The Most Powerful Brain in the Interstellar Space

This wasn't exactly a secret; even if Clarence hadn't mentioned it, Zhou Xiuwen would probably have told them about it as new gossip soon enough. So Clarence didn't hide it from the two of them and mentioned it briefly.

However, the group knew very little about the internal strife within the legion, or rather, they knew there was little room for discussion, so they only mentioned it briefly before falling silent. Their attention was quickly diverted to other matters.

"auctions?"

"Do these things still exist?"

"?"

The three looked at each other, then lowered their heads to continue reading the news report.

"No way, whose idea was this? How can there still be such an ancient activity now? Where did Sihai Trading Company find this old almanac to sell as a gimmick? I think they've forgotten about the bloody disaster of 71932!" Hillman was speechless, almost poking a hole in the non-existent display screen of the quantum computer.

“It wasn’t their idea. Look at the co-sponsors at the end; there’s something fishy going on,” Clarence said, frowning.

Jiang Hui quickly skimmed through the report, her mind filled with questions. It was just an auction, so why were the two reacting like that? And why was the report full of exclamation marks, using phrases like "once in a million years" and "extremely rare" to describe it? Had she missed something?
The conversation was still going on.

"So many powerful figures, including conglomerates from the southeast, major family groups from the west, various organizations, and figures from the political and military circles, are willing to provide witnesses for this auction. What exactly is being auctioned?"
"I'm afraid it really is an amazing thing."

The two exchanged a glance, both sensing the impending bloodshed hidden within this unusual commotion.

"Uh, can someone explain to me why you're all so surprised by the auction?" Someone who had been listening in confusion finally couldn't help but ask.

Hillman was genuinely surprised to hear this, but then he thought about it again. Jiang Hui came from an ordinary background and lost his parents at a young age. It was already difficult for him to grow up at such a young age. He had no elders to guide him in many things, so it was normal for him not to understand such matters.

However, before he could explain, Clarence first cleared up the confusion for the bewildered person.

It turns out that auctions are a thing of the past in interstellar times. Auctions were a type of transaction set up in the old human era for extremely scarce goods that were difficult to price; they were popular and highly sought after among the upper class.

Later, in the interstellar world, although humanity experienced a completely different environment, some practices from the old era were still adopted. Especially after the development of some rare resources, auctions flourished in certain eras, with renowned merchant houses and conglomerates vying to host them.

However, this trend came to an abrupt end in the Seventh Star Era, which was the Blood Calamity of 71932 that Hillman had just mentioned. This matter is complex, involving many forces and hidden threads, and cannot be explained in a few words. In short, many people died because of the Blood Calamity, including many carefully cultivated successors of various major powers. This event also triggered a chaotic war between hundreds of factions, creating utter chaos.

Once this matter was settled, the ruling council convened a meeting ahead of schedule to specifically discuss and establish a series of restrictions on auctions, thus effectively stopping this unhealthy trend. However, auctions gradually disappeared due to these restrictions, except for some clandestine venues, becoming merely a record in historical documents.

However, the fact that Sihai Trading Company is now openly holding an auction, breaking the "taboo" under great pressure, raises the question: what is their intention?
Is this the kind of entity that exists in the interstellar auction?
This was the first time Jiang Hui had ever heard of this, and she was a little confused. She hadn't expected that interstellar people could be so troublesome, managing to cause a death even by staging an auction to sell something.

She was unaware of this, but wealth can stir people's hearts, let alone priceless treasures that far surpass ordinary wealth. When such things appear before people, regardless of whether they belong to them or whether they can ultimately obtain them, they will stir up the dark thoughts of some people, and it would not be surprising if they ended up causing a great disaster.

In short, the whole thing boils down to a previous, disastrous auction organized by the interstellar people, which left everyone with a lingering unease and a negative impression of such events, making everyone reluctant to hold them again. Now, for some reason, this large organization called the Four Seas Trading Company has taken the lead in organizing it again. No one knows what their true intentions are, and the entire interstellar community is watching closely.

"It's probably just another trick by those people. The military and political circles are unstable right now, and the front lines are in turmoil. It's probably some unknown force testing the waters again. I just hope they can keep their commotion to a minimum and not drag innocent civilians into it." The word "again" is quite clever. The group is used to the insidious nature of those politicians and has even experienced it firsthand. They always have a bad feeling when they hear about this kind of thing.

"Well, it's true... but such a grand event is quite interesting. I've never been to one before. I wonder if it will ever be held again," Hillman said with some regret. He checked the time; the auction was just around the corner, and he was in his on-campus orientation period. He couldn't help but sigh again.

“Even if you do go this time, your grandfather won’t let you go,” Clarence stated as if deliberately shattering someone’s illusions.

"Hey, hey, hey, that's going too far! I was just thinking about it, anyway, I can't go." Hillman retorted stubbornly, "If I'm not going, I'm not going. It's just those adults' dirty tricks anyway. If you want to know, just ask my older brother later." Although he considered this auction to be the source of chaos and full of doubts, Vitaly Hillman, as the next heir of the Hillman Group, would definitely go.

The attitudes of major powers and conglomerates are the same, so regardless of whether this auction is successful or not, it is destined to be a grand event.

“But it seems I’m about to make this trip.” Clarence looked up at his two friends and casually dropped this bombshell, instantly silencing the stubborn guy.

"What?! You're going?! That's not fair. No, why are your family letting you go?" Hillman suppressed the various wild thoughts in his mind and instantly became clear-headed, frowning. Although he really wanted to go and join in the fun, to be honest, his elders were really doing it for their own good by not letting them go.

Just as Clarence said, even without sophisticated political skills and extensive experience, young and inexperienced people like them could see that the situation was far from simple, especially given the bloodshed of 71932. This auction was definitely not a good place for inexperienced newcomers like them to gain experience. Hillman was just talking; even if his grandfather really gave him the opportunity, he would have to consider whether he would hold his older brother back.

What Clarence is saying now is that his family wants him to go to the auction?

(End of this chapter)