Chapter 1341: Bold monkey
"Lord Hedrick, a thousand years isn’t that long in the grand scheme of things. Just coordinate with Lord Morval—he’ll surely find you another one. After all, it’s merely a planetary displacement artifact, nothing too rare."
"Haha, it’s only an auction, Lord Hedrick! No need to let your emotions flare up this much over such a trivial matter."
"That’s right, Lord Hedrick. If you wish to continue bidding, by all means, do so. No one is stopping you!"
"If your pockets are deep enough and you’ve got enough pearls, then victory will be yours without a doubt—heh heh."
Robin could feel sweat beginning to bead on his forehead as those words echoed around the chamber. The ones speaking—all of them were high-ranking individuals from the Cloud Dwellers, and not a single one of them was hiding the smirk curling on their lips. Their voices dripped with false politeness, barely masking the satisfaction they clearly felt. It was obvious they were enjoying the moment, taking great pleasure in seeing Lord Hedrick publicly mocked or provoked—perhaps because of some past grudge, or maybe just for the sport of it.
"Oh no... this isn’t good. Not good at all," Robin muttered inwardly, his expression growing more uneasy by the second. "That man, Hedrick... he reminds me all too much of his younger sister. And if she was anything to go by, then this mockery won’t pass peacefully. That girl... she was willing to throw away everything, charge headfirst into death, just for the chance to strike back at me in the Young Belt—over nothing more than a minor insult where no one heard it!"
Robin’s ominous premonition didn’t have to wait long before becoming reality.
Lord Hedrick slowly turned his head, sweeping his gaze across the room. His eyes bore into every face, as though branding their features into his memory. These weren’t just common nobles—every single one of them hailed from powerful bloodlines, emperors of ancient empires, or figures with prestigious legacies rooted deeply in the Middle Belt.
Then, finally, he spoke—his voice calm, low, but sharp as a blade:
"...It appears that my silence throughout the long centuries has made people forget who I am. But that’s alright. The days ahead are many, and fate always finds a way to bring paths together. Our time will come."
"Lord Hedrick, you’re overreacting. It’s just a fourth-grade planetary item, nothing worth holding grudges over!"