Chapter 99: “I love you, Wife.” / The Auction
[My Alpha: Not dangerous. Goodnight, I love you, Wife.]
Shen Zhuo’s heart gave a violent jolt.
A bad premonition spread.
He knew Du Xun wouldn’t tell him anything more.
So he turned and immediately sought confirmation from Jiang Yuening.
The answer he got was also that it wasn’t dangerous.
Jiang Yuening never lied.
If he said it wasn’t dangerous, Du Xun probably really had a comprehensive plan.
Shen Zhuo remained anxious until he left for the auction the next day.
The auction was on Saturday.
In the morning, Shen Zhuo returned to the manor.
He chose the last of the three suits Du Xun had prepared for him, a black one.
When An braided the hair on the side of Shen Zhuo’s head, he pinned on the emblem badge that belonged to him and Du Xun.
The six-winged eagle, the red flag, and the Eternal Flame.
His identity attending the auction this time was no longer the young master of the General’s family.
But the owner of the Hundred Dreams Manor.
The handkerchief in his chest pocket was replaced by An with a blooming Eternal Flame.
The black suit and the red Epiphyllum complemented each other, making the boy’s skin look as white as snow.
An handed Shen Zhuo a mask.
It covered the upper half of his face.
“The mask has an emergency contact function. Tap the frame three times to contact me.”
An demonstrated, taking out the alarm that was ringing in his pocket.
“Madam can rest assured, I will be around the auction with my men.”
Shen Zhuo slowly stroked the edge of the mask.
This was also Du Xun’s doing.
His Alpha was always so thorough.
“Okay.”
When Shen Zhuo got out of the car with the invitation, he saw many people entering the venue wearing masks.
The auction venue was chosen in a large cathedral in the suburbs.
The murals of angels and gods were colorful and magnificent.
Colors covered all the walls, full of a sacred and noble atmosphere.
Shen Zhuo put on the mask and showed the invitation he received to the person at the door.
The person took just one look, and his expression became respectful.
“Honored guest, please go to the room on the second floor.”
Shen Zhuo looked indifferent, glancing at the person guiding him on the other side.
After using [Listening Heart] and finding nothing unusual, he nodded and followed up the stairs.
The room on the second floor offered a clear view of the display stage on the first floor through the railing, and was furnished with sofas, coffee tables, and other comfortable arrangements.
When the person opened the door to invite Shen Zhuo in, Shen Zhuo saw fresh fruit and drinks on the table.
And a letter.
The person closed the door softly behind Shen Zhuo.
Shen Zhuo walked straight to the letter.
Opening it, there was only a line of printed cursive English—
Let’s enjoy the pageant!
Shen Zhuo turned the letter over.
It was a line of handwritten text—
Welcome, Shen Zhuo.
Beautifully written, but the handwriting was unrecognizable.
Shen Zhuo sat on the soft velvet sofa, touching neither the tea nor the fruit.
The boy crossed his legs, his fingers playing with the ring on his ring finger.
Since wearing the ring, whenever Shen Zhuo felt bored or anxious, he would unconsciously stroke the gem on the ring.
The blue-gray gem, like Du Xun’s eyes.
When his fingers touched the gem, the slight coolness at his fingertips seemed to soothe him.
It quickly calmed his heart.
There were five minutes left before the auction started.
Shen Zhuo picked up the auction catalog on the table and flipped through it.
The S5 healing agent was the finale, the second to last item.
There were a few antiques earlier that Dad might like.
For the S5 healing agent, he brought enough money today.
Recently, the mines Liang Yeta helped him contract had also brought in considerable income.
So he wasn’t worried about not being able to buy what he wanted.
Shen Zhuo closed the catalog, leaned back on the sofa, and glanced down casually through the carved railing.
Everyone at the auction today wore masks; identities were unrecognizable.
Besides the S5 healing agent, there were actually several antiques that couldn’t circulate in the market, and things not even available on the black market.
Although faces couldn’t be recognized.
For Shen Zhuo, a mask was not a problem.
[Listening Heart] spread like a gentle breeze brushing past ears, slowly expanding and penetrating.
A few minutes later, Shen Zhuo had a thorough grasp of the backgrounds of most people on the first floor.
Mostly aristocrats and noble families.
Their main focus for this auction was not the antiques, nor the S5 healing agent.
But the last item of the auction.
Shen Zhuo remembered that in the catalog just now, the last lot was marked with a question mark.
No picture, no introduction; apart from the question mark, it was a blank page.
Everyone was buzzing with discussion, having some speculations about it.
The auction started quickly.
Shen Zhuo bought a glazed cup for thirty million and two well-preserved paintings by famous artists for eighty million.
He wasn’t very interested in the others.
Until the S5 agent appeared.
“Starting price 100 million, each bid must not be less than 20 million.” The auctioneer rang the bell after the introduction.
No one had ever seen an S5 healing agent.
So there were many people competing at the beginning.
Until the price reached 500 million.
Only one person was still bidding against Shen Zhuo.
Shen Zhuo rested his chin on his hand, simply pressing the bell again after that person rang it.
After several rounds, that person cast a gaze towards Shen Zhuo from the other side of the second floor.
It was a long-haired man wearing a light gray suit and a white-gold mask.
His mental activity was almost non-existent, so Shen Zhuo still didn’t know who this person was.
The boy looked at him indifferently through the mask.
Methodically pressing the bell again.
“680 million!”
That person made a gesture of invitation and finally withdrew from the bidding.
This price wasn’t too big for Shen Zhuo.
At least before coming, he thought it would take at least 2 billion.
This money didn’t even require using Du Xun’s salary card.
Shen Zhuo clamped the card between two fingers and handed it to the attendant who came to collect the payment.
“Congratulations to the guest in Room 1 for winning this lot!”
Shen Zhuo tapped his fingers casually on the armrest of the sofa.
Waiting for the attendant to respectfully bow and show him the box containing the healing agent with both hands.
“Send it out.” Shen Zhuo gave An’s license plate number.
He wanted to see what the last lot was.
The attendant bowed and took the box out of the room.
Just then, gasps came from below.
Shen Zhuo stood up and walked to the railing carved with angel patterns, holding the rail with both hands and looking down.
A cage had been dragged onto the display stage.
Covered with a thick black velvet cloth.
The auctioneer kept the suspense going with vivid descriptions, whetting everyone’s appetite with a few questions.
Just as everyone held their breath waiting for the cloth to be unveiled.
Shen Zhuo suddenly heard a sharp, clear voice amidst the surrounding noise.
“…Mama.”
Shen Zhuo’s pupils constricted.
He saw that after the black velvet cloth was uncovered, inside the cage, bound by countless chains—
Was a Humanoid Zerg.
And, it was different from any Humanoid Zerg Shen Zhuo had seen.
It had the exact appearance of a teenage child.
No deformities whatsoever.
Even its eyes held the timidity and fear of a human.
Its lips opened and closed, emitting not snapping or hissing sounds.
But a perfectly standard—Mama.
“Adam! Whether as a research subject, an experimental subject, or a collection! This lot has immense value!”
“Distinguished guests! The starting price for Adam is 500 million, and each bid must not be less than 50 million—!”
Shen Zhuo’s brow twitched; he cursed inwardly.
But at that moment, there was a knock on the room door.
“Sir, someone is looking for you.”
Shen Zhuo wanted to observe the Humanoid Zerg, but the door had already opened.
The boy had to retract his gaze and look at the man greeting him at the door.
It was the man who had just bid against him for the S5 healing agent.
“Hello, dear sir.”
The man didn’t seem to be a local; his accent carried an affected, exaggerated tone.
“Having witnessed your financial power, I admire you greatly and hope to have a drink with you.”
The man held a wine bottle, the Lot 3 red wine that had just sold for 8.6 million.
“Thank you, but no need.”
Shen Zhuo was always cold towards outsiders and felt no need for pleasantries.
The boy’s attitude didn’t deter the man; instead, he came closer on his own accord.
He casually took two glasses from the rack on one side of the room, placed them on the table, and poured some red wine.
He drank a glass himself first.
“Dear sir, I mean no offense. I only hope you can taste this wonderful red wine with me.”
Shen Zhuo intended to ignore him and bid for the Zerg.
But unexpectedly, the man started bidding against him as well.
Acting as if “If you don’t drink with me, I won’t let you win this item.”
Shen Zhuo had to put his hands behind his back, fish out the antidote and hangover medicine Du Xun prepared from his suit pocket, and inject them into his arm.
Only then did he pick up the wine glass, clink it crisply with the man’s, and take a sip.
The red liquid slid down the glass wall, leaving a faint arc of light.
Indeed a good wine.
Even Shen Zhuo had to admire; it was worth the price.
Seeing him drink, the man gave up bidding, walked to Shen Zhuo’s side, cleared his throat, and lowered his voice.
“Xiao Zhuo.”
Shen Zhuo looked up sharply.
Scanning the person in front of him, he whispered tentatively:
“Brother Baixian?”
The man in the gray suit glanced at the attendant watching them from behind and exaggerated again:
“Dear sir, perhaps we can talk.”
The tone was completely different; likely specific military training allowed one to change their voice.
Shen Zhuo understood immediately and moved closer to Chu Baixian.
“Brother Baixian, why are you here?”
Chu Baixian lowered his voice, hooking his arm around Shen Zhuo’s shoulder, pretending to be strangers having a happy conversation upon first meeting.
“Mission, the one below.”
Chu Baixian signaled towards the Zerg on the stage with his eyes:
“I have to take it back.”
With Chu Baixian here, Shen Zhuo felt much more at ease.
The attendant behind them stepped forward, politely urging:
“Please return to your own room as soon as possible, sir, and observe the order of the auction.”
Chu Baixian waved his hand: “I know.”
Then he lowered his head, pulling Shen Zhuo close to his chest:
“It’s dangerous here, be careful.”
Shen Zhuo nodded.
But just as he was about to speak, he felt a sting on his neck where Chu Baixian’s arm rested.
Before Shen Zhuo could check, a violent dizziness made his vision go black instantly.
In the last second before his vision was completely swallowed by darkness, Shen Zhuo fell to the ground senseless.
What he saw was Chu Baixian squatting down, tossing the syringe aside, and taking off the mask on his face.
Those eyes, which had never shown such a cold look before.
Cast a gaze devoid of emotion upon him.
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