Chapter 36: The Final Item part 1
Ning Yunyi lowered his gaze, looking at Ning Mengde with a mocking expression, fully igniting the man’s competitive spirit. “Let’s play then. Who’s afraid of who?”
But Ning Yunyi didn’t intend to let him off so easily. “Words mean nothing. We need it in writing. With so many guests here today, they can serve as witnesses.”
Ning Mengde regretted it a little, but thinking about that project, he couldn’t bear to let go. After some calculation, he stubbornly said, “Even if you didn’t say it, I was going to suggest the same.”
There was still some time before the auction began, and it was rare for the people present to see such a high-stakes gamble, decided in a single round.
Of course, most were just there for the show.
The manager of the auction house came over, beaming with joy upon hearing the news. He had been worrying about how to promote their South City, and this was free publicity delivered right to his door.
Plus, once the final auction item was revealed, their South City would soon become the leader of the four cities in District F.
The manager clapped his hands and gave instructions. Soon, someone brought three written agreements. Once signed, they would have legal effect.
It stated that Mr. Bai, representing Young Master Hao Yan, would compete with Ning Mengde in a game of dice, with the winner decided in one round.
The winner could make the other party agree to a forfeit.
Hao Yan offered the project just assigned to him by the Hao family, with a net profit of ten million.
Ning Mengde also promised ten million star coins. If he lost, he had to pay Hao Yan ten million star coins within three days; otherwise, he would mortgage an ancestral property under his name to Hao Yan.
There were three copies: one for Hao Yan, one for Ning Mengde, and the third held by the South City Underground City as the witness.
Ning Mengde hadn’t expected this redhead to be so serious as to sign an agreement, and he started to get cold feet again.
But he clearly had no chance to back out. Guests who heard the news gathered around, many of whom Ning Mengde recognized from his social circle.
If he fled now at this critical moment, the Ning family would likely become a laughingstock.
Ning Mengde also spotted Mu Jiayi. Not wanting his crush to look down on him, he quickly signed the agreement.
Hao Yan didn’t care about the project. To him, it was just a matter of ten million star coins, not even enough to buy two 3S-level energy crystals usually.
Once everything was settled, Ning Mengde braced himself and looked at Ning Yunyi with an unfriendly expression. “Who goes first?”
Ning Yunyi spread his hands. “You first.”
Ning Mengde huffed. “Since it’s one round to decide the winner, let’s roll dice. Three dice, lowest total wins.”
Ning Yunyi looked good-tempered. “Fine, whatever you say.”
Ning Mengde grew more confident. He had never missed when it came to rolling dice.
The moment he picked up the dice cup, he shook it gently a few times, then set it down with full confidence. Under everyone’s curious gazes, he lifted the cup. “One, one, one. Three points.”
The lowest point on a die is one. He currently had the lowest possible score. Even if this person matched him, it would only be a draw.
He was guaranteed to win this round.
Ning Yunyi just glanced at him, casually picked up the dice cup prepared by the club, shook it once, and set it down. Under everyone’s intense scrutiny, he opened it.
But as the three dice inside came into view, everyone present froze. “This…” How is this possible?
Ning Mengde was also dumbfounded. “That doesn’t count!”
“You said three dice, lowest points win. Are there three dice inside now?”
“Yes.”
“Are the dice damaged?”
“No, they’re not, but nobody plays like this…” Stacking three dice on top of each other, with the top one covering the two below, resulting in only one point showing. He had played dice for so long, but this was the first time he had seen this way of playing.
But he had to admit, there was no rule against it at the beginning.
Ning Mengde’s face turned green. He gritted his back teeth, never having thought he might lose.
Ning Yunyi slowly put down the dice cup cover and lifted his eyelids. “Or is Young Master Ning a sore loser?”
With everyone staring at him, some troublemakers couldn’t help but jeer. “No way? I heard you won against a lot of people with this trick before. Why didn’t you say it didn’t count when you were winning? This gentleman is right, Ning Mengde. Don’t tell me it only counts when you win, but not when others win? From now on, don’t call yourself Ning Mengde, call yourself Ning the Rascal, haha!”
The crowd laughed even harder. Although the Ning family was an aristocratic family, without Professor Ning, it had declined. How could it compare to the Hao family?
Between Hao Yan and Ning Mengde, they naturally preferred to offend the latter.
The manager had long seen that Hao Yan came with Joe. He stepped forward to make Ning Mengde fulfill the agreement. Ning Mengde finally had to grit his teeth and accept it. “I didn’t plan to renege. Give me three days.”
Ning Yunyi maintained his good-tempered appearance. “Then three days, as stated. By then, either ten million star coins, or… I’m coming to collect the house.”
Ning Mengde’s face became even uglier, but he dared not do anything at this moment and could only nod.
This little interlude was temporarily forgotten as the auction began.
Ning Mengde walked back to Mu Jiayi dejectedly.
Mu Jiayi’s face wasn’t looking good either. He initially thought Ning Mengde would win for sure. After all, the guy had done well in their circle with this skill in the past and saved up quite a bit of pocket money.
Of course, all of that eventually ended up in his own pocket.
Who knew Ning Mengde would stumble on his first try and lose so much?
Mu Jiayi gave him a look to stay calm, and Ning Mengde could only absent-mindedly watch the beginning of the auction.
On Ning Yunyi’s side, as the surroundings dimmed, Hao Yan lowered his voice and asked, “Does Mr. Bai have a grudge against that Ning Mengde?”
Ning Yunyi was noncommittal. “Heard about the Ning family’s affairs. Didn’t like the way the Ning family’s second branch handled things, so I caused them some trouble.”
Hao Yan had also heard a bit about the Ning family. After all, it had happened in the last six months. Originally, the head of the Ning family was Professor Ning, and the Ning family had relied on Professor Ning’s branch all these years.
As a result, as soon as something happened to Professor Ning, somehow the family business fell into Ning the Second’s hands. Even Professor Ning’s youngest son, the only one not implicated, was driven out.
The excuse used was that he hadn’t lived in the Ning family for years and had long been disowned by Professor Ning.
Professor Ning was imprisoned, his fate unknown, and no one could testify. Plus, Ning Zhanfeng was still wanted. Without knowing the situation, it was hard to take sides.
Hearing it again now, Hao Yan also agreed, “Ning Mengde does deserve some trouble.”
Ning Yunyi didn’t continue the topic. The surroundings went completely dark, and soon the tables in the venue were removed and replaced with small round tables for guests.
All the guests took their seats. The stage in front rose, the curtain lifted, the stage lights brightened, and today’s auction officially began.
It had to be said that the South City Underground City intended to keep the guests in one go. The first item was a 3S-level energy crystal.
This thing was hard to come by. The higher the level, the rarer it was, but it had a great effect on enhancing spiritual power.
Ning Yunyi had seen someone spend seven million star coins on a 3S-level energy crystal at City Lord Bai’s place before.
Here, it would only be more.
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