An auction was a customary affair within the Crimson Robe Society.Items up for bid spanned a wide range—jewelry, calligraphy, Savant Arts manuals, weaponry, human organs, and even living people. The clientele participating in these auctions were mostly affluent enough to rival nations. Even Byron, whose net value was a few hundred million, was considered a small fry. At best, he was only a spectator.The auction venue was packed, even more so than the arena earlier.Byron found a secluded spot, and chuckled. "Mr. Lester, they say the Crimson Robe Society keeps a low profile and is virtually unknown across Aston. But that doesn't stop it from being the most influential and mysterious organization here. You'll see what true power and privilege look like at this auction!"With a serious tone, Byron continued, "Compared to them, even your Great Four Warrior Clans of Mirage City are just child's play."The auction is divided into three tiers.""The first tier is for us small frie
"Those upper-tier big shots, fearless as they may seem, still give Ms. Graham a great deal of respect. Treasure Emporium holds immense influence, and offending them is no small matter—even the Crimson Robe Society wouldn't want to face the consequences," Byron explained patiently.Frederick nodded. "So, Ms. Graham isn't affiliated with the Crimson Robe Society?""She's just a highly-paid auctioneer. She takes orders from Treasure Emporium," Byron clarified.Frederick pondered momentarily. He recalled hearing about Treasure Emporium before.On the stage, Fiona responded to the audience's teasing with amusement. "I'm afraid you can't afford me. I'm priceless! I'm a treasure beyond compare!"Her witty remark elicited laughter and lightened the atmosphere."Alright, back to business! Let's officially begin today's auction!"The first item up for auction today is a fifty-year-old warship, the St. George! It's a destroyer that can be used for military refitting or transformed into a s
However, Byron's expression remained resolute."Mr. Lester, I know you must think I'm a fool for spending one billion on something as intangible as a star. But I must buy it!"“Why?” Frederick asked, curious."I have a girlfriend I've been dating for eight years. She's an astronomy enthusiast, and her biggest hobby in life is stargazing."As Byron mentioned this, his voice caught, and his nose turned slightly red."But she has leukemia. She's been in the hospital for over two years now. She used to be such an optimistic and cheerful person, but now, she tries to kill herself five times a month."I just thought... If I could buy this star and name it after her, would it make her happy? And in another way... If she's no longer around one day, the star will still be there. I can look up at it and feel like I'm seeing her again..."Frederick was surprised.He hadn't expected the smooth and sophisticated Byron to have such a strong sense of loyalty and love. A rich heir like him, st
Byron was sweating profusely, and his legs were trembling uncontrollably. The memory of being beaten badly by Alexander was still fresh in his mind, leaving him shaken. He didn't dare to act rashly.Frederick raised an eyebrow. "So, Alexander's opinion matters more to you than your girlfriend with leukemia?""Y-You don't understand!" Byron's face turned red, struggling to get the words out.Ignoring him, Frederick turned and boldly raised his paddle. "1.2 billion!"His action was akin to a single stone that had instantly caused a thousand ripples. The originally calm hall erupted into a great commotion."Someone's bidding!""1.2 billion! He's adding a hundred million at a time! He's clearly disrespecting Mr. Lopez!""And he's from the lowest tier! Is he a newbie? How can he be so ignorant of the rules?"Byron was shocked. "Mr. Lester, what are you doing?""You don't dare to do it, right? So, I'll bid for you. That way, Mr. Lopez won't take his anger out on you," Frederick re
There was a buzz of discussion as everyone became extremely curious about Frederick's identity.Upstairs, Alexander gripped the railing tightly, his face turning red. Through clenched teeth, he howled, "I'm going to kill that bastard right now!" In the Crimson Robe Society, he always acted decisively. He had been humiliated by an outsider today, and it was intolerable!Two billion was beyond what he could bear. It wasn't that he couldn't afford it, but he felt it wasn't worth it. Frederick was the culprit, and must be dealt with!"Mr. Lopez!" At that moment, his companion behind him interjected hastily, "This is the auction venue! Even if you disregard everything else, you should at least consider Ms. Graham's presence. Killing someone here would violate the rules of the Treasure Emporium!"If the Treasure Emporium blacklisted them because of this, their big boss would definitely be furious.Alexander had no choice but to turn to another woman. "Ms. Wallace. Among us, you have
Fiona waved her hand, and a beautifully crafted white ancient-style wedding attire with a matching crown was brought onto the stage. It shimmered with pearls, and radiated noble elegance."Is this a wedding attire worn only by noble concubines five hundred years ago?" "It's made from emerald snow silk. The art of making the silk has been lost for a long time. Every decoration is crafted from various gemstones and pure gold. Just one pearl from the crown would cost tens of millions!"Everyone was stunned by the magnificent Dancing Dove Regalia.Frederick was also amazed. It was his first time seeing such a stunning traditional wedding attire. Every detail was meticulously designed with unique craftsmanship. One could imagine any woman wearing it would dominate the world and dance like a dove. No wonder it was named the "Dancing Dove Regalia"!"The starting bid is one billion!" Fiona announced with a smile.Her words sparked enthusiasm among the crowd, and bids began one after a
Fiona couldn't help but glance at Frederick again. That man had such charisma and individuality!"2.5 billion and one dollar..."Byron felt his heart leap into his throat. Wasn't Frederick clearly provoking Josephine?"M-Mr. Lester, please don't act rashly! Offending Alexander is already trouble enough for us..." Byron stammered nervously.Josephine was the number two figure in the Crimson Robe Society, known for her cunning and unpredictability. She was even more troublesome than Alexander!However, Frederick remained calm and composed. "I just want that Dancing Dove Regalia. I believe my wife will look beautiful in it.""But that's what Josephine wants..." Byron exclaimed."This is an auction, and the highest bidder wins. Whose desire matters doesn't really count. Anyway, I've decided I must have the Dancing Dove Regalia," Frederick said flatly. "It doesn't matter who wants it!"He planned to use this wedding attire to soothe Jennifer's wounded soul.At the top, Josephine wa
"Yes, sir! Understood, sir!" The foot washer's face was unsightly, and he lay on the ground like a beaten animal.Theodore's subordinate couldn't help but ask, "Big Boss, you've never intervened in auctions before. Why did you stop Ms. Wallace this time?""That man who suddenly appeared isn't an ordinary rookie," Theodore said calmly. "Josephine isn't his match. Continuing like this would only end in embarrassment. "It's better to give him the Dancing Dove Regalia, show him a gesture of respect, and avoid unnecessary conflict with our society."Moreover, I'm interested in bringing him into the Crimson Robe Society. Anyone who can effortlessly throw around billions to counter Alexander and Josephine isn't someone to be underestimated. If he joins, I wouldn't mind granting him an upper-tier position. That will also help solidify our dominance in Aston.""I see! As expected of you, Big Boss! While we're still thinking at the surface level, you're already in the stratosphere." His su
Heston was still scoffing when he received a call from Giovanni.He was taken aback, and he nervously glanced at Frederick. 'No way…'The moment he picked up the phone, he got a torrent of scolding.Meanwhile, a bloody power struggle was underway in the Imperial Capital.After the Conservatives took down Woody, their ambition surged. They now aimed to dismantle the entire Radicals faction. Though the Radicals had already compromised in the Woody affair, they were taken aback by the Conservatives' greed and refused to back down any further.A fierce conflict broke out between the two sides, quickly escalating into open warfare. The entire Imperial Capital was placed under lockdown, with martial law in effect. Gunfire and smoke filled the air as both sides clashed, and the violence soon spread across Drakonia. Armies from all regions were mobilized, and a war was about to erupt. At this critical moment, the First Elder woke up.Years ago, after deposing the Dark Monarch of
Senspiras, located in the southeast of Drakonia, was also a neighboring country of Drakonia. It also has the largest population of overseas Drakonians. Many of the wealthy families in Senspiras migrated from Drakonia within the past century or two. The current richest man in Senspiras was one such example."Is Mr. Stone your father?" Frederick raised an eyebrow and asked."Looks like you've got some sense! Name your price!" Heston smirked, and pulled out a checkbook.Frederick's expression darkened."Your dad's assets are not even enough to wipe my shoes. Who do you think you are, pretending to be a big shot? Get lost!"Frederick quickly realized that Heston was just a spoiled brat who would throw money around bullying people. Since he wasn't much of a real threat, Frederick wasn't bothered by dealing with him. Upon hearing Frederick's words, Heston was stunned. "Are you out of your mind? My dad is the richest man in Senspiras! How dare you belittle him?" “So what? Your enti
Sylvia had so many questions. She wanted to know what Frederick had been doing to provoke such dangerous enemies. She wanted to know if Frederick had really killed a hundred people. She wanted to understand how her son had gained such abilities. And most of all, she wondered if Frederick had been living this kind of disturbing life all these years."Mom, we'll talk about it when we get home," Frederick said, gently lifting Sylvia and leaving the company.On the way, Frederick lightly tapped on Sylvia's head, and she quickly fell unconscious. He had used a special method to erase part of her memory.When they arrived home, Sylvia slowly woke up."Fred! Why are you suddenly home?" Sylvia exclaimed in surprise when she saw Frederick."I'm about to go on a long trip, so I came to visit. Why are you sleeping on the couch instead of in your room?" Frederick smiled.Sylvia sat up from the couch, feeling a bit stiff and sore."I was talking to your sister on the phone. How did I
"Yes, it was me. If no one managed to escape, the entire Steinfields family—except for children under sixteen and elders over seventy—should be dead by now," Frederick said with a smirk.If he didn't deter the Steinfields with a show of force, others might try the same methods against him in the future.Hearing this, Kaizer's face went blank and terror filled his eyes. At that moment, Frederick's phone rang. It was Melanie calling. Frederick answered, and put the call on speaker. "How did it go? Tell me, so Kaizer here can hear," Frederick said."There were a hundred and seventy-three Steinfields. Fifty-two were children and elders. The remaining hundred have all been executed!" Melanie reported. Kaizer spat out a mouthful of blood in shock. "No way! We're the Steinfields! The Steinfields of Imperial Capital! How could this happen?"In a panic, Kaizer fumbled with his phone, trying to call his family. However, every call he made went unanswered."You'll find out for sure onc
"Let her go!"A sharp voice rang out.Kaizer instinctively turned around, and he was stunned by Nella's beauty. He couldn't believe someone like her existed."Nella, why did you come down?" Jasmine called out, her eyes widened in panic. She had specifically told them not to come down.Nella trembled in fear. "Ms. Smith, we were worried about you!"Though she was terrified, she still stepped forward. She couldn't just stand by and watch Jasmine get assaulted."Well, well, Frederick sure is lucky with women. But now, they're all mine. Who would've thought that I'd be blessed with a feast before leaving Drakonia!" Kaizer was practically drooling.He let go of Jasmine, and rushed toward Nella eagerly. Nella backed away step by step, but soon found herself cornered."Haha, come to me!" Kaizer spread his arms wide, lunging toward Nella.Just as he was about to grab her, a thunderous crash shook the room. The outer wall of the building crumbled down.Frederick had burst through it a
Meanwhile, Frederick had just gotten off the plane. As soon as he turned on his phone, he saw a long list of missed calls from Selene.He immediately felt uneasy. Selene would never call him so many times unless something urgent had happened.He was about to call her back when his phone rang again.Frederick answered Selene's call quickly, but before he could ask anything, Selene's tearful voice came through."Fred, Mom's been kidnapped!"Frederick's face darkened instantly, and his killing aura surged."Alright. Don't worry, Mom will be fine."With that, Frederick hung up the phone; he then immediately called Melanie, who was still in the Imperial Capital, lazily lounging in bed."Do you have any intelligence on the Steinfields in the Imperial Capital?" Frederick asked through gritted teeth.He didn't need much thought to figure out who was behind this. There was hardly anyone left in Mirage City bold enough to cross him, except for Kaizer. And now, Sylvia had been kidnapped
When the elevator doors opened, Jasmine stepped out into the lobby.Kaizer's eyes lit up as he eyed her from head to toe. Though he had seen pictures of her before, she was more of an eye candy in person. Kaizer, holding his rifle, approached her. "Ms. Smith, you certainly kept me waiting!""What do you want with me?" Jasmine asked coldly. She knew that showing fear or vulnerability would only embolden these lawless men."Ms. Smith, why don't you take a guess?" Kaizer reached for Jasmine and lifted her chin with the barrel of his gun, forcing her to look at him.Jasmine met his gaze without a hint of fear."Is it money you want? The company has ten million in cash reserves. You can take it, and I guarantee I won't call the police. We can pretend nothing ever happened as long as no one is hurt. As for the funds in the company’s accounts, you wouldn’t be able to take it even if I transfer the money to you with today’s financial systems," Jasmine spoke calmly."Ms. Smith, you're q
Bang!With a loud crash, the door was violently kicked open. Kaizer and his men stormed into Frederick’s place.Sylvia was startled, and she shouted, "What do you guys want?" "We're here to kidnap you!" Kaizer strode toward Sylvia. Then, he snatched away her phone and crushed it."Tie her up and take her away!" Kaizer and his men acted quickly. Selene, on the other end of the video call, was shocked by the strangers. Fortunately, she was still on alert. She quickly tried to call Frederick while shaking with fear. However, Frederick’s phone was off since he was on a flight."How’s everything going on your end?" Kaizer asked his men over the phone."We’ve rigged all four walls of Aerowind Enterprise with high-powered explosives. Once we detonate them, the whole building will turn to ashes," his subordinate reported.A smile finally appeared on Kaizer’s face. "Good, I’m heading over now." Soon, Kaizer arrived at Aerowind Enterprise with a backpack."I want to see Ms. Sm
Upon hearing Frederick’s words, Woody stumbled. "Take him away!" one of the senior officials from the Supervision Department ordered.The respected elder of the Drakonia Royal Court, Woody, was escorted away along with the evidence and witnesses."After today, the Lamberts will cease to exist, and you're finally free." Frederick sighed in relief, and smiled at Easton.Easton looked slightly lost. He wasn’t sure what to do next with his sudden freedom. "What's wrong? Struggling to find a new purpose in life?" Frederick teased.Easton nodded, and replied, "Yeah, my ambitions have been completely worn down these three years. I feel a bit aimless.""Should I find you a job?" Frederick suggested casually."It’s best if I could work for you, Mr. Lester!" Easton’s eyes lit up with excitement."I have a pharmaceutical company under me. If you're interested, you could take the position of Chief of Biomedical Engineering," Frederick said jokingly. To his surprise, Easton was genuinely