171: You're the one who got scammed! You're the one who ended up paying an exorbitant price!

"Tonight's appetizer is a discontinued Patek Philippe watch, with a starting bid of fifty thousand black gold coins!"

On the stage...

The clown host roared at the top of his lungs, spittle flying everywhere.

A few signs were raised sporadically below the stage.

In the private box, Chen Du swirled his wine glass with little interest, not even bothering to lift an eyelid.

"Boring."

Lin Keke leaned on the armrest of the sofa, twirling her hair with her fingers: "You have to spend money to buy this kind of trash gear? The game's economic system must be broken, right? Better to buy two crates of Happy Water with that money."

After several consecutive items—antique paintings, calligraphy, and jewelry—either failed to sell or were sold at low prices, the atmosphere of the venue became somewhat dull.

Until—

"Everyone! The main event is here!"

The clown suddenly let out a strange cry and yanked off the black cloth covering a cage in the center of the stage.

Clatter!

The spotlights pounced on it like hungry wolves.

Inside the cage were four girls.

Rarity increases value.

Although these four girls were in rags and covered in injuries, one could still see their beautiful faces and unique temperaments.

Especially the one huddled in the furthest corner.

Those signature black frames perched on her pert nose bridge instead revealed a kind of shattered beauty.

Her exposed skin was dazzlingly white under the lights, forming a strong visual contrast with the dirty iron cage around her.

That miserable appearance of falling into the dust instantly aroused the most primitive tyranny and desire for conquest in the hearts of the men.

Liu Ting!

"This is the so-called Elite Blind Box!"

The clown slapped the bars and shouted, "Four in total! All high-achieving students from prestigious universities who have awakened rare life-type talents! Whether used as personal maids or for... breeding superior offspring, they are all top-tier!"

Boom!

"I want that short-haired one! Her gaze has enough kick!"

"Don't push! I'll bid a hundred thousand!"

The male hormones below the stage instantly exploded.

"It's Liu Ting..."

Xia Xin covered her mouth, tears welling up.

"And the Arts Representative from the class next door..." Tang Ran's fists clenched with a cracking sound, her wild aura almost uncontrollable, "Captain! Let's tear this shitty shop apart!"

"Don't be in a hurry."

Chen Du put down his wine glass, his voice flat.

"Since it's an auction, let's play by the rules."

By now, the price below the stage had already reached three hundred thousand.

"Five hundred thousand!"

In the neighboring box, Thunder Shock's raspy voice spread throughout the venue via a loudspeaker.

He looked provocatively toward Chen Du's direction, his mechanical prosthetic eye flickering with red light: "I'm taking these four top-tier pieces back to let my brothers have a taste! If some people can't afford to play, they should get lost early!"

The entire venue fell silent.

Five hundred thousand for four women with no combat power; this was already an overpayment.

A playful curl appeared at the corner of Chen Du's mouth.

He lightly raised a single finger.

"One million."

Boom—!

The scene erupted!

Directly doubling it? Is this the money power of a big shot?

"One... one million?"

The clown was so excited he almost ate the microphone, "A VIP on the second floor bids one million! Is there any..."

"One point five million!"

The walnut in Thunder Shock's hand creaked as it was squeezed, his mechanical eye spinning frantically.

He slammed a palm onto the railing, and the solid wood armrest instantly shattered!

He was used to acting tyrannically in Blackgold Harbor.

Having just been blasted by a cannon was already a huge loss of face; if he lost to this outsider in terms of financial power as well, where would the Sky Dome Chamber of Commerce's face go in the future?

"Two million."

Chen Du's voice remained lazy, as if he were just ordering from a menu.

"Fuck! Two point five million!" Thunder Shock's eyes were bloodshot as he followed up through gritted teeth.

"Three million."

Chen Du followed instantly.

He didn't even bother to look at the bid screen.

He just nonchalantly swirled his wine glass and gave Thunder Shock a "please continue" gesture.

The mockery at the corner of his mouth was more lethal than any words.

"Idiot... he's a fucking idiot!"

Thunder Shock's blood pressure surged, "Three million just to buy a few women? Fine! I'll play with you! I'll see exactly how much money you have!"

"Three point five million!"

When he roared out this number, his voice was trembling.

This was almost the majority of the black gold coins he had brought this time!

But he was certain that since Chen Du dared to follow like this, he would definitely increase the price again.

As soon as the other party added one more bid, he would immediately withdraw and let this sucker foot the bill!

Thunder Shock stared fixedly at Chen Du's box, waiting for that shout of four million.

However.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds passed.

That white-clothed figure suddenly grinned and picked up his wine glass again.

Chen Du raised his glass toward Thunder Shock's box, a signature bright smile appearing on his face.

"Impressive, impressive. Boss Thunder is indeed wealthy and generous!"

"Three point five million for four vases. This level of vision, this little brother is full of admiration!"

"They're yours!"

Gah?

The entire venue was dead silent.

Even the background music seemed incredibly awkward.

Thunder Shock remained in his roaring posture, his entire body frozen like a stone statue.

His mouth was wide open, his face turning from red to purple, then to green.

He... he's not following?

Just like that... he gave up?

"Three... three point five million once! Three times! Sold!"

Fearing Thunder Shock would go back on his word, the clown dropped the gavel quickly, "Congratulations to Mr. Thunder! You've acquired the top-tier four-piece set!"

"Pfft—!" Thunder Shock almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

Three point five million! How much munitions could that buy? How much fuel? Now it was all stuck in his hands!

"Captain..."

Xia Xin stared blankly at this scene, her eyes full of anxiety, "Are you... are you not going to help them?"

Tang Ran was also anxious: "Chen Du! You have the money, why didn't you..."

"Shh."

Chen Du extended a finger and pressed it against Tang Ran's red lips.

Looking at Thunder Shock next door, who looked like his parents had just died, a cold light flashed in the depths of his eyes.

"Who said I'm not helping?"

"It's just that, as a qualified capitalist, we must learn to spend every penny where it counts."

Chen Du smiled like a fox that had stolen a chicken.

"Spending three million on a few people who are destined not to wait is something only a sucker would do."

"I need to save my money to bid on the grand finale items."

"As for Liu Ting and the others..."

Chen Du paused, his gaze becoming dangerous and wild.

"Once we step out of this door, whether Thunder Shock can even stay alive is unknown, isn't it?"

"Auctioning is a business, but intercepting... that's a craft."

This wave of logical closure directly stunned all the girls present.

Is this the so-called... 'As long as I have no morals, you can't kidnap me'?

"So that's how it is! I knew the Captain wouldn't just stand by and watch!"

Lin Keke's eyes had already turned into stars.

Her hanging heart finally settled, and she pounced over to wrap her arms around Chen Du's neck, giving him a loud 'mwah' on the cheek.

"Brilliant! Captain, you're so bad!"

"First make that bald guy bleed money, then turn around and loot his gear! This play is too smooth! Love it, love it!"

Seeing Lin Keke hanging on Chen Du, An Nuonuo's cheeks instantly puffed out.

"I get it too! I get it too!"

Not wanting to be outdone, she squeezed over and stood on her tiptoes,

Pressing her soft body against him, she also gave Chen Du a heavy kiss on the other cheek.

"Captain is the smartest! That bald guy is a big dummy! Blehh~~"

Flanked by two stunningly beautiful young girls, Chen Du narrowed his eyes in enjoyment.

He looked at Xia Xin and Tang Ran, spreading his hands: "Open up your perspective; some things don't need to be bought."

"As long as our fists are hard enough, the entire world is our free supermarket."

Xia Xin broke into a smile through her tears.

Looking at this man who was full of banditry yet made one feel incredibly at ease, the string in her heart finally loosened.

"You bad egg... you scared me to death."

Just then.

The lights on the stage changed again.

A heart-palpitating pressure faintly seeped out through the sealed container.

Chen Du gently pushed away the two "attachments" on his body and sat up straight.

The [sacrifice notebook] in his mind let out an unprecedented roar.

A line of blood-red characters almost pierced through his retina: [Eat it! At any cost! This is an... Ember of Godhood from the old era!]