Chapter 156: The Curtain Falls
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 156: The Curtain Falls
"I bid one hundred million!"
Lorenzo’s roar, mighty and domineering, swept through the auction hall like a literal storm. It caught everyone’s breath, leaving them with expressions of pure shock.
One hundred million!
That was a hundred million!
If converted into paper bills, it would be a mountain of cash!
The vast majority of people here had never even seen what such a staggering sum looked like in their entire lives. They knew that the most common thing in Belland’s Lower District was sewer rats, but even if you rounded up every single rat in the district, there probably wouldn't be a hundred million of them.
Even Miss Fairy was stunned.
She had certainly hoped the price would go high—the higher the better.
But she never expected Lorenzo to jump straight to a hundred million!
She had presided over countless auctions, but never before had a single item broken the hundred-million mark.
But now, that record had been shattered!
Miss Fairy trembled with excitement. However, her beautiful eyes weren't fixed on Lorenzo, who had just shouted the bid; instead, they were glued to the mysterious Room 88.
She knew that Lorenzo’s hundred-million-bid wasn't because of her skills as an auctioneer, but entirely thanks to the person in Room 88!
The moment that note saying "Continue the auction" had been handed up from the floor, she had a premonition that this person was anything but simple. Now, she waited with bated breath, hoping to see if Room 88 would raise the stakes once more.
She wasn't the only one. Every eye in the auction hall was focused on Room 88, waiting for the next bid.
"So... you went straight to a hundred million?"
After a long silence, that leisurely voice rang out again. It carried a hint of disappointment and regret as the speaker sighed.
"I truly cannot afford a hundred million. You win, Mr. Lorenzo. The Ancient Dragon Heart Blood belongs to you."
Whoosh—
The crowd erupted in a chorus of gasps.
Number 88 had backed down!
This meant that in the battle for the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood, the victor was ultimately Number 1—Lorenzo of the Red Fire Gang!
"As expected of Lorenzo. That level of dominance is truly staggering."
"To be able to pull out a hundred million in cash so easily... the Red Fire Gang’s strength is not to be underestimated."
"In the end, that mysterious Number 88 just couldn't compete, huh?"
"Is it over?"
Miss Fairy shook her head with a trace of regret, but a heart-meltingly charming smile quickly returned to her face as she raised her gavel.
"I hereby announce that the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood is sold for one hundred million to the guest in Room 1!"
*
"Hahahaha! You want to play with me? You little brat, you think you can take me on?"
Inside Room 1, as the dust settled and he basked in the awe-struck gazes of the crowd, Lorenzo couldn't help but stand with his hands on his hips, laughing wildly.
Though the dark, one-way glass blocked the view into the room, he could already imagine that goddamn Number 88 being cowed by his overwhelming presence.
Try to fight me? I have a hundred million. Do you?
You don't have dick...
Doesn't the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood still belong to me?
Are you mad?
Are you pissed?
Does it sting to be humiliated by my hundred million in front of all these people?
"You truly are something else, Mr. Lorenzo."
Just as Lorenzo was beside himself with glee, Number 88 spoke again, his tone filled with genuine admiration.
"To bid a hundred million right out of the gate... it seems the fifty-some million I brought is nowhere near enough."
Huh?
Lorenzo’s laughter froze on his face.
The awe in the crowd’s eyes shifted instantly.
Even Miss Fairy, who was about to offer some flattering words to Lorenzo, nearly bit her tongue.
What did he say?
How much did he bring?
Fifty-some million?
Then that means...
"Sigh, I thought I’d give it a try, but it seems I was too naive. Compared to a big shot like Mr. Lorenzo, who can drop a hundred million without blinking, a person like me—who has to tighten his belt just to scrape together fifty million—is simply not worth mentioning. Truly, there is always a higher heaven and a person more capable."
Number 88 said sincerely, "Thank you, Mr. Lorenzo, for teaching me this lesson."
Thank him for what?
Thanking him for being the world's biggest sucker?
"..."
The entire auction hall fell into a deathly silence.
But within that silence, everything changed.
The audience felt like they were watching a story as thrilling as a novel. When they looked back at Room 1, it was as if they were looking at a tragic female lead who had been swindled of both her money and her virtue; they couldn't help but feel genuine pity.
Sure, you looked like a total badass when you waved your hand and threw down a hundred million. But looking back now, the way you just lost fifty million for nothing makes you look like a total loser!
"Motherfucker!"
Inside the room, Lorenzo suddenly hoisted the sofa he had been sitting on with one hand and smashed it violently against the glass in front of him.
The glass shattered instantly. Through the jagged shards, the strange, pitying looks directed his way only served to fan the flames of his rage.
At this point, how could he not realize he had been played like a fiddle!
That bastard in Room 88 never intended to buy the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood!
He was just there to fuck with him!
"You bastard, I’m going to kill you!"
His eyes turned bloodshot as he glared at Room 88, wishing he could rush over right now and chop the man into mincemeat!
He had never suffered such a humiliation in his entire life!
"Boss, no! You can't make a move here!"
Fearing that Lorenzo would truly be blinded by rage and do something irreversible, his confidant rushed forward and grabbed him firmly around the waist to hold him back.
"Get off me!"
Lorenzo kicked his subordinate away. "I’m not that stupid!"
This was the territory of the giants behind the Black Market; he wasn't so far gone that he’d break the rules here.
And...
Lorenzo looked down at the general seating area.
Though they were being subtle, he could keenly sense a spark of genuine greed beneath those pitying or mocking gazes.
"These stray dogs... they actually dare to have designs on my property!"
Lorenzo took a deep breath, quickly suppressing his fury.
To reach his position in a place as chaotic as the Lower District, he relied on more than just brutality. Those who couldn't distinguish between what was important and what wasn't didn't last long in a place like that.
"I'll settle the score later. First, get the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood back."
He strode out of the room with decisive speed, intending to finalize the transaction and leave before the people in the hall could react.
Just before stepping into the dark corridor, he suddenly turned his head to look deep into the hallway.
The door to the room that made his teeth ache with hatred remained tightly shut, showing no movement.
"Just you wait. This isn't over."
A cold glint flashed in Lorenzo’s eyes as he turned away.
"Leave two men to watch the exit. The rest of you, move out."
*
"Whoa, that angry?"
When the sofa came flying out of the room, Muen was actually a little startled.
Heaven be his witness, Muen had actually been telling the truth.
He had planned to stop around fifty or sixty million. After all, what if he accidentally actually bought the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood? Who knew the leader of the Red Fire Gang would be so easily baited that he’d jump straight to a hundred million in one go?
"I thought he’d charge over here to hack me to pieces."
Seeing that Lorenzo hadn't come for revenge but chose to leave immediately, Muen rubbed his chin in surprise.
I guess he really is a gang leader for a reason. In a moment like this, he can still keep his head on straight.
"So, is the next act about to begin?"
After Lorenzo left, many people in the hall also made a quick exit. Judging by their urgent expressions, they certainly weren't going out to throw Lorenzo a farewell party.