NOVEL WEB chapter 151
76. Stirring Trouble
“……”
Lorenzo squinted slightly, casting a deep glance at the attendant before turning to survey the entire auction hall beyond the one-way glass.
After a brief flurry of excitement, the spectators, who had been stripped bare, were gradually retreating, leaving behind a few small boats still desperately chasing after treasures they would never catch.
The bidding had reached five million, but for the essence of the ancient dragon, this price was still far from adequate.
At the normal market rate, five million could probably only buy a single drop of the ancient dragon’s essence.
Yet here, there were ten drops.
And things like the ancient dragon’s essence were always priceless yet unmarketable.
“That price…”
“Of course, you pay whatever you bid.”
“Heh, is your boss really that generous?”
At the current pace of the auction, Lorenzo estimated that he could secure the ancient dragon’s essence for around eight or nine million.
That was much lower than his previous estimate.
He had come to demand an explanation, but upon reflection, he found himself the one benefiting, which made him somewhat uneasy.
“My boss says that in business, one must make friends widely. Coincidentally, your Red Fire Gang, as one of the major factions in the lower city, qualifies to be his friend.”
The attendant placed a hand on his chest and bowed respectfully:
“Of course, whether you can seize this opportunity is no concern of ours.”
“Hmph, my Red Fire Gang isn’t so inept that we can’t even swallow the meat delivered to our mouths.”
Lorenzo sneered, then waved his hand, signaling him to leave quickly. “Then please send my regards to your boss, and tell him this favor, my Red Fire Gang will accept.”
“Naturally, it shall be so.”
The attendant quietly withdrew.
Lorenzo’s trusted aide leaned in, speaking with concern:
“Boss, this kind of windfall falling from the sky—there can’t be any tricks involved, right?”
“And if there are, what can we do? Don’t we have to proceed regardless? Do you dare to disobey the Lord’s command? Without the ancient dragon’s essence, we can only continue kidnapping people. Damn it, how many people are there for us to kidnap? No matter how chaotic the lower city gets, it’s still under the emperor’s feet!”
Lorenzo picked up the red wine that the attendant had just brought in, glanced at the label, and couldn’t help but sneer:
“Red wine from the Locke winery, heh, it’s exactly the kind of thing those big nobles would love.”
“Is the rumor that the powerful figures behind the black market are actually the influential nobles of Berland true?” his aide asked, uncertainty lacing his voice.
“Rumor? This isn’t a rumor; it’s a secret that everyone knows but doesn’t speak of. To have preserved the black market during the previous cleanup operation, the title of that boss wouldn’t just be a baron; even the street rats wouldn’t believe it.”
Lorenzo roughly knocked the cork out of the wine bottle, tilted his head back to gulp down a few swigs, then slammed the bottle down in anger, cursing:
“Damn it, so sour and astringent. I really don’t know what’s so good about this kind of woman’s wine. I heard it sells for two hundred thousand a bottle“Damn it, so sour and astringent. I really don’t know what’s so good about this kind of womanly wine. I heard it sells for two hundred thousand a bottle? Damn, with two hundred thousand, I could hire a slim-waisted, long-legged, big-breasted seductive woman to play with until I’m bored!”
He plopped back onto the sofa, sprawling out as he watched the slow rise of prices in the hall, his fingers tapping on the armrest, his expression shifting between moods, continuing to say:
“So, even if that boss really has some conspiracy or idea, we can’t do anything about it. This time, the essence of the ancient dragon must be secured!”
“Boss, don’t worry. Just as that person said, without releasing any news about the essence of the ancient dragon, those who came to this auction are probably just small fry. What do they have to compete with our Red Fire Gang?”
“Hmph, that’s true.”
Lorenzo sneered disdainfully, then slapped his confidant on the head:
“What are you still dawdling for? That seductive woman is already banging the gavel! Hurry up and place a bid!”
“Oh oh!”
The confidant quickly picked up the bidding paddle, but as soon as he did, he seemed a bit unsure and turned back to ask:
“So, Boss, how much should we bid?”
“What was the last bid?”
“Seven million five hundred thousand.”
“Seven million five hundred thousand…”
Lorenzo rubbed his chin and grinned widely:
“In that case, let’s make it exciting.
Just bid ten million directly, and let those bumpkins see some real knowledge!”
……
……
“Feels… so cheap.”
Watching as people in the audience called out prices, Mu En couldn’t help but feel a strange illusion that such a low price couldn’t possibly be for the real thing.
Buying a whole ten drops of the essence of the ancient dragon for just a few million? Is there really such a good deal in the world?
Aren’t the items at an auction supposed to have a markup instead?
Unless there’s a treasure that even the auction can’t authenticate, how could you possibly find a bargain?
“And thinking about it carefully, the essence of the ancient dragon appearing at an auction of this level without any warning is itself a bit strange.”
After the brief excitement passed, Mu En gradually calmed down.
Previously, the highest-priced item was just ten sets of magic armor, which sold for three million.
But compared to the essence of the ancient dragon before him, it was still like heaven and earth.
Even if the auction wanted to highlight the red flowers, this green leaf is just too shabby.
And are you sure that this group of poor fools who tremble at bids of a few hundred thousand will appreciate it?
Mu En looked down at the audience, and through the special perspective of the private room, he noticed that many gazes were constantly swirling around the entire auction hall, chasing after those who were placing bids.
Like a paparazzi chasing after a star, determined to catch a glimpse of the true face beneath the disguise.
“Truly worthy of the black market.”
Mu En stroked his chin and laughed.
Compared to the invisible competition in the auction hall, the real excitement would probably begin after this auction ended.
“That being said, to be safe, I can’t just bid for the ancient dragon’s blood.”
Although money wasn’t an issue, he was just one person. With so many people keeping an eye on him, it would undoubtedly be very dangerous.
For something that could be bought with money, risking his life was simply not worth it.
“However… watching others score a deal, it feels a bit unsatisfying.”
Mu En suddenly grinned wickedly.
Seeing others make money is even more painful than losing money myself.
Well then, I have to make something happen.
……
……
“Ten million! From the number one guest in the secret booth, bidding ten million!”
The enchanting voice of the fairy lady, amplified by a magical speaker, spread throughout the venue, reigniting the previously cooling atmosphere.
Everyone couldn’t help but gasp in surprise, secretly thinking how terrifying this number one big shot was, directly raising the bid by two and a half million!
That’s two and a half genuine tears of love!
Their curious gazes turned towards the source, beginning to wonder who this big shot was, so extravagant, it surely must be someone of significant stature.
However, the dark one-way glass obscured all prying eyes, so they could only make limited guesses.
“Number one guest bids ten million, does anyone else want to continue bidding?”
The fairy lady scanned the crowd, but found that the excitement was only fleeting, or rather, it wasn’t generated by the item itself and was of no real use.
Instead, most people were intimidated by this aura of wealth, not daring to make a bid.
“Is this where it ends?”
The fairy lady bit her lip, somewhat unwilling.
Although the boss had instructed before the auction that the ancient dragon’s blood shouldn’t be auctioned for too high a price.
For a professional auctioneer, having the items sold below the market’s regular price was something she simply couldn’t tolerate; it was an insult to her career.
Yet, there was nothing she could do.
She knew this auction was specifically set up for a certain deal, and how could they attract truly capable guests by handing out flyers on the street?
With intention.
Without power.
The fairy lady sighed and raised the auction hammer in her hand.
“Then, ten million once…”
“Ten million twice…”
“Ten million three…”
“Wait.”
Just as she was about to bring the gavel down, a familiar voice, one that made her heart flutter, filled with noble arrogance and the swagger of a tycoon, echoed once more in the auction hall.
“Number eighty-eight, bid…”