Chapter 459: Chapter 459: The Auction

Meanwhile.

Long Ming walked out of the Star Canon Auction house.

The selling price wasn’t quite what he’d hoped for, but at least he’d finally scraped together enough money.

Long Ming lifted his wristband to check the date. The Star Trace Auction was set to begin the day after tomorrow.

He had nearly given up hope, but it turned out he had made it just in time.

Long Ming immediately booked a ship ticket to Omro Planet.

As he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed a rather large auction house next door.

After a few seconds of thought, Long Ming headed toward the World Commerce Auction House.

As he entered the World Commerce Auction House, a sharp-looking man in a black suit walked up to greet him.

"Sir, how may I help you?"

"Do you purchase ores here?"

"Of course we do."

Oury replied with a smile.

"What’s the buyback price for Bloodgleam Ore?"

"May I ask if you have the mining permits and so on?"

"And if I don’t?"

"Then we can only offer 50% of the market price."

"That low?"

Long Ming’s brows furrowed instantly.

"That’s very generous. I can guarantee that no one else on this entire street will offer a higher price."

"Alright."

"I wonder how much you have?"

Oury looked at Long Ming with great expectation.

"I was just asking."

With that, Long Ming turned and left.

"Tch, what a waste of my damn time."

Oury cursed irritably at Long Ming’s departing back.

...

「Three days later. Morning.」

Omro Planet Fortress.

Long Ming appeared at the entrance of the Star Trace Auction.

The area was filled with top-of-the-line hover cars, each with a dedicated attendant standing beside it.

Crowds of elegantly dressed men with refined manners and noblewomen adorned with expensive jewelry chatted and laughed as they entered the Star Trace Auction.

Long Ming’s expression flickered for a moment before he walked forward.

When he reached the entrance, two guards in exoskeleton armor extended their arms to block his path.

"Sir, please present your membership card."

"I need to get one."

Long Ming said in a hoarse voice.

He had been about to take out his membership card but changed his mind at the last second.

The two guards glanced at each other, then called out.

"Xiaonan!"

"What is it?"

Xiaonan immediately rushed over.

"Get me a membership card."

Long Ming said coldly.

"Of course, this way please!"

Xiaonan enthusiastically invited Long Ming inside.

"Are you about to hold a grand auction here?"

"That’s right, you’ve come at the perfect time. Once you have your membership card, you can participate."

"Mm."

Long Ming nodded.

He quickly spent 100,000 Star Coins to get another membership card. Just as he was about to follow the crowd to Auction Hall 1, he suddenly spotted two familiar figures.

Buxheli was fawning over Ainiluo with a wide grin.

"Don’t worry, this time I’ll definitely win you a brand-new Mechanical God so you can put Qian Luobing in her place!"

"That’s more like it. But I’m warning you, if you mess up like last time, I’m done with you."

"Don’t worry, it absolutely won’t happen this time."

"Hmph."

Ainiluo, looking very pleased, looped her arm through Buxheli’s and headed toward Auction Hall 1.

Long Ming murmured in a low voice, "Interesting!"

Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance.

Long Ming turned to look.

He saw Affatesge accompanying Young Master Gentan, walking in surrounded by an entourage.

Long Ming stared, his gaze flickering.

He had long known that Gentan had his eyes on the Type III Genetic Potion, but seeing him here in person, Long Ming still felt an immense pressure.

After all, these cosmic nobles were truly loaded.

But there was nothing he could do now. He could only take it one step at a time.

At that moment, Agor also walked in with Helorin.

Long Ming was a little surprised to see Helorin. He hadn’t expected her to attend the auction as well.

Just then, Helorin felt as if someone was watching her. She subconsciously turned her head and looked in Long Ming’s direction.

But after looking for a long while, she didn’t see anyone she recognized.

"What is it?"

Agor asked in a low voice, noticing that Helorin seemed to be looking for someone.

"It’s nothing."

Helorin replied respectfully.

Agor asked thoughtfully.

"Is that friend of yours from last time also attending the auction?"

"I doubt it. After all, the items being auctioned this time are all very expensive."

Helorin shook her head slightly.

"Mm."

Agor nodded slightly.

Long Ming quietly watched Helorin and the others walk away.

Suddenly, Long Ming felt a strange gaze on him and turned to his right.

He saw Fumira, leading a group of people, glaring at him while gritting his teeth.

If he weren’t forcefully suppressing his rage, he would have already charged forward.

Long Ming paid him no mind and followed the crowd directly into Auction Hall 1.

The interior of the auction hall was magnificent and grand.

The first floor could accommodate five thousand people, and all the chairs were expensive leather seats.

As for the second-floor VIP booths, they were transparent and open-style.

Nearly half the seats in the auction hall were already filled, and the crowd was eagerly discussing the upcoming lots.

"What are you planning to bid on this time?"

"A Mechanical God, of course!"

"Oh? Which generation are you bidding on?"

"A third-generation. The fourth-generation ones are too expensive."

...

Long Ming scanned his surroundings, found an empty corner to sit in, and patiently waited for the auction to begin.

Time ticked by, second by second.

The entire auction hall was almost full.

Long Ming was quite surprised.

’The membership cards for this Star Trace Auction are so expensive, yet so many people have them. It seems I’ve underestimated the number of wealthy people out there.’

The pressure on Long Ming mounted even higher.

At that moment, spotlights illuminated the auction stage at the very front.

CLICK!

The entire auction stage split open.

A middle-aged man in a white shirt and black formal suit, exuding an extraordinary air, rose up from below.

He gave an elegant bow to all the guests present.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Star Trace for this grand auction feast. I am your auctioneer, Auri, and I will be overseeing today’s event. I hope to provide you all with a perfect experience."

CLAP CLAP~

The venue immediately erupted in enthusiastic applause.

’It’s finally starting.’

Long Ming felt a surge of excitement.

"I’m sure you are all eager to begin, but before we do, I must explain the rules for this auction. The format is a competitive bidding model where the highest bidder wins. Bids are to be made by raising your paddle. Of course, I hope you will all think carefully before raising your paddle. The consequences for malicious bidding and failure to pay are very severe."

Auri said to the crowd with a smile.

After hearing this, the people in the audience began to murmur among themselves.

"Alright, I now declare the auction officially open! Our first lot is the ownership of mining planet CW-03 in the Guangxiao Star Sea. The starting price is 50,000,000 Star Coins!"

"60,000,000!"

...

One by one, guests in the audience raised their paddles.

Inside VIP Booth 7.

Agor looked at Helorin and asked calmly.

"What do you think of the first lot?"

"It’s very good. Mining planet CW-03 contains Grade-3 rare ores. Its value far exceeds the current bidding price."

"Oh? So you think we should bid for it?"

"No. A resource planet is only valuable if you can actually mine it. Planet CW-03 is too close to the front lines. The Third Expeditionary Army has been faring poorly in recent battles. Even Guangxiao Planet is at risk of being lost, let alone this mining planet."

Helorin analyzed calmly.

"Mm."

Agor nodded in satisfaction.

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