A man whose appearance could be described as beauty itself approaches Lawrence, and everyone makes way without daring to stop him. Both from his faction and others, all remain silent.
“My lord also wants to try his luck.”
Unlike the rest, he does not beat around the bush and does not use flattery as a means to reach his true purpose, he directly hands a storage ring to Lawrence which contains materials that leave him astonished.
“He will only accept a perfect pill, without any impurity. Do not bother contacting us if your refiner is not capable of achieving this.”
Such arrogance and pride make it impossible to think that he wishes to have Lawrence on his side, but this is not important, he is representing his lord, which means that this is the true thought of Ephemeral Principle!
Lawrence looks into the distance and for an instant, his eyes meet those of the lion man. It is just as he thought, he is not even trying to attract him to his faction.
“The night is still long, my best wishes for this auction.”
At the change of attitude of this man, Lawrence frowns for a fraction of a second, but then regains his composure and responds with the same kindness.
“Likewise.”
The man leaves and the item owners again hand him their storage rings without giving any sign of touching on the previous subject. Revering the strong and abusing the weak, business at its finest.
“Mr. Lawrence, may I have a second?”
The one who appears in front of him is a familiar face, if he remembers correctly…
“My lady wishes to speak with you.”
A beautiful woman adorned with valuable jewels on her body, the same one who approached Lawrence the first time he entered this room and whom she represents is none other than Eminent Greed, the seven-tailed fox woman.
Initially, the item owners wanted to fight her for trying to skip the queue, but as soon as she mentions her lady, everyone once again falls silent.
The one in front of them is not
Lawrence looks towards Eminent Greed, but contrary to what was expected, she does not deign to look him in the eyes. What is that fox woman planning?
“Yes, it will be a pleasure.”
“Please, follow me.”
But he could not deny such a request in front of all present, it would be like a slap in the face and this is not the time to make enemies. He can feel the gazes directed towards him, but more than that, his concern is only a few steps away. That woman still not looking at him, even knowing that the guest is about to sit at her table.
Though there are very few accessories on her body, Eminent Greed is beautiful, her characteristic seven tails grant her a charm that few women can possess. Many men might think of approaching her for her beauty, but few would actually do so since her level is indecipherable even to Lawrence.
‘Level 700 or higher, that would be the only explanation…’
Once he sits, she finally deigns to look him in the eyes.
“You might find it strange that I asked to talk to you.”
Her beastly eyes and fangs are the first things that catch Lawrence’s attention. Just thinking this makes him understand that the level of this woman must be high enough to cause an attraction to her, akin to charm.
“It’s not so strange given the fame of your refiner, Lawrence.”
He nods with a smile, but internally he does not swallow her words, because this woman...
“You and I are not enemies, there is no need for courtesy. You can be honest with me Lawrence, the one you represent is not someone humble for whom you need to lower your head.”
“I will be honest then.”
The attitude of Lawrence remains the same and although he accepted the request from Eminent Greed, he does not plan to carry it out in its entirety. “Everyone who has approached me wants something in return. I do not know what you want and I am not comfortable because of that.”
His words cause a smile in her, and her long beast ears move for a moment, Lawrence wants to click his tongue but cannot. It is unusual for him to be paying so much attention to the actions of this woman, were it not for his experience with Prescribed Dream he fears his behavior would be much worse.
“You should not fear, my business is related to the sale of magic artifacts, I have no reason to try anything against your refiner. Because our businesses do not oppose each other, we coordinate perfectly.”
Many magic artifacts have negative effects that can be minimized thanks to the medicinal pills, indeed, what item would not benefit from a medicinal pill? Reigning Myrias is very likely to contact him in the future due to the utility they have with her slaves. Ephemeral Principle, whose business is related to the elemental ingots, has contacted him even when there is no perceptible relationship between metals and pills.
But still there is something that bothers him about this woman.
“What business do you have in mind?”
In response to Lawrence’s question, Eminent Greed responds: “For now, I wish to keep in touch. We will lose much precious time if we only meet at the auctions.”
“I… do not have a place to call home, it would be best if I contact you.”
“I understand, so it shall be.”
He tells the truth in half-measures. He does not know this fox woman enough to give her the address of the house he just bought, it is disadvantageous for others to know a place where they can find him.
After she handed him her contact card, he planned to end their small meeting and get up from the table, it would leave a bad image of him if he tries to take advantage of this opportunity to obtain more information about her, when he can do the same through the mouths of the other item owners.
“Our next product might seem common at a glance, but it has an impressive peculiarity. It can hide the truths and lies of the bearer from any clairvoyance! Person or object, no one will be able to discern the hidden truths!”
When a product that attracts his attention appears.
“Words are a weapon and this item can sharpen them, experts will agree when I say that, a single phrase can cause death, as well as it is not necessary to manipulate the weaponry when you can make your enemies kill each other.”
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Lawrence could not care less if Serene Will reads his mind, it is annoying at times, but the reality is that that woman will do nothing no matter what his thoughts are, the problem is, and the rest? Could there be someone else in the world capable of reading his mind? Even if this item only hides truths and lies, that is enough with that.
“This item is called, Inconstant Dogma!”
Hiding his thoughts would attract more attention than just hiding part of them.
“Do you want it?”
His behavior is evident to Eminent Greed.
“I am interested.”
She nods subtly and then looks towards the stage, Lawrence will be surprised by her next action.
“Number 13 bids… 4 million gold!”
The presenter joyfully announces the amount, but this would not interest Lawrence, but the number she mentioned, is exactly the number that Eminent Greed holds in her hand.
“Why?”
“Consider it a gift from me, for our future business.”
The beautiful smile of this woman to Lawrence more than attracts him, it causes him repugnance. All this time he has been doubting this Eminent Greed and more now that she tries to gain his favor without any reservations.
Because he cannot forget that this fox woman was the first to try to approach him, approaching when no one knew he was representing a refiner.
This fox woman has not yet revealed her true intentions.
“Number 13, congratulations. You are the new owner of this item!”
She misinterprets Lawrence's look and waves her hand as if it were nothing. “I bid a quite appropriate price. If the others did not want to bid for it, it was due to that and this…”
Eminent Greed moves the number in her hand.
The bidders with the numbers closest to the number 1 are considered the most important to the auction house. These may be big characters outside of the auction house or just inside it, the truth is that no one wants to offend one.
Since she bid a figure close to the final value, no one wanted to offend her.
He wanted to ask why she is doing this, but then Eminent Greed calls one of her subordinates and he understands her intention.
“Thank you for the gift, I hope we do business soon.”
“Goodbye.”
Lawrence gets up from the table, just as she wanted, and retreats to the same place he was before being called, near the balcony.
‘What…?’
But during the course, he feels a look on his back with a clear hue of hatred. Such sharpness only he can perceive, it is directed only towards him.
‘Who is showing their hostility towards me so openly?’
It is impossible to mistake, he turns to see this declared enemy and his face darkens at recognizing the owner of this hostility.
With white hair and beard, blue eyes, and baldness. This was none other than Gate of Torment, the rarity of the auction house, whose level is unfathomable.
‘Damn, Damn it! What did I do to antagonize that old man?’ As soon as the question arises, the answer immediately comes to his mind. ‘Is it because of Eminent Greed? Did that old man antagonize me just for talking with that woman?’
In this world, there is no such thing as coincidence, it is because he spoke with Eminent Greed that Gate of Torment showed hostility towards him. There is no other explanation.
The gaze between them lasts for a fraction of a second, the next instant Lawrence turns around and continues his way. This is a threat, Lawrence can interpret it no other way. Because at the moment of turning around, that look full of hatred disappeared without a trace.
He returns to talk with the item owners and tries to act normally, but the truth is, from that moment on, he could not stop thinking about what happened.
Among the questions that arise in his head, he decides to quell one of them at this moment.
“…Yes, you heard right!”
A few minutes pass before he can find another item of his interest.
The auctioneer joyfully presents the item. “Before you lies the recipe for the elixir capable of increasing the range of medicinal pills by 50 levels, thus reducing the materials needed for the medicinal pill to reach its target level!”
Lawrence apologizes for a moment and walks towards the balcony. On the stage is the beautiful auctioneer and just a few meters away is the item.
Only 10 sheets, 10 different people will be allowed to acquire the recipe for the elixir.
“All pill refiners take their secrets to the grave, very few of them capable of passing them on to a disciple of trust. Obtaining this recipe is an unprecedented event, the quality of the product has been demonstrated by our own refiners.”
While the auctioneer makes known the description of the recipe and how they managed to obtain it, Lawrence listens to the comments of the bidders.
“Although it is true that it is 50 levels, using it would completely nullify the elixir that increases its range by 100 levels. If the pill is too precious, 50 levels is little.”
“Tsk, many complaining that it is not the recipe for the elixir that increases by 100 levels, but few understanding its importance. If it were so easy to acquire the recipe for that elixir, there wouldn’t be such a demand for them!”
Lawrence smiles seeing how those interested in this item are so divided, many lamenting that it is only 50 levels and others defending it. If there is one thing they all agree on, it is that, if the value is fair, they will get it, but they will not pay an excessive price for it.
‘If it’s about Sky Petal, 50 levels will be nothing.’
Remembering the short period of time and the great results she has obtained, he would be a fool if he is not able to recognize the talent when he has it in front of his eyes.
‘She could even update the recipe and achieve an improvement close to 100 levels… This recipe is within reach! Only fools would compare it with something they cannot possess!’
The difference between him and the other bidders is that he knows his limits. The elixir that increases by 100 levels may be incredible, so what? Do any of you possess it? This recipe is in front of him and he will not hesitate to spend whatever is necessary to get it.
This is the only way to make Eminent Greed understand that, he may be just an intermediary, but with small gifts, it is impossible to buy him!