Chapter 40

He didn't use any amplification equipment, yet his clear, resonant voice carried distinctly to every corner of the auction hall.

Translation: He didn't use any amplification equipment, yet his clear, resonant voice still reached every corner of the auction hall.

Check: preserve meaning. Good.

"Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, good evening."

Translation: "Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, good evening."

He gave a slight bow, his movement flawlessly elegant, and the mechanical swallowtail butterfly on his shoulder fluttered its wings, hovering above him and shedding specks of fine light dust.

Translation: He inclined his body slightly, his movement flawless and elegant, and the mechanical phoenix butterfly on his shoulder fluttered its wings, hovering there and scattering fine specks of light.

"Welcome to the Undercurrent, I'm tonight's host, you may call me...... Diezhe."

Translation: "Welcome to the Undercurrent, I'm tonight's host, you may call me...... the Butterfly Speaker."

We should use Diezhe for the nickname; this is his self‑introduction: you may call me...... Diezhe. According to the rules, we keep the nickname in pinyin if it's a habitual name. He is introducing himself as that nickname, his chosen moniker, so we output Diezhe. Thus the translation is: "Welcome to the Undercurrent, I'm tonight's host, you may call me...... Diezhe."

But we need to keep the quotes? The original has "...... Diezhe". We'll translate as "...... Diezhe". Keep double quotes? We'll keep English quotes.

Thus line 4 translates to: "Welcome to the Undercurrent, I'm tonight's host, you may call me...... Diezhe."

His gaze slowly swept over the dark crowd below, especially the private rooms behind the one‑way glass upstairs, as if he could see through the barrier to read every bidder's expression.

Translation: His gaze swept slowly over the crowded masses below, especially the private boxes behind the one-way glass up high, as if he could see through the barrier to each bidder's expression.

"Here, wealth, power, knowledge, and even... beings beyond imagination will find their new belonging."

Translation: "Here, wealth, power, knowledge, and even...... beings beyond imagination will find their new belonging."

"The rules of the Undercurrent are surely familiar to you distinguished guests: highest bidder wins, cash and goods exchanged immediately, no questions about origin, and no after‑sales service."

Translation: "The rules of the Undercurrent, I'm sure you esteemed guests already know—highest bidder wins, payment and delivery immediate, no questions about origin, no after-sales guarantee."

His tone carried a playful cruelty: "I hope you all can safeguard everything you win."

Translation: His tone carried a playful cruelty: "I hope you all can safeguard whatever you win."

The mechanical swallowtail butterfly on his shoulder fluttered its wings again, emitting a buzz like that of a real insect.

Translation: The mechanical phoenix butterfly on his shoulder fluttered its wings again, emitting a buzz like a real insect.

"Well, no more nonsense—I declare that this Undercurrent auction is now...... officially underway!"

Translation: "Well then, no more nonsense—I declare this Undercurrent auction now...... officially underway!"

As his words fell, the huge curtain behind the auction stage slowly rose, revealing the softly lit display platform beyond, where a waiter in white gloves was pushing the first lot onto the stage.

Translation: As his words fell, the huge curtain behind the auction stage slowly rose, revealing the illuminated display platform beyond, where a waiter in white gloves was pushing the first lot onto the stage.

The atmosphere in the auction hall ignited instantly, as tension, greed, and anticipation silently collided in the air and began to ferment.

Translation: The auction hall's atmosphere ignited instantly, tension, greed, and anticipation colliding silently in the air, beginning to ferment.

Zhao the boss's bulky body leaned forward, his eyes locked on the display stand, indifferent to the host's threatening opening remarks, his mind fixed only on his "Bone‑Eating Orchid."

Zhao Laoban's bulky body leaned forward, his eyes locked on the display stand, indifferent to the host's threatening opening remarks, his mind fixed only on his "Bone‑Eating Orchid."

Rather than an auction house, it feels more like a cult's preaching gathering.

Translation: Rather than an auction venue, it felt more like a cult revival meeting.

Meng Kexin pressed her lips tightly, feeling ever more uneasy, sensing that this place exudes strangeness and danger at every turn.

Translation: Meng Kexin pressed her lips tightly, feeling ever more uneasy, sensing that this place was steeped in eeriness and danger at every turn.

Bai Mu Yun stood before the one‑way glass, gazing coldly downward.

Translation: Bai Mu Yun stood before the one-way glass, gazing coldly downward.

"Diezhe...... hum, the Undercurrent really is teeming with talent."

Translation: "Diezhe...... hum, the Undercurrent really is teeming with talent."

He muttered, evidently not expecting that he would be the one hosting this auction.

Translation: He murmured, evidently not expecting to be the one hosting this auction.

Diezhe is a practitioner of the consciousness laws, and he deliberately wove mental suggestion into his opening remarks.

Translation: Diezhe is a Special Ability Practitioner of the Consciousness Law, and he deliberately slipped a mental suggestion into his opening remarks.

Yang Yixie hadn't spared a thought for this place; he continued to explore the private room's facilities, showing no interest in the auction's opening, only occasionally glancing at the chat box to check progress.

Translation: Yang Yixie didn't devote any thought to this, still exploring the private box's various facilities, uninterested in the auction's opening, only occasionally glancing at the chat box to check progress.

He also swept all the food on the table into his game inventory.

Translation: He swept all the food on the table into his Game Backpack as an afterthought.

Upon looking up, Ling Duo met Bai Mu Yun's face, which was darkened with exasperation.

Translation: As he lifted his head, Ying Duo met Bai Mu Yun's face full of black lines.

In the neighboring private chamber, Chi Jin'an lounged lazily on the sofa, not even bothering to watch the auction, merely closing his eyes as if already asleep.

Translation: In the neighboring private box, Chi Jin An lounged lazily in the sofa, not even bothering to watch the auction, eyes closed as if already asleep.

Only when the host announced the start did he slightly lift his eyelids, his dark gaze sweeping over the display stand before closing again.

Only when the host announced the start did he slightly lift his eyelids, his dark gaze sweeping over the display stand before closing again.

Qi Junyi, for his part, rarely sees such a grand scene, and he was curiously scanning the crowd below with a pleased expression.

Translation: Qi Junyi, on the other hand, rarely saw such a grand scene, his face full of curiosity as he surveyed the floor below.

——————————————————

We need to output exactly the line as is? The line is a separator. We must output 【26】 then the separator. Keep same characters. So output: 【26】 ——————————————————

A subordinate wearing the uniform of the Undercurrent mercenary corps was bowing to report to a youth seated on a large black leather sofa.

Translation: A subordinate wearing the uniform of the Undercurrent Mercenary Corps bowed and reported to the youth seated on a large black leather sofa.

This subordinate's voice was tense, with fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

Translation: The subordinate's voice was tense, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"Captain, the forces confirmed to be participating in the auction are: the Inquisition Tribunal, represented by the 'Blood Lotus' and that 'Mad Dog'; from the Celestial Dome comes Bai Mu Yun, whose entourage we haven't seen before; plus several noble agents......"

Translation: "Regiment Leader, the forces confirmed to be participating in the auction are: the Heresy Tribunal, represented by the Blood Lotus and that Mad Dog; the Dome sent Bai Mu Yun, whose entourage I've never seen before; plus several noble proxies......"

The youth called "Captain" was presently leaning back in the sofa with a relaxed posture.

Translation: The youth called the Regiment Leader was currently leaning back on the sofa in a relaxed posture.

He had a neat silver‑white short hairstyle, the strands soft yet giving off a chill.

Translation: He had a neat head of silver-white short hair, soft yet giving off a cold feeling.

His features were fairly soft, but his icy‑blue eyes were unforgettably striking—nothing like human eyes, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, holding only absolute rationality.

Translation: His features were fairly soft, but his ice-blue eyes were unforgettably inhuman—devoid of any emotional fluctuation, holding only absolute rationality.

After hearing the subordinate's slightly fearful report, he didn't even twitch an eyelash.

Translation: After hearing the subordinate's slightly fearful report, he didn't even twitch an eyelash.

His distinctively jointed fingers unconsciously tapped the sofa's leather armrest, producing a muffled sound.

Translation: His distinctively jointed fingers unconsciously tapped the sofa's leather armrest, producing a muffled sound.

"Understood."

Translation: "Understood."

His voice sounded, as usual, calm: "Pass the order down—let all the dark sentries hold their position."

Translation: His voice sounded, as usual, "Pass the order down: let all dark sentries hold their position."

The subordinate froze for a moment, apparently surprised.

Translation: The subordinate froze for a moment, seeming somewhat surprised.

"Captain, all the factions are gathered here; should we strengthen our defenses......"

Translation: "Regiment Leader, with all the forces gathered here, should we strengthen security......"

His icy‑blue eyes gave him a faint glance, swallowing the rest of the subordinate's words; he lowered his head, daring not to speak further.

Translation: His ice-blue eyes gave him a faint glance; the subordinate swallowed the rest of his words, head bowed, daring not to speak further.

"The auction proceeds as usual; until the guests themselves break the rules, we need only watch."

Translation: "The auction proceeds as usual; until the 'guests' break the rules themselves, we only need to watch."

"Yes, Captain!"

Translation: "Yes! Regiment Leader!"

The subordinate, feeling pardoned, hastily bowed and withdrew.

Translation: The subordinate, as if pardoned, hurriedly bowed and retreated.

The youth slowly rose and walked to the massive one‑way glass wall, his icy‑blue eyes coldly scanning the auction floor below, which resembled a miniature sandbox, as well as the various forces hidden in the private chambers.

Translation: The youth slowly rose, walked to the massive one-way glass wall, and his ice-blue eyes coldly scanned the auction floor below, resembling a miniature sand table, as well as the various forces hidden in the private boxes.

The corner of his mouth twitched ever so slightly upward.

Translation: The corner of his mouth twitched upward ever so slightly.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

Translation: The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

All he needs to do is ensure he is that final oriole.

Translation: And what he must do is ensure he is that final oriole.

The storm is approaching, and he has chosen to become its eye.

Translation: The storm is approaching, and he has chosen to become its eye.

The auction proceeded steadily amid a surface of fervor and an undercurrent of tension.

Translation: The auction progressed steadily amid a surface fervor but an undercurrent of tension.

Diezhe, relying on his superb crowd‑control skills and incendiary rhetoric, presented each lot before the audience.

Translation: Diezhe, relying on his superb crowd‑control skills and incendiary rhetoric, presented each lot before the crowd.

Energy weapon schematics, rare exotic biological materials, lost technological relics...

Translation: Energy weapon schematics, rare aberrant‑species biological materials, lost technological relics...

Each hammer strike was met with gasps or sighs of relief, as wealth and power changed hands at breakneck speed here.

Translation: Each hammer fall was accompanied by gasps or sighs of relief, wealth and power circulating here at astonishing speed.

When the "Bone‑Eating Orchid" bud, sealed in a special inert‑gas crystal case, was pushed onto the stage, Zhao the boss's bulky frame snapped upright, his eyes blazing with the determination to possess it at any cost.

Translation: When the "Bone-Eating Orchid Dormant Bud," sealed in a specially crafted inert‑gas crystal case, was pushed onto the stage, Zhao Laoban's corpulent frame snapped upright, his eyes blazing with the determination to possess it at any cost.

Inside the crystal case, the semi‑transparent azure bud resembled an ice‑crystal artwork, exuding an eerie beauty.

Translation: Inside the crystal case, the semi‑transparent azure‑blue bud resembled an ice‑crystal artwork, exuding an eerie beauty.

Bidding was fiercely intense; clearly, more than just Zhao the boss was interested in this sinister item.

Translation: Bidding was fiercely intense; clearly, more than just Zhao Laoban was interested in this sinister item.

The price climbed relentlessly; sweat beaded on Zhao the boss's forehead, each bid feeling like a slice cut from his flesh.

Translation: The price climbed relentlessly, sweat beading on Zhao Laoban's forehead as each bid felt like a slice cut from his flesh.

Finally, as Diezhe's auction hammer fell, he secured the "gift" at a price far beyond his budget, though with great difficulty.

Translation: Finally, as Diezhe brought down the auction hammer, he struggled to win the "gift" at a price far beyond his budget.

"Hmph, a bunch of ungrateful wretches!"

Translation: "Hmph, a bunch of ungrateful trash!"

Zhao the boss wiped his cold sweat while cursing bitterly, though his eyes revealed more pain than anger.

Translation: Zhao Laoban wiped his cold sweat while cursing bitterly, though his eyes showed more pain at the loss.

He turned his head toward his daughter, who had kept her head down, and his tone grew stern and impatient.

Translation: He turned to his daughter, who kept her head lowered, his tone turning stern and impatient.

"Kexin! Did you see? For you, for the future of our Zhao Family, Father I have really spared no expense! When you go to the Academy, you must firmly grasp Young Master Chen in your hand, so that this treasure proves its worth."

Meng Kexin had become accustomed to her father's sudden change of expression, felt that cold gaze fall upon her, lowered her head even further, and replied in a thin, weak voice.

"...... The daughter understands."

But her heart was icy; using such a vicious means to flatter such a dangerous person, she could already see her bleak future.

No, she must find a way to save herself.