Chapter 443 247: The Rich Sure Know How to Play

It was well known that this Red Dragon Reverse Scale had been donated by the Hestia Clan, yet Barbara, the clan's Legitimate Daughter, was bidding on it herself… Was the Hestia Clan unhappy with the price and sending someone to drive it up?

The guests began to murmur amongst themselves again. Jill frowned, unable to understand his older sister's intentions.

Behind him, however, Elder Pence maintained an air of profound stillness. He sat ramrod straight in his chair, both hands resting on his cane. Beneath his sagging eyelids, a pair of eerie gray eyes stared intently at the Red Dragon Reverse Scale on the stage, his thoughts unreadable.

Noticing the astonished gazes from Freya and the others, Barbara simply offered a radiant smile. "Besides being the Legitimate Daughter of the Hestia Clan, I am also a wife of the Frederick Clan."

The few people around her instantly understood.

After a moment of shock, the Dragon Demon Hunter, Andy, submitted another bid. Barbara countered with her own. As they went back and forth, the price of the Red Dragon Reverse Scale was quickly driven to the astronomical sum of 40 million British Pounds.

Furious, an elder from the Dragon Summoner Clan to which Andy belonged went to confront Elder Pence. He accused the Hestia Clan of malicious price gouging and threatened to report their despicable behavior to the auction house committee.

In response, Elder Pence simply stated, just as nonchalantly as Barbara had, "In that case, you'll have to take it up with the Fredericks of the Golden Clan."

The elder of the Dragon Summoner Clan was left speechless. Only then did the surrounding guests fully grasp Barbara's other identity.

In the end, however, the Dragon Demon Hunter emerged victorious.

After Andy called out his bid of "forty million," Barbara did not raise the price. Instead, she whispered to Baron using her Spiritual Power:

"I'm so sorry… With my current standing in the Frederick Clan, this is the most I could mobilize on such short notice."

Baron's heart skipped a beat. 'Apologizing to me? Why is she apologizing to me… Does she mean she originally planned on buying the Red Dragon Reverse Scale for me?'

He looked at Barbara and saw her gaze meet his, her eyes glistening. They seemed to hold a hint of both playful pouting and delight, like melting ice gradually revealing the gemstone hidden within.

A jolt went through him, and his heart seemed to skip another beat.

'I know she might have seen through my identity,' Baron thought, 'and I figured she stayed quiet for a reason. But now... it seems she must have an *extremely* important reason!'

He grew wary. After all, unsolicited kindness from a stranger is the most terrifying thing of all.

'Is she just after my body? We're all hardened people of the Inner Side. Who would spend forty million British Pounds on a man they've known for less than two days just for a one-night stand?'

Seeing his wary, and even increasingly guarded, gaze, Barbara couldn't help but feel disappointed. At the same time, however, the desire for him in the depths of her heart grew even stronger.

'A Bronze Dragon Knight… handsome… a great body… and so young.' There was no man more perfect for her.

At this thought… Barbara involuntarily bit her lip and pressed her thighs together, an unnatural flush rising to her cheeks once more.

Freya shot a surprised glance at her fiancé's sister, thinking this future sister-in-law of hers was a bit strange, but she didn't dwell on it.

Baron, however, had been tracking the Red Dragon Reverse Scale with his eyes ever since the auctioneer announced the final sale, wondering how he could "contain" it again and escape unscathed.

This train of thought was cut short when Andy paid for the item on the spot, confirmed the transaction, and stored the Red Dragon Reverse Scale in his Holding Ring.

Baron glanced at the time. The auction was about to end; it was almost time. Yet, he still felt no stirrings from the Blood Covenant he shared with the Witch. It seemed the Dragon Witch had not come to the auction house after all.

Meanwhile, the Dragon Eater Association hadn't launched their attack on the auction house as discussed at the Monastery earlier. 'Could my presence have delayed their plans?'

'But if it's just a delay, why block all the surrounding traffic and move the auction up a day? And what about the red wine spiked with Blood Race blood? According to the Shepherdess, the wine can only briefly influence or guide a person, depending on the dose… It can't completely override their judgment.'

'Besides, there are plenty of people here who didn't drink any…'

'If they wanted to attack the auction, the Dragon Eater Association could have just summoned their Dragon Attendants and Little Dragon People from the Monastery for a full-scale assault, something on the level of the Normandy landings. Pinning their hopes on wine that can only interfere with people's thoughts doesn't fit the profile of a brazen organization like the Dragon Eater Association.'

'Could my raid on the Monastery today have really forced them to come up with an entirely new plan?'

But as things stood, his senses detected no Spiritual Power fluctuations worth noting.

Furthermore, there was still no word from the Lion-eyed Knights who had left earlier. By his estimation, they'd had enough time to get to Traitor's Cliff and back, yet there was still no sign of them. If they had run into trouble, the Dragon Eater Association should have already made its move…

Just then, he saw an Attendant pass through the guest area and whisper something in Freya's ear. She glanced at him before following the Attendant out into the main hall. A moment later, she returned to her seat and sent a message to Baron via Spiritual Power:

"Aile sent someone back. They ran into trouble at Traitor's Cliff."

"The Mad Dragon Seal is weakening?" Baron's heart sank. 'Even after I warned them, this is still the result?'