158: Mingyao was used

"Hmph, I don't know him, and I've never met him. It's just that we've crossed paths and formed a grudge!" Ai Yue said coldly, her eyes half-squinted.

"Ah? How did you end up forming a grudge with him?" Gong Qiumu was somewhat surprised.

Logically speaking, Ai Yue had just arrived at Songzhou Safety Tower. How could she have had contact with Ming Yao in such a short time?

"Naturally, it's because the public security here is just too good. He targeted me the very first day I arrived, trying to carry me off by pinning some random crime on me."

Ai Yue's tone was slightly mocking.

"Ah? This... oh... Could it be that two months ago at the Trading Center, a woman in black killed one of Ming Yao's lackeys and was then saved by my brother... That woman couldn't have been you, right?" Gong Qiumu exclaimed as he realized belatedly.

"Did I need your brother to save me? If he hadn't arrived so coincidentally, I wouldn't have let a single one of Ming Yao's remaining lackeys or those bullying patrol teams off."

Ai Yue's tone grew even colder.

"Haha... Sister Ai Yue is naturally powerful. However, it's better not to provoke some troubles if you can help it. Otherwise, if you're targeted, how can you live in peace? Don't you think I'm right?" Gong Qiumu explained sheepishly.

"Hmph, it's not like I want to cause trouble, but look, is this a matter of whether I'm looking for trouble or not? I've clearly been targeted!" Ai Yue said irritably.

"Haha... true." Gong Qiumu said awkwardly, looking dejected.

By now, the other side had already bid eight hundred thousand in base currency.

This Tang Dao, which was estimated to sell for three hundred thousand, had now been bid up to eight hundred thousand, equivalent to sixteen transparent stones.

The corners of Ai Yue's mouth curled into a mocking smile. Competing with her in financial power? In their dreams!

Ai Yue directly put up thirty-two transparent stones, equivalent to 1.6 million in currency, instantly doubling the price.

The entire auction house was in an uproar. They truly couldn't understand what was worth fighting over for a heavy sword that an ordinary person couldn't even lift, let alone raising the price so high. It was simply baffling.

The auctioneer's voice on stage trembled with excitement. "1.6 million! Are there any higher bids?"

After a long while, no one continued to raise the price. The auctioneer continued, "1.6 million once, 1.6 million twice, 1.6 million..."

The auctioneer paused deliberately, his eager eyes fixed on the private box on the third floor that had just been bidding. However, it seemed the other party had no intention of continuing to follow.

The auctioneer said at the top of his lungs, "Three times! Congratulations to the guest who bid thirty-two transparent stones for winning the item of this auction, the Long-style Tang Dao!"

Thunderous applause immediately erupted in the hall.

Ai Yue breathed a soft sigh of relief inwardly; this blade was hers.

A moment later, two staff members carried the Tang Dao to Ai Yue's private box, and the transaction was settled on the spot.

After they left, Ai Yue easily picked up the Tang Dao and gave it a flourish. She nodded in satisfaction; this blade felt extremely handy to use.

Gong Qiumu watched as Ai Yue picked it up effortlessly and swung it with formidable power. He marveled inwardly; as it turned out, everything had a suitable person to use it.

Gong Qiumu's eyes darted around as he adopted a worried tone and said to Ai Yue:

"Sister Ai Yue, I'm afraid you've thoroughly offended that grandson Ming Yao this time. He won't dare move against you under our noses, but if you're ever alone, he'll definitely find a way to capture and torture you. So, you should stay here; my brother will definitely protect you!"

Hearing this, Ai Yue looked away from the Tang Dao and looked at Gong Qiumu with a faint smile. "Do you think I'm afraid of him? Can he even beat me?"

"Of course he can't beat you, but that grandson is insidious and cunning with plenty of dirty tricks. I'm just afraid he'll play foul in the shadows!"

Ai Yue nodded. "Mm, thank you for the reminder. I understand and will be careful. But you should know that any schemes and intrigues are vulnerable before absolute strength!"

"Hehe, I know you're powerful, Sister. I was just afraid you'd be careless and fall for his tricks."

"I've got it, I'll be careful." Ai Yue readily accepted his goodwill, though she still didn't agree to stay there.

Gong Qiumu didn't show any signs of disappointment, and the two continued to chat pleasantly... While Ai Yue was relaxed and happy, the atmosphere in a certain private box on the third floor was cold to the freezing point.

Ming Yao sat in a chair with a gloomy expression, while a group of people knelt on the floor before him, all with their heads bowed, not saying a word.

Ming Yao never expected that one day he would compete with someone in financial power and lose! This made him feel extremely humiliated.

"Young Master Ming, what do we do next? This woman has repeatedly caused us trouble; she really doesn't know the meaning of death."

Zhao San, his capable assistant who was kneeling closest to Ming Yao, suddenly looked up and spoke with resentment.

Ming Yao glanced at him, a look that made Zhao San immediately lower his head in fear, not daring to speak further.

"Hmph, have you found out who the person who sent us the message was?" Ming Yao asked, enunciating every word.

"Uh..." Zhao San faltered for a moment. "Young Master, it's all due to your subordinates' incompetence. We only found out that it came from within our base, but we don't know exactly who gave the message."

"This person's mind is very cunning. They're treating me like a sucker, wanting to use me as a tool to deal with their enemy."

Ming Yao pondered for a moment, the corners of his mouth curling into a fierce smile.

"Investigate further. No matter who it is, if they dare to exploit me, I will definitely make them wish they were dead."

Zhao San immediately replied, "Yes, please rest assured, Young Master. I will definitely get to the bottom of this."

"Good! I'll give you one more chance. Tell me the answer in three days."

"Yes."

"Young Master... that Ai Yue, how should we handle her? Should we..." Zhao San made a throat-slitting gesture as he asked.

Ming Yao changed his posture and waved him off. "No rush. It's not convenient to move against this woman right now. Let me think carefully about how to play with her! Find two clever people to follow her and find out her background."

"What's important now is to find out who exploited me. Also, check if this woman Ai Yue has any enemies. Focus the investigation on whoever has a grudge against her!"

"Yes, understood!"

"Alright, everyone get up. I didn't expect her to be so rich; it was a miscalculation."

Ming Yao had originally intended to win the weapon Ai Yue had her eye on and then lure her into coming to him of her own accord, falling into the trap he had planned. He hadn't expected Ai Yue to have such deep pockets, giving him no chance at all.

Next was the highlight of today's auction: the auction of firearms and thermal weapons.

This time, Songzhou Safety Tower had gone all out. Various types of thermal weapons were auctioned in turn: various models of pistols, rifles, submachine guns, sniper rifles, grenades, tear gas canisters, artillery, tanks, airplanes, and so on.

There were even heavyweight weapons like laser weapons.

With the appearance of these thermal weapons, the entire auction became as lively as water hitting a hot frying pan.

Everyone stared at those thermal weapons with burning eyes. Even if they couldn't afford them, they didn't want to miss a single glance.