The Alexander District, known for its bustling erce, could be likeo a tral business district (CBD) oh. It was undeniably the heart of the city. However, in the Fars Empire, the Val-de-Vas District served as the cultural and administrative core.

  As the carriage came to a stop, Charlot and Aepped down. Annie handed over an invitation card, and the elderly butler at the gate courteously weled them inside.

  Charlot had no doubt that without Annie apanying him, he would never have been allowed to enter.

  The sprawling old mansion covered roughly five acres. Ihe pce was lively, with guests of all kinds ing and going.

  Charlot, mildly curious, asked, “How does one sell magical items at a magic au?”

  Before Annie could respond, a hearty voiterrupted, “I wonder what kind of magical item this gentleman wishes to sell?”

  Charlot raised his head slightly and saw a well-dressed elderly gentleman smiling warmly at him. He returhe smile politely and replied, “It’s a multi-headed fil.” He uned the package in his hand, revealing the handle of the on.

  The elderly gentleman asked, “May I exami closely?”

  Charlot hahe package over.

  The gentleman took the package steadily, exami for a moment, then smiled and introduced himself. “Allow me to introduce myself. I own a magical goods store called Louis’s Shop. My name is Louis Simy.”

  Charlot responded with a slight smile. “Mr. Simy, I hope I’ll have the ce to frequent your shop.”

  Louis handed over a card with his he store’s name, and its address.

  Intrigued, Charlot accepted the card. Business cards like this had fallen out of use in his previous life, repced by phone numbers and messaging apps.

  Louis remarked, “I’m not ied in purchasing this multi-headed fil, but I reend a good buyer for you.”

  Charlot was delighted. “Thank you, Mr. Simy.”

  Louis smiled. “You call me Louis. May I know your name?”

  “Charlot Meburg,” Charlot replied. “You call me Charlot; that’s how my friends address me.”

  He cast a questioning g Annie, who gracefully followed them.

  Charlot initially po settle his own small trade before apanying Ao handle her business with Mr. Yanmills. Sinnie was willing to apany him, he had no reason to refuse.

  Louis discreetly plimented Annie’s beauty, and Annie accepted the praise with polite posure. Their iioinged with the polished pretense characteristic of high society.

  Charlot, though familiar with such social ies, chose not to participate, silently following Louis Simy to a room.

  Louis called out loudly, “Mr. Lucas, I’ve found the multi-headed fil you were looking for.”

  A burly man, engaged in versation with his panions, turo look.

  The man was dressed in military uniform, with a high-ranking insignia dispyed promily. Charlot, not well-versed in military symbols, could only make a rough judgment based on their plexity.

  Lucas’s eyes lit up when he saw Louis produce the multi-headed fil. He strode over, picked it up lightly, gave it a shake, and said, “The entment is pletely broken. it be repaired?”

  Louis replied with a smile, “Master Leo is here, a the entment won’t be an issue.”

  Luodded. “I’ll take it. How much?”

  Louis responded, “We’re old friends. I’ll charge you only 140 écu.”

  Luodded again. “Fix the entment and deliver it to my residence.”

  Louis agreed with a smile, and Lucas, without further words, returo his versation.

  Louis led Charlot to a secluded er and said in a low voice, “This multi-headed fil requires re-entment, which will cost about 50 écu. I’m willing to purchase it for 75 écu. What do you think?”

  Charlot smiled faintly. “Agreed.”

  The price was already higher than he had anticipated.

  Louis pulled out his wallet, ted fifteen 50-flor banknotes, and hahem to Charlot. “A pleasure doing business with you.”

  Holy, Charlot had never handled such high-denomination banknotes before. Not just 50-flor notes—he hadn’t even seen 20-flor he rgest denomination he’d ever used was 10 flor.

  He carefully ied the notes using teiques he’d lear school, firmed their authenticity, and pced them into his wallet. Smiling, he said, “Louis, I’m lucky to have met you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known what to do.”

  “This is my first time doing business.”

  Louis ughed heartily. “For future transas like this, don’t hesitate to visit my shop.”

  After a brief exge of pleasantries, Louis said, “With Miss Annie apanying you, it would be improper for me to linger. I’ll leave you two to your affairs. ime, I’ll personally share some secrets about the business world and aus.”

  He hahe package to the servant who had been following him aed with a smile.

  Annie whispered, “Louis is a shrewd mert. Be cautious when dealing with him.”

  Charlot nodded. He didn’t think he’d have many opportuo trade with Louis Simy iure.

  Where would he find a supply of magical goods?

  The man specialized in high-end merdise.

  Charlot discreetly tucked his wallet into his inner coat pocket, pressing it down for extra security. The weight of the thick stack of banknotes gave him a sense of safety.

  Even in his previous life, he had never held such a rge sum.

  Seventy-five écu, roughly equivalent to 2 to 2.2 million yuan, was enough to buy a house—or at least make a down payment.

  Charlot and Annie wahrough the old mansion, gradually getting a sense of how aus worked in this era.

  Before the official au began, guests were allowed to trade privately. Those uo reach a satisfactory deal or unhappy with the offers would then submit their magical items to the au.

  The Fars Empire had no formal au institutions, and erce was still underdeveloped. As such, these aus heavily relied on the reputation of their anizers.

  After strolling for a short while, Annie whispered, “I see him. Let’s avoid tact for noretend we don’t know each other.”

  Charlot smiled faintly. Following Annie’s guidance, he spotted the figure of Mr. Yanmills, a man with whom he shared a plex history.

  Mr. Yanmills was a tall, brooding man in his forties or fifties. His impeccable attire dispyed attention to every detail. Holding a e adorned with gold filigree and a gemstone, he exuded an air of extravagahat starkly trasted with military austerity. His other hand ched into a fist, betraying a flicker of turbuleion.

  Charlot watched as Mr. Yanmills strode past, his expression unreadable.