Chapter 2742: Transmigrated to the Aristocratic Academy as a Special Recruitment Student 27

And the atmosphere in the auction hall was completely ignited.

Just as the auctioneer had expected, many people were interested in this legendary gene repair fluid.

The auctioneer felt the peak of his career was approaching, took a deep breath, and announced the starting price.

"X7-type Gene Repair Primordial Liquid, starting bid one hundred million star coins! Each raise must be no less than twenty million!"

"One hundred eighty million!"

"Two hundred million!"

"Two hundred forty million!"

As soon as the words fell, bidding shouts rose from below, and the price climbed at a staggering speed.

To those nobles whose wealth is measured in planets and mineral veins, these numbers seemed merely a warm-up.

And this was only the downstairs hall; the upstairs boxes holding vast resources had not yet made a move.

Ling Yao took this auction more seriously than any previous bidding.

He picked up a peeled grape from the fruit platter, popped it into his mouth, then pinched two more and brought them to Jin Chen's lips, saying, "Those folks downstairs still have some grinding to do."

Jin Chen obediently lowered his head, took the grape in his mouth, inadvertently brushed Ling Yao's fingertip, and hummed indistinctly.

He grabbed two napkins, wiped Ling Yao's fingers, then glanced again at the barely concealed restless Aike, the corner of his mouth twitching into a fleeting arc.

Aike felt an inexplicable chill in his heart, increasingly convinced that Jin Chen knew something.

Even though his inner anxiety was like ants on a hot pan, he dared not speak rashly, only able to stare fixedly at the bidding downstairs.

The bidding speed downstairs slowed, reaching a bottleneck.

The price stalled at one hundred fifty billion star coins.

The auctioneer understood clearly that the real contest was just beginning, and immediately turned his gaze to the upstairs boxes.

"Three hundred billion."

"Box 6 upstairs, three hundred billion! First call!" the auctioneer's voice suddenly rose, full of fervor.

The competition again entered a white-hot phase.

"Five hundred billion!" another box followed.

"Eight hundred billion!"

"One trillion!"

"One trillion five hundred billion!"

"Two trillion!"

The numbers grew like a snowball, each raise eliciting murmurs from downstairs.

Ling Yao finally stopped merely observing.

"Box 1 upstairs, six hundred billion!" the auctioneer could only stand steady by holding onto the auction stand.

Just when everyone thought this would be the final hammer blow.

"Eight trillion!"

The auctioneer was so startled he almost bit his tongue.

Who doesn't know who sits in Box 1, yet who dares to so openly raise the price?

Ling Yao's brows and eyes turned cold, and he said to the communicator inside the box:

"The full mining rights to a No. 15 Frontier Star."

As soon as these words were spoken, even the auctioneer was stunned, then hurriedly announced.

"Intermission for ten minutes! Please wait, honored guests!"

This is a special procedure that occurs when the auction encounters a clash of titans, requiring behind-the-scenes negotiation.

Ling Yao pressed the communicator, summoning the staff guarding the door, "Go check who is in Box 3."

The staff soon returned with the news.

Ling Yao's originally unpleasant face sank completely upon hearing the name Ling Ling.

Xisi clicked his tongue, shook his head, and said, "Ah Yao, you cousin, are constantly looking for a chance to disgust me."

Ling Yao's eyes held no warmth: "Who gave him the guts to compete with me? Let him come over!"

Jin Chen reached out, gently pinched his tense fingers, and whispered, "Don't be angry."

"... I feel nauseous just seeing him," Ling Yao pursed his lips, his tense shoulders relaxing a little.

He leaned in, kissed Jin Chen's lips, and said, "Anyway, this is yours; I've claimed it."

A few minutes later, the box door was pushed open, and an uninvited guest arrived.

Ling Ling wore a smug smile, and unexpectedly, there was another person behind him.

That person wore a crisp federal military uniform, his features stern, eyes sharp, exuding the pressure of long-held high position.

Shi Heng and Lin Baiyu exchanged a glance, their expressions growing more solemn.

The second son of the current Federal Premier, a major general of the Second Army Corps, Ke'erliqi.

Only Aike, upon seeing Ling Ling, could not suppress a flicker of joy on his face.

He knew well that his own abilities could not shake Ling Yao in the slightest, so he painstakingly spread the news of how Ling Yao pampered a special recruitment student at school, possibly even developing true feelings, to Ling Ling, who had always been at odds with Ling Yao.

He never expected it to actually work, and it even brought Major General Ke'erliqi over.

Jin Chen: 【Zero Egg, investigate this Major General Ke'erliqi, especially any dirt, the more detailed the better.】

【Okay Host~ Getting to work right away!】

Ling Ling feigned affection, yet was also insincere: "Brother, this isn't me, the younger brother, trying to compete with you; it's Major General Ke'erliqi who urgently needs this gene fluid—you can't possibly… deny him this face, can you?"

Ke'erliqi stepped forward, scanned the few people in the box, his gaze landing on Ling Yao, putting on a seemingly hearty smile.

"Ling Yao, long time no see, to you guys this repair fluid is just a toy, but I urgently need it, so I'll take it, folks… any objections?"

His words seemed courteous, but actually carried a hint of using power to suppress others.

"I have an opinion." Ling Yao replied coldly.

He suddenly laughed again, very flamboyantly, the red wine swaying lightly at his fingertips, "Who the Ling family supports is up to me."

"What good is it for the major general to collude with this idiot? Or..."

Ling Yao leaned forward slightly, unrestrained and arrogant, "You're plotting to kill me."

Ke'erliqi's face sank, "If I must have it today, then what?"

Ling Yao snorted, his tone light and airy, "Then the Ling family will not spend a single penny on any of the Second Army Corps' extra subsidies this year, equipment upgrades, or logistical support."

"You can see what else Ling Ling can bring you besides a little cleverness."

Shi Heng weighed it for a moment, stood up first, his tone soft but with hidden barbs, "Then it's also a pity, Major General Ke'erliqi, unless you no longer want the Shi family's support in politics, for you and those behind your faction."

Lin Baiyu lifted his eyes, his voice colder, "When I return I will inform my father; regarding your promotion review this year, it can be reconsidered carefully, no need to rush a decision."

Xisi drew out his tone, "Oh, of course, Major General, if you still want to advance further, run for some higher position… reputation and the public's votes are also important, right?"

Ke'erliqi: "..."

Ling Ling: "..."