"Ladies and gentlemen, please pay attention." As the young man's voice echoed in the hall, the lights gradually dimmed and the hall became quiet. Everyone's eyes were focused on the stage, where a young man stood, with the lights focused on him. It seemed as if he was the protagonist of the banquet, smiling and looking at the guests in front of him. He was wearing clothes from the most famous and expensive brands in the world, and his shining green eyes were like snakes. His dark chestnut hair and extremely handsome face made him even more charming, and the faint pressure he exuded made his aura even more powerful. He was someone Irina knew very well. This is the brother of her secret crush. Caesar Black. The current representative of the Black family, and the person considered most likely to inherit the family business. 'He does look a lot like him.' As Irina thought about it, she looked around for the person she had a "crush on". But she didn't find him in the end.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Caesar began, his voice strong and powerful. "I am honored to have you all here tonight. As you all know, the Black family has always been at the forefront of innovation, especially in the field of dungeon ore." As soon as he finished speaking, a holographic projection appeared on the stage in front of everyone, showing a holographic map structure. "This is a special type of dungeon that our family oversees." He said, his eyes focusing on the dungeon's structure. "Today, I will show you the latest technology that our team has worked so hard to develop." He went on to explain the new technology they had developed, a new way to increase mining efficiency and extract ore from the dungeon. All the guests present listened attentively, astounded by the advancement of this ancient industry. The same was true for Alice and Irina. Both of them were involved in the dungeon mining industry because their families also ran small companies. Therefore, they could see how effective this new method was. “I didn’t expect they could make such great progress.” Irina looked at the displayed data and whispered to Alice. The fact that the Black family claimed to have increased efficiency by at least 12% was a groundbreaking breakthrough enough to attract the attention of all forces in the world. "Indeed, but only if what they say is true," Alice replied, with a hint of doubt on her face. "But tonight, I have even more exciting news for you all," Caesar continued, his eyes twinkling with enthusiasm. "Through our latest discovery, we have discovered a new mysterious ore within the dungeon. This ore has tremendous potential and could revolutionize multiple areas of our world." Everyone was talking in low voices, their excitement evident in their words. Alice's curiosity was aroused, and she leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Caesar. Caesar's eyes swept over the crowd. "We named this ore 'Nesilim'. It has unique properties. Not only is it stronger and more durable than most known materials, it also has excellent magical conductivity. We believe that it will be the key to breakthroughs in the fields of technology and magic." His eyes sparkled, and Nesilim's stone form appeared in the holographic projection, emitting a silvery-white luster. When the topic of magic conductivity was mentioned, everyone's eyes lit up. The stability and durability of a material are important, but nothing is more exciting than magical conductivity. For an awakened one, having a weapon that can effectively channel mana is far more important than anything else. "Our researchers are working tirelessly to study Nesilim and explore its full potential," Caesar continued. "We anticipate its use in forging more powerful weapons, more durable armor, and even as a catalyst for advanced magical spells." Bang bang bang! As the applause died down, he concluded: "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention, and we are extremely excited about the future of Nesirim. Now, as a thank you for your support, we are pleased to announce the finale of the evening, the Black Family Auction." The hall was filled with anticipation, and guests returned to their seats, eagerly awaiting what was to come. The Black Family Auction was known for offering unique and precious items or materials, which was one of the reasons that attracted so many people to attend the banquet.
“It’s finally here.” Irina muttered. Although Caesar's speech and his unique charm were wonderful, she was already beginning to feel bored. Most of the speech was praising their products and some word games, and she hated word games the most, which made her want to vomit. Caesar motioned to his assistants to roll out a series of display cases to showcase the auction items. "Tonight, we have prepared many extraordinary items for you to bid on, all carefully collected and crafted by our family. From enchanted gems to rare magic items, you will definitely find something that interests you." The protagonists had studied the auction catalogue carefully and discussed their bidding targets. They were ready, but not everyone present was. As Caesar gestured toward the display cases, the items hidden behind them caused some guests to exchange expectant glances and lean forward in anticipation of a closer look at the items about to be auctioned. "The auction is about to begin," Caesar announced, with a hint of excitement in his voice. "But before that, we'll have the service staff hand out bidding numbers." Guests began to chat in low voices, their excitement growing as the auction items were about to be revealed, and the room was filled with an atmosphere of excitement and excitement. As waiters began to move through the crowd, handing out bidding numbers, each guest received a small tag engraved with a unique number, which was an essential tool for participating in the auction. While everyone was getting their numbers, Irina was busy looking around for any sign of Victor. He had specifically invited Julia, which made her furious, but it also made her sure he would be here. As she was looking around, she suddenly felt a touch on her arm. "Um?" She looked forward and found that the waiter in front of her was lowering his head and handing her a number tag. "Oh, sorry." The waiter said in an apologetic tone. Irina realized that he might have touched her arm by mistake. "It doesn't matter." Normally, she would get angry and blame the other person, but when she saw the other person immediately bow his head and apologize, she decided not to waste time. However, as she motioned for the waiter to leave, she noticed Alice's eyes were on him. Alice's sudden interest in the waiter piqued Irina's curiosity. She knew Alice too well to know that she would not pay attention to someone for no reason. "Wait a minute," Alice said, her eyes narrowed slightly. The waiter was startled, raised his head and met the inquiring gaze. He looked a little nervous under the scrutiny. "What's your name?" Alice asked, her tone polite and decisive. "Uh…my name is Leonard," the waiter stammered, glancing nervously between the two of them. "Can you show us your ID?" Alice continued, her eyes fixed on the waiter. Leonard hesitated, then nodded. He carefully pulled his ID card out of his pocket and handed it over. Irina also moved closer and took a closer look at the ID card. In the dim light, her eyes fell on the bracelet on his wrist. For some reason, she felt that the bracelet was familiar.
'Have I seen this before? ' she asked herself. The bracelet was not gorgeous, but it had a unique charm. 'Forget it.' However, she quickly put the thought aside. For an ordinary waiter, being able to occupy a place in her mind is something he should be grateful for. Bang! Just as Alice was about to say something, suddenly, the lights on the stage focused again and the first auction item was displayed. "You can go now." Seeing this, Alice withdrew her thoughts and decided not to pursue the matter. The noise of the crowd had long since died down, and causing trouble at the Black family's banquet might anger them, which was not what she wanted to see. At this point, a female auctioneer in a black gown took the stage, and as she began to introduce the first lot, the sense of anticipation in the hall was almost palpable. “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s auction opens with an extraordinary piece of jewelry, an enchanted sapphire pendant,” the auctioneer announced, unveiling the exquisite gem in a glass display case. As the bidding began, there was a murmur in the hall and the excitement grew as guests held up their bidding numbers and began to bid. Not all of the people present came from prominent families. There were also some who had no reputation or were just a little talented, so they tried to enter the wealthy class through such auctions. At the same time, 'Leonard' also took the opportunity to sneak away. He had already completed his task of handing out the bidding numbers and didn't want to draw any more unnecessary attention. Amid the bustle of the auction, his departure went unnoticed. Although Irina was still somewhat curious about the bracelet and the brief memory it had evoked, she turned her attention back to the auction. The bidding continued, and each item brought fierce competition. The auction items were unveiled one after another, including a set of enchanted rings, a rare magic book, and a pair of boots powered by mana. As each lot came up, the bidding intensified, and the auction hall was filled with competitive excitement and anticipation for the next lot. boom! Until a loud explosion sounded, and the originally dim banquet hall suddenly lit up...
