Chapter 128: Auction · Intermission Part 2

When the third auction item, that Steel Armor imprinted with a weight-reducing Spell, was carried onto the auction stage, this auction welcomed its true climax.

The Steel Armor with a starting price of six hundred Gold Pulton more than doubled in the blink of an eye.

And Dean, who had originally held some expectations for this Steel Armor, completely gave up after the price exceeded one thousand Gold Pulton—although he needed a suit of Armor right now, Dean was not extravagant enough to spend over a thousand Gold Pulton; between six hundred and eight hundred was the limit of what Dean could bear.

If it exceeded that, he would rather exchange it for leather armor and a Longsword to equip more young men of the Knight Order.

“Dean, do you like this Steel Armor?”

Marquis Vauban had clearly been watching Dean, and when he saw the disappointment flash across Dean’s face, he could not help but turn his head again and ask.

“Yes, but it is too expensive… I simply cannot afford it!”

Facing the auction price that had now exceeded two thousand Gold Pulton, Dean revealed a bitter smile very appropriately.

“There are many similar Armors in my collection. If you don’t mind, Dean, you can come and take a look with me after dinner!”

Marquis Vauban smiled and offered Dean his greatest kindness.

As these words were spoken, the people around Dean were immediately stunned, and then, different expressions appeared on their faces.

On Baron Janel’s face was pure jealousy and contempt; clearly, he did not think Dean deserved such an honor.

Baron Jandu, after a slight stun, immediately nodded his head; undoubtedly, this Baron believed that the Lord he served had done the right thing, and Dean was well-deserving of it.

Only the Miss of the Tier Baron Family had a complex expression on her face, with both joy and loss, and even anxiety about personal gains and losses.

The joy was because Dean, as the Knight Order Regiment Commander of the Tier Territory, had gained the appreciation of Marquis Vauban, which was an honor for the Tier Territory.

And the anxiety about personal gains and losses was because she worried that Dean would leave the Tier Territory due to the Marquis’s appreciation.

One was a County King of an entire county, and the other was the Lord of a small border territory.

Who to serve was obvious to anyone at a glance.

Naturally, Dean also understood the meaning behind Marquis Vauban’s words—a County King showing goodwill to a young man was impossible without an ulterior motive, especially for an old fox like Marquis Vauban.

In fact, Dean was very clear about what this Lord Marquis saw in him.

A future!

Or rather, the Strength obtained at his current age!

Perhaps it could not compare to the King of City who stepped into the Gold threshold at nineteen, but being able to reach the strength of a ‘near’ Grand Knight at eighteen, especially without the premise of ‘Baptism’, such a Dean was enough to make a County King extend an olive branch.

If it were his previous life, Dean at that time might have hesitated whether to accept such an invitation.

However, the reborn Dean would absolutely not hesitate—

“Thank you for your request, but I hope to rely on my own hands to restore the honor of my Ancestor!”

Dean politely refused.

For Dean, although Vauban City was countless times larger than the Tier Territory, it was absolutely not a place suitable for his development; first of all, not to mention those intertwined forces, just the shrewdness of Marquis Vauban alone was enough to make Dean, who wanted to develop quickly, feel restricted.

After all, Marquis Vauban was not Baron Tier.

The former was as shrewd as a fox, while the latter, in comparison, was an honest and well-behaved man; moreover, in the Tier Territory, Dean could rely on his own martial power to gain more support. After all, even facing the Guard Captain of that Baron, Dean was confident in his ability to fight him at this moment.

But in Vauban City?

There were at least twenty Knight-rank warriors, and three or four Grand Knights existed as well, and there should also be a Silver Knight.

With Dean’s strength as an Assassin standing between a Knight and a Grand Knight, wanting to gain more support was obviously quite difficult.

Of course, more importantly: the Barbarians!

In the Tier Territory, Dean had already established a friendship with a small tribe of Barbarians. As long as it was carefully maintained, it would eventually form a force that could not be underestimated.

But in Vauban City, doing this was obviously impossible.

Therefore, Dean refused without hesitation.

Regarding Dean’s refusal, Baron Janel expressed his disbelief, and afterwards, the contempt on his face became even thicker—clearly thinking that Dean did not know what was good for him and would inevitably be suppressed by Marquis Vauban.

Baron Jandu was stunned again, and then, more admiration appeared on his face—loyalty, for a Knight, was also a rare virtue.

Baron Jandu, who believed in Knight traditions, undoubtedly admired Dean for not being moved by profit.

As for the Miss of the Tier Baron Family?

Her face at this moment held even more complexity, with both public and private matters.

And Marquis Vauban, who was rejected, did not show the slightest anger, and that kind smile still appeared on his face—clearly, Marquis Vauban, having experienced such situations several times, was already mentally prepared.

“I respect your choice, but Dean, you should also remember an old man’s invitation!”

Marquis Vauban spoke thus.

For a young man who wanted to restore the honor of his Ancestor, Marquis Vauban held a supportive attitude. Of course, if he wanted more support, the other party would have to serve him.

This was the law of Nobles, and Marquis Vauban would not violate it.

The final transaction price for that Magic Steel Armor was two thousand five hundred Gold Pulton—facing such a price, Dean once again expressed admiration for Marquis Vauban’s methods. After all, according to his assessment, although this Steel Armor was very well made and the Magic imprint was also very complete, the price was at most around one thousand five hundred Gold Pulton.

Anything more would be inflated.

And an inflation of one thousand Gold Pulton was clearly the seller’s trick.

And the reason for admiring Marquis Vauban’s methods.

That was because Dean had not discovered any tricks at the auction site—like at other auction sites, the seller would at least provoke the anger of two or three buyers, or plant one or two of their own people among the buyers.

And with Dean’s insight, he could still distinguish such people, but here, Dean had not discovered a single one.

Everything seemed to be completed by the buyers themselves.

The difference between being deliberate and natural made the skill level obvious at a glance.

The fourth and fifth auction items, just like this Magic Steel Armor, were sought after.

Especially the fifth auction item, as the finale item of the first day, that Magic Longsword was very fitting of its status—not only could it increase the speed of swinging the sword, but it could also produce Frost attacks.

Clearly, for the sword masters of the Emerald Kingdom, this was a rare weapon.

After all, the Emerald Sword Technique was completely a combat style of agility and dodging; when facing an opponent who held their ground, it lacked a means to truly defeat the enemy.

However, if one had this Magic Longsword, the result would obviously be different.

Every contact was a Magic freeze, and no opponent, no matter how good at holding their ground, could face such an attack.

Therefore, even more heated bidding began than at any previous time.

Facing the bidding price that exceeded five thousand Gold Pulton in a short time, Dean shrugged his shoulders to express his admiration—although he would never underestimate the wealth of any Noble family that had existed for hundreds of years, every time it really happened, he would be surprised again.

The increasingly fierce bidding made Dean lose interest.

He really wanted to know, when the City Army invaded, whether these Nobles could still be as excited as they were now for a Magic Longsword.

Or rather… whether the other party could take that Longsword and walk onto the Battlefield.

And the answer?

Looking at Dean lowering his head to hide his eyes full of killing intent, one could understand what was going on.

And just as Dean lowered his head to suppress the killing intent in his heart, a slight sound of footsteps appeared, and then stopped in front of Marquis Vauban.

After a whisper that even Dean could not distinguish, Marquis Vauban smiled apologetically at everyone, turned around, and left the hall.

Dean’s gaze followed Marquis Vauban’s figure until he disappeared—

Clearly, as the Lord of a county, Marquis Vauban should not be absent and leave his own auction halfway.

Unless something unpredictable and major had happened.

And in Vauban City at this moment, there seemed to be only two things that Marquis Vauban cared about.

First, regarding that Aide Madel.

Second, naturally regarding this auction.

Regarding the former, the other party’s covert operation obviously had been prepared for over ten years; merely the disappearance of Churde Defendi was clearly not enough to completely accuse the other party.

Moreover, up to now, no one could prove that the other party was related to Churde Defendi’s disappearance.

Therefore, even if Marquis Vauban had suspicions, they were merely suspicions.

But the latter was different!

The great fame of the ‘Brotherhood’ and the notorious reputation of the local Thieves Guild were both extremely attractive.

Even, according to Dean’s guess, that Madel would definitely link his steward’s death, Churde Defendi’s disappearance, and these two forces.

Because this could not only get rid of his suspicion, but also allow him to directly become a victim, gaining more sympathy.

Making his unspeakable identity even more secure.

Therefore, Madel would definitely push the ‘Brotherhood’ plotting against the auction, to attract Marquis Vauban’s attention.

As for whether it was correct or not?

Dean was not in a hurry.

One had to know, this Magic Longsword was the best auction item today.

And at the banquet afterwards, he would have plenty of time to observe every move of that Madel Your Excellency.