"Lord Demontre Sagul, it is an honor to have received your invitation."

  "My article is about to be presented, what do you think the final price will be?"

  Many lesser item owners approach to greet him, while others stay at a distance, sending their glances toward him, hoping for a gesture from him so they can come over to greet. But those who know him best understand that this is futile, if he wants to talk to someone, he doesn't wait for the opportunity to arise, he will voluntarily create it.

  Demontre Sagul doesn’t even smile or try to maintain minimal cordiality, he moves away from them and walks with a clear destination. He stops only to sit at the table of one of the big shots and strike up a small conversation.

  Everyone who approached to greet him felt embarrassed, their cheeks aching, feeling as if someone had mercilessly slapped them. Anything could be the spark that triggered their resentment in an attempt to divert attention.

  "The next article is a Genesis Drop. It allows you to remember who you were and what led you to be who you are today! Very important to prove your Way!"

  And that spark presented itself at the right time.

  "Only three Genesis Drops? I've heard you harvest ten a year, this is a clear attempt to inflate their value. How insolent."

  "My business is not based exclusively on a single article. I couldn't say the same about your Heart Shadows, I see more and more inconsistencies in your dealings."

  During a discussion, the factions present themselves in an unquestionable manner. Each of them seems to have a leader, but who in reality is not part of such a stratum. Lawrence indistinctly feels that the strings are being pulled from another location.

  The encounter arose from a minor event, but which indirectly represents the power behind them. Just like at that moment, a mere gesture from the big shots is enough for the lesser and intermediate owners to take action.

  The same happened with that woman.

  "That Crystal Seaflower... Its quality is considerably lower compared to previous years. Apparently, the rumors were true."

  Gone is the kindness with which she greeted Lawrence, her arrogance blooms just like that flower on the stage and proceeds to criticize the item owner for his lack of foresight, disasters do not appear without prior warnings.

  The latter does not remain silent and responds, after all, this is a battle to prove whose master is superior to the other.

  Throughout the event, Lawrence witnesses four factions, one of which includes Eminent Greed. It is too early to assert to which stratum she belongs, but it is certainly not inferior. It is not unusual for big shots to form a same faction.

  The discussions maintain their tone, not seeking war but only humiliation. Depending on the article, depended the discussion. Time passes, and many normalize the situation, refraining from continuing to participate in it.

  "By the way..."

  Indistinctly, Lawrence feels the malice in such words, he directs his gaze only to see a faction antagonistic to that woman watching him disdainfully.

  "Has the intermediary been silent for a long time, by chance, has your article already been presented?"

  Has your article been so irrelevant that no one has paid attention to it? Such are the words Lawrence reads between the lines. Because externally they still maintain cordiality, in the face of eventualities they will make believe it was a misunderstanding on his part. After all, he is just an intermediary, if at any moment they must account, it will not be with him.

  They are testing him, and he knows it.

  "It is not named yet, thanks for the concern."

  The sincerity of Lawrence's smile makes everyone believe he really thinks so, but there is something that leads them all to the same conclusion.

  He still thinks he is the master despite being just a mere intermediary.

  "Who is the benefactor that allowed your master to attend? I don't remember that an external agent can interfere in our meeting... Don't misunderstand me, I do not wish to cause discord with your master. It's just that..."

  The apparent leader of the faction smiles as carefree as cynically.

  "I find it unprecedented that an intermediary acts without asking."

  All of Lawrence's actions, from his appearance to his presence, denote a subject who has made his own decisions. In his mind, he is not representing anyone but himself. Since when can an intermediary have such liberties?

  "Who at the Violet Twilight auction house allowed you to be their representative?"

  Since they know nothing about this man, they might as well find the employee who authorized Lawrence's presence and thus get to his real master. When that happens, who will Lawrence be, if not merely a servant whose head is in danger?

  No unexpected event occurs where someone appears to help him, even when Demontre Sagul is involved, he continued talking without looking this way. No one raised their hand wanting to rescue him.

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  Lawrence clicks his tongue subtly, he is alone.

  "If I gave explanations to people unworthy of hearing them, what would be the point? Would anything change?"

  They want to maintain their status, they want to know his nature and subdue him with his head at ground level. They are willing to take any signal and turn it into weakness.

  "You demand answers, and I will give them to you, but I don’t remember you being a superior of the Violet Twilight auction house. Since when do item owners have the right to demand explanations that can only be known by the auction house?"

  The big shots might use their connections to make demands on the auction house, but a owner using the power of his master? Has he forgotten his origins?

  "I'm here because no one else can be in my place."

  The mistaken idea that Lawrence can be replaced must be eliminated. Without him, there is nothing.

  "If you want to end the contract, go ahead, do it. Because you are not only talking to an intermediary, but to the one who signed the contract."

  All those who offended him took a deep breath. There are words you can't play with, that this intermediary is saying that he is indirectly an owner, completely ruins their scheme! They can no longer pass this situation off as a misunderstanding!

  The apparent leader of the faction opens his eyes widely and then clenches his teeth. He does not dare to continue without first knowing the opinion of his master, the true leader of the faction.

  A man with a lion's head is who receives his gaze, in a formal suit and artifacts like rings on his fingers. His body is split between a beast and a human, yet his refined and elegant behavior denote the intelligence of a superior being.

  Ephemeral Principle is the name of that lion-man. Lawrence remembers having heard it before this situation happened.

  "..."

  Ephemeral Principle takes no action, continues watching the auction. Until he knows who Lawrence is and what article he represents, he will make his subordinate bear the weight of humiliation.

  "Kuh..."

  The apparent leader of the faction looks at Lawrence with hatred, but he is a dog that only barks. He doesn't dare to bite until they order him to.

  If this situation ends here, Lawrence will have saved face, but that would be all. Being an enemy of a faction is something he cannot afford, he has already made known his presence, now it remains to be shown that he can see beyond and ignore the offenses.

  "I represent a pill refiner."

  "Eh?"

  Everyone in the room believed that their enmity was irreconcilable, but the words of Lawrence make him open his eyes to the apparent leader of the faction.

  'Is he giving me a chance to regain my prestige?'

  He clenches his teeth, he will have to take a risk.

  He then clears his throat and says: "So far, many types of medicinal pills have been presented, if your article has not yet been exposed. I would dare to say that the importance assigned to it is by no means inferior."

  Flattering the person whom he tried to humiliate just seconds ago? If Lawrence does not coordinate, he will not only lose face, all his authority will be in jeopardy! They will be irreconcilable enemies!

  "I am surprised that the fellow has the same opinion as Mr. Demontre Sagul."

  Everyone opens their eyes widely and directs their gaze towards Demontre Sagul, the latter just smiles and continues his conversation with the current big shot, but internally he wanted to cough blood.

  'What do I have the same mentality as that guy? Me?!'

  Demontre Sagul said nothing about it simply because he didn't feel like it.

  Who benefited most from this exchange was none other than the apparent leader of the faction, who joyfully made known that the previous small discussion was just a passing matter, that his intention was only to test the ground without any bad intention whatsoever.

  As soon as this was clarified, they said goodbye to each other.

  This is the best conclusion Lawrence could have reached. Each faction possesses too much power, it would not be wrong to say that there is a fragile balance between them, where only a weight that ruins this balance must be eliminated as soon as possible.

  Lawrence does not wish to belong to one of them, he will not submit to anyone.

  This last discussion marks the starting kick for the end of the search for power among the factions. Continuing to discuss would only reopen old wounds, so business conversations replaced them.

  Time passes and various articles are exhibited on the stage.

  Until an article attracts everyone's attention.

  "The Divine Plane is vast, so vast that the diversification of races has no end. A casual look at this auction house would result in more than a hundred different species, all as intelligent and wise as the previous one. Because of this, a problem arises..."

  "The reproduction rate falls the more noble and mysterious their ancestry is."

  As soon as the article is brought to the stage by a beautiful lady, many of the bidders rise from their seats. They can predict the words he will say next!

  "The next item is capable of turning a small probability into certainty, no matter how different their ancestries are, it's the fertility pill! Suitable up to level 800 and up to level 900 if you are willing to use an elixir!"

  Lawrence takes a deep breath and stops leaning against the wall. 'Up to level 900 if an elixir is used? This damn old fox!'

  Coincidentally, Demontre Sagul looks at him and greets him amicably. An action that everyone in the room perceived and fully understood. The intermediary is the one who brought this article! The pill refiner he represents has an unparalleled talent!

  Not all pills can be fused with an elixir and multiply their potency up to 100 levels above their origin, only those that are free of impurities!

  "Bidding starts at three million gold!"

  Outside there was an uproar, hundreds of bidders made their presence known. The big shots were quick to show their willingness to want the medicinal pill at any cost.

  "Sir, we still haven't heard your name."

  "I know someone who possesses plentiful treasures that are useful for pill refiners. If the sir has time, I would like us to delve into the matter. I promise the benefits will be lasting."

  The lesser and intermediate owners approached Lawrence trying to establish relations, some of them participated in the bidding to increase its value.

  "I am Lawrence, the pill refiner I represent will be delighted to hear your proposals. She will be even more so if they are accompanied by pill recipes."

  Is the refiner really a woman?

  "But I dare say he will not always respond as you wish, to win you must be willing to lose."

  Is she now a man? This guy just doesn't want to reveal even their gender!

  No one said anything about it because, regardless of his background, as long as he refines, they don't care if it's a dog or a cat! If there was a problem, it's that only the big shots will have recipes that attract the attention of Lawrence's pill refiner.

  "Sold for seven million two hundred thousand gold! The fertility pill is acquired by number 42! Congratulations!"

  The happiest of the news is Lawrence, Sky Petal really is a gold mine on legs. He is looking forward to the garden giving birth to the new spiritual herbs, by then, just one or two pills will be enough to make him a millionaire.

  The auction continues to advance, until the final article goes to the stage.

  "W-What is that?"

  Lawrence and all the others cannot take their eyes off the stage.

  "An Archaic Ruin has been completed in the Wind Divider Kingdom! This is the core that was acquired after its collapse!"

  Lawrence will never forget the day when Decaying Flame stole the core of an Archaic Ruin in his face, despising all the articles that Eonis Pavilion left in place. According to the words of Serene Will, this core was no bigger than a fist.

  But the core that is on the stage is the size of an adult's head.

  "Bidding starts at 10 million gold!"