Although these thoughts consumed him, Michael's gaze was locked onto Griselda. The aura of a grandmaster, formidable and rare, began emanating from him, causing Griselda's face to pale considerably.To be fair, Griselda hadn't expected this seemingly bookish youth, whose appearance gave an impression of ineptness, to be an unparalleled grandmaster, even potentially surpassing her grandfather. This revelation made her feel like she had disturbed a hornet's nest. She hastily sought Benjamin's figure, hoping for assistance.However, to her dismay, Benjamin had disappeared. Her complexion grew even more ashen, and internally, she was hurling curses at Benjamin."What's transpired here? Why are you all standing around? Why not head to the elevator for the auction?"A melodious voice, clear as a brook, suddenly pierced through from behind, diverting everyone's attention.Emerging was a ravishing figure, a young woman seemingly in her mid-twenties. Dressed simply in black trousers and a whit
Truthfully, all present were aware that despite the Vessel's historical significance, its energy had long since waned. Its practical use was minimal. Yet, seeing the two magnates fervently outbidding each other, the audience was thoroughly entertained.Sitting amidst the crowd, Benjamin wore an enigmatic expression. He gazed at the Octagonal Melodious Vessel placed upon a wooden tray, lost in a tumult of emotions."Intriguing. Do you desire to contest in this bidding war alongside them?" Griselda's velvety voice whispered, almost lost amidst the hum of conversations around them. She glanced surreptitiously at Benjamin, her eyes searching his face for a hint of his intentions."Hmm?" His eyebrows lifted in mild surprise. Meeting her gaze, he replied with a hint of incredulity: "It's merely a commonplace bowl. Why would I squander my resources on such a triviality, even if I had the wealth?"Her face revealed a shadow of doubt: "If they were to overhear your disdain, I wonder, would the
Beholding Mr. Knight's demeanor, the young man couldn't help but unleash a hearty laugh. Yet, in the very next breath, his gaze turned earnest, fixing Mr. Knight with a direct stare."By all accounts, I'm known as the 'War God' to many, but my true name, sir, is Benjamin Arnold.""What? Come again?"As the young man proclaimed his identity, a ripple of shock coursed through those present. Although many there did not recognize Benjamin per se, the moniker 'War God' was far from unfamiliar to them.Notably, several young lads and lasses held the legendary War God in the highest esteem."Heavens! Could he be the fabled War God?”“Ha ha! A hero emerges in his youth, he still appears so young! Were there a chance, I'd seek his autograph."The buzz of excited whispers filled the hall. Mr. Knight's eyes shimmered with a mix of caution and disbelief. However, famed or not as a terror of the seas, he soon composed himself, leveling a disdainful gaze at the young man."Hmph, but a stripling! Wh
Hearing her, Ronald, the hotel manager, turned ashen, his face drained of color.However, despite the dire circumstances, he responded swiftly, rallying against the chaos."Hurry, ensure the young lady's safety!"Yet, the surrounding guards, at their peak, were only mere beginners in martial prowess. Before they could even spring into action, a shadowy figure, swift as the wind, darted towards the auction podium. His target was not just anything; it was the command seal Sophie was holding."Hmph!"However, much to this shadow's surprise, just as he was inches away from the command seal, the ground beneath him suddenly sprung forth an iron cage, encircling the entire auction podium. Even Sophie, at that moment, found herself safely ensconced within this iron haven.Crash!Unable to steal the seal from Sophie's grasp, the shadow, with resolute determination, promptly threw a smoke grenade and tried to make his escape.Yet, from behind, a soft, chilling voice echoed: "Where do you think
Hearing this, and seeing Sophie's genuflection, the man's demeanor softened slightly, but he remained vigilant. His gaze drifted to a secluded corner of Sophie's office, filled with inscrutable intent: "Fine, considering your honesty, I'll entrust these crystals to you. However, ensure that my desired items reach the specified location on time."With that, he tossed the remaining crystals to Sophie and, before her very eyes, vanished, leaving behind only fleeting streaks of light.As the remnants of their encounter faded, Sophie whispered to herself: "Finally, that ordeal is over."Stepping outside the hotel, the figure previously known as the man in the black cloak, now revealed to be Benjamin, removed his outer cloak, allowing himself a moment of relaxation. He quickly scanned his surroundings, ensuring no prying eyes followed him. Assured of his privacy, he discarded his clothes into a nearby bin, retaining only the attire he had worn earlier at the auction with Griselda.After set
Yet, to his astonishment, the officer from the Tiger Guardian squad seemed utterly dismissive of him. In fact, the man displayed an overt arrogance, waving his hand dismissively."I care not if you are Benjamin or who. If you have no business here, then step aside promptly. And don’t let this rabble stand before me. My patience does have its limits."Hearing such blatant disrespect, the soldiers behind Benjamin seethed with anger, especially Noam. Outraged, Noam broke rank, pointing a threatening finger at the officer and shouted vehemently,"Just so you know, my leader merely intended to show you a modicum of respect. You think that shiny colonel badge gives you dominance? Spit on it, if today you don't get a taste of my fury, I'm not Noam!"With burning rage, Noam lunged forward, intending to teach the insolent officer a lesson. Unexpectedly, Benjamin quickly grasped Noam by the collar and gently cast him aside.Then, with an unhurried gaze, he settled on the opposing officer, murmu
Boom!Boom!The resonant crash echoed not once, but twice.With an ear-splitting noise, the pillar above was swiftly shattered by Abner's robust figure, leaving behind an eye-catching, man-shaped hole. Were it not for Abner's stature as a grandmaster, enduring such relentless shockwaves would have undoubtedly left him grievously injured, if not dead.However, being the grandmaster that he is, even after being momentarily dizzied by Benjamin's onslaught, Abner hurriedly crawled out from the debris. His eyes, now tainted with a touch of rage, locked fiercely onto Benjamin.But just as Abner saw Benjamin's figure beginning to fade away, he couldn't help but cry out in haste: "Stop... hold on. I agree to your terms. Both sides will choose ten fighters, and whoever wins more than five matches emerges victorious. What do you say?"Hearing Abner's plea, Benjamin momentarily paused. Yet his gaze briefly swept over Abner's ragged form, a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips, amused: "Very w
Hearing Abner's description, a spark of intrigue ignited in Benjamin's eyes. Hastily, he held up the jade, examining it closely. At first glance, the stone indeed appeared mundane. But upon closer scrutiny, a peculiar sensation enveloped Benjamin, causing a jolt of surprise.Still, outwardly, Benjamin retained his composure, not betraying a hint of the strangeness he felt. A slight frown played on his lips as he addressed Abner."Captain, my pill is of immense value. Do you truly believe this jade is an adequate wager? Isn't this a tad stingy on your part?"Hearing Benjamin's words, Abner inwardly cursed. However, he understood that persuading Benjamin to accept the jade alone as a bet would be an uphill task. Especially when Abner was convinced he'd be claiming all the items eventually.After a moment's hesitation, Abner produced a list, offering it to Benjamin."I've heard your team has been searching for an international criminal organization. This list contains names of those you