NOVEL WEB chapter 152
77. Noble Identity
“Number eighty-eight!”
As soon as that voice rang out, the entire auction hall fell silent again.
Though he had only made a single purchase of that utterly useless gem, the impressive and domineering presence he had displayed upon his first appearance had already left a deep impression on many.
So when he bid again, the audience couldn’t help but speculate what astonishing price he would announce this time.
The fairy lady’s beautiful eyes sparkled with intrigue; could it be that handing out flyers could really reel in a big fish?
Thus, she began to anticipate…
“Number eighty-eight bids…”
The voice was calm and unhurried, filled with the ease and nonchalance of someone in a high position, but when his words fell, it was as if thunder erupted!
“Ten million… plus one thousand!”
“Number eighty-eight bids ten million plus… huh? Plus one thousand?”
Just as the fairy lady was preparing to heat up the atmosphere with the impressive bid from number eighty-eight, she suddenly froze, doubting whether she had been hosting the auction for too long and was simply hearing things due to fatigue.
Did number eighty-eight just make a bid in a rather unimpressive tone, adding only a paltry amount?
“One thousand?”
“It really seems to be one thousand.”
“Did that number eighty-eight only add one thousand?”
“Unbelievable, is today some kind of market clearance sale?”
As the audience came to their senses, they realized that the number eighty-eight they had been eagerly anticipating had merely added a measly one thousand, and a chorus of boos erupted.
Meanwhile, in the first VIP box, Lorenzo was laughing so hard he could barely stand upright.
“One thousand? Hahaha, he only added one thousand?”
“Damn, I thought he would be impressive, but turns out he’s just a country bumpkin who’s never seen the world!”
“It’s no wonder they spend a fortune to buy a worthless piece of rock!”
“Quick, bid quickly, add a million directly, humiliate him thoroughly!”
“Bid number one, eleven million!!”
“Wow!”
As the new bid from Box One emerged, the audience in the entire auction hall couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.
What does it mean to be impressive?
This is what it means to be impressive!
Adding a million at a time is not something a weakling who adds a thousand can compete with!
But just as everyone was still recovering from this shock, number eighty-eight calmly announced a new price:
“Eleven million… zero one thousand.”
“Another one?”
Lorenzo scoffed disdainfully, instructing his confidant:
“Add, keep adding a million, I want to see how long this country bumpkin can endure this humiliation!”
“Twelve million!”
“Twelve million… zero one thousand.”
“Thirteen million!”
“Thirteen million… zero one thousand.”
“……”
“Twenty million!”
“Twenty million… zero one thousand.”
“……”
“Damn!”
As the auction price continued to soar, people finally began to feel something was off.
Why was it that as the price kept increasing, number eighty-eight’s voice remained so calm, while number one started to panic?
Who exactly is humiliating whom?
“Number eighty-eight is deliberately driving up the price!”
Someone came to their senses!
And in the private room, the not-so-foolish Lorenzo also understood the situation, fury causing him to slam his palm down on the coffee table, shouting at the fairy lady:
“Is your auction house not going to do anything about this malicious price increase?”
“This guest, please calm down, guest number eighty-eight has not violated any rules.”
Miss Fairy explained respectfully.
Although deliberately raising the bid by only a thousand at a time is indeed quite unscrupulous, no auction house would be foolish enough to prohibit such behavior, and she hadn’t set a minimum increment before the auction began. So, whether it was a thousand or just a single dollar, it was all within the rules.
“Are you not afraid that he might actually win the bid but won’t have the money?” Lorenzo said with a cold laugh.
If he truly had enough money, how could he play around like this?
Clearly, he was just a nouveau riche bumpkin trying to annoy him on purpose!
Spending a million on a worthless rock, and thinking he was someone important?
“Well…”
Miss Fairy hesitated. Indeed, the worst nightmare for an auction house is encountering someone who only raises the bid deliberately, and if they accidentally win, they have no money to pay. Generally, reputable auction houses verify the bidders’ qualifications, so this wouldn’t be an issue.
But after all, this was the black market…
“Please hold on, the auction will pause for three minutes.”
After some thought, Miss Fairy decided to pause the auction and exchanged a glance with someone in the audience.
Before long, there was a knock at Mu En’s door.
“Come in.”
“This esteemed guest.”
The attendant entered the room and said respectfully:
“Please provide proof that you have sufficient assets to participate in the auction.”
“Oh? Aren’t you a secret auction house? Why do you need to check the guest’s privacy?”
Mu En didn’t even raise an eyebrow, casually swirling the wine glass in his hand.
“I’m very sorry, but given the substantial funds involved in this auction, we must conduct necessary risk management.”
The attendant bowed deeply:
“There’s no need for you to reveal your identity, as long as you can prove you have sufficient assets.”
“Assets? I seem to only have a million in cash on me.”
“Then I’m afraid we must ask you to leave for the time being.” A glint of coldness flashed in the attendant’s eyes; did he think he could act like a big shot with just a million? Did he take me for a fool…
“Well, is this enough?”
Mu En casually tossed a crystal card over with two fingers.
The attendant caught it steadily.
But when he saw the appearance of that crystal card, his hand involuntarily trembled.
It was a black crystal card, engraved with golden tulips, looking understated yet luxurious.
As a professionally trained attendant, he recognized the origin of this card at first glance.
This is…the black crystal card issued by the Imperial Bank!
The card is positioned at the very top tier of the entire empire, allowing for nearly unlimited overdrafts through the anonymous accounts of the Imperial Bank!
So far, the Imperial Bank has issued only one hundred of these cards!
This means that anyone holding this card is undoubtedly among the very few at the pinnacle of the empire, the kind of people whose slightest action can shake the entire empire.
Moreover, the black crystal card has the most stringent confidentiality measures in place, making it nearly impossible to trace the cardholder. Not to mention this auction house, even their bosses behind the scenes…
Thus, holding this card, not to mention a mere tens of millions of ancient dragon’s efforts, even the entire auction could be easily bought out!
When the time comes, don’t even think about him eating vegetarian; he could eat shit…
“Do I have that qualification?” Mu En asked lightly, each word striking at the heart of the attendant like a hammer.
“Yes, of course you do!”
The attendant’s back was instantly drenched in cold sweat, the calmness cultivated through long training had long been thrown to the farthest reaches. He trembled as he presented the black crystal card to Mu En, forcing out a professional smile and saying:
“Excuse me, esteemed guest. As an apology, everything you purchase here will be at a twenty percent discount.”
A twenty percent discount is no small deal in an auction setting. For example, if Mu En were to spend one hundred million on a prized item, he would only need to pay eighty million, saving a full twenty million.
This was already the biggest concession the attendant could offer within his authority.
“Wow, quite sincere, huh?”
Mu En took back the crystal card, “But I’m not too concerned about that; I just want to proceed with the auction quickly.”
“The auction will continue immediately, right away!”
The attendant wiped his sweat as he prepared to leave quickly.
He needed to hurry and inform everyone about the presence of a top-tier guest here; otherwise, if there was any negligence, it would be a complete disaster.
“By the way.”
Just then, Mu En suddenly turned back.
He placed a finger against his lips beneath the mask, a gentle smile curving at the corners of his mouth as he said:
“I don’t want this matter to be known by a fourth person.”
Mu En pointed at himself, then at the attendant, and finally at the attendant’s back.
“So, keep it confidential, understood?”