Ultimate Tycoon: Building the Richest Empire with System and Heroines-Chapter 57: Harem King

Inside VIP Room No.1, Ethan sat with his legs crossed, eyes calmly scanning the auction floor through the one-way glass. The rest of the group,Natalie, Jasmine, Rhea, and Alistair were seated behind him on the velvet couches. A man in a sharp black suit, wearing white gloves and an earpiece, stood silently beside Ethan. He was the assigned auction advisor.

The advisor had originally expected Alistair Hayes to be the one leading the bidding tonight. After all, he is The Alistair Hayes. But when he turned to Alistair for confirmation, the older man simply gestured at Ethan.

"You’re here to assist him," Alistair said casually, leaning back in his chair.

"Him?" The advisor blinked in mild surprise, then quickly corrected his posture. "Of course."

He didn’t press for details. It wasn’t his place. His job was just to support the client. And if Alistair Hayes said this young man was in charge,then that was all the answer he needed.

Ethan ignored the short exchange, eyes locked on the auction floor and the upper row of VIP rooms that lined the balcony level. Every room had a mirrored window like theirs. The identities of the people inside were anonymous,unless the VIP chose to make it known. For tonight, it was a hall full of masks.

But Ethan already had the map.

Earlier, he’d asked Virgil to quietly inform him of Gregory and Trevor’s location. They were seated in VIP Room No.8. Right now, Ethan’s gaze occasionally flickered in that direction, as if watching a storm cloud in the distance.

"So that’s where the roaches are sitting," he muttered under his breath.

He leaned forward, elbows on the sleek table, fingers steepled under his chin.

"I hope that old man did everything according to the plan," he said calmly.

Alistair, seated behind him, gave a short nod. "Don’t worry. He’s competent. I’ve seen him handle worse situations in the past. He’ll execute it exactly."

Natalie, sitting to Ethan’s right, turned slightly toward him.

"Do you really think it’ll work?" she asked, her voice low.

Ethan smirked, eyes still fixed forward. "If everything goes the way I predicted... it won’t just work. It’ll be beautiful."

The advisor glanced at him, clearly curious but professionally silent.

The lights in the auction floor dimmed slightly, and the soft classical music playing in the background faded. The room’s focus shifted as an elegant woman stepped onto the stage below.

"Ladies and gentlemen," her voice rang out through the speakers. "Welcome to the Grand Knox Auction. Tonight, we have prepared a collection of rare, valuable, and never-before-seen items. Including one very special piece that has already stirred interest across multiple circles... the legendary painting,Mosalina."

As murmurs of anticipation filled the hall, Ethan’s smirk deepened.

The game was beginning.

The lights dimmed again.

Arion stepped up to the center stage, a spotlight trailing him. The stage itself was positioned right in the middle of the audience, with every angle open except the back, which held the underground elevator where each item would rise up.

He adjusted the mic on his collar and smiled. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. I know you’ve all been waiting, so let’s not delay any longer. Let’s begin."

A low murmur of excitement filled the grand auction hall.

"Our first item for tonight," Arion announced, gesturing to the center of the stage.

With a soft mechanical whirr, the floor of the stage opened up. A platform rose slowly, revealing a dazzling artifact.

"The White Lotus Chalice," Arion said. "A jade-green cup, embedded with obsidian lotus carvings. Said to shimmer under moonlight. Legends claim it once belonged to the last king of the Ming Empire."

Gasps filled the air.

"Wow..." Rhea whispered, leaning forward in her seat.

Natalie nodded. "It really is beautiful. But you haven’t seen Mosalina yet."

Ethan tilted his head. "Yeah... nice cup and all. But it’s not my thing. Let the old collectors go nuts."

Alistair chuckled beside him.

The auction moved smoothly. One by one, valuable antiques, relics, and mysterious items were presented and sold. Time passed quickly.

Twenty-five items in.

Arion returned to the center. "Now then... our next piece."

The stage opened again.

Rising from below was a velvet-lined case. Inside were three rings, each bearing a shimmering phoenix motif carved with breathtaking detail.

Arion’s voice was clear. "These are the Rings of Promise. Legend says only fifteen were ever made,gifts from the legendary harem king, Issei Hyoudou, to his fifteen main wives. These are three of them. Verified and authenticated."

The crowd buzzed.

"Issei Hyoudou? Seriously?"

"These rings are real?"

"No way..."

As the auction floor filled with chatter, Ethan blinked. A familiar sound chimed in his head.

[Side Mission Triggered]

Objective: Acquire the Rings of Promise for your waifus. Impress them.

Reward: Triple the buying price.

Ethan smirked.

He couldn’t help it. He chuckled quietly.

Jasmine, seated next to him, raised an eyebrow. "What’s funny?"

Ethan leaned back and winked. "I want that item."

"Huh?" Jasmine blinked.

Natalie and Rhea turned toward him.

Arion continued, "Starting bid: Two million dollars."

A voice from the crowd immediately shouted, "Three million!"

Another followed, "Five million!"

Ethan waited for a few seconds, tapping his fingers.

Ethan leaned forward slightly. "Ten million."

The hall fell silent.

Whispers shot around the room.

"Ten million?"

"Did someone from VIP Room One just say that?" freewebnøvel_com

"It must be a big shot. We shouldn’t compete..."

One by one, the other bidders fell back.

Arion smiled slightly, sensing the mood. "The three Rings of Promise... sold to VIP Room No.1."

Moments later, a staff member carefully approached their room with the case. Ethan stood and took it in hand.

Rhea tilted her head. "Why did you buy it?"

"Show me your hands," Ethan said, opening the case.

All three girls blinked.

He walked up first to Rhea, gently taking her hand and sliding one ring onto her finger. She blushed instantly.

Then Jasmine. He winked while doing it. She smirked, letting him slip the ring on.

Finally, Natalie.

She stared at him. "It’s not like I wanted to wear it. You’re forcing it."

Ethan smirked. "Then give it back. I’ll find someone else."

Natalie narrowed her eyes. "As you are our guest... I’ll keep it. Out of respect."

Ethan laughed.

Jasmine grinned. "What the fuck, Ethan? You’re really greedy."

Rhea looked away, flustered.

Ethan sat back down, completely relaxed.

Alistair shook his head. This brat. Doing all this right in front of me.

Before Alistair could retort, Arion’s voice echoed again from the stage.

"And now... ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for."

The lights dimmed slightly.

Arion’s tone turned solemn.

"The final and main event of tonight’s auction... the legendary lost painting, thought to have disappeared during the Eastern Empire Collapse."

The stage beneath him opened slowly.

"And now... it resurfaces again. After nearly a century."

A gasp swept the room as the lights revealed the stunning canvas, held delicately in a glass frame.

"I present to you... Mosalina."

The room went completely silent.

Everyone leaned forward.

Ethan’s expression sharpened.

"Let’s see what you do now, Master Yun."

A/n- Thanks for reading. Shower some gt and ps.

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