An Understated Dominance (Maria Vittori) novel Chapter 374

Chapter 374 

“Don’t believe me? Let’s see what happens!” The woman in the baseball cap pursed her lips in disdain, while Dustin and Roderick only smiled back in response. 

As time went on, the auction neared its end, and the remaining highly prized items were brought up on stage. Among them, was the long–awaited thousand–year green lotus everyone coveted. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, our next item on auction is an extremely rare, precious herb that has thrived for a thousand years. This item is known as the thousand–year green lotus!” 

With a wave from the auctioneer, a wooden box was brought forward with great care. As the box opened, one translucent and gleaming green lotus was revealed. While its petals were colored green, its core shimmered gold. It appeared to be the epitome of perfection, resembling a delicate work of art as its beauty captivated everyone present. Under the illumination of lights, its colors shone brilliantly. It was truly a sight to behold. 

“It really is the thousand–year green lotus. I’m taking this baby home for sure!” The woman’s eyes sparkled, and she looked excited. Not only she, but the rest of the bidders had a similar look on their faces. 

“Now that everyone has seen the precious item, I believe you have a sense of its value. The 

starting bid for the thousand–year green lotus is 100 million, with subsequent raises of not less than 5 million. Let’s begin.” 

As soon as the auctioneer announced the start of the bidding, the scene erupted into a frenzy. 

“120 million!” 

“130 million!” 

“No one gets in my way! 150 million here!” 

Bidding calls drowned out each other as a growing number of wealthy individuals eagerly joined the fray. Equipped with sizable funds, they had come prepared. That was because it was widely understood that the thousand–year green lotus held immeasurable value and that whoever won the bid would be able to receive substantial returns just from reselling it. 

In a world abundant with wealth, precious herbs like these that could prolong life were highly favored, especially by the elderly tycoons. It didn’t matter, even if that meant staking their entire fortunes. 

“500 million here!” A man in a long–sleeved shirt suddenly raised his paddle. His commanding voice reverberated through the room, instantly overshadowing the voices of the crowd. 

“This thousand–year green lotus belongs to the Stoneray Order. Don’t try to take it from me!” The man scrutinized his surroundings, his gaze menacing. 

Those who caught his gaze instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to look him straight in the eyes. Not many dared to offend the Stoneray Order, as they were Millsburg’s most influential group. Even though the item on auction was a precious treasure, it paled in comparison to their lives and wealth. 

“Are the Stoneray Order all that? I’m bidding 800 million!” In the face of the silent crowd, the 

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