"What is Sig thinking?"
Umit couldn't quite grasp Sig's intentions and glanced around the VIP section.
The front row of the VIP section consisted of semi-enclosed booths that blocked the view from the general seating area.
However, these VIP booths could see each other, though out of courtesy, people usually didn't openly stare at others in such settings.
At this moment, Umit glanced at Celestial Dragon Charlos in another VIP booth and had a rough idea.
This wasn't the first time Celestial Dragons had attended such auctions.
Many Celestial Dragons had attended various auctions and markets, bidding extravagantly for all kinds of treasures.
Given their status, even if they forcibly took something, most merchants would have no choice but to kneel and hand over their goods.
However, Celestial Dragons rarely did this.
For them, it was a form of shopping entertainment, and they usually didn't break the rules to seize things—unless they couldn't help themselves.
"Maybe Sig, like the Celestial Dragons, is enjoying the thrill of participating in the auction?"
A thought suddenly crossed Umit's mind.
After some consideration, he cleared his throat and raised his paddle just before the auctioneer was about to call the final bid:
"Fifty... fifty-two thousand."
Umit's voice carried a hint of hesitation, but he managed to call out the bid.
For someone of his status, haggling over such a small amount felt a bit beneath him, and he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed...
As soon as his voice rang out, the auctioneer on stage was momentarily stunned.
Umit, the Shipping King, was one of the auction house's major backers. How could the auctioneer not recognize him?
Moreover, he had seen the auction catalog!
This so-called West Blue hidden blade was one of the items Umit himself had provided!
"Why is Lord Umit also raising the bid by just 10,000 berries for an item he brought himself?"
"Even if he's acting as a shill, he wouldn't do it personally, right?"
"And for a mere 500,000-berry item?"
Putting aside his confusion, the auctioneer pretended not to recognize Umit and asked with a smile:
"It seems the West Blue hidden blade is quite popular."
"VIP number 34 has bid 520,000 berries. Any higher bids?"
"...530,000," Sig called out, his expression slightly odd as he raised his paddle again.
"We're at 530,000 berries. Any higher bids..."
"540,000!" Umit called out again.
Once was awkward, but twice felt more natural.
By now, Umit had shed his earlier embarrassment and regained his composure.
"...550,000."
Sig's voice came from the neighboring booth.
Umit's lips curled into a smile as he called out:
"560,000!"
So this is the thrill of participating in an auction?
A faint sense of realization washed over Umit, and his expression softened with nostalgia.
He, Umit, the Shipping King, a ruler of the underworld in the New World, a titan of the shipping industry, with businesses spanning the globe.
Over the years, he had amassed vast wealth and built an enormous empire, earning the title of Shipping King.
But at some point, he had lost his original passion.
When he could afford anything, he had lost the desire to shop.
But today, he had an epiphany.
On this day, Umit, the Shipping King, remembered his youthful days as a small-time merchant.
It was his bygone youth.
"The happiest time in a person's life is when they're earning two or three million berries a month..."
Umit chuckled softly. His long-calm heart stirred with rare joy.
"Is this the realm of Celestial Dragons and Sig?"
"580,000!" He raised his paddle again.
This time, Sig didn't immediately counter.
He leaned out, his gaze crossing the partition to deeply study Umit, who responded with a smile.
Sig's emotions at this moment were indescribably complex.
What the hell!
He's smiling?
This thick-browed, big-eyed Shipping King is definitely messing with me!
He's blatantly shilling for his own product, and he's doing it personally!
Sig suddenly recalled his first meeting with Umit a few days ago.
Thinking about it now, there were so many red flags...
Umit had come specifically to show Sig a bunch of treasures, then left...
"He came specifically to show off to me!"
"Truly a ruler of the underworld. His heart is as black as they come!"
Sig gritted his teeth but had no choice but to raise the bid again:
"590,000."
"600,000!"
"....."
The bidding for the first item was unusually intense! The two VIPs went back and forth, calling out jaw-dropping prices that kept shocking the audience. Everyone was stunned!
"Did we walk into the wrong show?"
"Did I misjudge this? Is this hidden blade actually incredibly powerful?"
"Are they not deliberately disrupting the order? I want to see the treasure map auction!"
Not just the general audience, but even the VIPs in the front row were frowning. Several of them leaned over to look in the direction of Sig and Umit.
Then, they were shocked and began whispering in hushed tones.
"Is that the Shipping King?"
"And... the owner of the great treasure, Another Piece, Sig?"
Now, their perspectives shifted.
"Could this hidden blade have some special significance? Or is there some secret that makes it worth fighting over for these two big shots?"
"Maybe there's something to it... I'll bid 800,000 berries!"
"I'll bid 900,000!"
"One million!"
The VIPs in the front row were all wealthy and influential figures. For them, a few hundred thousand berries was nothing.
If they missed out on a potentially valuable hidden blade over such a small amount, it would be a real shame.
And so.
Sig watched in stunned silence as the hidden blade, with a starting bid of 500,000 berries, quickly soared to one million after the intense bidding.
Sig didn't actually have much money on hand right now.
The newspaper had only published two issues, and it had only been a week since then. The profits hadn't been distributed yet.
As for the treasure map, regardless of how much it could sell for, the money wasn't in his hands yet...
But this hidden blade... Sig really needed it.
It seemed he'd have to dig deep...
"One million and ten thousand!"
Sig finally called out this number.
.......
On the other side of the VIP section.
Celestial Dragon Charlos' face grew darker and darker.
Attending this treasure map auction was already a humiliation for him, and now, because of a mere hidden blade worth a few hundred thousand berries, a lot of time had been wasted, further eroding his already thin patience.
Just as his patience was about to run out, he heard a number that he couldn't tolerate.
One million and ten thousand!