53: His performance was phenomenal from the start, stunning the entire audience.

The two followed the crowd and saw Zhang Fayao confronting a foreign devil, clearly at odds with each other.

This drama was a must-watch.

Surrounded by the crowd, Zhang Fayao and Henry stood their ground, engaged in a war of words.

"Henry, are you determined to snatch this from me?"

"Young Master Zhang, we each rely on our own abilities; there's no snatching involved."

"What I set my eyes on is mine."

"Thinking you can get this watch for five thousand silver dollars? Dream on!"

"Damn it! If it weren't for you meddling, I would have gotten it for three thousand silver dollars. I'd lose if I paid even a single coin more."

"Bullshit! Do you even know watches? Sapphire crystal, titanium alloy, 300-meter water resistance, the first-ever skeleton design.

Each feature is one-of-a-kind.

Five thousand? Impossible. I bid eight thousand."

"Nine thousand. Bid again, and even if you're a foreign devil, I won't go easy on you, Henry."

"Get lost! Bring it on! Ten thousand!"

"If I don't teach you a lesson, you'll think I'm easy to push around. Just you wait! Fifteen thousand!"

The bidding war between Zhang Fayao and Henry had become the center of attention, drawing more and more onlookers.

Lu Fan glanced at the girl's sign and was utterly confused.

The two were fighting tooth and nail over the mechanical watch he had handed over to Sheng Aiyi.

He instantly understood the scheme—aside from buying supplies, this was the real purpose of Seventh Miss Sheng's visit to the black market auction.

Watching the fake foreign devil stand his ground and rattle off the watch's merits with ease,

Lu Fan didn't expect there to be such connoisseurs in this era.

"Twenty thousand!" Sheng Aiyi suddenly placed a bid, joining the fray.

"Thirty thousand."

"Forty thousand."

"Fifty thousand."

Faced with the alternating bids from Sheng Aiyi and Henry, Zhang Fayao was left out in the cold.

Though his face was ashen with unwillingness,

the ten-thousand increments made him burn with shame.

Just moments ago, he had vowed to win the item, but now he could only watch from the sidelines.

These two weren't just bidding; they were slapping him in front of everyone.

Seeing the situation, Lu Fan fanned the flames from the side: "If you're broke, stop showing off. Without your father, you're nothing."

The onlookers, hearing Lu Fan's words, began whispering and pointing in secret.

"One hundred thousand!"

Enraged, Zhang Fayao blurted out the price in a fit of anger.

Sheng Aiyi and Henry exchanged a glance, promptly withdrew their bids, and stepped away.

With no competitors left, Zhang Fayao emerged as the final winner.

He basked in the onlookers' praise and reveled in the thrill of defeating his opponents.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the venue, by a window in a corner, Sheng Aiyi, Lu Fan, and Henry unexpectedly met.

"Seventh Miss Sheng, a pleasure working with you!" Henry extended his hand with a smile.

"Mr. Henry, the successful launch of this watch advertisement owes much to your meticulous planning and excellent execution."

Sheng Aiyi offered an elegant, confident smile and gracefully shook Henry's hand.

"The specific sales work from here on out is entirely in your hands."

"You're no less impressive, beautiful lady!" Henry declared confidently: "Don't worry!

I'll turn this watch into a top-tier luxury brand. If I earn even a penny less, consider me incompetent."

Henry turned to Lu Fan, who stood nearby, and praised: "Your boyfriend is quite the actor.

He provoked that spendthrift without batting an eye. The smooth progress owes much to him."

Hearing the word "boyfriend," Sheng Aiyi's face flushed crimson.

She glanced shyly at Lu Fan and smiled back.

"Likewise!" Lu Fan responded modestly: "Mr. Henry, your acting skills are equally masterful."

Henry checked the time: "You two chat; I need to get back to the shop.

I'm really looking forward to the market's enthusiastic response when we launch the same watch model tomorrow."

After watching Henry leave, Lu Fan turned his gaze back to Sheng Aiyi.

With just one look, Seventh Miss Sheng was defeated and could only resort to her ultimate move: "I need to use the restroom!"

Lu Fan leaned against the window, enjoying the breeze on his face, feeling utterly content.

Meanwhile, after the adulation faded, Zhang Fayao calmed down and grew increasingly agitated upon reflection.

It seemed he had been set up and tricked into overspending.

He gripped his Gold-Inlaid Cane until it creaked: "Seventh Miss Sheng, you bitch, just you wait."

In the venue, as the girl lowered her signs one by one, the Black-Cloaked Elder rose from his Throne.

A Bunny Girl, holding a sign, sashayed over to him.

The final auction item was unveiled: five thousand boxes of the latest emergency kits from Eagle, containing Sulfa Powder Hemostatic Agents. Starting bid: three hundred thousand silver dollars.

This was clearly military supplies, and its appearance caused a gasp throughout the venue.

With the war already raging in the north, the price of such items was soaring, and they were in high demand.

Three hundred thousand silver dollars might seem expensive, but buying at this price could yield a 50% profit upon resale.

With sufficient funds, one could hoard them for speculation, as these items wouldn't spoil.

If the war spread further, the price could multiply several times over.

"Three hundred thousand!" Zhang Fayao shouted the bid first, his sinister gaze sweeping the room: "The Green Gang has claimed this lot. Who dares to snatch it!"

He exuded an overbearing aura—this wasn't just bluffing but outright coercion.

"Three hundred ten thousand."

Yet, after a brief silence of a few breaths, someone placed a bid.

Other items might be conceded, even as a favor to The Three Tycoons.

But with a starting profit of 50%, The Three Tycoons' favor wasn't so easily given.

Besides, behind Zhang Fayao stood only Boss of Hooligans.

"Three hundred twenty thousand."

"Three hundred thirty thousand."

"Three hundred fifty thousand."

Bids rose one after another in the venue; with more participants, the price quickly soared past four hundred thousand.

Watching this scene, Lu Fan gained a deeper understanding of the black market.

Here, not only was there the traditional survival of the fittest, but also those with nothing to lose.

"Four hundred fifty thousand."

"Four hundred sixty thousand."

"Four hundred seventy thousand."

The price continued to skyrocket in an invisible battle, soon breaking the five hundred thousand mark.

At this range, the bidding slowed.

Five hundred thousand silver dollars wasn't something everyone could afford, after all—no one's money grew on trees.

Sheng Aiyi asked: "If you're interested, bid. I can ensure the safety of the supplies."

"Do you have connections in the Headquarters?" Lu Fan leaned close to Sheng Aiyi's ear and asked.

The intense masculine scent rushed into Sheng Aiyi's nostrils, and the warm breath by her ear made her whole body go weak.

She took Lu Fan's hand for support and began writing characters in his palm with her finger.

"Prepare for the Hot Search!"

Before she finished the second character, Lu Fan grabbed her jade-like hand and directly bid: "One million silver dollars!"

When he shouted "one million," the entire venue was stunned.

The previously noisy venue fell silent instantly, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes focused on Lu Fan, who wore a Clown Mask.

At that moment, their biggest question was: "Who is this wealthy man, treating silver dollars like they're nothing?"

Zhang Fayao was so shocked he forgot the Cigar in his hand; it slipped and fell to the ground unnoticed.

The Black-Cloaked Elder leaned forward slightly from his Throne, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Having presided over black market auctions for years, this was the first time he'd seen such extravagance from a young master trying to impress a beauty.

Slowly, people regained their composure and began whispering.

"One million silver dollars! Is this guy crazy?"

"Even if these emergency kits are in high demand, they're not worth this price."