Chapter 424: The Main Event

As expected, these individuals were much as he had predicted. They completely disdained these small and medium-sized gold pieces and showed no interest in trading with him. Perhaps only when the larger treasures appeared would they consider bidding.

After all, the target audience for these smaller items would be middle-class families or smaller consortia. As the top consortia in Hongchen Main City, why would they be interested in such things? Their respectful treatment of him now was simply because they valued his influence, hoping to use him, the "special envoy," to bring benefits to their respective groups.

But just as they had their own ulterior motives, so did Chen Ling. If he was going to make money, he would make it from the wealthy. How much could middle-class families or small consortia spend on these items? Not to mention how long it would take to find suitable buyers for all hundreds of pieces, even if they were all eventually sold at a reasonable price, Chen Ling wouldn't make much.

His ambition was far greater than just a small profit.

"Your Excellency, you're jesting," Zong Wen was the first to react, chuckling. "Business must certainly be done, but there's no harm in making friends while conducting it, is there?" He vaguely steered the conversation away.

"Old Zong is right," Pang Shan echoed. "Today is primarily about welcoming Your Excellency. As for business, we can discuss that at the auction."

"Alright, alright! Bring on the next act! Let's show Your Excellency the vitality of our Hongchen Main City!"

Zong Wen gave a look to the Rose Girl Group by the stage, and they instantly understood. They immediately shed their fur coats, revealing ample expanses of fair skin and thrilling, perfect figures, before running and skipping onto the stage to a lively, relaxed accompaniment.

The girl group consisted of five uniformly youthful members. They passionately danced to the music's beat, thrusting their chests, swaying their hips, and provocatively tracing their long, slender fingers up the sides of their fair, shapely legs. Every glance and movement was filled with allure; some bolder members even began winking at Chen Ling while they danced.

Chen Ling had to admit that, purely in terms of singing and dancing ability, they might not be inferior to the top girl groups known before the Great Cataclysm. It seemed the Huadu Consortium truly had a knack for cultivating idols.

"What do you think, Your Excellency, about Huadu's professional standards?" Zong Wen chuckled softly in his ear. "How about tonight, we let all five of them keep you company? Please do us the honor..."

Hearing this, Chen Ling finally understood the old man's true intentions. He should have realized it sooner; the Huadu Troupe had already created chaos in Liuzhen. Could he really expect any improvement now that he was at their main headquarters in the capital city? These popular girl groups and celebrities were merely tools for them to manipulate at will.

"No need," Chen Ling coldly refused.

"It seems Your Excellency doesn't care for this type... No problem, we'll see, there's more to come," Zong Wen said, not annoyed, but continuing with a chuckle.

Chen Ling couldn't be bothered with his nonsense and stepped directly away from Zong Wen. As the banquet atmosphere grew livelier, more and more people actively approached Chen Ling to converse.

Besides the directors of the major consortia, there were even more celebrities under their wing. Whether it was a long-established male singer, the five-member girl group, or rising stars who weren't yet widely famous but were exceptionally good-looking, they all respectfully offered him a drink after their performances.

Of course, Chen Ling did not drink with them. The Golden Society's special envoy had no need to defer to anyone. He simply sat there quietly, gently swirling the red wine in his glass, taking a sip on his own if the mood struck him.

After a long while, a familiar figure slowly approached him.

It was her?

Seeing the black dress, Chen Ling knew who had arrived. Soft, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and a maiden's face, as if drawn from a painting, gazed at him from close range, her eyes as clear and captivating as autumn water.

"This humble maiden, Liu Qingyan, greets Your Excellency."

The current Liu Qingyan was different from when Chen Ling had seen her in Liuzhen. Perhaps it was the black dress, which fully showcased the beauty of her form. She no longer timidly lowered her head, afraid to communicate with anyone.

With just one glance, Chen Ling felt as though something new had appeared in her eyes, imbuing her delicate body with resilience and strength.

Chen Ling merely glanced at her before lowering his gaze again, showing no intention of communicating with her.

"This humble maiden has long heard of Your Excellency's great capabilities," Liu Qingyan said, her voice soft and gentle, very pleasant to listen to. "And seeing you today, your demeanor is indeed extraordinary."

Chen Ling remained silent.

Seeing this, Liu Qingyan hesitated to speak. Finally, after lifting her skirt and bowing to Chen Ling, she voluntarily retreated to a distance. Her eyes cast one last glance at Chen Ling, glimmering subtly, as if deep in thought.

Chen Ling naturally knew that Liu Qingyan was a person of difficult fate. While he had helped her in Liuzhen, it had been merely incidental. Now, she had reached this point on her own, becoming a rising star in Hongchen Main City. Chen Ling neither knew nor cared to know the hardships she had endured to get there.

Given Chen Ling's current role, it was naturally impossible for him to get too close to Liu Qingyan. Maintaining an air of indifference would be beneficial for both himself and for her.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough..."

Just then, the banquet hall doors opened again. Accompanied by a series of violent coughs, several figures slowly entered from outside, pushing a wheelchair.

Chen Ling's gaze fell upon the wheelchair, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Oh, isn't that Elder Mu of our Beidou Consortium? The banquet is already halfway through; have you finally decided to grace us with your presence?" Pang Shan of the Paradise Consortium remarked with a sneer.

Seated in the wheelchair was an aged, bald man. Strangely, his skin was not old but unusually smooth and fine. Faint stitch marks were visible on his chin and the sides of his nose, as if several pieces of skin had been grafted together. A closer look would reveal subtle variations in skin tone across his face.

Hearing Pang Shan's voice, a hint of viciousness flashed in the old man's aged eyes. After two light coughs, he smiled kindly at Chen Ling:

"Your Excellency, this old man is frail and ill. I just rushed over from the hospital. My deepest apologies if I've been remiss..."

A young man pushing the wheelchair immediately echoed.

So this was the Beidou Consortium director who sent the Zitan Peace Buddha...

Chen Ling looked at the unsettling face in the wheelchair, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his mask.

The appearance of these two signified that all five major consortia in Hongchen Main City were now present. This also meant that the true main event of the banquet had only just begun.