Auction

Noya played with the Twelve Black Magic Crystals as Boss Jin led her into the VIP room.

The moment she entered, Madoc fixed his eyes on the Twelve Black Magic Crystals in Noya's hands, itching to snatch them away.

Zhang Fan said to Noya, "Noya, give that Black Demon Crystal back to Lord Madoc."

"No. I won these."

A hint of anger crept into Zhang Fan's voice. "Behave. You're a child. Surikar only went easy on you because you're young."

Zhang Fan deliberately stressed the word "child"...

"No! I won them fair and square. Why should I give them to him? If he wants them, he can fight me."

Madoc's face turned livid. He glanced at Boss Jin standing by the door, then at the soldiers behind him, who were struggling not to laugh.

Madoc hurriedly told Zhang Fan, "Well... let's just leave it at that. Since Surikar acknowledged..."

"No, that won't do. The Twelve Black Magic Crystals are a symbol of status on Mokla. How could Noya, a member of the Insect Race, keep them?"

Zhang Fan scolded Noya. "Hurry up and give them back to Lord Madoc. I'll make you two when we get home."

"No, I won't! You're playing favorites, Overlord. What I won is mine."

Domina said with a smile, "Surely this isn't necessary, Lord Madoc? This little girl from the Insect Race defeated Surikar through her own ability. Are you planning to rob her of her spoils?"

Madoc glared at Domina, only to have her roll her eyes at him. He shook his head helplessly. "Overlord, these Twelve Magic Crystals truly are important to Mokla. Miss Noya may choose anything she likes from my treasury. Please, Overlord..."

"Did you hear that, Noya? Give them back to Lord Madoc."

"No! You adults never keep your word!"

Madoc hastily said, "I will, I will! Let's go to the treasury right now and choose."

Noya followed Madoc to his treasury. Princess Domina laughed. "Miss Noya really is adorable."

Zhang Fan sounded a little embarrassed. "You call that adorable? That little girl gives me a headache!"

"Your first battle on this visit ended in victory over Mokla's Twelve Crystal Generals, Overlord. It seems the might of the Insect Race will soon be known throughout the universe."

"You're too kind, Your Highness. Lord Madoc was merely being generous."

Domina looked at Zhang Fan with a smile. "I did help you with a small favor just now, Overlord. Would you be willing to help me with one?"

"Hahaha! I like making friends with people like you, Princess. Just tell me what you need."

After a moment's consideration, Domina said, "I'd like to hire the Insect Race's army to wipe out a galaxy for me. The payment will be 1,000 Krami Energy Pearls."

Boss Jin involuntarily exclaimed, "One thousand..."

Zhang Fan asked through his consciousness, "What are Krami Energy Pearls?"

"One Krami Pearl contains as much energy as a star. One thousand... that's an astronomical price."

Keeping his expression unchanged, Zhang Fan told Domina, "Since you helped me just now, Princess Domina, how could I refuse such a small favor?"

"Good. It's settled, then." After operating a tiny device in her pillar-shaped VIP compartment, Domina told Zhang Fan, "The 1,000 Krami Energy Pearls have been credited to the Insect Race's account."

"How decisive! The Insect Race will be good friends with Princess Domina."

"Hahaha! Don't forget the powerful body you promised me, Overlord."

"The design is already underway!" Zhang Fan gestured toward Matriarch Shusha, who had stood silently in the corner all this time. "This is my Matriarch, Shusha. She'll help you perfect your body, Princess."

The tournament did not end with Noya and Surikar's spectacular battle. Three more days of combat left Zhang Fan exhilarated. All the combat techniques, high-tech weapons, and the offensive and defensive abilities of various creatures made him want to send out Parasitic Ticks immediately and absorb all their genes.

Noya and Madoc only returned as the tournament drew to a close. Dozens of Mokla cyborg attendants followed behind Noya.

Madoc wiped the liquid from his forehead, which looked more like oil than sweat. "That little girl can really shop. She went through my entire treasury."

"How could you take so much?"

Madoc hurriedly said, "It's fine, it's fine. As long as she likes them."

Madoc whispered to Zhang Fan, "Two of those items are extremely powerful. Be careful using them. You'd better keep them yourself once you get back, Overlord."

"Thank you, Lord Madoc."

"You're too polite, Overlord... your Insect Race certainly knows how to do business, too."

At that moment, Boss Jin addressed everyone. "The auction is about to begin. Please make your preparations."

"This is my first auction. What do I need to prepare?"

Boss Jin quickly explained, "The Insect Race's Emperor warships have already been registered. If anything catches your eye, Overlord, you can offer a number of Emperors in exchange."

"Hahaha! The most advanced place in the universe actually uses the most primitive form of barter. All right, I understand."

Although there were not many Emperors yet, Zhang Fan could hatch as many as he needed. Moreover, implanting Insect Fungi aboard the Emperors would allow him to spread the fungi silently throughout the universe.

To Zhang Fan, this barter system seemed practically designed to help him spread the Insect Race.

Madoc asked, "Why not put some of your own fine goods up for auction, Overlord?"

With the Insect Race's Emperor warships already being used as currency, Zhang Fan really could not think of anything to auction off. An Overlord Beast, the strongest creature on land? Compared with an Emperor, it was far more than just one tier below.

Zhang Fan replied tactfully, "The Insect Race is still developing. We really don't have anything worthy of offering. I was hoping to buy more things at the auction to take home."

While the two were talking, a thick layer of metal suddenly covered the blood-soaked arena.

A Tacoaran stood on a metal sphere hovering in midair and announced loudly, "The 169,583rd trade auction officially begins."

A map of a galaxy was projected into the center of the auction venue. The auctioneer introduced it. "The Gomita Galaxy, located in the Eastern Universe, has abundant deposits of magic-energy ore and 162 habitable planets. The indigenous inhabitants have already been cleared out, so the buyer can move in immediately. There is no reserve price."

"Three Domingos."

"Five Sparrows."

"Ten Dragonhawks."

After waiting three seconds without another bid, the auctioneer called out in a rising and falling cadence, "Ten Dragonhawks, going once... any further bids? The Gomita Galaxy has enough rich deposits of magic-energy ore to sustain mining for three thousand cosmic years."

He waited another two seconds, but no one raised the bid. His enormous frog-like mouth curled upward in a helpless smile. "It looks like King Didis, also from the Eastern Universe, is about to get a bargain... ten Dragonhawks. Any further bids?"

This time, the auctioneer barely waited at all before calling, "Ten Dragonhawks, so-"

He was about to bring down the hammer when a voice made his whole body shudder involuntarily.

"One hundred Emperors..."

Gasps and cries of astonishment rang throughout the auction venue... everyone's gaze turned toward the completely opaque VIP compartment.

Inside the VIP room, Madoc and Domina likewise stared in astonishment at Zhang Fan beside them...