Chapter 129 Auction
There was the sound of whispers that came from under the stage. Many people had looks of disbelief as they looked at Xu Yi with eyes filled with shock and curiosity.
This Frestech Chamber of Commerce, it could actually take out five hundred thousand gold coins at once!
What surprised everyone was that he actually took out large gold notes from the Chimera Chamber of Commerce!
It had to be known that the Chimera Chamber of Commerce was the biggest company on the Sines Continent. To get their approval and have them give you gold notes was not an easy thing. To have the Chimera Chamber of Commerce to create this kind of giant gold note, it was a very difficult thing to do.
Although the merchants here didn’t have weak backgrounds, the security deposits they gaver were mostly gold notes given by the Lampuri Chamber of Commerce run by the Lampuri Kingdom’s royal family or they used some bonds as deposits. There were only a few companies, which included the Chimera Chamber of Commerce, that would take out these gold notes that would be recognized even on the other continents.
From what everyone could see, being able to have gold notes from the Chimera Chamber of Commerce was a proof of status.
With the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s current strength, they normally wouldn’t have this right.
Other than this, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce suddenly took out five hundred thousand in deposits. This showed that Xu Yi actually had the intention to compete for these two gold mines.
With the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s strength, being able to compete for just one mine was already hard to believe, not to mention competing for two of them!
But the facts were in front of them and people had no choice but to believe them.
Watching Xu Yi casually step off the stage, chairman Morgan slightly narrowed his eyes.
From those five giant gold notes from the Chimera Chamber of Commerce, he smelled something strange.
The Falcao Chamber of Commerce had to win these iron mines, but there might be a few complications.
Very soon, the companies participating in the auction had given their deposits. Everyone was shocked to find that based on the numbers the host just announced, there were thirty eight companies that were participating in the auction, so based on the deposits, the host had received over ten million gold coins just now.
It was no wonder the hall was completely filled with armed soldiers, not letting any random people come close.
An entire ten million gold coins! This was an amount that was enough to make many people go crazy!
Very soon, while everyone was feeling excited and nervous, the host announced that the auction was starting. The auctioneer that Count Sean had invited from Anvilmar came to take control of the auction.
“The first mine, the starting price will be five hundred thousand gold coins with the lowest increment being five thousand gold coins! Begin!”
The wooden gavel in the auctioneer’s hand fell down and some companies already impatiently called out numbers.
In the blink of an eye, the auction price had gone from five hundred thousand to over six hundred thousand.
The passionate mood in the hall began to cool off and the sounds of bidding came slower.
“Seven hundred thousand gold coins.” A voice suddenly rang out that made the hall silent.
Everyone looked at where the voice came from in shock. Wasn’t the last price just six hundred and ten thousand gold coins, this fellow actually raised it to seven hundred thousand, was there a problem with him?
After they saw the person who made the bid, everyone understood.
The Falcao Chamber of Commerce was determined to win these two iron mines, so chairman Morgan directly raising this price was already enough to show everyone the Falcao Chamber of Commerce’s determination.
Of course, although this was already a sky high price, it was not enough to scare people. After the hall was silent for a bit, quickly there was someone who called out a bid for seven hundred and ten thousand gold coins.
A price of over seven hundred thousand, it already made quite a few companies hesitant.
Such a large amount couldn’t be easily taken out.
But after hesitating a bit, these people quickly thought it through. The mine being auctioned now was the smaller one, so of course the price was a bit lower.
If they couldn’t even take this mine, they didn’t even need to think about the second bigger mine.
So although the bids weren’t as passionate as before, they didn’t stop.
The bidding kept rising and quickly reached eight hundred thousand gold coins.
To everyone here, eight hundred thousand gold coins was considered a very suitable price for this mine.
Once they passed this price, even if their income from this wasn’t poor, but based on the investment they would have to put in and the output they got out, it wouldn’t be considered very profitable.
Of course, profit could still move people’s hearts. So many company representatives had their hearts move and they were prepared to raise the price.
But at this time, chairman Morgan spoke again
“Nine hundred thousand gold coins!”
The hall fell into silence again.
Everyone looked at chairman Morgan with surprised looks.
Even if your Falcao Chamber of Commerce wanted this iron mine, you didn’t need to bid like this, right?
Not speaking is fine, but increasing it by a hundred thousand at once, this was clearly telling others that you had to win.
It should be said that chairman Morgan’s bidding strategy wasn’t rare.
In an auction that was very popular and competitive, this kind of approach could scare many people who were just trying their luck and could save quite a bit of trouble.
But by showing one’s determination like this, one could meet someone who deliberately raises the price.
There were pros and cons, it was very hard to predict.
After the hall was silent for a bit, when the auctioneer wanted to confirm the bid, someone raised the price again.
“Nine hundred and fifty thousand.”
Chairman Morgan looked at the source of the voice and found that the one who made a bit was chairman Bruno of the Leo Chamber of Commerce that he just looked at with Xu Yi.
Their gazes met and chairman Morgan gave a cold snort before calling out, “One million!”
The representatives that were hesitating to speak couldn’t help shutting their mouths.
Everyone looked at chairman Morgan and chairman Bruno with excitement.
Based on the situation, this auction was probably going to be a test of might between the two of them.
As expected, after hearing chairman Morgan’s bid, chairman Bruno didn’t have any hesitation as he called out, “One million and fifty thousand.”
Chairman Morgan just gave a snort and immediately followed, “One million and one hundred thousand.”
“One million one hundred and fifty thousand.
“One million and two hundred thousand.”
The two kept going and it passed one million and five hundred thousand in the blink of an eye.
Everyone in the hall seemed to be holding their breath, not daring to say a word.
No one had thought that a mine worth five hundred thousand would reach one million and five hundred thousand!
Even if everyone here was from a powerful company, to any of them still, they still had to carefully consider bringing out a large amount like one million and five hundred thousand gold coins.
Even chairman Bruno hesitated after he heard chairman Morgan call out this price and he couldn’t stop his expression from changing. After hesitating a bit, he gritted his teeth and called out, “One million five hundred and ten thousand.”
Hearing this number, everyone in the hall couldn’t help letting out a sigh.
The two had been increasing by fifty thousand each time before, but now chairman Bruno only added ten thousand. It could be seen that he didn’t have confidence and he was just trying his luck, betting that chairman Morgan had already reached his limits.
But chairman Morgan gave gave him a cold snort and actually called out one million and six hundred thousand!
Meeting chairman Morgan’s cold gaze, chairman Bruno’s forehead was covered with small drops of cold sweat.
He wanted to add ten thousand to give it a try, but he was afraid that chairman Morgan would suddenly give up.
If that happened, it meant that the Leo Chamber of Commerce needed to spend a sky high price of one million six hundred and ten thousand gold coins to buy this mine.
Although the Leo Chamber of Commerce was the largest company in Saltan City, it was unable to compare to the Falcao Chamber of Commerce which was one of the top companies of the Lampuri Kingdom.
If they were to truly take out one million six hundred and ten thousand gold coins at once, it would be cutting into the Leo Chamber of Commerce’s flesh.
And the iron mine needed at large amount of manpower and resources to open, it was a large investment.
Because this was the Falcao Chamber of Commerce’s main industry, they were already rich with experience in opening up mines. To them, opening up another mine was a very normal thing, but it was completely different from the Leo Chamber of Commerce.
Comparing it, the profit the Falcao Chamber of Commerce earned from opening this mine surpassed all other companies, so chairman Morgan didn’t even blink when he increased this price.
Seeing the struggle on chairman Bruno’s face, chairman Morgan gave a cold laugh. He turned to say to the auctioneer on the stage, “Can you hurry up?”
The auctioneer looked at chairman Bruno and seeing that he didn’t react, he raised the wooden gavel in his hand and said in a clear voice, “One million and six hundred thousand going once……”
“Wait!” Chairman Bruno suddenly raised his hand to stop the auctioneer’s actions. He looked at chairman Morgan before saying through gritted teeth, “One million six hundred and fifty thousand.”
Everyone flew into an uproar.
Chairman Bruno only added ten thousand before, but now he suddenly added fifty thousand.
What was he thinking?
Could it be the Leo Chamber of Commerce also longed for this iron mine like the Falcao Chamber of Commerce?
Chairman Morgan looked at chairman Bruno before calling out “one million six hundred and sixty thousand” which surprised everyone.
After seeing chairman Bruno hesitate a bit and prepare to increase the price, chairman Morgan looked at him with a dark face and said in a deep voice, “Chairman Bruno, does your Leo Chamber of Commerce plan on fighting our Falcao Chamber of Commerce to the end? I think I need to remind you that even if this iron mine enters your Leo Chamber of Commerce’s hands, you won’t even be able to mine half a piece of iron ore.”
Not only chairman Bruno, everyone else’s face changed.
Chairman Morgan was clearly using this to threaten them,
But everyone had to admit that his threat was quite real.
The Falcao Chamber of Commerce controlled all the mining business in the Lampuri Kingdom. It would only take a few words from them and not a single miner would dare work for the Leo Chamber of Commerce.
Like this, even if the Leo Chamber of Commerce obtained thee iron mine, it would be very hard for them to mine anything.
Even if they could mine things, it would be hard for them to sell the ores.
Chairman Bruno’s expression changed several times before he gave a sigh in the end and put his hand down.
Seeing that he gave up, everyone couldn’t help sighing.
The first auction ended like this, then that means no one will dare compete against the Falcao Chamber of Commerce in the second auction.
The ending to this auction had already been determined.
Chairman Morgan revealed a proud smile before turning to the auctioneer on stage.
The auctioneer was an expert in reading moods and seeing the situation under the stage, he didn’t hesitate at all as he raised the wooden gavel.
“One million six hundred and sixty thousand going once…...One million six hundred and sixty thousand going twice…….One million six hundred and sixty thousand going thr……”
When the auctioneer was about to finish, there was a voice that suddenly rang out at this time.
“One million and eight hundred thousand!”
Chapter 130 You really have money?
The hall had been quiet since the ending had been decided, but once this voice sounded and rang through the hall, everyone’s eyes had been attracted.
After seeing who this voice belonged to, everyone’s expressions filled with shock.
It was actually Xu Yi!
It was actually the Frestech Chamber of Commerce!
The shock instantly turned into deep doubt.
How much did Xu Yi call out? One million and eight hundred thousand gold coins!
Based on what did he shout that sky high price? Where did the Frestech Chamber of Commerce get all that money?
Although Xu Yi had just taken out the five hundred thousand gold notes from the Chimera Chamber of Commerce, no one really thought the Frestech Chamber of Commerce was here to participate in the auction. They all thought that Xu Yi was just here for the fun.
No one would have thought that when the Leo Chamber of Commerce gave up, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce would jump in.
Chairman Morgan looked at Xu Yi and the unsettled feeling in his heart became stronger.
According to normal analysis, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce couldn’t take out that much money at all.
But after seeing Xu Yi take out the five Chimera Chamber of Commerce’s gold notes, chairman Morgan suddenly felt that the matter tonight would not be as easy as he expected.
As expected, the Leo Chamber of Commerce jumped out first, causing chairman Morgan to add an entire three hundred thousand gold coins to the price in his mind. Now there was another Xu Yi that jumped out.
“One million and eight hundred thousand?” Chairman Morgan looked at Xu Yi and said with a smile, “Chairman Xu, it isn’t that I don’t believe you, but does your Frestech Chamber of Commerce really have that much money? I think that five hundred thousand should have been borrowed from somewhere, right?”
Xu Yi pretended to be surprised, “How does chairman Morgan know I borrowed them? Right, that’s right, our Frestech Chamber of Commerce can’t take out that much money, so we could only borrow it. It’s a good thing that someone with a good heart was willing to lend to me, otherwise I really wouldn’t dare come to this auction.”
Chairman Morgan shook his head, “I can barely believe lending your Frestech Chamber of Commerce five hundred thousand gold coins, but to lend you one million and eight hundred thousand…..Not just me, if you ask many people here, would they believe it?”
Although no one in the hall backed up chairman Morgan, based on the expression on their faces, it was clear they were filled with doubt.
Without waiting for Xu Yi to respond, chairman Morgan turned his head to Count Sean who was supervising the auction not far away and said with a polite bow, “Lord City Lord, I now doubt that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce can’t take out that much money, so chairman Xu’s actions are just causing trouble. I ask you to follow the rules of the auction and throw him out.”
Hearing chairman Morgan’s words, the hall was filled with an uproar again.
Although most people didn’t feel that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce could take out a large amount like one million and eight hundred thousand, chairman Morgan right now was completely tearing off all face with Xu Yi!
After thinking about it, they felt that chairman Morgan’s actions were very right.
If Xu Yi was really thrown out, it wouldn’t just be Xu Yi losing face, even the Frestech Chamber of Commerce would find it hard to stand firm in Banta City.
With the strength of the Falcao Chamber of Commerce, would they be worried about tearing off all face with a small Frestech Chamber of Commerce?
Count Sean knit his brows and rose to look at Xu Yi before looking at chairman Morgan. He said in a deep voice, “Chairman Morgan, that is only your own suspicion. It does not constitute a reason for me to throw out chairman Xu.”
Chairman Morgan nodded before pointing at Xu Yi to say, “Then Lord City Lord, I hope that chairman Xu can prove that he has the ability to take out one million and eight hundred thousand gold coins. Otherwise, he is just disrupting the auction and I am very dissatisfied and against this.”
Xu Yi couldn’t help saying, “Chairman Morgan, why don’t you prove it first?”
Chairman Morgan said with a cold laugh, “Does our Falcao Chamber of Commerce need to prove anything? We’re not a small company like you!”
Xu Yi looked at chairman Morgan and felt strange.
Although he had expected that chairman Morgan would react to his sudden bid, he never thought that his reaction would be this strong.
Could it be that chairman Morgan had secretly received some information?
Thinking about it, Xu Yi had some ideas, but he still revealed a smile. He turned to Count Sean to say, “Lord City Lord, according to normal logic, I feel that chairman Morgan’s request and protest is all nonsense and there is no need to care. But chairman Morgan’s point does make a point. Our Frestech Chamber of Commerce is only a small company, of course we don’t have the same rights Falcao Chamber of Commerce. So this time, in order not to trouble the Lord City Lord, I’ve decided to take out evidence that will prove that our Frestech Chamber of Commerce has the ability to pay this bid.”
Including chairman Morgan, everyone looked at Xu Yi with curious gazes.
This fellow could actually prove it? How was he going to prove it?
“Lord City Lord, can I bring in a companion?” Xu Yi then asked Count Sean.
“That companion can prove this?” Count Sean asked back.
“Yes.” Xu Yi nodded.
“Alright then.”
Count Sean called the host over and had him personally bring Xu Yi out of the hall.
When Xu Yi left, the banquet hall instantly filled with noise, as everyone began discussing this. They were curious about who Xu Yi was calling that was able to prove that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce was able to pay the giant one million and eight hundred thousand bid.
“I think this fellow’s just looking for a way to escape, right?” Chairman Morgan said with a cold snort.
The Sarank Chamber of Commerce’s chairman Manhattan Rank and the Armani Chamber of Commerce’s chairman Samuel Vincent looked at each other, both being able to see the unsettled look in each other’s eyes.
Manhattan Rank thought about it before saying, “Chairman Morgan, although I know that your Falcao Chamber of Commerce must obtain these two iron mines, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce is still a part of our Business Union. We don’t need to ruin our relationships like this, right?”
“That’s right, chairman Morgan, just let Xu Yi bid and stop if you think that it’s too high. Anyway, we all know that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce doesn’t have that much money. When he can’t take it out, the one embarrassed is him and his Frestech Chamber of Commerce, it is unrelated to you. Then according to the rules of the auction, your Falcao Chamber of Commerce that gave the second highest bid can take the iron mine. Is there a need to cause trouble with him here?” Chairman Vincent supported him, “Right now there are company representatives from other cities, if they see that our Banta City’s companies have this kind of relationship, we will be laughed at by them.”
“This fellow sought this himself, he should have just honestly kept making magic machines. He actually wants to meddle in the business of our Falcao Chamber of Commerce, this is already breaking the rules, you can’t blame me.” Chairman Morgan said.
Actually he agreed with chairman Vincent’s words. In normal circumstances, he wasn’t willing to break all face with Xu Yi.
But he felt that something was strange tonight, which made him feel very restless, causing him to request Xu Yi to provide proof like this.
As for falling out with the Frestech Chamber of Commerce over this, he and the Falcao Chamber of Commerce didn’t care.
President Rank and chairman Vincent looked at each other before giving helpless bitter smiles.
This time, they really hoped that Xu Yi wouldn’t come back.
But facts wasn’t as they wished. Less than five minutes after Xu Yi left, he returned to the hall with the host while also bringing someone with him.
The curious gazes of the people in the hall fell onto this person and surprised gasps came from the hall.
“It’s actually him!”
When chairman Morgan saw this person, his expression became very ugly.
When president Rank saw this person and after he looked at chairman Morgan, his face became very bright.
Only chairman Vincent felt a bit confused. Seeing the changes with their expressions, he took another look at that person. He found that the person who came in with Xu Yi was a well proportioned middle aged man with a very neat dress, that wasn’t a single bit out of place. That person let out a serious and fine aura, just a single glance was enough to tell that he was someone with ability and status.
But based on his outer dress, this person shouldn’t have made chairman Morgan and president Rank have this kind of large reaction.
“Who is this person?”
President Rank looked at Xu Yi with a relaxed smile on his face and said with a bitter smile, “You’ll know in a while.”
In front of everyone’s complicated gazes, Xu Yi and that person was led by the host to the stage.
Count Sean looked at that person before looking at Xu Yi with a smile, “Xu Yi, you really have quite some face.”
Xu Yi said with a smile, “Lord City Lord’s praise is too much. Can I ask him to help me answer chairman Morgan’s question now?”
Count Sean gave a slight nod, “Of course.”
Xu Yi said a few words in a low voice to that person and that person nodded. He came to the stage and looked over everyone below before saying in a loud voice, “Everyone, first let me introduce myself. I am the Chimera Chamber of Commerce’s Lampuri Kingdom branch’s manager, Fieri Rose.”
As soon as his voice fell, even more shocked gasps sounded from beneath the stage compared to before.
This person was actually someone from the Chimera Chamber of Commerce!
Everyone instantly understood. It was no wonder Xu Yi could take out five large gold notes from the Chimera Chamber of Commerce, he actually had some relation with the Chimera Chamber of Commerce!
Even larger doubts appeared in everyone’s mind.
The small Frestech Chamber of Commerce, how did they become related to the Chimera Chamber of Commerce? Even sending out a manager to Banta City to help Xu Yi solve his problem?
Fieri Rose ignored the doubts in everyone’s eyes and continued without any expression, “In response to the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s chairman Xu’s request, I have come to specially announce something to everyone. After strict verification, we have accepted the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s loan application to us, at a total amount of five million gold coins.”