Chapter 161: The Auction [1]

Chapter 161: Chapter 161: The Auction [1]

The ride to the auction didn’t take long.

As the sedan turned down the main avenue, the neon lights of the city slowly gave way to an imposing, massive structure looming in the distance.

The building looked more like a fortified fortress than a venue.

Zooom!

Heavy alloy plating reinforced the exterior walls, and high-grade barrier arrays flickered faintly in the night air, humming with quiet, dangerous power.

Security here was air-tight, designed to keep out anyone who didn’t belong.

Rumbleee....

Derrick could hear several drones flying above their heads, keeping the security tight and impenetrable.

As Whitley joined the long queue of luxury vehicles, cameras flashed incessantly from the sidelines.

Shutter!

Click!

Shutter!

Dozens of news vans and media crews were crammed behind heavy security barricades outside the perimeter, desperate to catch a glimpse of the high-profile guests arriving.

"Looks like the whole city is watching tonight, sir," Whitley commented, eyeing the flashing lights in his rearview mirror.

"Indeed." Derrick said calmly, checking his suit cuffs one last time. "Tonights is a big night after all."

Whitley drove the sedan past the outer gates, entering the covered driveway at the front of the venue.

This was as far as the regular media could see, but a select group of top-tier reporters stood near the main entrance, permitted to record the grand arrivals.

A sleek silver limo pulled up right ahead of them.

The door swung open, and the Jade family stepped out under a barrage of blinding camera flashes. Reporters instantly went wild, shouting out questions all at once.

"Mr. Jade! Is Jade Pharmaceuticals targeting the ancient alchemy formulas tonight?"

"Miss Iris! A quick comment for the evening news!"

Old man Jade merely offered a polite, practiced nod, completely ignoring the noise as his five Superpower-stage guards formed a tight perimeter, ushering the family smoothly through the heavy main doors.

A moment later, Whitley brought the sedan to a smooth halt right at the red carpet.

One of the workers stepped forward and opened the door of the car with a careful click before stepping aside.

Derrick stepped out onto the carpet, with a confident smirk plastered on his face.

The bright studio lights hit his face, and for a second, the reporters hesitated.

They recognized the corporate tycoons, the guild leaders, and the famous hunters, but Derrick’s masked face was entirely unfamiliar to them.

Seeing a fresh face step out of a private luxury car, a few reporters immediately pushed forward, microphones outstretched.

"Sir! Over here! Are you representing a new guild for tonight’s bidding?"

"Which company are you with, sir? Are you here for the main artifact?"

Derrick stopped in his tracks, turning his head slightly toward the eager crowd of journalists. A light smirk touched his lips behind the mask.

"I’m definitely here for the auction," Derrick replied, his voice smooth and steady over the shutter clicks. "As for which company I’m with... I’ll let you all know after the auction is over."

He gave the reporters a quick, playful wink, leaving them shouting even more frantic questions behind him.

’Let them stir up some noise,’ Derrick thought, chuckling to himself as he turned away. ’It’ll make things a lot more fun later.’

Without another word, he casually strolled past the flashing cameras, handed his digital pass to the silent, heavily armed guards at the entrance, and stepped inside the venue.

As Derrick walked away to the distance, he could hear many reporters trying to get my identity out of the guard who checked me in but sadly, the guard himself did not know anything.

The heavy reinforced doors closed behind Derrick, instantly cutting off the blinding camera flashes and noisy shouts of the reporters outside.

A sleek attendant in a crisp suit bowed politely. "Welcome to the Grand Apex Auction, sir. Please follow me."

Derrick followed the attendant down a grand, carpeted hallway that opened up into a massive, breath-taking hall.

The place was huge, with high arched ceilings and floating platforms drifting smoothly through the air.

Woosh!

On those platforms, automated trays carried hot, ridiculously expensive dishes and high-end appetizers, while fountains of aged wine and rare spirits flowed continuously into crystal glasses.

Around the floor, a few low-level elemental fighters were putting on flashy shows, using tiny bursts of fire, water, and light to entertain the guests and keep the party lively.

The moment Derrick stepped deeper into the hall, a few nearby groups paused their conversations.

Eyes drifted toward him, taking in his sharp suit and unfamiliar face.

"Who is that?"

"Never seen him around Pearl City before..."

"Is he a representative from an overseas guild?"

Quiet whispers rippled through the immediate crowd as people tried to figure out who this calm stranger was.

Not far away, standing near the main wine fountain with her family, Iris Jade was sipping from a glass when her eyes happened to land on him.

She nearly choked on her drink, her eyes widening in surprise.

’Wait, him again?’ Iris thought, staring at Derrick in utter disbelief. ’First the hotel lobby, and now he’s in the private reception hall? Who the hell is this guy?’

Derrick picked up a glass of champagne from a floating tray as it drifted past him slowly.

’Now, who should I mingle with.’ Derrick took a slow sip of the cold champagne, his eyes scanning the massive room.

He was not like the passive protagonist of some urban novel who would drool at the sight of expensive buffet and ignored people around them because his ego was too big for him to approach anyone on his own accord.

Even though he loved food, Derrick was not an animal.

Besides he had been in a part of upper class society in his last life. So he knew how to interact with people.

’It’s always funny to read those novels tho. Seeing them act all high and mighty.’ Amidst his thoughts, he checked out the crowd around him.

Most of the corporate suits and representatives of the big guilds were huddled in tight little circles, laughing loudly and faking polite smiles.

’I don’t want to force myself to smile again in this life. So, let’s hope there are some intresting personalities here.’

Then, his gaze landed on a large table right in the middle of the hall.

Only two people were sitting there.