At Eight-thirty, the guests arrived at Xing Auction House's Hall. Two hundred people, no less, filling the hall. It was not crowded as Vermillion Auction House, but the target was achieved.
Butcher Wang and Sun Zhou Yi stood next to the stage for the auction. They had a task to protect the goods and secured the auction. At the entrance, two men with wooden masks stood side by side.
To hold an auction with twenty high-quality weapons, the security could be considered loose. As the guests had a small talk amongst themselves, the big red curtain opened and showed what was behind it.
Twenty cases in red and a box in blue were neatly lined up with the blue box as the center. The red cases had various kinds of sizes, while the smallest was about a meter and the longest red case reached four meters.
In just a glance, everyone understood that the twenty red cases were the weapon that would be auctioned tonight. However, what about the blue box? It was certainly an element that made everyone curious.
Not long after the curtain opened, Blacksmith Huang appeared on the stage. Wearing the same outfit as the man guarded the entrance, having his beard shaved, and a new haircut. Blacksmith Huang walked to the center of the stage with a brilliant smile and confident look.
"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Blacksmith Huang, who forged half of the weapon that will be auctioned tonight!." Blacksmith Huang who would be the host for tonight's auction opened the event with a simple introduction.
He was indeed becoming famous since auctioning his and Heero's creation at Vermillion Auction House. However, only a handful of people knew what he looked like.
When the audience heard that half of the weapons were not made by him, the audience broke into a murmur amongst themselves.
"Yes, only ten weapons that forged by me. But don't worry, the other ten weapons are made by someone with a better skill than me and that person is my Master! And all weapons made by him are much better than me,"
When it reached this part, the hall buzzed as Blacksmith Huang leaked information they did not expect to get tonight. Most of them were coming with a big purpose of knowing the person called Blacksmith Huang. However, Blacksmith Huang now told them there was someone better than him and it was his master at that.
Blacksmith Huang ignored the buzzing crowd as he walked to the blue box. Standing next to the blue box that was put on the round table, Blacksmith Huang continued with a confident smile, "And this box, this is the main and special item for tonight's auction. The item inside the blue box was also made by my Master and you all will love to have this item. I am sure about that,"
The buzzing crowd quiet down when they heard there would be a special item. A special item amongst the good-quality weapon, they wanted to know what the special item.
Blacksmith Huang did not mention the special item as he continued. "So before we start the auction, I am sure you have a guidebook in your hand, right? Follow the rules we made or you will regret it!"
Despite saying that with a pretty calm tone, one could tell there was a threat released by Blacksmith Huang. But these people did not take the one so-called rules or threat seriously and he knew it just by looking at the reaction of the audience.
These people were coming from prestigious families or strong factions. They were not afraid of Xing District as they still did not know how strong the man behind the Xing District was.
Blacksmith Huang already knew these people's thoughts, but he believed soon these people would know that Xing District was not a place where they could make trouble wantonly.
"Also, if you read the guidebook, We, Xing Auction House and Blacksmith Guild have set a new standard for the gears. Gold Class Gear, for example, we added a grade for Gold Class Gear, Grade C, Grade B, Grade A, and Grade S.
As for how we determine the grade? We determine it by the qualities such as sharpness, durability, and the materials to make that gear itself."
As soon as Blacksmith Huang finished his words, there was someone raised his hand. A man in his early forties with a thick mustache, wearing a fancy suit. Spoke as he twisted his thick yet also long mustache while having a frown of displeasure on his face.
"What is the Blacksmith Guild? Why was only Xing Auction House and the unclear and unknown Blacksmith Guild involved in making a new standard? Can you explain this to us, Mr. Huang?"
The Mustache Man used us in his words, telling Blacksmith Huang it was not only him who wanted to know about this. He was representing the others as well.
It obtained everyone's approval as the others nodded in agreement.
"Hello, Mr. Unknown, have you read the guidebook? Everything that I said is written in the guidebook. If you read the book, you will know what is Blacksmith Guild."
As Blacksmith Huang said this, the Mustache man slammed the table and stood up. He pointed his finger at Blacksmith Huang and said in a loud voice, "Impudent! Do you know who I am?"
"Don't know! You haven't introduced your name yet, so I don't know who you are!" Blacksmith Huang instantly responded, still with his calm tone.
Meanwhile, the Mustache Man was stunned at Blacksmith Huang's straightforward answer. It was true that had not told his name yet, but he was quite famous in the heroes and rankers' circle.
Giving no chance to the mustache to talk back, Blacksmith Huang continued, "It seems you guys haven't read the guidebook… Good, then I will tell you a bit about Blacksmith Guild. Blacksmith Guild was established by me and my Master to improve the gears' quality for the heroes and the rankers.
That was why we set more strict evaluations for the gear. Not only that, but we will also help someone who wants to be a blacksmith just like me. If you join the Blacksmith Guild, we will teach you the basics of the smithy.
Depending on your contribution to the guild, we might teach you an advanced technique. Nah, It's enough for the Blacksmith Guild, you can come back to Xing District in a week as Blacksmith Guild will officially open recruitment if you want to know more about Blacksmith Guild.
Now sorry for the wait, we will start the auction right away. Oh, yeah, I advise you to read the guidebook though. Getting jailed in the dungeon is very unpleasant," Blacksmith Huang bowed his head slightly as he approached one red case.
However, the Mustache middle-aged man thought the problem of the Blacksmith Guild had not been solved yet. He did not want to close this matter after being shamed by a new blacksmith.
Slam!
While slamming the table, again, the mustache middle-aged man pointed his finger toward Blacksmith Huang and shouted, "Impudent! You are overstepping the boundaries! Evaluation of the gear is Blacksmith Association's job. You are doing an illegal activity wantonly and we will not this issue slide.
I, Alvero Wong, will represent the Blacksmith Association and close this Auction House and Blacksmith Guild. Blacksmith Huang! You and your insolent Master will be arrested for this illegal activity, establishing Blacksmith Guild without Blacksmith Association's approval and illegally grading the gear! We will also confiscate every item as evidence!"
Alvero Wong made an unexpected move. It surely surprised everyone, but none of the guests talked for the Xing Auction House. They were waiting for the Xing Auction House's response.
They wanted to know how this auction house handled the problem. Most of them come intending to know who was behind this auction house. Moreover, Blacksmith Association was an organization formed by the Hero League and the Central Government.
An official organization of the blacksmiths in Star City, they had an absolute authority regarding the smithing with the Central Government and the Hero League as their backing.
However, to everyone's surprise, the person who lost his temper was not Blacksmith Huang. But a man who stood next to the stage Sun Zhou Yi. He summoned his Ki sword that everyone only saw in the video.
A sword formed and shot toward Alvero Wong. None of them expected this to happen and none of them could react as the sword moved much faster.
Just as everyone thought Alvero Wong would die with his head pierced by the sword. The tip of the sword stopped a few millimeters away from Alvero Wong's forehead.
Alvero Wong fell on his butt as he felt a chill on his spine. He thought he was going to die just now. Fortunately, the swords stopped and his life was safe.
For a blacksmith who never fought or experienced a near-death experience. This was a truly frightening experience he ever had in the forty-one years of his life. Cold sweat flooded his face as he looked at his surroundings, hoping to get some help.
But the people around him turned away. Even his friend who came with him also had his face away. Alvero Wong paled as his face lost color.
While his heart was still beating furiously, he tried to get up. The transparent blue sword was still there, then he looked in a direction where the others looked at. He found Sun Zhou Yi, with cold eyes, staring at him.
His heart jumped out again as his eyes met with Sun Zhou Yi. In the heroes and rankers' circle, people already regarded Sun Zhou Yi as Emperor Class Hero despite him being a Gold Class Hero.
Now, this Emperor Class Hero seemed to be angry at him. It certainly puzzled him as he did not know what he did to piss this Emperor Class Hero.
With his heart still rumbling in nervousness and fear, he braced his guts and questioned Sun Zhou Yi, "Hero Sun Zhou Yi! What are you doing? As a hero, not only you don't protect me, the ordinary man, but you intend to harm me! I will make a complaint to the Hero League! I will make sure the Hero League to punish you!"
However, Alvero Wong's statement earned a chuckle from Blacksmith Huang and everyone had their eyes at him now.
"You just talk bad about his Master, as a disciple he has a right to get angry, right? Oh, right, you might not know Sun Zhou Yi's Master is also my Master,"
Blacksmith Huang's words caused a little commotion in the hall. Little by little, these people got clues about what they wanted, the person behind this Auction turned out to be the famous Blacksmith Huang's Master and the sensational Sun Zhou Yi's master.
"Moreover, Mr. Mustache Alvero, you are disrupting the auction. Based on the rules we have set up, you are an offender now. Please leave the room, from now onwards, you are blacklisted and you can't join the Xing Auction House forever. Please leave!"
Blacksmith Huang pointed his finger toward the entrance from where he stood.
"What? Who do you think you are? I am a high-ranking officer from the Blacksmith association, your auction house will be closed. Your activity is illegal, I will call the HQ now, I will tell them to close this place…" As he said this, he opened his smartwatch as he truly wanted to call Blacksmith Association.
Blacksmith Huang shook his head and cast a glance at Butcher Wang who seemed to be having fun watching the drama unfold. Getting a signal from Blacksmith Huang, Butcher Wang nodded.
Butcher Wang charged toward Alvero Wong, loud steps resounded in the hall. It attracted everyone's attention, including Alvero Wong. He looked up and found a burly man right in front of him. The burly man had a big grin spread on his face.
It certainly scared him, the sudden appearance of the burly man. Just as he wanted to scream, darkness invaded his consciousness.
Butcher Wang landed a chop on Alvero Wong's neck and caught the body before falling. Then, Butcher Wang picked the body and put it on his shoulder. After that, he walked to the entrance.
It happened so fast just like when Sun Zhou Yi scared Alvero Wong. No heroes could react in time to Butcher Wang's swift movement. They heard it coming, but they just could not react in time.
As the other guests were guessing whose the burly man was, a man stood from his seat and spoke, "Stop! As a Hero, I will not let you act wantonly like this, harming the ordinary people with the power you have instead of protecting them!"
The man who spoke for Alvero Wong was Huo Liang Xun. With a build that was burlier than Butcher Wang, he approached Butcher Wang who was three tables away from him.
However, Butcher Wang did not even stop his steps as he continued walking toward the entrance. It was as if he did not hear Huo Liang Xun.
"YOU!!!"
It certainly pissed Huo Liang Xun, just as he intended to move a step further, a man with a wooden mask appeared between him and Butcher Wang.
The man with a wooden mask bent his body as his right hand on the handle sword while the other hand was holding the sheath. It was a stance to launch an attack. Then, a cold voice reverberated through the air, "Move a step further, I will separate your head from your body!"
In an instant, the tension reached its peak accompanied by a deep silence filling the hall.