Chapter 155: Mighty
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 155: Mighty
"The auction continues."
Three minutes later, when Miss Fairy restarted the auction right on time—and the auction house seemingly took no action against Number Eighty-Eight—Lorenzo once again crushed the sofa's armrest.
"What's going on? Does that bumpkin actually have the money to keep this up?"
He turned to his confidant. "Can you check his identity?"
"That... I'm afraid not." The confidant shook his head with a grimace. "This is a black market auction, after all. No one's identity is verified upon entry. Unless we drag him out of the private room to see his face, it's basically impossible."
"Useless!" Lorenzo barked, his face turning ashen.
He had thought he’d scored a massive bargain, expecting to snag Ancient Dragon Heart Blood worth tens of millions for a mere eight or nine million. He hadn't expected some shit-stirring bumpkin to come out of nowhere and ruin all his plans!
He had intended to use the money he saved to buy a large shipment of new equipment to bolster the Red Fire Gang’s strength!
"Are the other two groups being watched?" Lorenzo's eyes narrowed suddenly.
"Closely!" The confidant straightened up, his expression serious. "The men have been deployed. It’s foolproof!"
"Good."
The humiliation he suffered here would have to be compensated for elsewhere.
This was the black market, a place beyond the reach of any law. Here, even if you spent the money, it didn't necessarily mean the goods stayed yours!
"Boss, please calm your anger. Actually, the current price is still far below the market value. We’re still coming out ahead. A jumping clown like that won't be able to keep it up for long!" the confidant consoled him.
"I know that, obviously! I just can't swallow this insult!"
Lorenzo sat back down.
The estimated market value for ten drops of Ancient Dragon Heart Blood was around fifty million. Moreover, for such a rare item that was often unavailable at any price, the markup was usually severe. To be safe, he had brought a total of one hundred million today!
With the current bid at only twenty million, no matter how you looked at it, it was still a steal.
"Continue."
Lorenzo’s cold gaze swept toward Room Eighty-Eight, and he let out a disdainful sneer.
I’d like to see where you get the right to compete with the foundations of my Red Fire Gang!
*
"Fifty million!"
"Fifty million... and one thousand."
"Bastard!"
Ten minutes later, after dozens more rounds of "intense" bidding, Lorenzo could no longer maintain his contemptuous facade. He was practically vibrating in his seat.
Fifty million!
It had already hit fifty million!
And that motherfucker was still outbidding him by a mere thousand at a time!
He had thought that by continuing to raise the price, Number Eighty-Eight would eventually back down out of intimidation.
But the man had followed him all the way to fifty million!
The profit margin was gone. Furthermore, judging by Number Eighty-Eight’s relaxed tone, he still had plenty of reserves!
Who knew how high he would keep pushing?
Is he actually trying to buy the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood, or is he just driving up the price on purpose?
Lorenzo’s mind raced. The more furious he became, the more he forced himself to stay calm.
They had already come this far; the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood could not be lost!
He stood up, deactivated the voice modulator in his room, and spoke into the microphone with his natural, gravelly voice toward Room Eighty-Eight.
"Sir in Room Eighty-Eight, how about we become friends? I am Lorenzo of the Lower District’s Red Fire Gang. This Ancient Dragon Heart Blood is extremely important to me. I hope you can find it in your heart to part with it. I will surely repay the favor handsomely in the future."
"The Red Fire Gang?"
"Lorenzo?"
As soon as he spoke, the audience—who had been lulled into a stupor by the repetitive, incremental bidding—erupted into a din once more.
"He actually came to this auction in person?"
The Red Fire Gang was a massive organization with a terrifying reputation throughout Belland’s Lower District. They controlled over a dozen docks along the Gulain River and held several smuggling routes, amassing untold wealth.
As the leader of the Red Fire Gang, Lorenzo was notorious for being ruthless, cunning, and malicious. It was said his reach even extended to the circles of the nobility. Not long ago, a Baron had offended him; the very next day, the Baron’s mistress was found stripped naked and hanging under a bridge.
It could be said that Lorenzo’s infamy was enough to silence a crying child. Anyone making a living in the Lower District had to give him face!
Thus, his words were not just a signal of goodwill, but carried a heavy undertone of threat.
But that was only if the listener was from the Lower District.
Inside his room, Muen paused for a moment when he heard the name.
Lorenzo?
Who?
The Red Fire Gang sounded vaguely familiar. If he recalled correctly, they were a fodder gang in the original novel that existed for about two chapters before being wiped out by the protagonist, Ariel, to show off her power.
Are they supposed to be impressive?
"I'm sorry, but as the son of Duke Raymond, I have no interest in being your friend," Muen replied. His processed, deep voice echoed through the hall, sounding as nonchalant as ever.
It was as if he truly were the son of a Duke.
However, this time the audience wasn't shocked. Instead, a wave of low snickers broke out.
Lorenzo was so angry he actually laughed.
The son of Duke Raymond?
You?
If you’re a Duke’s son, then I’m a goddamn Prince!
Look at where we are!
Where was this? The black market of the Lower District!
A place so filthy that the high nobility wouldn't even want to step foot here for fear of staining their boots!
The son of a prestigious Duke coming to a place like this?
Are you fucking kidding me?
"So, sir, you’re insisting on making an enemy of me?"
Lorenzo stared at Room Eighty-Eight with gritted teeth. If the black one-way glass hadn't blocked his vision, his gaze alone would have been enough to kill.
"An enemy? Where did that come from? I’m simply placing a normal bid. Are you saying there are restrictions on bidding in this auction house?"
With that, Muen looked toward Miss Fairy. "Are there?"
"Of course not. Everything the gentleman in Room Eighty-Eight has done is perfectly in line with our auction house rules."
Miss Fairy gave a charming smile.
She didn't care if these two tried to kill each other afterward; that fire would never reach the auction house. As a professional auctioneer, she only cared about the final sale price.
Fifty million! Could it go higher?
Thinking of this, the look she cast toward Room Eighty-Eight was so sultry it practically dripped with desire.
Keep going, big brother in Eighty-Eight!
"See? Even Miss Fairy says so," Muen said airily. "Mr. Lorenzo, if you can't win the bid, it's simply because you're... incapable. How can you blame that on me?"
"In... capable?"
As Muen’s seemingly casual words fell, the entire hall went silent.
It was as if everyone sensed a storm brewing.
No one dared to breathe loudly. They only looked toward Room Eighty-Eight with gazes full of awe.
In the Lower District, no one had ever dared to speak to Lorenzo like that!
"He... said I'm... incapable?"
Sure enough, in Room One, Lorenzo’s face was contorted, his eyes bloodshot. He looked like a man whose sanity had been swallowed by rage.
It was as if a very sensitive nerve had been struck.
"I fucking hate it when people say I'm incapable!"
"Today, I'll show you personally just how capable I am!"
He snatched the bidding paddle from his confidant’s hand. His booming voice instantly swept through the entire auction hall.
"I bid... one hundred million!"