The entire first floor of the Drunken Night fell silent. Many people wore expressions of schadenfreude, looking mockingly at Dahlia and Freya on the auction stage. [pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune.]
Freya's eyes narrowed, gazing at the viscount with killing intent. Her hands clenched into fists. This was an insult to her—asking her price, treating her like cargo.
Yet, Freya didn't make a move. She remained standing quietly where she was. Today was an important day, crucial for the future financial development of Sedona City. During her nightly patrols, she often saw the study's candlelight still lit at midnight, knowing Lord Lucas was worrying over the city. So, she endured it. If this had been the past, she would have drawn her sword and cut him down long ago.
"Sir, I must ask you to apologize to my friend." Dahlia frowned, her eyes filled with iciness. She spoke coldly, "For you to say such a thing, I seriously question your noble upbringing."
"Hah..." The viscount sneered. "A mere merchant? Friends with a beastkin? What right do you have to question me?"
"Hahahaha..."
The crowd below erupted in malicious laughter, watching the drama unfold with cold indifference. They knew this was a show of force—a power play directed at Lucas. This female beastkin was just collateral damage.
"Dammit!" Annie heard this, her fox ears standing on end. She gritted her teeth. "That bastard! How dare he say something like that."
"Tonight, we can have the elven snipers assassinate him," Elisa said, her face cold. Her eyes glittered as her mind instantly began perfecting an assassination plan.
"Master, I'll go kill him right now." A combat appeared in Mina's hand, her eyes brimming with killing intent. She was about to rise and act, but her cat tail was suddenly grabbed by Lucas.
"Ngh..." Mina's body shuddered. Her tense frame went limp as if all strength had drained from it, her cheeks flushing red.
"No need." Lucas waved his hand at Chris, who was standing behind him, and said coldly, "Since he refuses to show respect, then none needs to be shown. Drag him out. Remember... drag!"
"Yes, my lord." Chris nodded firmly and turned, walking toward the viscount.
"What? Can't I even speak? Does your auction house have to be so tyrannical?" The viscount grew flustered seeing Chris approach. He tried to rile up the crowd, shouting, "Look, everyone! This auction house actually harbors beastkin and is making a move against me, a noble! It'll be you next!"
"..." The crowd was silent. No one spoke up for him. They all watched this 'nail that stuck out' with indifference, wanting to see how Lucas would handle it.
"You... Hmph!" The viscount, seeing that no one would speak for him and that Chris was getting closer, flung his sleeve. "Fine! I just won't talk, alright? You don't need to come over and warn me."
"Pow!"
What greeted the viscount was Chris's foot. A single kick sent the smug noble sprawling to the ground. Even the two knights beside him failed to react; who would have thought Chris would dare to strike without a single word?
"Cough, cough..." The viscount was stunned for a moment before roaring in humiliation and rage, "Kill him!"
He had lost immense face, being kicked to the ground by a mere servant in front of so many people. He was dizzy with rage; all he wanted right now was to kill someone.
"Clap! Thud! Thud!"
In three moves, Chris had cleanly knocked the two knights unconscious. He waved to the nearby War Wolf members, signaling them to come and drag the men away.
"Sir, you have violated the rules of the auction house. You are now required to leave," Chris said coldly, looking down at him.
"You..." The viscount tried to shout again, but he was stunned by Chris's next move. He stared dumbly as Chris crouched down and grabbed him by the ankle. He instantly realized what was happening, his eyes widening and his mouth opening to scream...
"Thud..."
Chris stood up, still gripping the viscount's ankle, letting the noble's head crack against the floor and choking back the scream. Just like that, in the most humiliating posture imaginable, he was dragged outside by Chris.
Everyone in the hall watched the three men being dragged out, exchanging glances of disbelief. This made them understand Lucas's dominance. For just a few words, he had his subordinate drag a viscount out of the auction house in an even more insulting manner.
"..." Freya bit her lower lip slightly, staring blankly as the men were dragged away. She knew this action would have significant negative repercussions for the auction house.
Her eyes shifted, moving to Lucas's face, and met his eyes directly. The two locked gazes in silence.
One second, two seconds... five seconds. The wolf-eared girl's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked away, but the corners of her mouth turned up uncontrollably. Clearly, her mood had improved.
"Ahem..." Dahlia coughed lightly, quickly drawing everyone's attention back. She announced in a clear, cold voice, "The auction will now begin. Let us present the first item..."
As she spoke, a servant girl who was already prepared brought a tray up, placed it on the auction podium, and removed the linen cloth covering it, revealing a small wooden box.
"Click..."
Dahlia didn't waste words. She opened the box directly, revealing a pink pearl inside. Even she was momentarily dazed upon seeing it; the pearl appeared even more dazzling under the reflection of the candlelight.
"This is a large, fourteen-millimeter pearl. What is rare is that it is pink." Dahlia gathered her composure and announced, "This pearl was found by a very lucky customer at the Pearl Pavilion, who has entrusted our auction house to sell it."
Her words served as a veiled advertisement for the Pearl Pavilion. Many in the crowd had never heard of it, let alone what it did. After Dahlia's announcement, the Pearl Pavilion was bound to get busy.
"For this peerless pink pearl, we have invited top experts to appraise it and have issued a certificate. Everyone can collect it with confidence," Dahlia recited, reading directly from the script Lucas had provided.
She even produced the certificate of appraisal for the crowd to see. She didn't understand the point of this extra step. Experts? Certificates? What use were they?
If someone from Earth were here, they would definitely say this was all about building "prestige"—done purely to attract customers, make them feel confident in their purchase, and feel like they weren't getting ripped off.
"Hurry up, what's the price!" Rossa shouted, craning her neck.
"..." Hound and Ferguson were dumbfounded. They turned to look at Rossa, whose eyes were shining, and sighed helplessly. She couldn't even afford it, yet she was so excited.
"The starting bid is twenty gold coins." Dahlia glanced at Rossa and announced, "Each increment must be no less than ten silver coins."
"Twenty-one gold coins!" Rossa raised her hand and shouted. She had brought over thirty gold coins with her this time.
"Twenty-two gold coins," A merchant immediately countered. The pearl was indeed very attractive, especially being pink.
"Twenty-three."
"Twenty-three gold coins and fifty silver coins."
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