Chapter 154: Why haven't they acted on it?

"How long until the auction starts?" Xiao Tianyang asked the girl who was guiding him.

Without hesitation, she replied, "Sir, the auction will begin in 10 minutes."

In a hoarse voice, Xiao Tianyang said, "Take me to see your supervisor."

The girl paused for a moment, then nodded and gestured politely. "Please follow me, sir."

Under her guidance, Xiao Tianyang soon arrived on the third floor.

This level was typically reserved for handling valuable items, and even the most distinguished guests were not usually allowed access. However, Xiao Tianyang was no ordinary guest.

With the card he possessed, he was considered half an internal member of the auction house, and a high-ranking one at that.

They entered a lavishly decorated reception room, where a charming young woman greeted him. She poured tea for Xiao Tianyang and asked, "Sir, what would you like to auction today?"

"A cookbook," Xiao Tianyang replied.

The young woman's expression flickered with surprise, and then, as if recalling something, her pupils contracted slightly. "Could this be the cookbook that has been widely discussed recently?"

Xiao Tianyang hadn't expected this response. Curiosity piqued, he asked, "Oh? How exactly is it being talked about outside?"

The young woman answered without hesitation, "This matter actually began half a year ago..."

"I don't have much time right now, so keep it brief," Xiao Tianyang interrupted, cutting her off.

With only a few minutes left before the auction, he had no time to listen to lengthy stories. Moreover, the situation in Heaven Dou City was complex, and it wasn't difficult to come across news that wasn't particularly secretive.

Xiao Tianyang had only asked out of casual interest, so why was this young woman so eager to elaborate?

The young woman smiled and said, "To put it simply, a student accidentally let it slip when they returned home. Their parents, hoping to profit from the information, spread it throughout the city."

"Those who know about it are either wealthy or influential. Why haven't they acted on it?" Xiao Tianyang pressed.

"Shrek Academy was established on the foundation of Blue Tyrant Academy. The former dean has connection with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, making it difficult to move against them," the young woman explained.

"Then what about the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Do they have no interest in this recipe?" Xiao Tianyang's tone carried a hint of mockery as he spoke from behind his mask.

"They did send someone, but unfortunately, they returned empty-handed," the young woman replied after a moment of thought. "Even the envoys from the Spirit Hall left in despair. It seems Liu Erlong is not an easy person to deal with."

"That's for you to say," Xiao Tianyang muttered under his breath. He then produced the recipe from his sleeve and placed it on the table. Gesturing to the young woman, he said, "Come closer. I have something to tell you."

The young woman obediently leaned in, her expression serious.

Though Xiao Tianyang was momentarily distracted by her faint fragrance, he quickly composed himself for the sake of business. "When the auction begins, you will do this..." he instructed.

The young woman listened intently, nodding and asking questions whenever something was unclear. Within two minutes, she had grasped everything.

The plan was simple, and she didn't question why Xiao Tianyang wanted it done this way. Having risen to her current position, she knew what to ask and what not to ask. She was well aware of the boundaries of her role.

After all, the Heaven Dou Auction House had its own powerful backers, and their involvement in this matter wouldn't affect them. They were merely the facilitators, not the recipients of the items. No matter how chaotic things became, they wouldn't be the ones suffering the consequences.

This understanding was reflected in the young woman's calm demeanor.

"Don't worry, sir. I will handle this matter for you," she said with a slight bow.

"If this is done well, your rewards will be substantial," Xiao Tianyang said as he stood to leave.

"Thank you, sir," the young woman replied with a smile, signaling to the girl beside her to escort Xiao Tianyang to the auction.

Soon, the girl led Xiao Tianyang to the VIP section. However, at the last moment, he turned left and headed toward a different area.

The girl, realizing his change in direction, hurriedly said, "Sir, this is the general seating area. The VIP section is over there..."

"This is fine. I don't want to draw attention. You may leave now," Xiao Tianyang said, waving her off.

The girl understood and respectfully bowed before retreating.

But Xiao Tianyang's decision to sit in the general area wasn't solely to avoid attention. Another reason was that he had spotted Tang San and Xiao Wu, both wearing masks, seated nearby. More importantly, he had also noticed Ning Fengzhi, the person he most wanted to see.

However, after taking just a few steps, Xiao Tianyang felt a chill run down his spine. "So the rumors are true. Ning Fengzhi always has a Titled Douluo by his side when he travels," he thought to himself.

He paused for a moment, then found a random seat and sat down. "Last time, it was Sword Douluo. This figure doesn't seem to be him. The one here now must be Bone Douluo."

Ning Fengzhi, seated ahead, noticed Bone Douluo frowning and turned to ask, "Uncle Gu, did you sense something?"

Bone Douluo glanced around and replied, "Nothing serious. Just a strange individual has appeared."

Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow and glanced back at Xiao Tianyang. However, after a moment of observation, he found nothing unusual and returned his attention to the upcoming auction.

At that moment, the voices of Tang San and Xiao Wu could be heard arguing about the waiters. Intrigued, Ning Fengzhi joined their conversation. As he shared his thoughts, he also began to describe the darker aspects of the empire and the plight of the waiters.

Hearing this, Tang San couldn't help but ask, "Don't the officials care about this?"

Ning Fengzhi smiled gently and explained, "Young man, as a soul master, you must know the saying, 'One person can match an entire army,' right? As for these waiters, it's true that money can buy their freedom, but what then? Can you be responsible for their entire lives?"

"Though it may seem cruel, abandoning them would only make their lives worse. So, take my advice: don't act on impulse, or you may inadvertently start another tragedy."

Tang San and Xiao Wu fell silent after hearing this. Both were mature for their age, especially having grown up under Xiao Tianyang's influence.

They understood the complexities of the situation, but that didn't lessen their frustration. They knew Ning Fengzhi's words held truth, and they had no rebuttal.

…

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