"11.5 million star coins once."
"11.5 million star coins twice."
"11.5 million star coins thrice – congratulations to bidder number 38 for winning!"
With the announcement, the fierce "battle" concluded.
Lu Mingming calculated that after the 8:2 contract split, she would receive at least 9.2 million star coins.
She was rich!
As this round ended, staff members quickly entered the room to inform Lu Mingming to collect her auction winnings at the consultation desk after the auction concluded.
The subsequent auction items held no interest for Lu Mingming. She and the little white tiger stayed in the private room, enjoying fruit and honey water, watching the auction gradually wind down.
When the final auction item was presented, almost everyone in the auction hall let out a sigh.
Lu Mingming’s interest was piqued. She set down the fruit and leaned closer to the reflective glass to observe.
It was a young cub that had not yet fully emerged.
Two staff members, their upper bodies bare, struggled to push a large, heavily protected incubator forward. It was connected to a series of instruments.
Lu Mingming could only understand one instrument, a monitor for the heart, which beat with faint ripples, indicating it was near death.
The incubator was made of crystal, filled with warm water. Within, a slumbering fetal form could be vaguely discerned.
The fetus was humanoid in its development, perhaps only palm-sized. Within the transparent membrane, its eyes were tightly shut, its body curled into a ball. The remnants of an eggshell that hadn't fully shed from its lower body obscured its true form, making it impossible to determine its species.
The auctioneer said with a wry smile, "This cub is being auctioned for the third time. You are all familiar with it, and you may use your mental powers to examine it.
It is an unknown species we discovered unexpectedly in the sea of stars. Perhaps the climate conditions are not suitable for its growth, which has caused the cub to be quite weak.
If it fails to sell this time, it will be euthanized by the research institute. The starting bid is 8 million star coins, with a minimum increment of 100,000. The bidding starts now!"
As expected, the entire auction hall remained silent. No one dared to place a bid.
Who would spend a large sum of money to bring home an unknown species cub that could die at any moment?
The nephew of Gudefen next door shouted, "If you can't handle it, don't do it! Do you think we're suckers? Just send it to death already."
Lu Mingming’s disgust for the man was instinctively ignited, while her concern focused on the cub in the incubator.
She hesitated greatly. 8 million star coins was indeed too expensive, and there was no guarantee of survival even if she bought it.
Lu Mingming contemplated, her mental energy silently spreading onto the auction stage, touching the incubator to examine the cub's specific condition.
The moment she looked–
The fetus’s eyes suddenly opened, revealing a pair of rose-like, resplendent eyes, dreamlike and alluring. As her gaze shifted, she was easily drawn into the vortex of rose hues, yet her eyes held a terrifying coldness.
Lu Mingming's heartbeat abruptly paused, as if she were deeply immersed in the rose-colored vortex.
A noble voice, like a divine hymn, sounded in her mind.
"Buy… it…"
The next second.
The little white tiger beside her suddenly extended a large paw and patted her thigh. A sharp mental stimulus entered Lu Mingming's mental sea, causing her to lose control and regain clarity.
The little white tiger tilted its head.
What's wrong? Why did she stop?
Once she recovered, Lu Mingming gratefully stroked the little white tiger's head, her gaze complex as she looked towards the auction stage.
The cub in the incubator still appeared to have its eyes closed. Forget opening them, whether it would wake up at all was another matter.
Had she just misread?
The scales in her heart slowly tilted. Lu Mingming finally made her decision, painstakingly writing down "8 million" on her bid card.
Whatever the outcome, she would save it first.
"I bid 8 million star coins."
Just as the auctioneer thought this item would go unsold again, Lu Mingming's gentle voice was like heavenly music.
The auctioneer was nearly moved to tears. Finally, this money-draining item could be auctioned off.
She eagerly called out, "8 million star coins once… 8 million star coins twice… 8 million star coins thrice. Sold! Congratulations to our guest in room A-4 for successfully acquiring this auction item!"
Respectful applause erupted throughout the hall, though it was unclear whether to praise the SVIP’s wealth or their foolishness.
Lu Mingming released a breath she had been holding, and her entire being suddenly relaxed, as if she had accomplished a deeply desired task.
The little white tiger sat on the plush carpet, watching Lu Mingming’s reaction with concern.
Orlannar didn't care about Lu Mingming spending 8 million star coins to bring back a rival for affection, but this cub was clearly unusual. It had even dared to use an illusion within his mental range.
He would keep a close eye on that one.
After the auction concluded, Lu Mingming, as per the rules, quickly took the little white tiger to the consultation desk. The 10 million credit limit card was immediately debited 8 million star coins.
The auctioneer, overwhelmed with gratitude, handed the entire incubator to Lu Mingming and assured her, "If the cub experiences any physical discomfort within the next month, our auction house can provide one month of free inpatient medical check-ups."
Lu Mingming’s lips twitched. This implied the cub was truly dancing on the edge of death.
She carefully held the incubator, waiting for the staff to settle the bill for the matcha cookies.
An annoying voice gradually approached.
"What? You're telling me they're gone?! I don't care about excuses. I only care if you did your job! In the entire Star Alliance, what official or noble position is higher than my uncle's?! I must get that drug capsule today!"
A young man, dressed in fine attire with broad ears and a wide nose, surrounded by layers of bodyguards, stopped when he saw Lu Mingming and lewdly whistled.
His disgusting gaze swept over her, his eyeballs almost popping out of his clothes.
"Oh, what a little beauty! Are you from the auction house? How much? I'll buy you."
Lu Mingming's gaze instantly turned cold, her mental energy ready to act.
The bodyguards, sensing Lu Mingming was difficult to deal with, stepped forward to block their young master protectively.
"Blocking me again? You're getting paid to be useless. Is this little chick that dangerous?"
The man snorted speechlessly and turned his back to operate his datapad.
A faint, pale silhouette was projected in the center of the consultation hall. He had graying temples, a large beard, and appeared arrogant and unapproachable.
The little white tiger narrowed its eyes.
It was him.
The young man whined, "Uncle Gudefen, it's all the auction's fault that I couldn't get the gene therapy capsule. I didn't complete your mission."
The staff members present quickly lowered their heads, not daring to look. One clever and capable individual stepped forward to answer the questioning.
Amidst their endless explanations, Gudefen indifferently uttered an "mm," and said, "The girl behind you, bring her here for me to see."
It seemed to be me.
Lu Mingming raised her head with a blank expression.
Due to her continuous encounters with members of the Gudefen family causing various disturbances, Lu Mingming had developed a negative impression of Gudefen as well.
As the saying goes, if the top is crooked, the bottom will be twisted. With so many juniors causing trouble in the interstellar world, Lu Mingming subconsciously did not believe the other party was a good person.
Facing her old adversary, the little white tiger automatically entered alert mode, listening to the other party's nonsense.
"Don't worry, I only heard of your great reputation on the star network. If possible, the Gudefen family would welcome you to join us anytime."
Gudefen tried his best to make his smile look sincere, but he seemed to haven't acted like a good person in a long time, appearing quite awkward.
Not wanting to offend him, Lu Mingming offered a few polite words.
Gudefen smiled, then spoke meaningfully.
"Your cubs are very interesting."
With this hint, the little white tiger raised its eyes and abruptly severed the signal with its mental energy, leaving only the busy tone of the datapad in the air.
"What garbage…"
The young man muttered and put away his datapad, then turned to threaten Lu Mingming.
"My uncle is letting you off. Be careful next time you provoke me."
With that, he arrogantly led his bodyguards away.
Adding another bad impression, Lu Mingming softly said, "What a rude little brat."
At this moment, the auction staff finally dared to approach and hand Lu Mingming a gold card.
"This card contains your earnings from the auction, which have been distributed according to the contract. The card also includes an additional 1 million star coin credit gifted by the auction house, applicable at any auction house."
"Thank you."
Lu Mingming accepted it, her heart filled with excitement.
She was finally a person of some means in the interstellar world!