Lin Yi calmly arrived at the first floor, where a large group of busybodies had already gathered. Standing in the center was Honest Chai and a few middle-aged men dressed as businessmen.
"Shopkeeper Chai, today is the day of the auction. I heard that your Hong Merchant Association has prepared quite a few good items. Can you take them out and let us old friends have a look?" One of the middle-aged men said with a smile that wasn't a smile.
"Shopkeeper Hao, before the auction ends, we are not allowed to divulge the information of the auction items. This is a clear rule of the Morning Star Auction. However, the auction items of your Prestigious Metropolis Association seem to have caused quite a commotion recently?" Honest Chai replied in a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing.
"Haha, our Prestigious Metropolis Association is not like your Hong Merchant Association who hides things. As the saying goes, don't tell others if you have nothing to say. Since it is something that is destined to be auctioned, what's wrong with letting everyone know a few days in advance? At least we can be mentally prepared. Furthermore, this is approved by the Morning Star Academy. Even if you want to complain, there's no use. "Shopkeeper Hao said with a confident smile.
"That's right, Shopkeeper Chai, have you forgotten? In order to warm up the auction, every merchant association can divulge one or two items in advance. Of course, it has to be something good. However, I don't think we've heard of the Hong Merchant Association divulging anything." Another middle-aged man dressed as a shopkeeper said maliciously.
"Shopkeeper Jin, they are different from us. If they have something good, they will hide it well. Who asked them to be the sole supplier of the Morning Star Academy? Of course, they have to do things with style." Shopkeeper Hao said.
"Hehe, Shopkeeper Hao's words are wrong. I don't think they have anything good to take out. From what I see, the sole supplier for the Morning Star Academy will fall into the hands of your Aristocratic Guild. After all, a set of ten Golden Condensing Nascent Pills is a huge sum of money. In the future, please take good care of my Gold Chamber of Commerce. "Shopkeeper Jin said, echoing each other.
"Of course, of course. However, we still have to ask Shopkeeper Chai. They are the final item of the auction. What if they are hiding something big? Shopkeeper Chai, why don't you divulge it? "Shopkeeper Hao glanced at Honest Chai.
"Shopkeeper Hao, Shopkeeper Jin, did you come here just for this?" Honest Chai looked at the two of them with a smile that didn't seem like a smile. Before Lin Yi came, his heart was filled with trepidation. But now, a set of ten Golden Condensing Nascent Pills? That was nothing!
"Sort of." Manager Hao and Manager Jin looked at each other and smiled. Actually, they had already investigated the background of the Hong Chamber of Commerce. This time, the Hong Chamber of Commerce was basically forced to the edge of a cliff. There was absolutely no chance for them to make a comeback, unless the sun rose from the west.
"Then I'm really sorry. Not revealing one's wealth has always been the motto of our Hong Merchant Guild. Regardless of whether it's an explicit rule of the auction, as long as it's an item that our Hong Merchant Guild is providing, we will not leak any information before the auction to prevent any loss of fairness. If the two of you are really curious, why don't you wait a little longer? In any case, the auction is about to begin." Honest Chai said indifferently.
"What a great 'loss of fairness'. How admirable. Shopkeeper Chai, you're clearly trying to keep everyone's curiosity in suspense!" Manager Hao said indifferently.
"Suspense doesn't matter. Since they're the grand finale, they have to put on a show. I'm just afraid that in the end, they won't be able to bring out anything decent. That would be a real joke! At that time, I don't think the Hong Merchant Guild will need to embarrass themselves anymore. They should just close down as soon as possible. That way, they can at least preserve some of their reputation. What do you say, Shopkeeper Chai? "Shopkeeper Jin mocked without the slightest scruple.
"Hehe, Shopkeeper Jin must be joking. Up until now, the Hong Merchant Guild has never closed down a single branch. Naturally, they won't set a precedent with me. However, the situation of your Golden Chamber of Commerce doesn't seem too optimistic. Recently, five branches have already closed down. I wonder how much longer Shopkeeper Jin's side can last?" Honest Chai glanced at him and said.
"You!" Shopkeeper Jin was instantly choked speechless. The Golden Chamber of Commerce wasn't a grand merchant guild. It couldn't be compared to a top-notch merchant guild like the Hong Merchant Guild. Recently, due to poor management, the Golden Chamber of Commerce had closed down five branches. This was already a serious blow. If this continued, the entire merchant guild might collapse.
Helpless, the Golden Chamber of Commerce finally decided to fully support the Metropolis Guild. They wanted to use this opportunity to tide over this crisis. It was also because of this reason that Shopkeeper Jin was desperately trying to flatter Shopkeeper Hao. Shopkeeper Hao might very well become his direct superior in the future.
"Haha, Shopkeeper Chai, it seems like you've just arrived and aren't well-informed. With our Metropolis Guild backing you up, it won't be easy for the Golden Chamber of Commerce to collapse. If you have the time, you should worry more about yourself." Shopkeeper Hao glanced at Honest Chai with disdain and immediately left with Shopkeeper Jin.
"Take care. I won't be sending you off." Honest Chai calmly waved his hand as if he wasn't going to budge, causing the surrounding crowd to look at him in a new light.
Lin Yi slightly nodded his head at this scene. Although Honest Chai didn't have much of an aura to speak of and always gave others a feeling of weakness and being easily bullied, from his neither servile nor overbearing demeanor, it seemed like this fellow was still capable of standing on the stage.
Of course, this was all thanks to Lin Yi. If it weren't for the Seventh Grade Dan he had refined in the past few days, Honest Chai's heart would have been extremely weak. Facing Shopkeeper Hao and the others, he naturally wouldn't be so confident.
"You've come out of seclusion!" Seeing Lin Yi come out, Honest Chai quickly and respectfully welcomed him. The surrounding crowd couldn't help but raise their eyebrows. What was this young man's background? Just a moment ago, Shopkeeper Chai was neither servile nor overbearing. How did he turn into a lackey the moment he saw him?
"The auction is about to begin, right?" Lin Yi asked.
"That's right, Old Chui has already sent the auction items over. Why don't we head over now?" Honest Chai asked.
"Alright." Lin Yi nodded and the two of them immediately set off for the auction. Although the Morning Star Auction was hosted by Morning Star Academy, it wasn't held within the academy itself. Instead, it was held in a large building in Morning Star City named the First Pavilion.
Arriving at the entrance of the First Pavilion, Lin Yi raised his head and couldn't help but exclaim, "This pavilion is really big."
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