Chapter 531
The host smiled tightly.
“We’re here to do business, not start a war. Let’s all calm down p>
Leonora found her seat at the very front of the hall, her name engraved neatly on the table. As expected, Alex was seated automatically at her right.
The problem was the left seat.
Old man Kaltmann had already taken it.
Alex Saint-Claire sat down without reacting. As he did, Leonora leaned closer, lowering her voice.
“That man over there the one you slapped,” she whispered, her eyes flicking forward, “is Marquise Anton Dunkel. The richest man in Dunkelfels. His duke despised my grandfather, so our families have been at each other’s throats for years p>
Her voice hardened. “The one beside him is Leon Zhao-a powerful cultivator from the Xia country. He defected to Prussia long ago and now works directly for Dunkel p>
Alex followed her gaze.
Next to Anton sat an old man dressed in traditional white robes. His hair was completely gray, thick and untrimmed, and his posture was unnervingly calm.
He carried an otherworldly presence, distant and cold. His eyes were closed, as if nothing in this room was worth his attention.
Leonora continued, “And the man who just spoke as the host-Count Maximilian von Nachtburg. Head of the Nachtburg family in Winchester. His family has deep roots p>
Alex absorbed everything quietly.
“Now that everyone is present,” Maximilian announced smoothly, stepping forward, “we’ll begin the private auction. Whoever wishes to present their antique first may step forward p>
A man from one of the families rose immediately.
“This blade belonged to my grandfather,” he said proudly. “He acquired it during the Prussian war against Xia. It is the blade of a Xia general p>
He drew the weapon and demonstrated its edge, slicing cleanly through iron as if it were soft tofu.
Whispers spread through the room.
Alex knew at a glance that if the blade were sold on the Estoria market, it would fetch a staggering price. But this was Prussia. Laser blades were standard here— weapons that sliced through iron as if it were empty air.
Compared to modern technology, the artifact felt outdated.
A few people showed interest. Some made low offers. But it failed to catch
Leonora’s attention—and Alex barely spared it a glance.
After roughly five families had finished presenting their antiques, a red-haired man finally stepped forward.
Before placing anything on the table, his eyes locked onto Leonora. Only after that did he set down an iron box and open it.
Inside, resting on velvet, was a book.
“This,” the man said slowly, letting the silence build, “is a cultivation manual from the royal family of the Xia Empire p>
The room stilled.
“It can rejuvenate the body, increase power, and cure internal sickness,” he continued. “If cultivated to its highest level, one could live for a thousand years p>
The reaction was immediate.
Eyes widened. Breaths hitched.
Even Leon Zhao-who had sat motionless with his eyes closed-snapped them open, his gaze sharp and piercing as it fixed on the book.
People leaned forward. Murmurs erupted. Questions flew.
Authentication was demanded at once.
For the first time since the auction began, the atmosphere changed completely.
The red-haired man raised his hand, and a three-dimensional screen unfolded in the air. Light flickered as the first and second pages of the book were projected clearly for everyone to see.
“You may examine the first and second pages,” he said evenly. “Decide for yourselves whether it’s authentic p>
Leonora’s eyes lit up instantly. Her breath caught.
“Miss Silberkreuz,” old man Kaltmann said, his hands trembling with excitement. “This must be your lucky day. What you’ve searched for over a decade has finally appeared. This is the book you need. If your grandfather sees this, he would be overjoyed p>
Leonora stared at the projection, her heart pounding.
“Do you think the book is real?” she asked.
“Yes,” Kaltmann replied without hesitation. “It’s real p>
Leonora nodded slowly. She wanted it-badly. But when she noticed Alex sitting calmly beside her, completely unmoved, she hesitated. She turned to him.
“What do you think, Mr. Saint-Claire p>
Alex didn’t even try to hide his disgust.
“It’s a useless book,” he said flatly. “I suggest you never touch it p>
The words hit the table like ice water.
Kaltmann’s face darkened instantly. He glared at Alex.
“You’re nothing but a young fraud of an appraiser,” he snapped. “Who gave you the right to spew lies in front of this many people p>
Before Alex could respond, the old man in white robes finally moved.
Leon Zhao, seated beside Anton, opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on the book.
“May I open it?” he asked calmly, stepping closer to the book.
The red-haired man let out a cold laugh.
“Mr. Zhao,” he said with a mocking smile, “are you serious? Do you not understand
the rules of appraisal?” His tone turned cold. “Books must never be opened. The
moment someone reads the contents, their value is destroyed p>
Leon Zhao stiffened, a trace of embarrassment crossing his face.
“Ah… forgive my carelessness,” he said.
The red-haired man paused, then added evenly, “However, I will allow you to touch the cover—for authentication only p>
He leaned forward and gently placed his fingers on the book’s cover. His expression changed subtly. After a moment, he nodded.
“I cannot say with certainty that the contents are genuine,” Leon Zhao said slowly.
“But the cover-woven with gold thread-matches records used exclusively to preserve the most important cultivation manuals of the Xia imperial family.” The reaction was explosive.
Gasps. Murmurs. Heated whispers.
To most of them, the contents no longer mattered. A book bearing the royal mark of
the Xia Empire carried immense value on its own.
Kaltmann smiled smugly.
“Mr. Zhao has a sharp eye,” he said pointedly. “Unlike certain people who lack
experience and are nothing but impostors p>
Leonora felt a faint sting in her chest.
She glanced at Alex, a trace of disappointment creeping into her expression. She
had trusted him. She believed he was a master.
But compared to these seasoned old experts, he now seemed… lacking.
And for the first time, doubt quietly settled in her heart.
Alex chose not to interfere.
It was obvious these people were eager to be deceived. They wanted to believe. And if someone insisted on jumping into a trap with open eyes, Alex had no interest in dragging them back.
The red-haired man closed the iron box with a soft click after the appraisals were submitted. He smiled, satisfied.
“Well,” he said smoothly, “now that the book has been appraised, isn’t it time to begin the bidding p>
Maximilian answered at once. “One hundred million dollars p>
“Two hundred million,” Anton Dunkel cut in without hesitation.
The red-haired man glanced toward the front row. Leonora still hadn’t spoken.
“And what about Miss Silberkreuz?” he asked, feigning curiosity. “You’re usually the most eager when it comes to cultivation manuals from Xia p>
Leonora hesitated.
Sensing her doubt, Kaltmann leaned close and whispered urgently, “Miss, this is an extremely rare treasure. This book is worth at least a billion. If you secure it for under five hundred million, the benefits will far outweigh the cost p>
For a moment, Leonora was almost convinced.
Then she looked at Alex.
He sat calmly beside her, expression steady, as if none of this mattered in the
slightest. That calmness stirred her doubts all over again.
“Miss Silberkreuz,” the red-haired, man pressed, his voice tightening, “we’re waiting for your bid. Opportunities like this come once
every fifty years. This has n
appeared before
He lowered his voice theatrically. “If I didn’t urgently need funds, I would never sell
it p>
That was when Kaltmann stood up.
“Everyone here is an experienced appraiser,” he announced loudly. “Miss Silberkreuz has always been respected by all of you. She has always secured the finest cultivation
books from Xia for Duke
Silberkreuz p>
His gaze snapped toward Alex.
“But now, because she listened to this young fraud-who claims the book is useless
—she hesitates. He even says it’s fake.” Kaltmann sneered. “Do all of you agree
with him p>
The room turned instantly.
Eyes full of contempt locked onto Alex.
Scorn spread like poison.
“Young man, if you don’t understand cultivation books, then get out of here p>
“You’re disgracing the name of appraisal p>
“Just leave p>
Jeers erupted from every direction.
Alex rose slowly.
Without a word, he walked straight up to the nearest man who mocked him—and
slapped him hard across the face.
The crack echoed through the hall.
Gasps erupted.
Alex turned to the next man.
Slap.
Then another.
Slap.
One by one, he struck every person who had dared jeer at him. His movements
were steady, deliberate, and utterly merciless.
As he moved, his voice remained cold.
“Miss Silberkreuz sends this slap to each of you p>
Another blow landed.
“How dare you look down on Miss Silberkreuz p>
Then another.
Slap.
“How dare you,” Alex said evenly, “decide who she is allowed to trust p>
No one laughed anymore.
No one spoke.
They finally understood this wasn’t rage.
It was discipline.
The hall sank into stunned silence.
Leonora stared at Alex, her heart pounding.
She couldn’t escape the truth.
This man feared nothing.
He did exactly as he pleased without hesitation, without apology.
Then Alex stepped directly in front of old Kaltmann and raised his leg to strike. Kaltmann realized it in a flash—this time, no one was going to save him.