Eternal Thief

Chapter 127 - The Ploy

One day before the beast calling auction.

In the heart of Zander City, there was a huge luxurious estate surrounding by great walls and many powerful cultivator guards. 

This was the Earl Estate of Patrick Zander, the earl of Zander county and head of the Zander family. 

There was a large courtyard in the estate, decorated with beautiful flowers, as a delightful fragrance filled its air.

In the center of this courtyard, there was a large rectangular jade table and lavishing chairs. 

At this moment, 28 out of 34 chairs were occupied!

They all wore luxurious attires and there was a dignified air around them as if they were all above the masses. They were all nobles!

"Where is Earl Zander?" A middle-aged man spoke with a stern voice.

"Viscount Ayaan, your guess is as good as mine." The man sitting in front of Ayaan shrug. 

"Be patient. Just when did Earl Zander have disappointed us?" A beautiful lady spoke in her charming voice.

"Hahaha, Viscountess Macey is right, it was me who was impatient." Viscount Ayaan shouts. 

At this moment, the courtyard door snap opened and several figures entered.

In front of these figures were two middle-aged men and one youth full of vitality. Behind them were three slender, beautiful girls like jasmine flowers.

One middle-aged man has a gentle smile on his face, and surprisingly, he was. Aden Peter the Beast Master of Zander City's Beast Calling Colosseum! 

And the other one has a fierce look on his face and a tall 1.9-meter muscular build, the air around him was of a fierce warrior, he was Earl Patrick Zander! 

The young man has very much resemblance to Patrick, but he wasn't as muscular or tall as Patrick. He was Niko Zander, Patrick's eldest son.

As for the girls, two of them were Aden's disciples and the last one was Skylar Zander, Earl Patrick's daughter. 

The nobles quickly stand up and greet them all with noble courtesy.

Earl Patrick merely nodded impassively as he directly sits in the head chair of the table and Aden sits right next to him with his signature smile. 

After those two take their seats, everyone sat down to their previous position. 

The atmosphere was instantly turned grave as Earl Patrick spoke in a passive tone, "My fellow noblemen, as we all know, I summoned you here for the discussion of tomorrow's auction.

"As we all know about the auction setting, thanks to Lord Aden here. But there is a problem that the fastest category sets are only 'ten'!" Earl Patrick scans the other nobles. 

Their expression was somewhat sour hearing this, but they didn't speak and let Earl Patrick proceeded.

"As far as I know, there are 27 titled families in my family's territory and for generations, our relationship is very good as the Zander household never treated you guys like outsiders. And I'm planning to continue doing so." Patrick stated.

"Earl Zander is too kind. We all know how much you take care of our families, and we are endlessly grateful for this." A man with a scar on his cheek spoke. He was a baron.

Everyone nodded in agreement because Patrick didn't tell any lie.

Earl Patrick wore an appreciative face as he spoke. "Now, here is the deal. After my pressured Lord Aden has agreed to hold the fastest category auction, set by set!"

Everyone's eyes shimmer, but no one makes any sound.

"However, to show our appreciation, I decided to 'donate' half a million low qi stones to the organization. I'll be very grateful if your families also 'donate' 100,000 low qi stones as well." Patrick's voice was slightly forced in the end.

Everyone in the courtyard knows this 'donation' was nothing but a price they had to pay for an individual auction. Because everyone here knows the true nature of that gentle-looking Aden. He was extremely greedy for qi stones!

Aden Peter was here for almost twenty years and every year these families will 'donate' to the organization or more accurately, to Aden! 

In returned Aden would protect them and give them some VIP treatments in his branch.

This auction was just another qi stone-making method for him and a large amount at that. 

First, he disclosed the information to these families about the auction for numerous qi stones and now he was extorting more out of them. 

But they had no choice in this matter because this individual auction was very important to them. 

Everyone wanted the seats in the fastest category just to send their geniuses into the capital as quickly as possible. Because there was a secret that was only known to tilted families!

They can always buy all the sets and distribute them among themselves. 

However, this old fox, Aden has innocently said that if they didn't comply with his 'kind' offer, he can't guarantee there will be no other buyers for these fastest sets. 

It was a naked threat which mean was if they didn't feed him enough, he would make sure to eat from somewhere else. 

After all, many sly fellows wanted to send more of their youngsters to the capital as soon as possible and take advantage of this secret, which will be canceled in 20 days! 

Aden also know about this secret and knew this was the only chance to make it big, and that's why he was taking advantage of it. 

As for changing the rules for this bunch, it was nothing but a lie because the last category was always been an exclusive auction. 

Aden has just provided them with half of the information first and then, with a threat in the mix, he completed it. He didn't dare to change the rules set by the organization it was suicide if he does. 

These nobles also know about the terror of these three giants and bending the rules set by them to one's advantage was akin to courting death. 

But they can do nothing about it since they would be courting death if they pointed out this kind of truth because if Aden kills all of them here and now, no one will ever investigate it!

'Before you beat the dog, find out the name of his master', this phase fits here perfectly.

In the end, everyone smiles bitterly as they agreed with 'donation' and Aden promptly takes his leave with his disciples as he grinned widely after thanking everyone for their kindness. 

Everyone's mood was sullen.

"Everyone, there is no need to be so downhearted just thought of the benefits if our youngster passes the test or catches someone's fancy. Don't forget, this is not about just the institute alone!" Earl Patrick tries to lift everyone's spirits. 

"Earl is wise as always." Viscountess Macey chortled.

"Now, that fox is gone. Let's discuss the distribution of the sets and seats." Earl Patrick didn't beat around the bush as he began the distribution. 

"First, Viscount Families; 30 fast sets, 15 faster sets, and 30 fastest seats.

"Baron Families will take 25 fast sets, 10 faster sets, and 20 fastest seats.

"Zander Family didn't need those sets in the first two categories and because of it, we'll be talking the remaining 50 fastest category seats. 

"As for the remaining sets, just let those lesser noble families have them or they will also resent us like those commoners. Is anybody have any objection?" Patrick scans the group.

No one has any objection, because Earl Patrick was giving away most of the benefits to them and only talked half of the fastest category seats.

This offer was clearly in their interest. How could they still complain? 

Patrick nodded in satisfaction. 

Everyone left after the meeting was concluded. 

Now only Patrick, Niko, and Skyler remain in the courtyard. 

Both Niko and Skyler didn't speak during the meeting and only observe with their intelligent eyes.

"Father, can we trust that old fox?" Niko finally spoke after everyone's left.

Earl Patrick chuckles lightly, "I bet even his father didn't trust him. Then why should we?" 

Niko smirk as he was agreed with his father's comment. 

"But we are giving too much and got nothing in returned!" Skyler speaks with resentment in her beautiful voice. 

"Little Sky, don't be like this, I'm doing this for you, and once everything goes according to our plan even old fox has to bow his head before us." Patrick lovingly looked at his daughter who was still in her veil for some reason.

Tears while up in Skyler's beautiful eyes as she speaks with resolve, "I will not disappoint you!"

"Heh, I know. Just don't push yourself too hard. Now go and rest. I have something to discuss with your Elder Brother." Earl Patrick stokes Skyler's silk-like hair before she leaves. 

After Skyler left, the father and son, both faces turn solemn.

Niko said with a gloomy face, "I think she is planning something!"

"I know." Patrick nodded gravely, "That why I'm sending you and other loyal guards. We'll have to move more carefully or we might lose everything…" 

The father and son chat for a long time and no one knows what they were planning.

---

The Day of auction.

Everything was going according to the nobles' plans until an unknown boy showed up!