Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

Count Theodore tapped his dinner plate with a knife, producing a sound that was indeed crisp and pleasing to the ear.

"I believe that dining with Ice Jade Porcelain utensils signifies more than just the enjoyment of fine food; it represents our devout faith in the divine. I thank Knight Yan Xing for bringing the angels' tableware to us, allowing us to reflect upon the stains upon our souls as we dine with these sacred pieces of Ice Jade Porcelain. I am also grateful to Knight Yan Xing for his timely resolution of Priest Temple's assassination case, which has enabled this banquet to proceed in a peaceful atmosphere..."

Count Theodore paused when he reached this point, looking at his guests with a smile that carried both warmth and authority.

Indeed... If Yan Xing had not solved Priest Temple's assassination case, these people, who undoubtedly wished for my swift death, would not be focusing all their attention on the Ice Jade Porcelain plates before them as they are now. Some would have feared to attend the banquet because of the assassin's presence, and others would certainly have taken the opportunity to exert further pressure on me. Even if I could handle it, it would still be a source of annoyance. Now, everyone here is intimidated by the capabilities Yan Xing has demonstrated and is reevaluating the situation in Nuta City.

The banquet proceeded very harmoniously, with everyone unwilling to stir up any trouble at this juncture, focusing all their thoughts on the auction of the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware.

Yan Xing was deliberately seated by Count Theodore right beside him. Not just anyone could sit in this position, yet none of the attending nobility showed any sign of dissatisfaction. Yan Xing's performance in capturing the assassin yesterday had formally established his status in this city.

Count Theodore once said that everyone could look down on the Thunderous Swamp, but they could not ignore it. But Yan Xing had brought Ice Jade Porcelain from within the Thunderous Swamp, along with magical chalices and affordable alchemically woven bags. The long-dormant Thunderous Swamp was gradually revealing a side that could not be ignored. It had changed people's general perceptions; now, there was a sense of a mysterious and powerful force existing within the Thunderous Swamp, a power that was temporarily inexplicable. Yan Xing was its spokesperson. In terms of status, he was higher than everyone present.

Lady Karol, who sat on Count Theodore's left, lifted her glass and said, "I propose a toast to Knight Yan Xing, from the Thunderous Swamp. We thank him for his contribution to the stability of Nuta City. He has given us a new understanding of our neighbor to the north. May the friendship between the Silvermane Principality and the Thunderous Swamp endure. Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses and drank heartily.

The expression on Count Theodore's face subtly changed. Lady Karol here represented Duke Silvermane. The words she spoke... If someone else had said them, they might have been taken simply as flattery, but Lady Karol's status meant that her every word and action indicated Duke Silvermane's attitude.

At this moment, Yan Xing was being treated as an independent envoy from the Thunderous Swamp. This was tantamount to officially recognizing Yan Xing's identity and his status as a representative for discussions between the Thunderous Swamp and the Silvermane Principality. It also distanced Yan Xing from Count Theodore. Consequently, any matters related to Yan Xing would be considered diplomatic events for the Silvermane Principality, and in diplomacy, there are no trivial matters. Today, they talk of friendship. Tomorrow, they will discuss interests, and the day after, they may start greeting each other with fists. Count Theodore's personal relationship with Yan Xing could potentially become evidence of his collusion with the enemy in the future.

Count Theodore downed a glass of wine. I've still underestimated these people, he realized. Lady Karol being sent to Nuta City by Duke Silvermane at this time clearly meant she was no simple character.

The atmosphere of the banquet remained light. Everyone dined with their Ice Jade Porcelain utensils, conversed about pleasantries, wondrous tales, and curious anecdotes, and engaged in mutual business flattery. It was as if war were still a distant concept.

Yan Xing, unfamiliar with noble etiquette, simply ate and drank. Since Lady Karol, representing the Silver Mane Duke, has recognized my status, I am now an envoy of the Thunderous Swamp. Whatever I do is a custom of the Thunderous Swamp, which everyone here must respect, he thought.

The feast came to a pleasant end, and now it was time for the most important part of the evening: the auction of the Ice Jade Porcelain.

All the nobles and wealthy merchants who attended the banquet gathered in the central hall of the Lord's Mansion. On the makeshift auction stage in the grand hall, the merchant Eden, clad in his specially tailored, magnificent attire, stepped forward.

He first recounted to everyone the origin of the Ice Jade Porcelain. He then emphasized its profound significance, the difficulty involved in its creation, and the spirit of craftsmanship that Knight Yan Xing and his Eternal Domain had steadfastly upheld.

Then, seven noble young ladies, each invited for this occasion, walked onto the auction stage holding an Ice Jade Porcelain dining plate.

This segment was Yan Xing's idea, and when he proposed it, Eden was quite shocked. Having young ladies from noble families serve as ceremonial hostesses displaying Ice Jade Porcelain tableware! What an incredibly bold idea!

But since Yan Xing insisted, Eden gave it a try... and, to his surprise, the young ladies from the noble families all agreed! The noble young ladies, each cradling an Ice Jade Porcelain dining plate, were extremely excited yet exceedingly careful. They all cherished the opportunity to showcase themselves with the Ice Jade Porcelain and feared that they might accidentally drop and shatter these precious plates.

The magic lamps shone upon the plates. The gentle luster immediately elicited gasps of amazement from everyone in the hall. For many, it was their first time seeing Ice Jade Porcelain, and they were utterly enchanted by such an alchemical object with a sense of holy purity.

The atmosphere was ignited.

Eden announced, "Each set of Ice Jade Porcelain tableware consists of seven dining plates. The starting bid for each set is 10,000 God-given gold coins, and only God-given gold coins will be accepted."

The auction began... but no one called out a bid for quite some time.

Duke Silvermane and the Central Shrine of the Principality had both sent envoys for the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware. Even Priest Temple from the Central Shrine had been assassinated and died in Newcast City. Therefore, there was no competition for the first and second sets of Ice Jade Porcelain tableware, as they were understood to be for the representatives of Duke Silvermane and the Central Shrine, who duly took them.

After waiting a little longer, Lady Karol, standing on the second floor of the hall, said, "Having just dined using the Ice Jade Porcelain plates has left my heart still basking in a divine glow. I am willing to bid 20,000 God-given gold coins for this set of Ice Jade Porcelain tableware and offer it to the Silver Mane Duke."

Lady Karol immediately raised the price of a set of Ice Jade Porcelain to 20,000 God-given gold coins, instead of taking it at the starting bid of 10,000 God-given gold coins. This clearly held an intention to show goodwill towards Yan Xing.

Naturally, no one competed with Lady Karol's bid. The first set of Ice Jade Porcelain tableware was sold for 20,000 God-given gold coins.

The second set was taken by Grand Priest Lancelot for the same price of 20,000 God-given gold coins. Grand Priest Lancelot stated that he would send this set of tableware to the Central Shrine of the Principality. Priest Temple had thus fulfilled his duty.

When the third set of Ice Jade Porcelain tableware was presented by the seven noble ladies on the auction stage, the entire venue immediately bustled with excitement. Count Theodore's banquet, which showcased the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware, had given the nobility a taste of dining with it. It was as if they were attending a feast held by angels in heaven.

The fact that the Silver Mane Duke and the Central Shrine each took a set of Ice Jade Porcelain tableware served as a powerful endorsement, firmly affixing a label of prestige to the items. This prestige was backed by God and angels, no less.

The value of the remaining three sets of Ice Jade Porcelain tableware instantly exploded in the minds of the nobility present. It became a symbol of status, a way to display one's standing in the most refined and noble manner possible. They had to have it.

Major nobles and lords eagerly joined in, driving the bids for the Ice Jade Porcelain tableware through the roof. Minor nobles and wealthy merchants could only utter exclamations of astonishment, then fix their gaze upon the Ice Jade Porcelain on stage. Now was the time to look as much as they could, for fear they might not even have the privilege to gaze upon it in the future.

In the end, the third set of Ice Jade Porcelain tableware was taken by a lord who had traveled from afar, for the price of 46,000 God-given gold coins. The fourth set was auctioned off for 48,000 God-given gold coins. The final set saw even fiercer competition and closed at 51,000 God-given gold coins.

This auction concluded with five sets of Ice Jade Porcelain tableware sold, garnering a total of 185,000 God-given gold coins.