The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

This speech not only gave the two Earls due respect, but also subtly pointed out that if they continued to compete, they would be overstepping their bounds, while also doing a favor for the Campbell family.

Sure enough, no one continued to bid.

Of course.

He admired his master Mr. Colin the most.

A diamond was played to perfection by that esteemed gentleman, winning the heart of the Princess, boosting the diamond's value with the prestige of the Campbell family, and finally spending the Andes family's money, making them willingly pay.

The most important thing was that in this game, there were no losers in the end. A diamond changed hands several times, everyone got what they wanted, and no one would come to resent his master.

Amidst applause, the auctioneer on the stage struck the gavel for the third time, finally relieved, and announced the winner of this precious auction item.

Saint Sith above—

It's finally over!

In all his years of experience, it was his first time wishing so urgently for an end, that in the final moments, he couldn't even utter inspiring words.

The auction continued.

There appeared manuscripts of famous musicians, marble busts of unknown figures, lifelike oil paintings, and jewelry donated by some noble ladies.

Although these items also sold at good prices, in the presence of the dazzling "Erin's Eye," they all seemed dull and lackluster, not even comparable to the pocket watch that appeared at the beginning.

Punk didn't stay for the whole auction; instead, he went to the second-floor balcony at the appointed time and handed the pocket watch he had received to Mr. Colin.

"Mr. Andes asked me to convey his regards to you, and also ... he'd like to schedule a time with you to discuss the upcoming cooperation."

Luo Yan held the golden pocket watch in his hand, scrutinized it for a moment, used the "Alchemy Eye" to discern its internal structure, and also confirmed his suspicions.

This so-called Dwarfcraft was no different from the mechanical watches commonly seen on Earth, with the core being the tourbillon and long mainspring, reclaiming and storing energy.

The related technology on Earth originated in the 18th century, and the civilization level of the Aus Continent was approximately at this point.

Moreover, the Dwarf who crafted this had a tricky setup, placing a lock mechanism on the tourbillon, which, if forcibly removed, would twist the metal components into a mess inside.

This was of no use to magic, but typical Mages wouldn't bother to delve into it.

For instance, he couldn't be bothered to study it.

"Right now." Closing the watch lid, Luo Yan slipped the pocket watch into his pocket, looked at Punk waiting nearby, and said.

Punk hesitated slightly.

"But the Princess over there..."

Luo Yan said casually.

"She needs a moment to cool down right now. In five minutes, go over for me and say that Mr. Andes' invitation is hard to resist, and I may not be able to leave immediately, and I hope the Princess understands. I'll personally apologize to her later."

Fine wine that's been brewed needs to be stored for a while to taste better.

Although appreciating that flustered look is also amusing, over time, it would cause her to lose grace and ultimately backfire.

This is a time to step back instead of forward, which is why he chose to come out for some air at this moment.

As for striking while the iron is hot, that is a method for quick success.

And what Luo Yan needed was not something so superficial; he wanted her to calm down and be flooded with thoughts of him.

Punk asked no more questions, seriously noted Mr. Colin's instructions, stood on the balcony, and began timing with his watch.

As for Luo Yan himself, he left the balcony, heading towards the other side of the corridor.

Mr. Andes' servant was already waiting there.

The well-dressed gentleman respectfully bowed to him, then led him to a nearby private room.

The details of the cooperation regarding the "Colin Mining Company," especially the investment and shareholding ratio on both sides, needed further discussion.

Luo Yan believed that with the standard-setting proposal he had previously put forward, Mr. Andes had prepared a plan that would satisfy him.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have spent the large sum of 500,000 gold coins to demonstrate his sincerity.

...

On the other side, Punk, with his watch in hand, arrived at Princess Erin's box, knocked on the door, and not more nor less, exact five minutes had passed.

The door was opened by the Princess's Female Guard.

Punk dared not be careless and conveyed Mr. Colin's intention as instructed, then hurriedly took his leave.

Learning that Colin couldn't return immediately, Erin Campbell felt a sigh of relief, yet she couldn't help but feel somewhat lost.

Honestly, she had no idea what he was thinking.

Initially, she thought he was interested in her, but just as she began to feel troubled, his withdrawal left her uncertain.

Perhaps it was just her wishful thinking?

Maybe he didn't think that much at all.

She could feel the admiration in his eyes but couldn't decipher what kind of emotion was hidden behind that appreciation.

The feeling of being neither too close nor too distant kept her emotions from truly calming down, like the restless sound of cicadas in summer.

"Theresa, do you think anyone in this world would offer such a precious gift merely out of appreciation?"