White steam wafted from the porcelain teapot, and the room's temperature was rising rapidly.
anwhile, the scene downstairs was no different, a war without visible bloodshed was transitioning from an all-out battle of gold and drums to a fierce duel.
The faces in the hall glowed like hot coals, even replacing the roaring fireplace, making the air of the entire venue torrid.
Initially, the wealthy individuals from Queen Street were still participating in the bidding contest, but as prices gradually stepped into the hundred-thousand mark, even they, with their imnse wealth, couldn't help but have second thoughts, weighing the worthiness of their actions.
Conversely, the nobles seated on the second floor were the complete opposite; the ever-increasing prices didn't make them calm down, but rather, made them more fervent.
As the servant of the Earl of South Stream Valley raised the price to three hundred thousand, the atmosphere on-site reached its climax.
Andor, sitting at the edge of the venue, widened his eyes as if they would pop out, his neck as red as a pig's liver, while his daughter Lucy, holding his arm, was so breathless she fainted, tilting backward.
This kind of situation didn't happen only to their family; throughout the entire venue, there were gasps of awe, one after another.
"Three hundred thousand going once!"
The host took a towel from a waiter to wipe the sweat off his brow, and before he could announce the next bid, a voice from the floor raised his heart into his throat.
"Three hundred fifty thousand!!"
A servant dressed in a satin suit raised the placard in his hand.
Judging by the gold-laced embroidery of swords and spears on his shoulders, he was the servant of the Earl of North Stream Valley, Glanston of the Campbell Duchy.
As he shouted this bid, the servant casually glanced around the room before looking at the host, who was dumbfounded, signaling for him to do his duty.
Suddenly alert, the host hurriedly threw down the towel and picked up the gavel, while at that mont, the Earl of South Stream Valley, Wankton, seated on the second floor, furrowed his thick brows.
The two were locked in a showdown.
Watching the irrational prices, Andes rubbed the ring on his index finger, maintaining a cool and calm expression, though sweat still trickled down his forehead.
It seed both he and the esteed Mr. Colin were too conservative, completely underestimating the wealth and pride of the Campbell Duchy's nobles.
Thirty-five thousand gold coins!
In a big city like Thunder City, with a population of one million, based on an average annual inco of 2.4 gold coins (24,000 copper coins) and nearly a thirty percent tax rate, excluding import-export, comrcial, and consumption taxes, the annual inco tax would amount to only seventy-two thousand gold coins!
The inco of an Earl Domain ruled by a feudal lord is often not this high. For example, the villages surrounding Thunder City have an annual inco of just thousands to tens of thousands of coins.
If bidding continues, they might spend several years' inco of their Earl Domain in one go!
Weighing the pros and cons repeatedly, Andes finally made up his mind and raised his placard.
"Five hundred thousand gold coins!"
"Five hundred thousand gold coins! G-going once! Praise to the generous Mr. Andes... Saint Sis above!" The host trembled as he struck the gavel, barely holding the handle, which was slick with sweat, preventing it from flying out of his hand.
At the sa ti, he couldn't help but scream in his mind.
Saint Sis above!
Its value is already expensive enough. It can't continue to swell. Anyone, hurry and stop these madn!
The venue was in an uproar, Punk clenched his fist, eyes wide, staring at this absurd world he'd never seen before.
In the corner of the hall, the excited Andor stood up abruptly, nearly flinging his daughter, who was holding his arm, aside.
Ten Embrace of Dawn Hotels!
He had thought that obtaining a dinner invitation was proof of his wealth, but he hadn't realized he was still several Queen Streets away from true heaven.
If a ten-thousand-gold-coin pocket watch was still within his realm of understanding, then these five hundred thousand gold coins completely shattered his rationale.
Even if he and his deceased father worked ten lifetis, they couldn't earn that much!
Standing in the midst of the tumultuous crowd, the servants of the Earls of North Stream Valley and South Stream Valley almost simultaneously cast their gaze towards Andes.
Their eyes narrowed slightly, glinting with dangerous surprise like hungry wolves in Silver Pine Forest.
But they did not make a move.
Because their masters had not yet instructed them to do so.
Andes, without any visible emotion, stood and turned towards the guests behind him, bowing slightly, then cleared his throat and spoke.
"Please forgive my rudeness. Upon seeing this diamond, my mind went blank, with only one thought — only a true crown and an eternal legend deserve this dazzling brilliance."
"Mr. Colin is offering it as a gift to Her Highness the Princess and the Campbell Duchy, and as an ordinary citizen of Thunder City, I wish to present it as a tribute to the esteed Duke Edward, to celebrate His Grace's enthronent and the future prosperity of Campbell Duchy!"
As his words fell, thunderous applause erupted in the venue.
And that applause brought calmness to the two nobles seated in the second-floor box, resolving a potential conflict invisibly.
Watching the elegantly seated Mr. Andes and the two servants returning to their seats, Punk, clapping among the audience, could only sigh in admiration in his heart.
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