Chapter 269: I'm Surprised Too

When the sexy lady shouted her bid, many in the room gasped in astonishment. Starting at two million, she had directly called out five times that amount. Was this foreigner crazy or did she have a printing press at home?

However, soon after, some began to nod in understanding. Antiques like these were surely more cherished by their original owners. It was akin to how people from Yanxia bought overseas relics that had found their way there.

Thus, when the foreign girl shouted five times the starting price, no one else dared to speak up.

The people present weren't fools; while such items seemed rare and exotic, their true value was hard to ascertain accurately, and the price might not escalate too much.

Nevertheless, many were puzzled by the sudden appearance of these foreign guests, all unfamiliar faces who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere at the Liu family's evening gathering.

This situation posed a dilemma for the auctioneer because the Western woman had no bidding number on her table. This indicated that the guests at this table hadn't been invited to participate in the auction originally; they were merely there as spectators. So, after the woman shouted her bid, the auctioneer was at a loss for words.

Sitting quietly in a corner of the venue, observing the auction proceedings, Liu Kangbo also displayed a hint of surprise. He turned to an assistant beside him and asked, "Wasn't that lady supposed to be here with the British Chamber of Commerce for an inspection tour? Why is she participating in the bidding?"

The assistant nervously replied, "Yes, the information that came in confirms Miss Lillith is indeed a significant member of the British Chamber of Commerce, and she seems to have a noble lineage from the British royal family as well. As for why she suddenly joined the bidding, I'm surprised too."

"Hmph, so you let a guest in without thorough investigation?" Liu Kangbo asked displeasedly before adding, "Since it's already started, quickly send a bidding number up there. We can discuss the rest after the auction ends."

"Yes," the assistant immediately sent someone to deliver a bidding number to the foreigners' table, sweating profusely with relief.

The auctioneer, seeing the situation resolved, breathed a sigh of relief and called out, "Client number 137 bids ten million, ten million once..."

Just when everyone thought there wouldn't be any competition from these foreigners, at the table of the Cai sisters who had been silent all along, Cai Ning suddenly raised her bidding number.

"Twelve million," Cai Ning's cool and elegant demeanor remained expressionless as she solemnly shouted. Many guests wore strange expressions, looking at Cai Ning who suddenly intervened. How could the distant Cai family be involved in such bidding? Did this cup hold some special significance after all?

The woman known as Lillith smiled enchantingly, her Western allure momentarily captivating many men in the room.

"Fifteen million," she declared.

Immediately after, Cai Ning raised the bid again. "Eighteen million."

Under the gaze of everyone in the room, this seemingly inconspicuous small cup was about to break the twenty million mark amidst the back-and-forth bidding between the two women.

Many began to wonder inwardly. Had they underestimated the value of the cup? Or were these two women simply mad?

Yang Chen furrowed his brows slightly. He could understand why the foreigners might bid high for the cup, but why was Cai Ning doing this? Did the Flame Dragon Alliance have an interest in the "Holy Grail"? Even if they did, such an item wouldn't be easily obtained.

For the Europeans, the Holy Grail was a fundamental item that could affect their standing. Regardless of who acquired it, it would greatly impact their power. Why would they easily entrust it to the Easterners?

If mishandled, this could become a hot potato, drawing attention from those who originally had no intention of confronting the Flame Dragon Alliance, putting them in a difficult situation against overwhelming odds.

But Yang Chen knew it was futile to discuss such matters. Though he didn't understand why the Flame Dragon Alliance had sent Cai Ning into the venue to compete with the foreigners, at the very least, it was clear they intended to confront them.

"Troublesome," Yang Chen thought with frustration.

At this point, the bidding had escalated into a frenzy.

After Lillith called out an astronomical "twenty-five million", Cai Ning, showing no signs of backing down, immediately countered with "twenty-seven million"!

Finally unable to remain calm, Lillith and her companions at the table stared coldly at Cai Ning.

Sensing their gaze, Cai Ning turned her head and met it head-on, showing no signs of weakness.

Lillith suddenly smiled meaningfully, stood up, and her group of foreigners followed suit. Amidst the astonished gazes of many, they filed out of the venue, as if relinquishing the bid.

The auctioneer wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, utterly bewildered. He immediately shouted, "Twenty-seven million once! Twenty-seven million twice! Twenty-seven million three times! Sold! Congratulations to the guests at table number five!"

Just as the auctioneer finished his announcement, a deafening roar reverberated through the venue!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The intense tremor startled the guests in the hall; it was unmistakably the sound of high explosives detonating, reminiscent of missile strikes! After the violent shaking subsided, the entire hall plunged into darkness as the lights dimmed abruptly.

A cacophony of women's screams and men's curses filled the air, while numerous security guards anxiously began sealing off all entrances. Inside, however, the chaos and darkness rendered them completely disoriented.

"Damn it! What's going on?!" Liu Kangbo, feeling the tremors from his corner, angrily stood up, baffled by the unexpected explosion. He had no idea where it originated!

At that moment, alarms blared throughout the hall, and crimson emergency lights flickered on abruptly, powered by the backup generators.

The severity of the situation far exceeded the imaginations of both Liu Kangbo and the guests. What had been a well-organized auction had now descended into a scene of terror.

"Chairman! Something big has happened!" An assistant shouted into the phone. "Security reports indicate our auction house storage rooms were bombed from the inside! Many artifacts have been damaged or destroyed in the explosion, and the exact losses are difficult to estimate!"

"What?!" Liu Kangbo seethed with anger, suddenly realizing this was undoubtedly a planned conspiracy. But how could such a thing happen? He was completely at a loss.

"Call the police! Call the police! Mobilize all security personnel to search for the criminals and assess the losses at the auction house!" Liu Kangbo commanded loudly.

Amidst the chaos in the hall, Yang Chen remained alert. Even though the lights were out, it didn't affect his vision. He calmly observed as Cai Ning, taking advantage of the distraction, skillfully used her lightness skill to leap out of the venue unnoticed.

Yang Chen couldn't be certain if the explosion was caused by those foreign nationals, but there was undoubtedly some connection. The thought that the Yanhuang Iron Brigade might engage in conflict with them tonight gave Yang Chen a headache. Their potential heavy losses would not directly concern him, but it would jeopardize the defenses of Yanxia, where he lived, making his own life insecure. Moreover, he had some acquaintances in the Yanhuang Iron Brigade; watching them perish without doing anything felt like turning a blind eye to his own future in this country.

Regardless, he couldn't just stand by.

Noticing Lin Ruoxi beside him, though she appeared somewhat nervous, her naturally calm demeanor prevented her from panicking like other women might. She remained vigilant, observing her surroundings with caution.

Yang Chen approached her and said, "I'm going out to assess the situation. Stay with the two from the Yuan family. If I'm delayed later, don't wait for me. I'll find my own way back."

Lin Ruoxi hesitated for a moment, not understanding why Yang Chen needed to go out and check the situation. Just as she was about to say something, she felt Yang Chen had already left her side.

The resort's electrical system had already failed, with scattered crowds and chaotic security teams everywhere.

In the darkness, Yang Chen moved swiftly and without disturbance to the resort's outskirts, his keen senses picking up a faint but familiar chill in the air, tinged with something peculiar.

Glancing towards a nearby direction, he saw the dense forest behind the resort, separated by a high metal fence.

In the deep of night, with no stars or moonlight, the forest was shrouded in darkness, ominous and mysterious.

Without further hesitation, Yang Chen pursued the sensation, moving at a speed almost impossible to track, and swiftly leaped into the forest under cover of darkness, like a dark shadow effortlessly threading through the trees, disappearing into the depths of the woods in the blink of an eye.