Chapter 129: What a Truly Good Person!

"Gentlemen, welcome to Viscount Beckett's Castle; as for the theme of today's banquet, there is no need for me to elaborate!"

"Furthermore, everyone present who is attending this banquet had subordinates sent into the mine shafts a few days ago to survey them, so they know the reserves of my iron mine!"

"Now, let us immediately begin the auction bidding!"

"To be honest, if it were not for a once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity in Eagle City, I would truly be unwilling to exchange the family's greatest reserves for funds!"

Speaking of this, Viscount Beckett paused, his eye sockets turning slightly red.

Good heavens! Gervas, good heavens!

With such acting skills, no wonder he is thinking of scamming nobles.

He could practically win an Oscar!

One does not know what means Viscount Beckett used to fool these nobles' personnel who surveyed the iron mine.

In any case, judging by the reactions of these nobles, they truly believed it.

"Viscount Beckett, since you have a better business opportunity, you must certainly consider greater interests, so do not be saddened by this!" A noble immediately spoke out to comfort him.

Viscount Beckett nodded, controlling his emotions, "Gentlemen, then let the auction bidding begin below, including the land encompassing the mineral mountain."

"The starting bid price for this round is three hundred gold coins, and the highest bidder wins!"

Having finished speaking, Viscount Beckett descended from the stage and took his seat, while a professional auctioneer invited from Iron Wolf City stood above to preside.

Meanwhile, the guardian knights of the nobles were temporarily permitted to enter the banquet hall, because these knights carried the nobles' bidding funds.

"I bid three hundred and ten gold coins!"

"Good, Viscount Cantner bids three hundred and ten gold coins..."

"I bid three hundred and twenty gold coins!"

"Baron Dickinson bids three hundred and twenty gold..."

"I bid three hundred and thirty..."

As the auction began, voices calling out bids continued in the hall.

In just a few short minutes, the original starting price of three hundred gold coins was driven up to four hundred and eighty gold coins.

And at this moment, Viscount Beckett's heart bloomed with joy.

"Bid! Bid! The higher the better, besides, this is your own choice, so do not blame me in the future!"

Viscount Beckett's psychological expectation was that these nobles would bid up to seven hundred gold coins.

Because his mine could produce mineral resources worth one hundred gold coins annually.

According to his falsified reserves, it could be mined for at least another twelve or thirteen years.

Thus, after winning the bid with seven hundred gold coins, the profit would be five or six hundred gold coins, which the vast majority of nobles could accept.

The reality was indeed so; as the bidding continued, the price gradually rose, finally exceeding six hundred and twenty gold coins.

By this time, the nobles participating in the bidding gradually decreased.

Originally, many barons were bidding, but now only a few viscounts with decent family reserves remained.

Among them, Viscount Cantner and Viscount Merrick were the most fierce in their bidding.

"I bid six hundred and fifty gold coins; Viscount Cantner, do you still want to compete with me? Your territory is near Iron Wolf City, two days' journey from the border, making it impossible to attend to the iron mine production at all times!"

"Viscount Merrick, you are no better than me; you are also one day's journey from Viscount Beckett's territory, so I am determined to win this iron mine production; I bid six hundred and sixty gold coins!" Viscount Cantner did not yield an inch.

And upon hearing the renewed bid, Viscount Merrick's eyebrows furrowed.

Six hundred and fifty gold coins had actually exceeded his psychological expectation.

Originally, he had expected six hundred gold coins.

"Viscount Cantner, six hundred and fifty gold coins; are there any other noble lords who wish to bid?"

"If no noble lord continues to bid, then the iron mine will belong to Viscount Cantner!"

"Six hundred and fifty gold coins, once!"

"Six hundred and fifty gold coins, twice!"

Hearing this, Viscount Cantner finally breathed a sigh of relief; in fact, his forehead was already covered with many fine beads of sweat.

Viscount Merrick's psychological expectation was six hundred gold coins, and he was the same.

So, the bidding up to now has exceeded expectations by quite a bit.

Fortunately, the excess of sixty gold coins, he could still accept if he gritted his teeth.

"Hiss! My lord, these nobles are too generous; that is over six hundred gold coins! I have grown up this big and have never even seen what six hundred gold coins look like!"

Knight Mi Gen and the other knights standing behind Gervas secretly clicked their tongues in amazement.

That was six hundred and sixty gold coins; a single coin could feed a peasant family well for several years.

Here, the nobles spend ten gold coins at a time, ten gold coins at a time.

"Knight Mi Gen, that is an iron mine; although these nobles pay six or seven hundred gold coins to buy it, they will surely obtain a doubled return in the end!" Upon hearing this, Gervas explained with a smile.

"Doubled return? Hiss, that would be a huge profit! It's just a pity that over six hundred gold coins is too expensive; only these viscounts can win the bid!" Knight Mi Gen's face was full of envy.

"Six hundred and fifty gold coins, th..."

And at this moment, above, the auctioneer had already called out the third time.

"I bid seven hundred gold coins!"

Under the gaze of Knight Mi Gen and the others, Gervas suddenly raised his hand, shouted towards the top, and interrupted the auctioneer's words.

Knight Mi Gen and the others were stunned; their own lord was actually participating in the bidding. "L... my lord, I was just speaking casually..."

Knight Mi Gen suspected that his own words had caused Gervas to suddenly decide to bid.

"Did I really bring you all here from far away just to eat for free?" Gervas scolded him sharply.

At this time, the hall had already reacted; everyone was in an uproar, turning their heads to look towards where the shout came from, only to discover a young noble with a unfamiliar face.

Seeing everyone's gaze, Gervas responded to everyone with a composed smile.

Instantly, whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Who is this person? Do you know him?"

"No, we have never seen him before!"

The auctioneer looked toward Viscount Beckett, who also frowned deeply, clearly unfamiliar with Gervas as well.

After all, he had met most of the nobles invited today, at least to some extent.

"My lord, this is the Lord of Stormhold, named Gervas..."

Fortunately, the butler had been standing aside in the hall; seeing that Gervas was actually participating in the bidding, he immediately trotted over to Beckett's ear to quietly inform him of Gervas's identity and what had happened earlier at the city gate.

Beckett paused, "Stormhold?"

Could the lord of such a destitute place really bid seven hundred gold coins?

However, since he had spoken up, the bidding must continue regardless.

Beckett put on a smile, stood up, and gestured toward Gervas, "So it is Baron Gervas of Stormhold; your presence is truly an honor for me, Beckett."

"Please forgive my castle butler's negligence for not inviting you beforehand!"

"Viscount Beckett need not be polite; it is I who am presumptuous for coming uninvited. By the way, should my participation in this bidding auction be considered presumptuous?"

"Of course not; this bidding is fair and just, and everyone may participate!" Beckett's face was plastered with smiles.

Yet inwardly he sneered, "I never expected to encounter such a fool; this is forty extra gold coins handed to me for free. What a good man!"