I am the Arcane Archer, and all my skills are self-created.

The first round of auctions concluded, not only bringing Qianjin Pavilion back two hundred gold coins instantly, but also pushing the atmosphere to a climax.

Everyone was awestruck by the wealth and determination of [Sword and Rose], and at the same time, they were filled with anticipation for the auction of the next three gold counters.

If even a standard counter can fetch a sky-high price of two hundred gold coins, what kind of fierce competition will the gold counter, with its prime location and even stronger symbolic meaning, stir up?

Lin Hai clearly knew how to liven up the atmosphere. Instead of rushing to the next round, he smiled and said:

"It seems that everyone's enthusiasm for our Qianjin Pavilion is even greater than I imagined. This fills me with confidence for the future of Qianjin Pavilion."

"Next, we will proceed with our second and most important round of the auction today!"

He emphasized each word, speaking slowly and deliberately: "The auction of the three gold counters—east, west, and south!"

"These three counters are located at the three entrances of our Qianjin Pavilion's first-floor lobby, in a position that every customer can see immediately upon entering! Their value is self-evident!"

"Unlike the standard counters, these three gold counters will be auctioned independently! The starting price for each counter is... ten gold coins! Each bid must be at least five gold coins higher!"

"Now, our first item to be auctioned is the Donghua Pavilion, located at the East Gate!"

The starting bid of ten gold coins once again drew gasps from the audience.

While this price can't compare to two hundred gold coins, it's still quite high for just a year's rental of a gold counter.

If you can't even sell ten gold coins in a year, then you're losing money!

As expected, no one made a bid for a while.

After a while, the Iron Blood Banner was the first to raise its sign.

"I'll offer fifteen gold coins!"

He lost to Sword Pointing at Rose in the previous round and was burning with anger, clearly wanting to regain his pride in this round.

"Hehe, the Iron-Blooded President is really impatient."

A sarcastic voice rang out; it was Feng Yun Jiu Tian, ​​who was sitting in the corner.

He slowly raised the sign: "Twenty gold coins."

"Wind and Cloud Nine Heavens? You want to get involved too?" Iron Blood Banner frowned and looked at him with hostility.

"With such a lively event, how could I, Fengyun Jiutian, be absent?" Fengyun Jiutian said with a forced smile.

"Good! Very good!" Ironblood Banner sneered. "Twenty-five gold coins!"

"Thirty gold coins." Feng Yun Jiu Tian followed without hesitation.

The two went back and forth, and the price soared, reaching sixty gold coins in the blink of an eye.

The atmosphere in the room became extremely tense.

Everyone could see that this was no longer a simple commercial auction, but a power struggle and a battle of wits between the two major guilds.

On the third-floor observation deck, the friend of the wild animals watched with trepidation.

"My God, it's just a counter, is it really that big of a deal?!" he clicked his tongue in amazement.

"This is no longer just about a counter," Hua Zitong's eyes saw through him even more clearly. "It's a battle for control! Whoever can take over this counter will have the upper hand. For these super guilds, face is sometimes more important than money."

"That's right." Li Wu nodded as well. "And they're also trying to curry favor with us, showing us that they have the capability to become our partners."

While they were talking, the bidding downstairs had already reached a fever pitch.

The price has been raised to eighty gold coins.

Iron Blood Banner and Wind and Cloud Nine Heavens were already somewhat engrossed, their eyes bloodshot as they stared intently at each other.

"One hundred gold coins!" Iron Blood Banner practically roared. He stood up abruptly, pointed at Wind and Cloud Nine Heavens, and shouted, "Wind and Cloud Nine Heavens, if you dare to challenge me again, I'll fight you to the death!"

Feng Yun Jiutian's expression also turned somewhat unpleasant.

One hundred gold coins, though not the limit of his available working capital.

But this is just the price at one counter; it's too expensive!

His face was gloomy. He remained silent for a moment, then finally snorted coldly and sat down.

"Hmph, it's just a broken counter. If you like it, you can have it."

Although he spoke lightly, everyone could tell that he had backed down.

"Hahaha!" Iron-Blooded Banner laughed triumphantly. "Who else? Who else dares to challenge me?"

He arrogantly surveyed the entire room, but no one dared to meet his gaze again.

"One hundred gold coins per try!"

"One hundred gold coins twice!"

Lin Hai raised the auction gavel, a professional smile on his face.

Just as he was about to bring down the gavel and announce the sale.

The cold, clear female voice that had been silent all along rang out again.

One hundred and twenty gold coins.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

All eyes turned to the woman sitting in the front row.

The smug smile on Iron Blood Banner's face also froze.

He turned his head sharply, staring intently at the sword pointing at the rose, his eyes practically spitting fire.

"Sword! Pointing! At! Rose!"

He squeezed out those words through gritted teeth, his voice filled with anger and humiliation.

It's that woman again!

It's her again!

"What...what exactly do you want to do?!" he roared.

Sword Pointing at Rose finally put down her teacup, slowly raised her eyes, and looked directly at the Iron Blood Banner for the first time.

Her eyes were calm.

But Iron Blood Banner read a hint of pity in that calm gaze.

Yes, compassion.

A condescending, disdainful pity.

"I don't want to do anything."

She spoke, her voice still so cold and aloof, devoid of any warmth or human emotion.

"I just wanted to tell you, and everyone here."

"From this day forward, in Ironforge, any property associated with Mr. Fog-Seeing Flowers will be under the highest level of protection of my Sword and Rose."

"Anyone who wants to be his enemy should first consider whether they are worthy of bearing the wrath of my Sword and Rose."

Her words were powerful and resounding, each syllable echoing clearly in everyone's ears.

The entire auction hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned by her extremely domineering declaration.

This is no longer an auction.

This is demarcating territory! This is asserting sovereignty!

What she bought with those 320 gold coins wasn't just a counter, but an attitude! An attitude of ally deeply bound to Foggy View and Thousand Gold Pavilion!

Iron Blood Banner's face turned pale and then red.

He felt that he had put on a great performance for a long time, but in the end, all he got was ridicule and crushing.

He wanted to argue, to yell, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn't utter a single word.

Because he knew he had lost.

We lost completely.

In terms of both financial resources and ambition, they suffered a complete defeat.

"One hundred and twenty gold coins! [Sword and Rose] has bid one hundred and twenty gold coins! Any higher bids?"

Lin Hai's voice rang out at just the right moment, breaking the suffocating silence.

This time, no one dared to speak up.

"when!"

The auction gavel slammed down!

"Sold! Congratulations to the [Sword and Rose] guild for successfully winning the bid for a one-year usage right of Donghua Pavilion!"

The audience erupted in applause once again.

But this time, there was a hint of reverence in the applause.

Everyone understands that from this day forward, the business landscape of Ironforge is about to change dramatically.

And that emerging force called Qianjin Pavilion, with the support of the powerful ally [Sword and Rose], is bound to rise to prominence!