Chapter 4830 — The Sole Supplier

A ring of exquisitely lavish private boxes had been built around the perimeter, and below them lay a vast, empty floor scattered with several hundred seats. At the very center of the floor stood a conspicuous raised platform—clearly the podium for this grand auction.

Wei Zhao took in the magnificent, ornate spectacle and could not help clicking his tongue in secret admiration. He had attended auctions of very high caliber before—both the one on the Far North Isle and the one on the Central Isle would surely count as first-rate—but setting everything else aside, the staging alone fell a notch short of what lay before him now. Truly, this was East Continent for you!

The moment Wei Zhao and Old Chai stepped through the door, the first thing they saw was Steward Hao and Steward Jin, who had arrived ahead of them. Catching sight of Old Chai, the two men's faces immediately broke into knowing, mocking smiles.

"Steward Chai, I didn't expect we'd be meeting again so soon. So tell me, where are your seats?" Steward Hao asked with a leer. As for Wei Zhao, he did not spare him a single glance, taking him for nothing more than a petty hanger-on.

"Number One," Old Chai said, pointing toward the floor ahead. Table One was the table nearest the podium—a rather good seat by any measure.

"Ooh, that does sound impressive. But I hear that this time, anyone of even slight standing has a private box of their own. What's the meaning of this? Does the great Hong Clan Merchant Guild not even rate a box, and has to squeeze in down below with the ordinary disciples? Tsk, tsk!" Steward Jin seized the moment to jump in with his mockery.

Old Chai's expression shifted slightly. This was indeed a thorn in his heart. This grand auction was plainly a joint effort by the other competitors to target the Hong Clan Merchant Guild, and Morning Star Academy, which ought to have been an impartial, neutral judge, had already revealed its stance through the seating arrangement alone.

Table One might sound distinguished, but in truth it was nothing more than a roasting rack for the Hong Clan Merchant Guild, good only for making them a laughingstock. Otherwise, given the guild's standing, they should at the very least have rated a VIP box—and one in the top ten, no less!

"Heh, from the sound of that, Steward Jin, your Jinyu Merchant Guild must have been assigned a box, have you? I wonder which number it is?" Old Chai shot back, striking straight at the face.

"I—" Steward Jin was choked speechless once more. His old face flushed, and he shrank his neck back. As if! His Jinyu Merchant Guild was on the verge of collapse; managing to attend this grand auction at all was fortunate enough. How could they possibly rate a VIP box?!

"Number Twelve!" Steward Hao suddenly answered on his behalf. "That's my Haomen Metropolis's box. The Jinyu Merchant Guild may not have one, but it has become a vassal guild of my Haomen Metropolis, so naturally it can enter the box with me. I wonder, Steward Chai, whether you might be interested in the same?"

"Chai Laoshi, I suggest you wise up and agree while you can. The Hong Clan Merchant Guild may have a grand name, but it can't save your Morning Star Branch. Throw in your lot with Steward Hao and at least you'll keep a bowl of rice. And you won't have to squeeze in down below with the ordinary disciples for all to mock. We're all businessmen who care about appearances—we have faces to keep. Wouldn't you say?" Steward Jin chimed in.

"Yes, quite right. I do care about my face. It's a pity you don't care about yours, which is why I'd best keep my distance from Your Excellency—lest I be laughed at too," Old Chai said, glancing at him askance.

To be looked at like that, the way one looks at a dog, right to his face—Steward Jin nearly exploded with rage. Had the hall not been packed with Morning Star Academy's guard disciples, he might well have lunged at Old Chai for a fight. Never mind that he really was a dog at Steward Hao's heel these days—who tore open another man's scars to his face like that?!

"Hmph. You won't shed tears till you see the coffin. Once this grand auction is over, it'll be too late even if you come begging. By then your Morning Star Branch won't even be fit to be a vassal of my Haomen Metropolis. Just wait for bankruptcy," Steward Hao said coldly, then swept off with Steward Jin in tow.

Wei Zhao and Old Chai exchanged a glance, too disdainful of this clown to waste another look on him, and walked straight to Table One to take their seats. The grand auction was about to begin. People of every description were filing in one after another, and within mere moments the whole hall had grown loud with the hum of voices, bustling and lively.

Wei Zhao swept his gaze around and found that this place was, as expected, Morning Star Academy's stronghold—more than half of those in the hall were disciples in Morning Star Academy attire, while the rest came from every walk of life imaginable. One thing, however, was certain: all of them must have considerable backing and connections, or they could never have obtained admission.

With so many Morning Star Academy disciples about, Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao might well be among them. Wei Zhao immediately wanted to extend his divine sense to probe, only to find that his divine sense simply would not function here—as if some special formation shrouded the place, screening it off completely.

With no other choice, since he could not probe with his divine sense, Wei Zhao had to confirm them one by one with his own eyes. The trouble was, there was no way to manage the people in those VIP boxes—unless the curtains were drawn and the angle just right, there was simply no seeing inside.

Having swept his gaze over everyone in the hall, Wei Zhao sat back down at last in disappointment. There was no trace of Wang Xinyan or Huang Xiaotao among them. Still, on reflection it was hardly surprising—the two of them were, after all, the only two personal disciples of the East Sea Divine Nun. Given her standing, if they had come, being allotted a VIP box would be perfectly normal.

Amid the bustle, the Morning Star Grand Auction finally opened. An old man with white hair and a boyish face, his beard snowy white, stepped onto the central podium under the gaze of the crowd, and there followed a flood of flowery opening remarks. This old man, it turned out, was the official host specially invited by Morning Star Academy.

The white-bearded elder was responsible only for the opening words. The next person to step onto the podium made Wei Zhao's eyes light up—here was a familiar face: Ling Yuanqing, the headmaster of Morning Star Academy!

Compared with the white-bearded elder's grandiloquence, Headmaster Ling Yuanqing's words were far more brief: "Ladies and gentlemen, after five years, the Morning Star Grand Auction is convened once again. I trust that every merchant guild has already submitted its most valuable offerings, and that they will surely treat you all to an auction feast beyond imagination. As stipulated in advance, the guild whose lots fetch the highest total today shall become this academy's sole supplier. I ask you all to await the spectacle with patience. And now—let us begin." (To be continued.)