"

"Yes, you did well."

Elisha nodded calmly. Marco had an overwhelming inferiority complex, and Arien only had inflated arrogance. Insecure Marco was the type to cast blame on others easily.

Coupled with the fact that Arien would not tolerate his bullying, the two would fight and be unable to reason. The provocation was too easy for Elisha, who knew them thoroughly.

"If you fight so openly, it'll get into Carola and Jacob's ears by now."

"Those idiots have a habit of throwing tantrums everywhere."

"Then you have to go to make the scene bigger."

Elisha and Lucerne looked at each other and exchanged glances almost at the same time.

Strangely enough, at times like this, she even thought they were a natural couple. As in a master and servant relationship or as a business partner.

"There is going to be a land auction."

"I suppose so."

"If Carola and Jacob intervene, the stakes will rise."

"But they don't know the value of this land, so there will be a limit to how much money they will spend. How much can you afford?"

Elisha was startled by the amount Lucerne had told her.

'How on earth are you so rich?'

Elisha knew Lucerne was rich but had never heard of him starting a serious business. She wondered about the source of that wealth but did not delve into it.

"You don't have to spend that much money."

"My little ghost can do it."

"There is a way. And—"

Elisha said calmly,

"I will definitely win. I swear."

"… … ."

Lucerne looked at Elisha as if to measure her.

"Alright, I'll be on the sidelines and watch on as you wish. I will prepare your prize and wait."

Elisha nodded her head slightly.

"This time, the award… … . Please let me choose."

"Yes,"

Lucerne said softly.

"But if I discover you've deceived me, I will choose the punishment."

Elisha was silent. But she politely nodded her head. Because she didn't expect that she would be able to easily win Lucerne's trust anyway.

"I won't let that happen."

***

It didn't take long for it to become widely known that Lucerne and Marco were competing for some useless property.

Both promised to build a new villa for their wives and purchase the land in their names.

Yurif was already a bubble, where land was as expensive as the land in the center of the capital.

Moreover, the property in question was one whose owner was 'missing' and had owed taxes. Consequently, such land that was offered at public auctions had a starting price that was significantly higher than its actual value.

Not surprisingly, the state has the right to moor the land since taxes have been overdue for more than eight years. However, there was a possibility that the owner would appear again.

So, to purchase the land, the price would include "compensation to be paid to the owner, just in case," as the flat unit price of the land.

If the owner returned, they would have to pay a hefty reparation. On the other hand, if the landlord did not return, the money will be returned to the state ten years later to be used as a tax.

"After all, the Cartier family is not normal. Only rich people would fight such a vain battle for pride."

"Has this only been going on for a day or two? Don't you remember: Last time, the first and second grandchildren were competing with each other."

"Ah, right. At that time, the price of five buildings was blown away?"

"But this time the general is running."

"After all, when someone gets caught making advances on his woman and her man's eyes will turn red!"

"I heard that the land is garbage that may or may not have hot springs?"

Therefore, such public auction products were not sold but were auctioned several times and sold only after significantly cutting the price. Those who saw the two men engaged in a war of nerves over such land, of course, considered it a competition of folly.