Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 649

Chapter 649

Chapter 649: Multiple Auctions

“She needs peace and quiet,” Lan Qing replied . “Why did you agree with dad to spare her life, yesterday? She could die a hundred times and it wouldn’t absolve her of her sins . Even she doesn’t know how many lives she’s taken . ”

Lan Jue grinned . “For you . ”

Lan Qing glanced at him . “Me?”

Lan Jue explained . “I did want her killed, but when I saw how she looked – and her status as a Paragon – I decided to spare her life .

Bewildered, Lan Qing pressed his brother . “What does this have to do with me?”

“How could it not?” Lan Jue retorted . “Dad’s told me countless times to help find you a woman . ”

Lan Qing scowled . “Don’t worry about it . ”

Lan Jue narrowed his eyes and peered at the Eastern general . “Bro, if it’s a… physical thing, then you know a Paragon has strong self-curative abilities . You don’t need to be ashamed…”

“I will literally kill you . ” Lan Qing hissed .

Lan Jue chuckled . This was the first time he saw his brother act like this . Piercing that calm veneer was a humorous past time, certainly . “Embarrassed to anger, eh?” Lan Jue chortled .

Lan Qing’s even expression quickly returned . “A-Jue, every day brings you closer to Paragon . You need to be focusing on the secrets of protogenia . ”

“Quit it! Don’t even think about it, I won’t give you the chance to abuse me . What about your military meetings, huh? Don’t you need to be heading back to An Lun?” Of course Lan Jue would know immediately what his brother was up to . He wasted no time calling him on it .

Lan Qing sniffed . “So be honest . ”

Lan Jue gave him a helpless look . “I’m not honest? When I have been dishonest? If you keep bullying me I’m going to go tell mom!”

Lan Qing’s mouth curled into a scowl . He shook his head, but said nothing else .

The auction hall was nearly full, all the participants had arrived . It was tight, there were no unneeded seats to take up space . This was not an open auction, so there wouldn’t be any media or walk-ins to swell the numbers .

It wasn’t too loud in the auction hall yet . Everyone was here on behalf of some powerful person or organization, so they each quietly brooded over their goals . A few representatives put out feelers and tried to leverage the auction to network, but the vital crystals were everyone’s top priority . Yesterday’s showing had stoked everyone’s interest .

A woman appeared on the stage pushing a cart before her . It was the enforcement team’s leader, An Liu . Only Skyfire Avenue would hire a ninth rank Adept to serve as support crew for an auction .

As he pushed the cart to center stage, she couldn’t help but allow her eyes to flicker toward the two Lan brothers . When her eyes met Lan Qing’s, they darted away quick as they could . She even started to walk slower .

Lan Qing smiled at her for a moment, and Lan Jue saw it all . He leaned over . “You like her? An Liu’s a good girl, I don’t think she has a boyfriend . I can help introduce you . ”

Lan Qing didn’t even look at him . “If you want to take a beating, keep talking . I don’t need you poking your nose into my romantic life . I can manage on my own . Do you think I have time to run around chasing women?”

Lan Jue shrugged in resignation . “I’m worried about you! Anyway what chasing . All you have to do is open your arms and there’ll be a flock of women swooping in . ”

Lan Qing’s eyes peered into the middle-distance . “We have different goals, different desires . ”

Lan Jue gave him a thumbs-up . “Alright! Worthy of the being called the greatest Monarch . But when is His Majesty the Monarch going to publish his Paragon name?”

Lan Qing’s face froze . That particular task had given him no small measure of heartache . He felt loathe to turn down his father’s suggestion, how could he ignore it?

“Sooner or later you’re going to be in my boat . You can’t run from it . Your name’s going to be just as long . ” Lan Qing said coldly .

But Lan Jue chuckled . “I’m in no rush, I still got time . Right now it’s you in the hot seat . I’m sure we’ll adapt as needed . Hurry and make up your mind, then you can use the auction as a platform . Pick something strong and domineering, something that makes people feel your power the moment they hear it . Hahaha!”

He couldn’t help but give a little, maniacal cackle . An Liu’s eyes shot back their way . In her heart was the image of a stoic man, who was looking utterly uncomfortable . Then, she saw the sharp, thoughtful light in Lan Jue’s eyes!

Just then, a deep voice interjected . “Our auction is about to begin . Please prepare to make your bids . ”

There was a flash of light, and a silver portal appeared upon the stage . The Wine Master, his face expressionless, stepped through . He was clad in a very formal full suit . His Astrum was clutched in one hand . The moment he appeared, the heady aura of a Paragon swelled to fill the room . A pale silver light spread out over everyone, simultaneously isolated everything outside .

An Liu offered the Cosmagus a respectful bow . At his signal, she pulled away the sheet covering the cart’s contents .

A translucent crystal box was revealed . Within, pulsing with a gentle purple light, was a vital crystal . It was about the size of a fist, but bore the standard rhombus shape .

The Wine Master’s deep voice issued through the hall . “Our first vital crystal, examined by all of you yesterday . Each of you should know well the power it contains, so I won’t waste time with an introduction . Let’s begin, with the opening bid set at one battleship . Each subsequent bid must match or exceed one scout ship . Ten scout ships equals a battleship, ten battleships an expedition and so forth . I won’t waste time with unnecessary details . We are now taking bids on Vital Crystal Number One . ”

There was no long-winded introduction, it was pointless . Everyone here knew enough about the crystals for what they needed, anything else was a waste of time . With a hundred crystals to sell, things needed to move along at a good pace . As for how well those crystals would sell, it depended on the aspirations of the crowd .

“One battleship!” Someone in the back threw up their paddle .

“”One battleship from the gentleman with paddle Forty-Three . ” The Wine Master feel into his role as leader of the auction effortlessly . He knew that was a very low offer . A crystal this big could be used ten time in the exuvium process . The participants knew it, too . They’d verified all the information themselves yesterday .

“One battleship and two scouts!”

“Three scouts . ”

The auction went back and forth between a few bidders, nothing too intense . Everyone was hesitating .

A deep voice suddenly arose from nearer to the front . “Five battleships . ”

Everyone stopped, and all eyes went to the bidder . It was the mysterious stranger clad in black robes . His bid was a large one, and surprised everybody .

“Bidder with paddle Three, five battleships . Any more bids?” The Wine Master calmly asked . He wasn’t the least bit surprised by the development .

Five ships for one crystal – expensive, wasn’t it? The other bidders wavered . The Wine Master also didn’t see the need to drag it out . “Vital Crystal Number One, the bid to beat it five battleships . Going once . Going twice . Three times . Sold!” He spat the words quickly, not waiting for responses . The small gavel in his right hand rapped against the desk .

Bang! The first vital crystal had been sold .

An Liu brought the second cart up onto the stage and removed the cloth . She took the first one away .

“Bidding will begin on our second crystal . Opening bid remains on battleship . Takers?” The Wine Master offered .

The auctioneers didn’t respond right away .

“Five battleships . ” Mysterious Number Three called his bid without waiting for the others . Anyone else interested in buying felt their bid catch in their throat .

The Wine Master shot him a glance . “Paddle three, five battleships . Any other bids?”

No one spoke . The second crystal was smaller than the first . To them it wasn’t worth so much . Who was behind paddle three? Why would he bid so high? It didn’t make any sense – could he be a plant?

The Wine Master didn’t leave a lot of room for thought . “Five battleships . Once… twice… thrice… sold!”

Bang! The gavel cracked again, another vital crystal was sold in as many minutes . There had been hardly any bidding at all .

An Liu brought the third cart on stage . Right away, low chatter filled the hall . Several bidders glared at the mysterious stranger in the first row .