“Okay.”
At this point, Dylan Harding somewhat understood the seriousness of the situation and promptly got up to leave.
An hour later, Dylan Harding returned with an elderly man with white hair. The old man, clearly disgruntled, immediately said, “James Harding, if this isn’t an astounding secret treasure, I wouldn’t be here to appraise it for you. You’re a traitor, deserving of punishment by all.”
He was not fond of the Harding family. He was a man of honor. However, he also had a family to care for, and sometimes, he was forced to do certain things.
Still, he dared to berate James Harding. After all, he was the most respected antique appraiser in Mountland, the chairman of the Antique Association, and had connections with many bigwigs. Of course, this was just short of openly criticizing them.
“Here, take a look.”
James Harding didn’t mind, he was used to it.
This old man. He won’t live much longer anyway.
“Hmph.”
Master Lawson snorted coldly, then turned his gaze to the rusty sword. Upon first glance, he furrowed his brows, disbelief in his eyes. The next second, he took out a pair of reading glasses and carefully examined the sword. He caressed it gently, as if it were a beloved from his youth. After looking for a full half hour, he slowly took off his glasses and looked at James Harding, saying, “This thing, it’s a fake, a counterfeit. These rust spots, they’re artificially made.”
“A counterfeit?”
Dylan Harding was stunned. After all this fuss, it turned out to be a counterfeit.
He had thought it was genuine.
But even if it were genuine, it didn’t have much to do with them, it’s just an antique.
Antiques, the Harding family had plenty.
He didn’t quite understand.
However, James Harding snapped his fingers, and a black-suited bodyguard walked in from outside, holding a little boy who looked about five or six years old, still carrying a school bag.
“Grandpa.”
The little boy saw Master Lawson and cried out, wanting to run over. But the bodyguard held him back, and he couldn’t get past.
“Wun.”
Upon seeing the little boy, Master Lawson’s eyes reddened immediately. This was his own grandson. He wanted to go over, but James Harding took a puff of his cigar and said, “Old man, don’t hurry. If you startle him, it might hurt your grandson, which wouldn’t be good.”
“You!”
Master Lawson turned around, his body shaking uncontrollably, looking at James Harding: “What do you want?”
“Is this a counterfeit?”
James Harding gestured towards the sword.
“Yes.”
Master Lawson gritted his teeth.
“Good, throw the little boy out.”
As soon as James Harding finished speaking, the bodyguard immediately moved towards the window with the little boy. This was the 28th floor, a fall would undoubtedly lead to death. This made Master Lawson panic.
“Stop! Stop! I’ll say it… This is the Sword of Kings, an ancient divine weapon, symbolic of the throne of the South Land. It appears this way now because someone placed a seal on it. If you find a high-ranking practitioner, you can open it and restore its past glory.”
The moment he finished speaking, Master Lawson seemed to age another ten years, his hair seemingly whiter, and he collapsed powerlessly to the ground.
Yes.
This was the Sword of Kings.
It was the object that the emperor of South Land had been longing for. Once acquired, the emperor of South Land would truly have a legitimate claim to the throne, and the kingdom of South Land could once again unleash tremendous power. It was akin to the national jade seal of the ancient Kisia dynasty.
Moreover, this was a divine weapon.
The Emperor’s Sword.
They absolutely could not let the emperor of South Land get it, otherwise, the power of South Land would more than double.
That’s why he initially said it was a counterfeit, hoping that James Harding would let this genuine item pass, not to fall into the hands of the South Land emperor, but he didn’t expect that James Harding would see through it.
“Hmph, you’re finally sensible now. Someone, take this old man and this lovely little friend back. If a single hair is hurt, I will have your heads.”
James Harding looked at them and said.
“Yes.”
The bodyguards prepared to escort Master Lawson away.
Master Lawson’s face was pale and filled with despair. The situation in Kisia was already on the brink of collapse, and now, the Sword of Kings had been discovered. This item, akin to the imperial jade seal, if it truly ended up in the hands of the South Land Emperor, then the entire South Land would completely submit to this emperor.
Many hidden tribes, unparalleled experts, and defiant individuals would have to submit under Lord Whiteford.
Because, this was a rule passed down from ancient times.
The one who obtains the Sword of Kings, everyone submits, becoming the King of South Land.
So, the situation in Kisia was now even more dangerous.
Master Lawson, pale-faced, slowly walked out. But as he reached the door, he turned back, looking at another person. Not James Harding, not Dylan Harding, but Robin – also known as ‘Owl’.
“Did you bring this?”
Master Lawson’s voice was somewhat hoarse.
“Yes.”
Robin replied.
“Good, very good indeed.”
Master Lawson stumbled away once again. But this time, everyone could hear the murderous intent in his words. In Mountland, he was a big figure with extensive connections. He intended to kill Robin.
However, James Harding seemed as if he hadn’t heard, and asked Robin instead: “Mr. Owl, how would you like to sell it?”
“Auction it.”
Robin slowly replied.
“Auction? That could work, I really can’t swallow this item.”
James Harding thought about this option.
In the current situation, a straw could break a camel’s back, let alone the Sword of Kings, an item as deadly as a weapon of mass destruction. How could it not be important, to be considered a treasure in such an important city as St. Sunday?
He even planned to use this to gain some status in South Land.
But its value was too great, too much for him to swallow alone.
If his family obtained this item and gave it to South Land, its value would be astronomical.
“However, I am rather curious about something. This item, wasn’t it with the War God of Kisia, Robin? How can it be in your hands today? Could it be, you are sent by that War God?”
James Harding lowered his voice, asking somewhat sinisterly.
“No.”
Robin replied, “Or rather, whether it is or it isn’t, I have no obligation to explain to you. If you are unwilling to auction it, then I’ll just switch to another house. There’s more than one city in this Southern Province.”
“No, no, no, I might have misunderstood Mr. Owl.”
James Harding quickly pretended to apologize, his hand reaching for the rusty sword on the table: “This item, let’s keep it safe for you. We’ll ensure it’s secure here and you won’t lose a single penny.”
But then. Clang. Robin’s hand landed on the sword, making it impossible for James Harding to move it. Only then did Robin’s calm voice follow: “Auction it in three days. After the auction, money and goods will be exchanged at the same time.”