"Weber, what exactly do you want to do?"
Back in the room, the white-haired young man grabbed hold of Lord El-lloi II and loudly inquired.
"Right now, it’s impossible for El-lloi to prepare so much money! Or do you want to provoke the World Tree of a Thousand Realms?"
"I don’t have that much money indeed."
Lord El-lloi II nodded.
"But we must proceed, once the auction is over, then everything is over."
"Have you ever thought about what if that young lady suddenly changes her mind and decides not to buy? Wouldn’t the House of El-lloi be done for? This train isn’t a place where you can run up a tab!"
The white-haired young man sighed helplessly.
"In fact, most of us have basically given up, haven’t we? What’s the point of raising the bid like this? As long as that young lady raises her hand, the victory is ultimately hers."
"Does Miss Red Ponytail have that much money?"
Upon hearing this, Gray couldn’t help but ask in surprise. Frankly, once the bidding amount surpassed a billion, she was close to fainting, and at this point, this poor country girl couldn’t even imagine it.
"Of course, perhaps you’re not aware that the World Tree of a Thousand Realms has recently gained fa in the Outer World, it controls the production and sales of semiconductor raw materials and the pharmaceutical industry..."
Saying this, Lord El-lloi II nodded helplessly. This sort of thing is rarely known by anyone. Indeed, the World Tree of a Thousand Realms has money, but people generally can’t imagine it. It’s typical, for example, people know AMD and Intel as chip manufacturers, but they know very little about raw material suppliers like Ui Science and Nichia Chemical.
In fact, the products provided by these companies are not secret weapons, one might say they are household products, like battery compounds, optoelectronic materials, LED optical components, battery raw materials, and such. However, to the general public, these companies’ nas are not as famous as Toshiba, Intel, and Samsung.
But, the products they provide are indispensable.
In simple terms, Intel could go bankrupt, Samsung could go into liquidation, but companies like Ui Science almost never need to worry about their developnt prospects and raw material sales issues. Unless so new material completely subverts current global technology products, rendering the old things obsolete, otherwise they have nothing to worry about.
And at present, the World Tree of a Thousand Realms is also such a raw material supplier, mainly responsible for providing high-quality and affordable semiconductor materials and raw materials for LED displays. Amidst the rapidly developing technology, with the financial power of the World Tree of a Thousand Realms and Fang Zheng’s visionary insight, in just a few years, the World Tree has beco one of the largest raw material suppliers globally.
It’s just that most magicians don’t care about technology, they have quite a few mining operations, but that’s simply supply of raw materials, compared to high-tech raw material supply, it’s entirely different. By seizing opportunities and capturing markets, the current World Tree of a Thousand Realms... is almost as good as the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower.
Not to ntion Fang Zheng can get money from the CIA and FBI anyti.
"However... isn’t this bad..."
Despite this, Gray still felt it wasn’t good. After all, even if the World Tree of a Thousand Realms has money, it’s not going to be fooled like an idiot. Now her master was obviously bidding to stall for ti. If it was rely stalling for ti, that would be one thing, but each bid ans an increase in the amount, implying Miss Red Ponytail needs to spend more money to buy the Magic Eye.
If Miss Red Ponytail were an enemy, that would be one thing, but she had just helped heal Lord El-lloi II’s injuries... To Gray, her master fell into the category of biting the hands that fed him.
"At that ti, I will personally apologize to her."
At present, that’s all Lord El-lloi II could say.
Soon, everyone returned to the Library of Ten Thousand Demon Eyes, and the auction, previously paused, recomnced. In fact, it seed like others too took this opportunity to gather funds, preparing for their final attempt.
Thus, the auction prices began to soar once more, quickly rising from 240 million to 260 million, and at this mont, the pink-haired young girl rejoined the contest, directly raising the price to 300 million.
Next, the auction price continued climbing, pausing at 370 million, then the white-haired young man raised it to 400 million.
This ti, Kayano Riri was the first to withdraw from the contest, leaving only the white-haired young man and the pink-haired girl to face off against each other.
Finally...
"500 million."
The pink-haired girl cheerfully raised her sign again, while the white-haired young man chose to withdraw in silence.
However, at this mont, Lord El-lloi II raised his hand again.
"Please wait a mont."
Seeing Lord El-lloi II’s raised hand, the auctioneer shook his head.
"This auction does not accept a second intermission."
"This is not a halfti break, I just want to propose sothing to the Magic Eye Collecting Train."
Lord El-lloi II began speaking, but at this mont.
"In that case, why not propose it after the auction?"
Fang Zheng stood up.
"A billion, if no one fights for it, I’ll take it."
"........."
This ti, no one spoke.
Although this had been anticipated, Gray couldn’t help but cover her mouth, even Seo Shizune and Asakami Fujino beside Fang Zheng gasped. Ten billion US dollars is not a negligible amount. Despite Miss Red Ponytail consistently acquiring Magic Eye at twice the highest price successfully, this ti everyone thought she might not do it again. After all, no matter what, rising to five hundred million was already outrageous; they thought Miss Red Ponytail might raise it by fifty million to end the auction.
Unexpectedly, she still gave an unimaginable amount.
"One billion once, one billion twice, one billion three tis... sold."
The auctioneer knocked the gavel in his hand.
"Congratulations, Miss Red Ponytail."
"No worries, now just wait for this show to finish."
Upon saying this, Fang Zheng glanced at Lord El-lloi II.
"I’ll settle accounts with you later."
Finishing these words, she sat back down, reopening her PSP. Upon hearing this, Lord El-lloi II showed a wry smile. He then coughed and beckoned to his side.
"Coles, co over."
"Yes."
Hearing the call from Lord El-lloi II, Coles walked to the center, then opened the briefcase in his hand.
"......!"
"What is that?"
Seeing the contents of the briefcase, there was a commotion among all the magicians present, even Ryougi Shiki opened her eyes wide in curiosity, looking downward. Among the contents of the briefcase, the head of a woman was revealed.
To be precise, the first victim of the current "Magic Eye Train Murder Case," Trisha’s head.
"To all who know nothing about the incident, allow to take up a little of your ti. As the modern Magecraft Departnt Lord, I beseech you."
With these words, Lord El-lloi II solemnly bowed, and the magicians no longer had much to say. Now the auction was settled, the World Tree of a Thousand Realms had bought all the Magic Eye; they could not get any others. So better to hear what Lord El-lloi II had to say as a way to pass the ti.
"Firstly, starting from this case, the victim Trisha was beheaded, just as Miss Kayano said, the perpetrator was Calib, and the technique involved the power of the Foam Magic Eye he possessed. But in fact, seven years ago in London, there was also a series of similar murders. The victims were also decapitated, and their heads were missing. So, what do you think upon hearing this?"
Speaking, Lord El-lloi II spread his hands.
"They all died."
".........???"
Upon hearing this, everyone present was silent, and Ryougi was also taken aback.
"Isn’t that normal? Losing a head, a person naturally dies?"
"It’s different, ma’am."
Lord El-lloi II shook his head.
"Now we have proved that Trisha hid her own head, so what about the others? What if we assu the victims from seven years ago were all holders of Magic Eye?"
"So you an the killer used Magic Eye to kill those people?"
At this point, Olga Marie also joined the conversation.
"But removing and transplanting Magic Eye into soone else can’t be done anywhere but on this train, right? You say you want to use Magic Eye, does that an there’s in collusion here?"
"Of course not."
Lord El-lloi II shook his head.
"That’s why the murderer didn’t take out the Magic Eye, but chose to take the head along."
"??? "
Hearing this, Ryougi Shiki, Seo Shizune, and Asakami Fujino exchanged confused glances, while the other magicians seed to have thought of sothing, and Olga Marie also turned pale.
"So, what you an is those heads..."
"That’s right."
Lord El-lloi II nodded.
"The heads taken from the victims are still alive."
"Huh?!!"
Upon hearing this, the three girls exclaid in shock, while Fang Zheng simply snorted.
"What’s so surprising about it? There have been similar experints in modern dicine already. By using devices to simulate organs and input blood flow, the head of a gorilla can survive for several minutes. If modern dicine can achieve this, then magecraft certainly isn’t a problem."
"Uhh..."
Facing Fang Zheng’s explanation, the three girls looked a bit unsettled, with Asakami Fujino even instinctively reaching out to touch her neck—if she were left with only a head, living would be worse than death!
It would be better to be dead!
"But you’ve said so much, and haven’t ntioned who the real culprit is."
"True."
Just as Lord El-lloi II’s words fell, suddenly, a white light flashed, turning into chains that tightly bound the boy holding the head.
"Teacher?"
Seeing this, Coles showed an expression of surprise, while Lord El-lloi II shook his head, looking at Coles.
"The true culprit of manipulating Calib Frampton and murdering Trisha Filoz is you."
"Huh?!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.
"Wait, isn’t that person supposed to be Lord El-lloi II’s student?"
"Oh, he’s an impostor."
Fang Zheng responded casually to Shizune’s inquiry while also controlling the plumber to clear another level.
"By the way, the servant that attacked you earlier was also summoned by him."
"Huh?"
Upon hearing this, not only Shizune, but even Ryougi Shiki and Fujino were dumbfounded.
"For real, Little Hong?"
"Definitely, when you guys went to deal with the child of Fuhai Forest, this guy pranced into my room, saying a bunch of useless stuff and wanting to cooperate with the World Tree of a Thousand Realms, but got rejected by , so he manipulated the servant to attack you... probably wanted to use you as hostages, but it turned out you did a pretty good job, so the guy awkwardly ran away."
"It’s him?"
Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s answer, Ryougi Shiki imdiately narrowed her eyes dangerously and stood up, luckily Fujino, who was beside her, quickly grabbed her.
"Wait, classmate Shiki, don’t be impulsive..."
anwhile, Coles, who was restrained, also showed a troubled expression.
"Teacher, are you serious? But just based on these, claiming I’m the murderer..."
"Indeed, I don’t have evidence in my hand."
Saying this, Lord El-lloi II turned his head.
"So, I’ve been waiting for him."
Simultaneously, the others followed Lord El-lloi II’s gaze, revealing expressions of astonishnt.
"Good thing you made it."
"Really exhausting, teacher, but at least I made it."
The bespectacled boy sighed, smiling with a hint of fatigue as he looked down. His appearance, look, even his attire was identical to the Coles below.
Obviously, this was Coles himself.
"You’ve really surprised ."
Seeing this, Coles—or rather, the impostor masquerading as Coles—grinned.
"I’d like to ask, how did the real Coles get here? Honestly, I wondered if you revealed it via phone or magecraft, I might have tried to bluff my way through."
"Of course, it’s thanks to the efforts of this young lady."
At this mont, a second figure ca in, looking roughly the sa age as Olga Marie, with golden hair and eyes that burned like radiant flas.
"With consideration for her elder brother, the sister traveled far and wide, employing flying magecraft to reach here."
"I was sleeping fine at ho, then suddenly found myself in an abandoned building when I opened my eyes, thought soone cast an illusion technique on , and even a few days had passed after I woke up!"
This ti, Coles was also grimacing, glaring at the impostor.
"Now, you should reveal your true identity."
"Sure."
Responding to Lord El-lloi II’s question, the opponent blinked, and after a mont, the boy who was bound disappeared, replaced by a tall, slender man with fiery hair and pale skin. His clothing transford into a sea-blue suit.
"You are the forr head of the Modern Magecraft Departnt."
"That’s correct."
The man nodded.
"This title is accurate, as I’ve never been a LORD, unlike you. As for my na... old acquaintances call DR. Hartress, I’d be delighted if you could call that too."
"Didn’t expect to et you here."
"That’s normal, because when you took over as departnt head, there was no face-to-face handover, I’d already given up on the Clock Tower then."
Hartress’s expression remained unchanged, still wearing a calm smile.
"Speaking of, do you have a conclusion about my motives?"
"Certainly."
Lord El-lloi II took out a cigar—however, after glancing at Miss Red Ponytail playing PSP, he had to put it away.
"Your goal is to summon a Heroic Spirit."
"Correct."
Hartress gleefully snapped his fingers.
"Seems you’re quite clever."
"Not only that, you were also the one who arranged for the child of Fuhai Forest to appear here, right? The Magic Eye Collecting Train runs on the Spirit Vein, but the staff should’ve confird beforehand. Yet, the child of Fuhai Forest still appeared, which can only be considered a deliberate act, setting the child of Fuhai Forest and the Magic Eye Collecting Train on the sa Spirit Vein, inevitably causing a distortion, which you exploited to attempt summoning a Heroic Spirit. Correct?"
Saying this, Lord El-lloi II clenched his fists.
"So, once you summoned the servant, you had achieved your goal."
"Precisely."
Hartress nodded, then lowered the head, next he raised his hand.
"Then you should know, as a MASTER, there’s an absolute command privilege three tis."
Saying this, Hartress slightly smiled.
"For instance... by the na of the Command Seal... co forth!"
With Hartress’s words finished, in the next mont, a dazzling white light suddenly erged, completely erasing the barrier binding Hartress.
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