"Ah! Baron Sangdir, how could you..."
At first, Fulon thought Puxin wanted to buy the Deep Blue Giant Tiger to take home.
Who would have thought, after the bidding, Puxin handed the pet contract to Fulon.
"It's alright, it's just a small gesture," Puxin smiled.
After all, he had already spent several thousand gold coins today, spending another two hundred gold coins felt like plucking a few hairs after chopping off a leg.
Drizzle, drizzle.
"No, no, what you've given us today is already enough," Fulon firmly declined.
She slowly felt something was amiss, for naivety is not foolishness.
Even being close with Garoce, sending gifts like this would still hurt.
No one spends over two thousand gold coins just to entertain their sister-in-law.
"Mother, we all have our gifts, but Aunt doesn't have one yet!" Lin Ke said with bright eyes, speaking innocently from the side.
Hearing this, Fulon frowned.
Right! Sister Antova had always been kind to her, how could she not have a gift to give?
She might as well buy Baron Sangdir's little tiger! Fulon glanced at the slave contract in front of her, about to speak.
Lin Ke, understanding Fulon's intentions, spoke up beforehand: "Baron Sangdir, how about considering this Deep Blue Giant Tiger as a gift to my aunt? It represents your friendship with Azaenn Castle and goodwill towards the Blando Clan."
The Blando Clan... Puxin was initially hesitant, but hearing this name left him with no choice but to agree.
Otherwise, if word spread that a small baron like him was too stingy to give even a two-hundred gold gift to a lady of the Blando Clan, how could he show his face?
Moreover, he had many private connections with Antova Brand.
He felt it was too difficult to give Fulon a gift.
Previously, the items in the pet shop had been counted as gifts for Lin Ke, and now this had become a gift for Lady Blando.
He realized he'd been spending money for nothing all along!
Blaming this cunning Lin Ke! Baron Puxin glanced at Lin Ke.
...
After a few auction items, it was time for the final product of today's auction.
With the final item, the initially lukewarm atmosphere was revived, and everyone was eager to discuss what this item could be.
"Today's item is a trivial piece from a certain great Celestial Tier professional's stock, possessing deep historical and practical value. Starting bid... ten thousand gold coins!"
The alluring woman on stage announced a staggering number, causing the crowd to erupt.
"Andrew's Leg! What kind of thing would require ten thousand gold coins?! Is it the King's toe? Hahaha."
"Don't say the King's toe, even a strand of hair from the Celestial Melody Saintess wouldn't be worth that much."
"Haha, maybe it's a Divine Artifact from the ancient King of Gods, Zelnytar?"
As the last sentence was spoken, someone nearby laughed and cursed, "Divine Artifact? Who wants such an outdated old relic? Only a fool would consider it a treasure."
At this time, a certain "fool" sitting in the upper stands had his emotions stirred by the woman's words.
"Couldn't have expected such a ten-thousand-gold item at a small auction. Wonder what the auctions in bigger cities are like," Lin Ke mumbled with anticipation.
Those large city auctions, aside from things from the Naseng Continent, surely have items from various other planes, definitely offering more variety.
The alluring female host, seeing the emotions set right, promptly had someone bring up a tray covered with a red cloth.
"This is the highlight item of tonight!"
As she spoke, the hostess lifted the red cloth, revealing the item beneath.
This thing appeared rather ugly, resembling a shriveled, irregular tree root that was half missing.
"What the heck!"
"This thing looks like my wife!"
"Nonsense, it clearly looks like my wife!"
"I don't believe it unless you let me try."
The crowd of lower-tier adventurers quickly focused on some odd directions.
They certainly wouldn't possess ten thousand gold coins; if they did, they wouldn't be living off the swamp here, so they just joked around.
Their crude jokes drew disapproval from the nobles above.
Because even they slightly compared the ugly object to their own wives.
This left them disgruntled, planning to head for a night of pleasure at Pink Street in town.
"Could this be..."
Suddenly, a certain lord stood up, gripping the railing with wide eyes.
"What is it, old man!"
"Say it quick!"
The adventurers below, seeing someone who recognized the item, urged the old man to reveal it.
This was a chance to enhance their understanding; despite the nobles being tightfisted and arrogant, they were generally knowledgeable.
The lord, regaining composure, glanced around the second floor where the nobles were seated.
Two barons were present, one of them being the City Lord of Parrot City, and sitting beside were Lady Fulon and Young Master Lin Ke from Azaenn Castle.
All eyes were on him, urging him to reveal the truth.
The secret couldn't be kept... The lord weighed the circumstances, realizing speaking now could earn favor, and refraining might get him eliminated by the displeased Parrot City Baron later.
The lord then spoke slowly, his voice trembling, "This is... Fishman Root!"
"Fishman Root? What's that?"
"Fishmen have been extinct for years, aren't they? Even an entire plane is devoid of them."
"Root? Is this what fishmen's looks are, so ugly?"
"This is clearly a plant! Plus, fishmen surely exist in some planes, just that no one has ventured there yet."
Adventurers' focus always strays peculiarly.
Now it showcased the educational and knowledgeable gap between nobles and common people.
Beside Lin Ke, Baron Puxin frowned, abruptly standing and stepping to the railing, saying in a deep voice, "Eleven thousand gold coins, I want it! I'm Sangdir Azen."
His tone exuded confidence and dominance, scanning the surroundings, mainly eyeing distant relatives.
They were his primary competitors.
He then directed the female host below, "Send the item straight to me."
The hostess smiled wryly, "Lord Sangdir, that's against the rules..." The bidding hadn't commenced!
Puxin waved his hand, his belly fat jiggling, "I am the rules of Parrot City!" He felt he spoke with overwhelming bravado.
After saying that, he glanced unintentionally at Fulon behind, but she was engaged in conversation with Lin Ke, not noticing him.
This left him slightly disappointed, though his gaze shifted back to the Fishman Root.
Having the Fishman Root would be enough!
"Dear cousin, such a Fishman Root, only for a mere eleven thousand gold coins?"
Suddenly, a slightly lean and sinister man stood up, raised a hand, "Fifteen thousand gold coins!"
"Baron Robert, you're contending with me? Just by your village's finances?" Puxin sneered.
The lean man responded nonchalantly, "Certainly not, relying on my wife's Viscount Clan behind her, and my descendants' outstanding positions and financial controls within it."
"Hmph." Hearing this, Puxin's face darkened, not speaking further, "Sixteen thousand gold coins."
The lean man waved his hand, "Twenty-one thousand gold coins!"
...…
After rounds of bidding, Puxin was lightly sweating on his forehead, while the lean man's expression was no longer relaxed.
"Insanity! So much money!"
"Madness, these two are lunatics!"
"What's Fishman Root supposed to be? It's not some spring herb, is it?"
"Don't compare your foolish stallion self to nobles."
The adventurers continued their chatter below, discussing the actions of the two high-ranking nobles.
After all, they were lone souls, unafraid of noble grudges due to their chatter, at worst diving deep in the swamp to escape it all.
They were more curious about what Fishman Root really was.
Even Lin Ke was extremely curious.