Scarborough Market was rumored to be an ancient port market, but today, it is not the old market but a worldwide underground market.
In the underground market, nurous unntionable businesses are conducted. Here, you can discover all kinds of information and even buy things that aren’t available in regular markets.
In Scarborough Market, no real-world laws apply—only the revered Dark Codex.
"Hello, master, the auction will start at seven in the evening. Would you like to head there now?"
Li Feng hadn’t waited long when a young girl appeared beside him, dressed in a maid’s outfit with clear, blue eyes and a prominent chest that inevitably drew gazes.
"Let’s go now. What is your na?"
"My na is Sofia. I am of mixed heritage from three countries. My mother is from Yan Country. I will be at your service tonight, master."
Sofia said, stepping aside politely to let Li Feng pass first.
Li Feng nodded, walking ahead while Sofia followed closely. Maids like her were not uncommon in the Scarborough Market, often sold here by their debt-ridden families to repay their debts through labor.
In this place, the banned practice of human trafficking was a common sight. Even in the upcoming auction, there would be human slaves sold—naturally, only the most beautiful won and the most formidable warriors appeared as items in the auction.
"Master, do you have any specific items you need for tonight’s auction?" Sofia asked with a lodious voice as they left the bar hallway.
"Hmm, I need an ancient painting as a gift."
"Oh, what a coincidence, there will be one tonight—’The Scroll of Eighty-Seven Immortals’ by the master painter Wu Daozi, one of tonight’s highlights. However, the starting bid for this painting is a hundred million."
"Really, that sounds quite suitable."
Li Feng was indeed looking for sothing like this. Wu Daozi, known as a master painter revered for his religious artwork, which perfectly suited the Wang Family’s venerable matriarch, a devout follower of Buddhism and Taoism.
As for why such an expensive gift was necessary, it was all for the sake of securing a marriage alliance between the two families—if it couldn’t be avoided, it might at least lead to a marriage.
The role of a live-in son-in-law was sothing he intended to experience just once.
"Master, is this your first ti here?" Sofia spoke again.
"Not my first ti here, but it’s my first at the auction."
"Then let introduce you to the auction." Sofia offered, and Li Feng neither agreed nor disagreed, so Sofia began her explanation.
"The underground auction house gathers valuable items from around the world. Anything of value can be placed on the auction stand, be it antiques, jewels, diverse beautiful won, or top talents from various fields. If you can think of it, you can buy it."
"The underground auction house in Sea City is the largest, with a layout symbolizing ’heaven round and earthly square.’ At the very center is a nine-square-ter auction stage, surrounded by three floors divided into heaven, earth, and man grades, comprising a total of one hundred and eight private booths. The booths are isolated from each other, with one-way glass only allowing visibility from inside to out."
"Within the booth, a large round overlooks the auction stage, where the occupants can clearly see the items being auctioned. Bids are made with specialized devices, and above the auction stage is a large rotating triple screen displaying the auction details to all bidders."
Sofia led Li Feng to a heavenly-grade booth—a privilege not afforded to ordinary visitors that rarely have a Pure Maid as a guide.
The heavenly-grade booth was undoubtedly the most prestigious, with a large fur-covered lounger in a luxuriously ornate twenty-square-ter space.
"Master, the auction won’t start for a while. Would you like Sofia to help you pass the ti?"
Sofia knelt on the Persian carpet, her eyes shyly and bashfully eting Li Feng’s gaze. Li Feng clearly understood the implication—should he desire, he could do anything.
Li Feng examined Sofia, unable to deny that the maid was truly tempting. Mixed-race beauties were already attractive, and although Sofia had a foreign na, her skin was smooth as jade, unlike the rough complexions often seen on foreign won.
Sofia, hearing no refusal from Li Feng, moved closer. "This is a privilege of the master, with no extra cost involved."
Li Feng bent down, his hand caressing Sofia’s chin, "Really, no cost?"
Locked under Li Feng’s direct gaze, Sofia’s heart fluttered, feeling sowhat trapped by his intense look. She bit her lip.
"Yes, master, if it’s just for your entertainnt, there’s no need to pay anything. It’s your privilege. If Sofia loses her chastity and you no longer require her, she will be sent to serve other clients."
Sofia’s eyelashes fluttered as she spoke the truth—an important gambit as deceiving a guest who could enter the heavenly-tier room could lead to a dire fate.
Li Feng, acknowledging Sofia’s honesty while reclining on the fur couch, comnted, "So, what’s free ends up being the most expensive."
The first ti might be free, but subsequent tis would definitely cost. Otherwise, she would serve other n—sothing Li Feng couldn’t accept, seeing his won with others.
"So, how much do I have to pay?"
Sofia looked at Li Feng, "Five million Federation Coins per year or thirty million to buy outright."
Li Feng acknowledged with a sound.
Sofia, seeing Li Feng frown, worried he might refuse—for finding a relatively young and handso master like him wasn’t easy.
"Master, besides pleasing you, I can do much more. I’m skilled in various arts, and I’ve self-studied accounting, financial managent, and investing."
Sofia’s gaze was intense, as if she was marketing herself like a product.
"Why are you here?"
"Does that matter?"
Li Feng, looking at Sofia, replied, "I can’t keep soone around if I don’t know their background."
Sofia bit her lip, pausing before finally saying, "I need to seek revenge, so I sold myself to the market and put a bounty on soone I want dead."
Li Feng, surprised by her answer, had thought she might have been sold due to gambling parents.
"Master, I’ve told you the truth. May I stay with you? You won’t regret buying ," said Sofia, her face a picture of pitiful charm as she gazed at Li Feng.
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