Chapter 368: Chapter 360, City Lord and Lady of the City_l
Eric’s face turned red with excitement as he spoke to Fang Hao.
“Did you see that? She winked at me, amidst all these people, she chose to cast a glance my way. Isn’t this a hint of something?”
His previously relaxed stomach was now sucking in vigorously.
Making himself appear as slender as possible.
“It was just a look, no need to get so worked up!” Fang Hao commented.
“You didn’t see it, she secretly sent me a signal.” Eric mimicked to prove he wasn’t seeing things.
Seeing Fang Hao not responding, Eric continued, “Should I askher to dance or should I sit down with her for a chat?”
“I think it’s better for you to stay away from her. She seems cold. It would be better not to cause trouble for yourself.” Fang Hao advised.
But this kind of advice, apparently, had no effect.
“You’re still too young. A memorable encounter can transform you into a man overnight, remember to seize any opportunity.”
Eric gulped down the drink in his cup and fearlessly walked towards Rolana.
In the middle of the way, he turned his back towards Fang Hao and thumped his chest.
Giving an impression of, ‘watch me perform.’
Once Eric left, Anjia whispered, “How come she is here?”
Anjia was unaware that Rolana was coming.
“Ah! Don’t mention it. She’s the one who sent these gowns.” Fang Hao said helplessly.
“You better pray that nobody provokes her, or else she is capable of killing everyone here.” Anjia, all the while munching on a pastry, continued speaking.
“Stop talking, I’m starting to feel a bit apprehensive now.”
Being able to kill all the nobles here and then leave is within Rolana’s capability.
That is the thing Fang Hao was worried about.
However, currently, Rolana’s emotions seemed stable.
The gentlemen who came forward to invite her to dance were all declined by Rolana. No abnormality was encountered.
However, when the chubby Eric came near.
Rolana curiously glanced at Fang Hao, her eyes filled with doubts.
She thought that Eric was arranged by Fang Hao.
Since Rolana did not directly tell him off, Eric further confirmed his uniqueness.
He glanced back at Fang Hao boastfully and directly sat down next to Rolana.
After sitting for a while, Eric returned.
He came back to where Fang Hao was.
“Why did you come back?” Fang Hao asked curiously.
“A man shouldn’t appear too enthusiastic, he should gradually progress. Leaving a good first impression on each other is enough.” Eric confidently said, flicking his hair.
Fang Hao remained somewhat speechless.
He didn’t want to continue on this topic and asked curiously, “Who is the woman beside Lei Li?”
“Hmm? Do you like this type?” Eric was stunned, “That’s Lei Li’s woman, Deborah. This woman is wild. I heard that men who slept with her needed to rest for a few days.”
“Ah? Lei Li’s woman and others dare to touch her?” Fang Hao exclaimed.
“Well… Lei Li doesn’t care about these things. Deborah is very open-minded. You can try it, maybe you can take her away tonight.” Eric lowered his voice even more.
It’s better to be more careful while discussing Lei Li.
Being able to reach his present position through his mafia connections, Lei Li’s competency and means are sufficiently proven.
“Forget about it.” Fang Hao shook his head.
During their conversation.
The music in the hall suddenly stopped.
People left the dance floor and returned to their seats.
A butler dressed in a suit stepped onto the stage.
After lightly clapping his hands, he announced loudly, “Thank you all for waiting. Please welcome Lord Aubrey, and Lady Rebecca.”
The music started once again.
Lord Aubrey and Rebecca appeared together on the second floor.
But the two didn’t come down, instead, they waved at everyone from a location where the stage was visible.
Whoosh!!
As soon as they appeared, the entire hall buzzed like a swarm of bees.
Aubrey was dressed in a green suit embroidered with golden lines, while Rebecca wore a black, body-hugging cheongsam for the banquet.
The black cheongsam perfectly fit her body.
The full contours of Rebecca were fully revealed, the raised areas weren’t flabby at all. The dress slightly tightened at her waist, accentuating her waist and plump buttocks, especially the slits at the sides, revealing her rounded and fair legs.
Beauty and coquettishness, solemn and elegant, all showing in one woman.
Both, the gentlemen of graceful demeanor, and ladies dressed extravagantly, were watching with wide eyes.
Contrary to Rebecca’s astonishing appearance, Lord Aubrey appeared rather gloomy.
Plus, his sallow face, deeply sunken eyes, and a blackened area around them, made him look like a gravely ill father standing next to his daughter.
“Lord Aubrey, Lady Rebecca.” The crowd below saluted.
“Hmm, everyone, take your seats, let’s begin the auction now!”
Lord Aubrey spoke, then together with Rebecca, they both sat down on the second floor.
The people below returned to their seats.
The butler from just now took the stage again to start the day’s auction.
Without much of an introduction, he announced directly, “Alright, ladies and gentlemen, we’re now selling the goods from the first warehouse. There are a total of 102 oil paintings, priced at 5000 Gold Coins each, with each bid must being at least too Gold Coins.”
A few people stepped onto the stage.
They showed three oil paintings as samples to the audience.
Two landscape paintings, and one painting of a young woman.
“That woman is the wife of ‘Dowie’, I have seen her before.” Eric was again quietly sharing.
“Oh!” Fang Hao nodded.
Dowie…
It sounded like a familiar name, but for the moment, he couldn’t remember where he knew it from.
However, what surprised Fang Hao the most was that the auction was conducted on a warehouse by warehouse basis.
The categories of the items were already predefined, then collectively sold off.
This gives a sense of blind box opening.
The chances of finding hidden treasures in the warehouse, however, are low.
After all, they’re selling with their eyes wide open, while you’re buying with your eyes tightly shut.
“Ibid, 5100!”
“5200…”
Very quickly, people started bidding.
And prices rose rapidly, reaching ten thousand gold coins within two minutes.
Fang Hao himself lacked any artistic sense and held little interest in paintings.
He did not join in the bidding, but instead turned to Eric beside him and asked in a soft voice, “Mr. Eric, I have a question.”
“Yes, go ahead!”
“I came from outside the city and don’t quite understand why Lady Rebecca goes to the Federal Conference while the City Lord is still alive.”
This has always been a question in Fang Hao’s mind.
The roles of the City Lord and his wife seemed somewhat unusual.
Moreover, Rebecca has the power to command the city’s armies. This left Fang Hao more confused about who truly holds power in Lyss City.
“The affairs of the City Lord’s Mansion are not easily explained.” Eric hesitated, wanting to speak but swallowed his words.
“Just say it. I’m just curious and won’t spread it out.” Fang Hao promised.
Eric was talkative by nature and couldn’t resist after Fang Hao’s multiple assurances.
He began to tell everything he knew about the City Lord’s Mansion.
Rebecca was not originally from this city.
She came to Lyss City when the former City Lord was still alive.
Very quickly, Rebecca displayed excellent administrative abilities and took up the position of an administrative deputy within the city.
After the old City Lord had an accident, logically Rebecca should have succeeded him.
However, when the news of the City Lord’s replacement reached the Federal Conference, problems arose.
The Conference questioned Rebecca’s half-elf status, believing that she would not completely side with the humans when faced with a choice.
Thus, the matter of the City Lord’s succession staled for a while.
Later, a sudden message from the City Lord’s Mansion stirred the city.
Rebecca had married the current Lord Aubrey, with Aubrey becoming the City Lord.
However, the core power of the city still laid in Rebecca’s hands.
“I’ve heard that the City Lord and Lady Rebecca aren’t as close as they seem, they barely even talk to each other.” Eric didn’t stop once he started.
Fang Hao didn’t ask any further.
Eric just let everything he knew and heard spill out.
After listening carefully, Fang Hao instinctively looked at Lord Aubrey.
He saw that the woman standing next to Lei Li was constantly throwing flirtatious glances at Aubrey.
“Ah, so that’s how it is,” Fang Hao nodded, understanding everything.
No wonder Rebecca was able to mobilize all the city’s troops with just one sentence.
She is the true core of power in the city, and because the Conference questioned her identity, they put forward a figurehead City Lord.
With their conversation, the paintings in this warehouse were finally sold for 10,500 gold coins to a nobleman.
The first auctioned warehouse netted over ten thousand gold coins, which pleased the auctioneer.
The auction for the second warehouse’s items commenced immediately after.
It was full of high-end items, such as porcelain cups, lanterns, etcetera, in large quantities.
After the bidding, the items were sold for a price of twenty thousand gold coins. “Alright, next are the items in the third warehouse. There are 56 collectibles in total, including 37 pieces of artifacts, 13 paintings and calligraphies, 5 sculptures and one specimen. The starting bid is 10,000 gold coins, each increment must be no less than 100,” the auctioneer loudly introduced.
Behind him, three sample items were brought out.
A huge oil painting measuring two meters, an animal sculpture, and a shiny silvered thin-blade knife.
Upon seeing this familiar weapon, Fang Hao’s eyebrows immediately furrowed. It was part of Little You’s Expiation Weapon Series.
Glancing at Little You, she kept her eyes straight ahead, standing silently behind Lei Li.
He wasn’t interested in any of the collectibles in this warehouse, nor did he have the ability to appreciate them.
However, he had to get this Expiation Weapon.
The relationship between the Lord and the Hero was reciprocal. While the hero serves the Lord, Fang Hao also had to support and develop them.
Each Expiation Weapon would greatly level up Little You’ s rank.
Hence, he had to buy this warehouse, even if the rest of the items were rubbish.
“10100.” A man in the front position was the first to bid.
“10200.”
“10300.”
…”80500.”
When the bid reached 80500, the bidding paused.
To everyone present, it seemed these items were worth no more than 80,000 gold coins.
Seeing no one else bidding, Fang Hao began to bid, “81000.”
Unexpectedly, someone in the back started bidding.
Everyone turned around and looked to the back.
Eric’s face momentarily froze, he gave an awkward smile, pointing at Fang Hao.
Indicating it was him who had made the bid, and had nothing to do with himself.
“81500.”
The man who had bid prior to Fang Hao continued, raising the price by 500.
“82000.” Fang Hao raised the bid.
The man looked carefully at Fang Hao, then bid again, “82500.”
At the same time he said, “I’m only interested in two of the artworks, which are worth this much. If you continue to bid, young man, then I will step down.”