Ultimate Tycoon: Building the Richest Empire with System and Heroines Chapter 58: The dumb fest has officially begun

Inside VIP Room No.1, a soft ding rang in Ethan’s ears.

[Side Mission: Completed]

Objective: Acquire the Rings of Promise

Reward: $30 million

Ethan smirked to himself, resting an arm casually on the velvet backrest. Not bad. Three shiny rings for his girls, and $30 million straight into his system wallet. A win-win.

Just then, Arion’s voice rang out through the hall once again, louder and more dramatic than before.

"Ladies and gentlen... the mont you’ve all been waiting for."

The lights dimd slightly. A faint gasp rippled across the audience.

"The final piece tonight,one of the rarest artistic treasures ever recorded. The legendary lost painting, created by the fad master... Da Goatcy."

He gestured toward the center of the stage. The floor opened smoothly once more, and rising from below was a tall, sealed glass fra.

"And now,Mosalina!"

The mont the spotlight hit the painting, the room practically stopped breathing.

A wave of reactions spread instantly through the audience.

"Wow..."

"That’s... stunning."

"I’ve never seen anything like this..."

"Look at the detail on the eyes!"

"This is madness. Everyone’s gonna want it."

Inside the main floor, murmurs escalated into whispers and urgent discussions. Even so of the VIPs were already contacting their assistants, preparing for what could only be a ruthless bidding war.

In one of the rows, soone whispered, "Too bad all the VIPs will bid. There’s no way we’ll get it."

Another replied, "Still, don’t lose hope. Who knows? Sotis fate surprises us."

Back inside the VIP room, Jasmine leaned forward, practically glued to the glass.

"Holy... Ethan," she said, wide-eyed. "You really found a srizing thing."

Rhea nodded slowly, equally srized. "It feels like it’s pulling you in just by looking at it."

Ethan didn’t respond. His gaze was fixed on the painting, but his mind was elsewhere.

He heard Natalie scoff playfully behind him. "Tch. Of course this idiot would stumble onto sothing priceless. Typical."

The advisor beside them, who had remained mostly silent so far, blinked twice at that comnt.

He found it?

His eyes darted to Ethan with newfound curiosity.

So this young man was the one who discovered Mosalina?

He didn’t say anything, but his mind was spinning.

Just who is he?

Ethan continued watching silently.

His eyes slowly drifted toward VIP Room No.8.

"Now then," he whispered under his breath, "I wonder where you’ll appear... and when."

He leaned back slightly, hands steepled.

"And more importantly..." His smile twitched.

"What will your face look like? When both of you find the truth."

His eyes sparkled from amusent.

Jasmine turned slightly. "You’re awfully quiet."

"Just thinking," Ethan said.

Alistair folded his arms, watching him. "You’re waiting for sothing."

Ethan just smiled. "Oh, don’t worry. The real performance is about to start."

The tension inside the Grand Knox Auction Hall hit its peak as Arion’s voice echoed across the hall.

"Starting bid for the legendary painting ’Mosalina’... at $50 million!"

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

A second later, soone from the main floor bid, "$51.5 million!"

The auction ignited like wildfire.

Multiple voices joined in from various corners of the floor, their numbers steadily rising,$55 million, $60 million, $75 million. One after another, the prices flew like bullets.

Inside VIP Room 8, Gregory leaned back, swirling a glass of wine. Trevor stood beside him, watching the stage like a hawk.

"Young master," Trevor asked, "when will Master Yun arrive?"

Gregory chuckled softly. "Who knows? He moves when he wants to. All we have to do is follow the plan. Just keep bidding. With so many rich fools throwing money, the price will shoot up. Master will show up... when sothing incredible happens."

Trevor nodded. "Understood."

Then, he raised his mic and calmly said, "$180 million."

Inside VIP Room 1, Ethan burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Finally! The roaches made their move."

Everyone turned to him, startled by his sudden outburst.

Natalie raised an eyebrow. "Looks like what you expected is happening."

"Yes," Ethan said, still smirking. "The dumb fest has officially begun."

Jasmine sipped her drink. "You sound way too happy about this."

"I am," Ethan replied. "I love it when plans unfold beautifully."

The auction floor boiled. The VIPs, sensing the competitive montum, began making rapid bids one after another. The price surged: $190 million. $195 million. $198 million.

"$200 million!" soone from VIP Room 6 declared.

By now, everyone in the public seating had stopped bidding. The numbers were too high. They whispered among themselves:

"All the VIPs are going crazy."

"No one normal can compete now."

"This is next level..."

Suddenly, from VIP Room 5, a deep voice bood through the speakers.

"I would like to say sothing."

The crowd went silent.

Arion stood straighter. "Yes, sir?"

The man’s face couldn’t be seen through the tinted glass, but his voice was calm and powerful.

"I am Master Yun’s representative. He is here... in this very room with us."

Shocked gasps filled the air.

He continued, "Master Yun requests that all further bidding stop imdiately. If you need proof, I will send down his personal crest."

Arion exchanged glances with his assistants. "Very well."

A staff mber was quickly sent up. Minutes later, he returned with a sleek, black box bearing a golden symbol.

Arion opened it, examined it, and then turned toward the audience.

"Ladies and gentlen... It is authentic. I have personally confird. This is Master Yun’s crest."

The entire auction fell into stunned silence.

Arion cleared his throat. "Now, Master Yun has made his suggestion. Does anyone wish to respond?"

Inside VIP Room 1, Rhea leaned toward Ethan.

"Do you think anyone will still bid?"

Ethan chuckled. "You know, if I’ve learned one thing from reading all those xianxia novels..."

Rhea tilted her head. "Yes?"

"It’s when soone thinks they’re always at the top... so dumb young master with a great-grandfather always pops out claiming he’s higher."

Natalie blinked. "What language did you just speak?"

Jasmine squinted. "Xian-what?"

Rhea giggled. "He ans in cultivation stories, there’s always soone crazier showing up."

"I don’t understand," the other two said in unison.

Back on the floor, people began murmuring.

"Master Yun is here?"

"Now no one will dare to bid."

"He’s too powerful..."

"Master Yun! Please bless us with your presence!"

Just then, a calm voice echoed again,this ti from VIP Room 10.

"$300 million."

Everyone froze.

Arion’s mouth opened slightly. The room buzzed again in disbelief.

"Who dares... to bid against Master Yun?"

Inside VIP Room 1, Ethan leaned back and pointed at the screen with a grin.

"See? Every ti. There’s always one."

Jasmine and Natalie finally understood. They nodded in sync. "Now we get it."

The representative in VIP Room 5 sounded annoyed.

"Sir... Do you truly wish to go against Master Yun?"

The voice from VIP Room 10 ca again.

"$500 million."

The entire hall erupted in shock.

Gregory inside Room 8 clenched his teeth.

The man next to Master Yun turned. "Master... shall I respond?"

A soft voice behind the glass replied, "No. Let him win."

"...As you command."

The representative raised his mic again. "We withdraw."

Arion, still visibly shaken, cleared his throat and tapped the mic.

"Very well... then I declare. The legendary painting, Mosalina, now belongs to the honored guest from VIP Room No.10!"

The crowd applauded, so reluctantly, others in awe.

Inside VIP Room 1, Jasmine looked at Ethan, stunned.

"Wait... you just made $500 million?"

Ethan smirked. "Not yet."

"Huh?" she blinked.

At that mont, Arion announced, "We will personally deliver the painting to the guest in VIP Room 10."

He stepped off the stage.

But before he could reach the exit...

The lights went out.

The entire hall was plunged into darkness.

Panic rippled across the room.

"What’s going on?!"

"Soone check the generators!"

"Where’s security?!"

Two minutes passed.

Then the lights flickered back on.

And the fra that held Mosalina?

Gone.

Vanished.

Arion turned toward the stage, horrified.

"Where is the painting?! Where’s Mosalina?!"

Inside VIP Room 1, Ethan stretched his arms, completely relaxed.

A wicked grin curled on his lips.

"Gotcha."