The rain continued to pour down. The weather was beginning to turn cold, with a chill settling in as some began to feel the cold seeping into their bodies.
In the business hall, a place for discussing and handling business matters, today there was a conspicuous auction taking place. The auction was for a coveted district of school property, and all five major families were present. Their goal was to get a piece of the pie, little did they know, a car was parked outside their door.
Bang! Inside the hall, a middle-aged man with glasses and a well-dressed suit was holding a hammer, proclaiming, “Welcome all to today’s auction. The attendees are esteemed guests with status and elegance, so I won’t waste words. As you all know, ever since the land on the west side was designated for a school, the surrounding area has become highly sought after.”
Especially that cemetery, Dudley thought. The cemetery was conveniently located near the school, with a wide area and no residents. There were no disputes like demolitions, just a public graveyard, public property. However, the Wraith family, along with the five major families, had turned that graveyard into wasteland, littered with garbage and foul water. They had also used their connections to get it reclassified as regular land, so public ownership ceased to exist. Hence, today, there was an auction for this piece of regular land.
“And today, it is about the auction of this land, starting price, three hundred thousand,” Dudley pounded the table.
“Three hundred and ten thousand”, Kenelm Wraith, the head of the Wraith family, raised his sign.
“Three hundred and twenty thousand,” the Winfield family followed.
“Three hundred and thirty thousand,” the head of the Jonas family joined.
“Three hundred and forty thousand,” the head of the Turner family followed suit.
“Three hundred and fifty thousand,” the head of the Meyer family joined.
Each family called out their bids, but these were the only five families. After all, this ‘regular land’ was already set, and other family heads were just there for show.
Dudley knew very well. It was fixed for them. And at that moment, Dudley looked at Kenelm Wraith because the ultimate decision was in his hands. As the Wraith family had contributed the most to this matter, they got half. The rest was divided among the four major families. After all, even if the Wraith family had one family eating, the other four families would not be convinced. His family alone could not overpower these four families.
“Three hundred and sixty thousand,” Kenelm Wraith finally uttered slowly. And after that, no one dared to bid again. To Dudley, this was normal. So he picked up the hammer and bang! “Three hundred and sixty thousand once, three hundred and sixty thousand twice, three hundred and sixty thousand thr…”
Just as he was about to shout the third ‘thousand’, a voice suddenly rang out from outside the door.
“Three hundred and seventy thousand.”
Instantly, the whole room fell silent! Someone was daring to challenge the Wraith family? Who had such audacity? Suddenly, everyone turned to the door, where a young man covered in water, with garbage and a hint of stench, walked in.
People looked, and laughter filled the room.
“We thought someone important had arrived, but it turns out to be a beggar.”
“He’s not just a beggar, he’s crazy. Does he even know the occasion? How dare he come here!”
“This guy smells so bad.”
Laughter erupted in the room. Originally, they thought someone had really come to challenge the Wraith family head, but it turned out to be a madman. A beggar, plus a lunatic. This caused continuous mockeries, and quite a few women covered their noses, their eyes full of disdain. They were young ladies of noble birth. This man was a beggar. Did he deserve to be near them?
“Security, where is security? Get this beggar out of here.”
Immediately, a woman full of arrogance stood up, glanced at Robin Bailey, filled with disgust, a disdain of someone of higher social standing, and raised her hand, “Quick, security, I don’t know why you let this kind of person in.”
She was Bonnie Winfield, the heiress of the Winfield family. She had come along with her family to witness the occasion and broaden her horizons. Little did she expect to encounter such a beggar. Beggars were what she hated most. Dirty and stinky. Every time she saw a beggar, she would have her servants chase them away. Because they tainted her eyes. And this time, she didn’t expect to see a beggar at this kind of meeting.
With her voice, two security guards appeared, heading towards Robin Bailey.
Kenelm Wraith just glanced and then looked away. He had thought a rival had arrived, but in the end, it was just a beggar. A beggar was not worth a second glance. Not even a first glance.
However, the next moment, two cries of pain and a voice of arrogance rang out throughout the hall.
“What, can’t handle it?”
This voice made everyone turn their heads, only to see the two security guards lying on the ground, clutching their wrists, groaning. Robin Bailey had incapacitated them.
Of course, the injuries were not severe, just a temporary loss of mobility. After all, this was just their job.
“What, can’t I participate in the auction?” Robin Bailey said slowly. His voice echoed throughout the entire hall. Once again, everyone’s gaze turned to the host Dudley. After all, Dudley was in charge, and looking at Robin Bailey’s demeanor, Dudley frowned, “This is not a child’s play area. If you want to participate in the auction, you must have your own industry in Yushan City; otherwise, you are not qualified to bid.”
This was both a rule and a way to block this guy’s actions. He felt this person was not up to any good.
“My own industry?” Robin Bailey paused and then looked around before saying, “Anyone willing to transfer their industry to me, I am willing to buy it at ten times the price.”
“Lunatic,” most people rolled their eyes. Truly a lunatic. Who would sell their company now, especially at the cost of offending the Wraith family?
However, to everyone’s surprise, a woman stood up and asked, “Are you serious?”
The crowd turned to this woman in surprise. This woman was not very old, in her early twenties, with a hint of youthfulness still evident in her face. Most people knew who she was. Originally from the Turner family, she had split from them due to conflicts. Her own company was now on the verge of collapsing, and many understood why she was standing up to sell. Her company could not continue. But there were mocking gazes.
“Isabella Turner, you think that beggar will buy your company? What are you thinking? How naive. A beggar buying your company, haha, I can’t take it, let me laugh a while,” someone laughed, holding their stomach.