The Otherworldly Adventures of a Super Naive Girl

339: The Auction Begins

The one who gave Ming Xi the token was none other than the prince who founded the Ancient Moon Auction Houses.
Despite being royalty, the prince had enjoyed participating in commerce since he was a child.
There were many other businesses in many other industries under his name.

He was generous and was willing to give a token to every member of his family.
To date, aside from other royal family members, elders of the temple also had one.

“The elder in your family must be amazing, to be able to give thirty percent off.
That will save a lot!” Margaret said enviously.

Jier tried to get everyone to sit down.
“Enough talking.
There are so many delicious foods on the table.
Sit down and eat.
The catalog is there too.
Look through and see if there are any things you like.
Senior Ming Xi has a thirty percent discount you know.”

It was obvious Jier wanted them to stop asking, so they stopped.
After all, everyone had their secrets.

They did note, from his actions, that Jier knew Ming Xi’s identity, and because he knew, he had wanted them to stop.

Ming Xi could see what Jier was trying to do.
The truth was, Ming Xi didn’t want his identity revealed.
Even if Jier hadn’t interfered, Ming Xi would have shifted the conversation to another topic, but it was easier to have someone else lead it.
Looked like he would have to be nicer to this kid.
Maybe take him along on a mission or two in the virtual world later?

Jier would have been in a good mood if he knew Ming Xi’s thoughts.

Feng Wu was eating cakes as she flipped through the catalog.
There were many uncommon monster cores, herbs, potions, weapons, minerals, holy books and even monster eggs.
They were all precious items, but Feng Wu was only interested in eating.
The treasures, others would spend a family fortune on, weren’t of interest to her.

Feng Wu was more interested in the food items than the auction items.
The food provided by the auction house was exquisite and delicious, and most importantly, all you can eat.
It was a benefit limited to the special boxes.

To get refills, she only needed to let the maids outside the door know.
It was very convenient.
Ming Xi let her do as she pleased.
As long as she wanted to eat more, he would keep having the maids bring more.

At some point, Jier couldn’t stand to watch it any longer.
He told the maids the small plates were too stingy and to use larger family sized plates.

The maids outside nearly got angry at this.
Clearly the guests were the ones eating too much.
Just look at the other guests.
Which one of them were as focused on the food? These guys were the only wierdos engrossed in eating!

The maids didn’t let their thoughts show in their expressions though.
Their smiles were as graceful as ever.
You would never know they were just bad mouthing the customers mentally.

The auction house had given them careful training, so they were gentle and considerate.
They could also be purchased if a guest took a fancy to them.
Their lives would have been hell as orphans if the boss hadn’t rescued them, so they didn’t hold any resentment against him for his policy.
After all, wasn’t it better to serve nobility than be trampled on by ordinary men? It was just common sense to prefer the high over the low.

The women certainly had ideas about Ming Xi’s group, Ming Xi in particular.
They hoped to catch his eye, but unfortunately, he had absolutely no interest in them.

The maids were trained exceptionally well and weren’t like those girls who clung needlessly.
They wouldn’t get entangled with a man who showed no interest in them.
Their demeanors were so graceful that patrons would never take offense.
They would try their best to satisfy their clients, no matter how strange the request.

Soon enough an extra-large plate of food was delivered.

“Eat,” Ming Xi pushed a plate of appetizers toward Feng Wu.
He gazed at her with a smile that was as refreshing as a spring breeze.

It looked like she was smiling back.
It was hard to tell with her poker face, but her eyes were crinkled as she tilted her head toward the plate.

The plate was demolished in short order.

The maid who delivered the snack wondered: So the young master likes young girls with expressionless faces?

The snacks were just a draw, the main event was, of course, the auction.
Three hundred admission tickets and ten VIP tickets had been issued.

Those VIP ticket holders could enter VIP boxes for the auction.[notes]

“Everyone! Welcome to our Ancient Moon Auction House.” All the lights focused on a gorgeous dark-haired girl on stage.
She glowed radiantly in the spotlight.

“Wow! It’s Miss LeXue!”

“Who is that beauty?” Someone who didn’t know who LeXue asked.

“You don’t know LeXue? She's the youngest daughter of the lord, Miss LeXue Bilou!” The man gave his buddy an eye roll.

“How come the daughter of the lord is the master of ceremony?” The friend was even more confused upon finding out her identity.

“Seriously? You don’t know this? Miss LeXue is Young Master Henry’s fiancé.
This is the biggest auction in over fifty years, of course she would help out!”

“Oh! So that’s why.”

“Wow, even Miss LeXue came to help out.
That old Claude, he’s not pulling any punches.” A certain middle-aged man sneered as he sipped a glass of red wine.

“Looks like Claude is spending a lot on this,” came another voice from a box nearby.

Ming Xi’s group stayed quiet as they watched LeXue with interest on stage.

“There will be three hundred lots up for bid today.
One final special item will be auctioned off at the end…
But for now, allow me to present the first lot.
Please take a look.”

Another beauty walked up with a long box and placed it in the center of the table.